Phosphate
“UAN is easily the most important topic right now,” says Josh Linville at StoneX. “That is because it is no longer a price story—it’s a ‘can you even find it supply story.’”
Randy Hughes is continually refining his fertility program and has seen yields improve 40 bu. to 50 bu. per acre over the past six years. Hughes chats with corn yield champs David Hula and Randy Dowdy about the importance of being a lifelong student of the crop.
With a career focusing in nutrient management, earlier this winter Tom Snipes became CEO of fertilizer breakout company Ostara as it continues to expand the footprint with its Crystal Green fertilizer.
New Product of the Year runner-up RhizoSorb puts an emphasis on phosphorus sustainability from start to finish.
Among the independent field agronomists’ recommendations: Address your No. 1 yield-limiting factor, employ the 5% rule and fix soil pH.
“There might be ways for farmers to become more efficient with fertilizer while maintaining yield, but only by carefully analyzing each farm, field and soil management zone,” says Ken Ferrie. He shares 4 tips to cut fertilizer with confidence.
The grower currently broadcast applies P and K ahead of planting but is considering moving to strip-till applications like he uses in corn.
The enzyme in Phosforce is already in the soil but available in limited supply, and application accelerates the biochemical reactions in the soil to tap an previous unused pool of soil phosphorus.
The Fertilizer Institute’s 2024 Fertilizer Industry Economic Impact Study details the contributions of the U.S. fertilizer industry to the economy and also explains the global nature of fertilizer markets.
Farmers are making the decision between buying fertilizer now amid some of the tightest crop margins ever, waiting until spring to make purchases or cutting the input all together.