Should You Use Micronutrients or BioStimulants

Should You Use Micronutrients or BioStimulants

Nutrient Management

A recent article in Prairie Farmer explores the use of micro-nutrients and bio-stimulants.  Karen Corrigan is quoted extensively and she is a very respected agronomist.  Karen says to use both soil testing and tissue sampling to determine needs.  I find myself in agreement with her concerning many of the additive mixes.  Often the amount of nutrient in the mixes will not completely correct a real problem area.

I also learned from Ted Peck that correcting the macro-nutrients and soil pH soil be done first.  If P, K, Ca, and Mg are not correct, there is no use messing around with the micros.  I always try to correct the big things first.  After a year or two we can look at micro's when everything else is right.  If you macro-nutrients are all at or above ideal levels, then perhaps you can push yields with micro-nutrients.

Bio-stimulants are coming into their own with many of the bigger ag supply companies owning or researching products.  Some of the products that are used for seed treatments have become mainstream.  Others need to be tested on your farm as Ms. Corrigan points out.

Phosphorous Pollution

Phosphorous Pollution

Nutrient Management Water Quality

When I was getting my degree, we were taught that phosphorous does not move.  In the modern world we hear of problems created by phosphorous in our surface waters.  Recent issues in Lake Erie, especially in the Toledo area is teaching us that phosphorous does move.  Very little phosphorous can also cause big problems.  Why is the problem surfacing now.  In many places farmers have been cutting back.  Nutrient stratification could be an issue.  No-Till could be an issue.  Joe Nester, A consultant in Ohio has been looking at rainfall pH as an issue.  He has run some simple tests and found that dissolved phosphorous does increase as rainfall pH approached 6 or a bit higher. Click on the link to learn more about the Great Soluble Phosphorous Mystery.

Responsible Nutrient Management

Responsible Nutrient Management

cover crops Nutrient Management Soil Management

We have spent the past three days at the National No-Till Conference in St. Louis.  Not only is this a great No-Till Conference, but it is a great crop production conference.

At the Luncheon on the first day, Responsible Nutrient Management Practitioners we awarded for their diligence in taking care of their soil nutrient levels.  Jason Carter, Mike Werling, and Mike Taylor were recognized for their nutrient management programs.  Jason Carter is using chicken litter to build his soils up.  His program also includes annual soil testing to measure progress.  As his soil has improved, he has cut back on chicken litter.

Mike Werling is looking at economics and applying fertilizer at modest rates to maximize profits.  He soil tests every three years.  Cover cr ops are also a component of his program.  Werling uses less than one pound per bushel of corn to produce high yields economically.

Mike Taylor makes sure his soil tests correlate with soil types on his farm.  He also uses cover crops and lower than average fertilizer rates to produce higher than average yields.  He uses variable rate technology as appropriate and also applies in row fertilizer to spoon feed his crops.  He is using No-till and cover crops to improve organic matter levels on the topsoil.

Water Quality Issues

Water Quality Issues

Nutrient Management

In the business of nutrient management, maintaining productive nutrient levels in the soil has been a driving force.  In the modern day world, we need to be more sensitive to the effects of fertilizer on water quality.  High soil test levels of phosphorous can pollute our water and contribute to declining water quality in our rivers lakes and streams.  Keeping soil test levels around ideal will help minimze the loss of phosphorous.  Ideal P1 levels are 25 to 30 ppm.  Ideal Mehlich 3 levels are 30 to 35 ppm.  Multiply the listed levels by 2 if your reports come in pounds per acre.  higher levels may be acceptable on high pH soils.

