Fertilizer
Spotty spring rains have slowed planting in southwest Iowa, leaving farmers slightly behind. Despite delays, strong planning, good moisture, and a favorable forecast has Pat Sheldon optimistic for the 2026 crop season.
As the Strait closure enters its tenth week, supply chain gridlock and policy hurdles suggest high input costs will persist through the 2027 planting season, according to Josh Linville, vice president of fertilizer with StoneX.
Targeting peak uptake windows through precise nitrogen and phosphorus placement can bridge the gap between a 160-bu. crop and a 300-bu. harvest.
Shrinking equity, rising nitrogen costs and continued global upheaval signal a reckoning for corn growers and a shift to soybeans — especially if higher biomass-based blending diesel mandates come through.
Dave Chatterton with Strategic Farm Marketing says the grain markets were supported by money flow and funds were buying adding risk premium tied to war, inflation fears with soaring energy prices and weather.
Grains were higher Wednesday with new contract highs in hard red winter wheat and December corn according to Mark Knight with Farmer’s Keeper Financial. Live cattle were also making new highs on record cash.
Former NFL player Cody White applies his athletic experience on the field to rising input costs and market volatility in DeWitt County, Illinois.
Randy Martinson with Martinson Ag says the wheat market is adding risk premium tied to weather and global production and geopolitical concerns and could continue to pull corn higher.
With one survey showing 48% of Midwest corn and soybean growers are unable to afford traditional fertilizer sources, Extension and industry are responding with nutrient options that can lend support.
Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins says a multi-agency Trump administration effort will target fertilizer costs and boost U.S. production, with a major announcement expected yet this week.
Two Midwest growers say increased competition between corn and soybeans for acres could help rebalance supplies and provide a financial boost.
A Farmer’s Keeper survey of 4,000 farmers shows 20% are cutting corn acres as record fertilizer prices and supply gaps force last-minute shifts toward soybeans and other crops to protect profitability.
In a candid conversation with Farm Journal, USDA Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden says USDA’s message to fertilizer companies is simple: “Be part of the solution, don’t be part of the problem.”
Temple Rhodes explains how moving away from front-loaded fertilizer use to what he calls a “layered, systematic approach” — using nitrogen, phosphorus and biologicals — is helping him build corn yields despite increased regulatory demands.
University of Illinois researcher details scenarios in corn and soybeans where biological products can provide value.
The leadership for New Corteva and SpinCo aims to drive growth through a specialized focus on crop protection and advanced seed genetics.
As the Iran war drives fertilizer prices up 40%, the Trump administration is warning against price gouging. A new survey shows only 60% of corn farmers have secured their nitrogen needs for 2026.
Today’s market is evolving, not just correcting, according to ag economists. To win the long game, farmers are using generics and delaying machinery purchases as trade shifts to allies and consumers demand premium meat portions.
Sixth-generation Minnesota farmer Carson Kahler is putting homemade nitrogen to the test this season, evaluating its field performance and whether the investment truly pencils out.
Two Midwest farmers say they’ve made the cuts they can, leaving fine-tuned field passes, smarter marketing and policy fixes as the next line of defense.
Indiana farmer Jason Mauck uses his wheat crop as a “supporting actor” to increase soybean yields and boost profits.
The 1,200-acre farmer says earthworms are central to his success in growing no-till corn, soybeans and winter wheat.
When the daily demands of an operation become overwhelming, long-term strategy is often the first thing to go. But what if hard times are actually the best time to grow?
Agronomist Eric Beckett shares strategies for managing tillage, product applications and budgets despite what’s shaping up to be a dry and potentially windy spring.
Fertilizer price spikes are clouding spring planting as farmers warn of mounting financial strain, while lawmakers push for greater transparency with recently proposed legislation in both the House and Senate.
From Mehlich-3 to Olsen P, the extractant method your lab uses can help you interpret the data and manage inputs for more ROI.
While an unexpected March freeze is causing some farmers in Mississippi to replant corn, a mild spring is spurring early planting, with some farmers reporting they’ll finish planting corn by the end of this week.