Nitrogen management is more challenging, although most farms can make improvelents on their nitrogen management as well.  Nitrogen testing, split applications and cutting back on overall rates are all practices that should be looked into. With low crop prices, using the N RATE CALCULATOR will help you determine the rate of return on you nitrogen application and keep nitrogen applications at environmentally friendly levels.  In season soil tests can help you factor in weather during the growing season.  Nitrogen modelling such as is done by Climate Corp may also be useful. Cover crops can convert soil nitrogen into a more stable form for release during the growing season. The Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy is saying, don't stand pat on managing your nutrients.  Do something.  Why?  The EPA has found that 4 in 10 Lakes Have Excessive Nitrogen or Phosphorus Levels.   The days of multiplying your expect yield by 1.2 to get your nitrogen rate are over.  You should be giving it more thought than that.

Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy

Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy

Nitrogen management Nutrient Management

Today I attended a meeting on the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy.  It looks like the information push is on; there was an article in FarmWeek News this week.  The meeting went over what can be done to reduce nitrogen loss and phosphorous loss.  Then  there was a discussion on programs available.  The final presentation was on drainage water management.

One of the things that caught my eye is that water testing is available so you can have your drainage water tested for nitrates.  I have always thought this was a good idea, but never got anyone to do it because I had to charge for it.  Click on the link to find out how to collect you samples and where to take them.  The testing is confidential, but gives yo an idea whether or not you need to do something about nitrogen management on your farm.

Nitrogen or Phosphorous Based Manure Management.

Nitrogen or Phosphorous Based Manure Management.

manure Nutrient Management

I read a research article on using phosphorous to determine manure rate instead of maxing out the nitrogen.  The Cornell researchers did some in field research and found that they were short on nitrogen if they based the application on phosphorous.  This is not really surprising. You could do the math.  The advantage of applying manure based on phosphorous need is that it will help you keep disolved phosphorous out of our water.  In addition, if you make a small application of fertilizer nitroen, it will speed up the mineralization of the manure nitrogen.  It might save you a little on fertilizer too. 

Nutrient Management and Edge Conference Day 2

Nutrient Management and Edge Conference Day 2

Nutrient Management

i probably need to share more details on a few presentations today, but for now I just have a few quick observations to share.

• Matt Lechtenberg says that he thinks it will take more than 4R to have a significant impact on water quality
• Kevin King said that acceptable leves of dissolved P were achieved where soil test P values are not excessive
• several speakers pointed out that half of dissolved P in surface waters is from tile water.  That is surprising to many.  
• Conservation Activities 201 and 202 are for monitoring.  

Is Nutrient Management Regulation Here?

Is Nutrient Management Regulation Here?

Nutrient Management

The past year or so has seen algae blooms in Lake Eire, lawsuits in Des Moines and courts ruling that manure if over applied is a pollutant.  Crops and Soils Magazine says, Risk Drives Demand for Professional Nutrient Management.  Their article is geared toward CCA's but the reality is that consultants and farmers are partners.  Irresponsible advice and irresponsible fertilizer and manure usage are problems for everyone involved.  Over application of manure can cause issues with pollution from excessive nitrogen and phosphorous.  I am still waiting for the first CCA in Illinois to be taken to task for selling nitrogen inappropriately in the fall.  We all need to work together to account for and use nutrients responsibly.

Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy

Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy

manure Nitrogen management Nitrogen Testing Nutrient Management

Illinois is implementing a voluntary nutrient loss reduction strategy.  The strategy was developed by the Illinois Department of Agriculture, the University of Illinois, The fertilizer industry, and commodity groups active in Illinois.  The purpose of the strategy is to reduce nitrogen and phosphorous entering the hypoxia zone in the Gulf of Mexico. You can help to implement the strategy by applying phosphorous and potassium according to soil test indications.  You should consider applying nitrogen according to the Nrate calculator.  In season nitrogen tests and chlorophyll sensors are practices that might be useful to make in season corrections.

Another key to reducing nutrient loss is reducing soil loss on your farm.  High residue levels and no-till are very effective in soil loss reduction.  Sediment basins, grassed waterways, and filter strips can also be useful in keeping nutrients on the farm.  Safe manure handling is also part of the strategy.  It is time for farmers to get serious about the strategy to avoid further regulation.  A lot of environmentalists are saying it can't be done.  We all need to work together to prove them wrong.  

Soil Fertility P and K

Soil Fertility P and K

Nutrient Management soil fertility

I attended a soil fertility seminar sponsored by Extension Service yesterday.  It was a telenet conference and well attended.  The presenters all gave science based, research data supported presentations.

Dr. Fabian Fernandez of University of Minnesota started the day discussing application rates and methods for Phosphorous and Potassium. He discussed the merits of banding vs. broadcast placement of fertilizer and how to soil sample in banded fields.  While I don't recall him saying it flat out, he advocated for multiple cores per sample.

He had research to support his saying that there is little difference in banding vs broadcast.  In one study he found that tillage method made a bigger difference than fertilizer placement.  Strip till did better than No-till.  He also said that you shoould not skimp on rate even if you band fertilizer.

He told us that we should avoid shortcuts when taking soil samples and use our soil test information to manage our P and K.

Subsoil Phosphorous Problems

Subsoil Phosphorous Problems

Nutrient Management Phosphorous Management

Dissolved phosphorous in our surface water remains in the news.  One of the problems with dissolved phosphorous is that it becomes a problem at relatively low concentrations.  With nitrogen applied at agronomic rates, losses cut into yields.  With phosphorous, the losses are probably having an effect on yields.  Phosphorous losses also run counter to the basics we learned in beginning soils classes.  We were taught that phosphorous does not usually  leave the field except with soil particles, ie erosion. 

CSA news this month has an article that talks about phosphorous losses from subsoil.  The article goes on to say that there is good evidence that soil drainage is a culprit.  We can prevent or reduce phosphorous losses with tillage, but then we risk erosion losses.  We solve one problem and create another.  This study does not look at soil phosphorous test levels, but other information I have seen says that dissolved phosphorous in surface water increases as soil test phosphorous levels increase.  Nutrient stratification is also an issue.  We apply phosphorous over the top, even in no-till situations, but the surface applied phosphorous then concentrates at the surface and dissolves into otherwise fairly clean runoff.

In many ways the idea of over applying nutrients to store them for later is past.

• We need to reduce soil phosphorous levels where concentrations are high. 
• Tillage may be a good management tool where erosion is low risk.
• Manure needs to be applied to fields where the nutrients are need.  We can't just use the same field over and over as a disposal site.
• Applying nutrients on frozen or show covered ground can increase the risk of nutrient runoff, even though it won't happen every time.
• Keep soil test levels below 40 ppm Meilich 3 P.   

The above article concludes that we probably don't know enough about how to manage phosphorous to prevent problems. 

New EPA CAFO rules

New EPA CAFO rules

livestock Nutrient Management

By Janette Swartz - Soilright Consultant.

I attended the EPA’s meeting on the updated CAFO (concentrated animal feeding operation) rules. I thought I would give an update on the notes I took from the meeting.  If there is anything to take away from the meeting it would be recordkeeping.  If you have a Certified Manure Management Plan keep records when applying manure to the fields. The first thing the EPA will ask for if they show up at your farm are your records.

They discussed some best management practices that you should implement:

·       It’s important to have the proper crop information.

·       Use realistic crop yields.

·       Know the nutrient values of your manure.

·       Use the proper agronomic manure application rates.

·       Properly dispose of any chemicals.

·       Protocols for proper spill prevention and control.

·       Annual reviews of practices.

·       Maintenance of records.

·       Maintain Soil Analysis.

·       Test manure at least once a year.

The land application fields should now be sampled twice within five years. The phosphate levels need to be maintained at levels lower than 300 pounds per acre. The new rules state manure applications are to be 50 feet from a grass waterway when applying manure unless there is a vegetative buffer. The setback from a residence for manure applications are a quarter of a mile, two hundred feet for surface waters, and a hundred feet from a tile inlet. Applications of manure on snow covered or frozen ground will require a written notice to the EPA by December 1^stof that year.

Have a Balanced Nutrient Management Program

Have a Balanced Nutrient Management Program

Nitrogen management Nutrient Management

Everyone has seen von Liebig's law of minimums illustrated with the barrel.  Researchers have confirmed that nitrogen is less efficient when other nutrients are  lacking. No-till Farmer published the results.  It is always good to see what we preach confirmed by research.  We have seen nutrient deficiency manifest themselves in a deficiency in one nutrient when another nutrient is actually the culprit based on soil test results.  One of the ways that we are going to make nitrogen more efficient is by making sure that no nutrients are deficient. 

Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy Criticized

Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy Criticized

Nutrient Management

Prairie Farmer published criticism of the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy.  I am sharing this because it just demonstrates how important it is for farmers to attempt to follow the strategy.  There is still time to somnolent on the strategy as well. 

Fertilizer and Water Quality

Fertilizer and Water Quality

Nutrient Management Nutrients

Recently the City of Des Moines, IA decided to sue upstream counties because of the high nitrogen content in their source water.  You may recall my recent post about the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy, so this news illustrates why we need to do our best to implement the strategy.  The Des Moines Lawsuit details are in this Prairie Farmer article. 

Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy

Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy

Nutrient Management

Illinois is in the process of  implementing a nutrient  reduction strategy.  The strategy is voluntary at least for now.  Illinois Council on Best Management Practices  has links and information.  IEPA has the information too and they are accepting comments.  The document is loaded with information about nutrient loads in Illinois waters. 

They are suggesting that nitrogen loss can be reduced by having farmers use the Nrate calculator to determine N rates.  They would also like to see more use of nitrification and urease inhibitors.  Cover crops are also part of the strategy.  In addition, sidedress applications are to be encouraged. 

Bioreactors, wetlands, drainage management,  and buffers on field edges are also part of the strategy.

Soil Test Phosphorous levels have been found to be higher than necessary for maximum yield in 595 of Illinois fields.  One goal is to reduce that level by adding less phosphorous.  Reducing soil erosion is also a big part of the strategy. Poultry and hog farmers will need to distribute their nutrients further from the source in order to reduce Phosphorous loss. 

The strategy lists the traditional programs available for implementation of practices need to reduce nutrient losses in Illinois.  My opinion is that farmers will need to rely on their consultants and suppliers to make a serious dent in nutrient reduction. I do not see enough money in the programs listed to have a serious impact. We all need to work together on the goals.  We need those agencies who developed the strategies to publicize the need for implementation. 

I hope you will take time to comment to IEPA. 

Illinois Nutrient Reduction Strategy

Illinois Nutrient Reduction Strategy

Nutrient Management

Illinois EPA is proposing a new nutrient reduction strategy to address concerns about water quality.  Prairie Farmer provides a good summary of the proposed strategy. The comment period is open.  Check the link in the Prairie Farmer article.  Here is the executive summary.  Check out the full strategy too.  Who is on the policy Working group is very eye opening.  One of the strategies that worries me is that they are advocating the Maximum return to nitrogen strategy. I understand the strategy and think it can be a good one under certain circumstances, but it may be yield limiting when environmental circumstances might indicate a need for a rescue treatment.

To their credit they are targeting urban runoff s well as agricultural.

If this does not seem real and urgent consider that the state of Ohio has recently adopted lawsconerning nutrient applications on runoff entering Lake Erie and other targeted watersheds.

How are you Doing with your CNMP

How are you Doing with your CNMP

livestock Nutrient Management

Today I read a recent article "Nutrient Management Plans - How Closely do Farmers Follow Them?" in Crops and Soils Magazine.  They cite a study that seems to indicate that only about 27% of livestock farmers are following their Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans. My guess would be that the plans are so detailed that their is no way they are certain they are following the plan.  It would also be my guess that if they are doing the soil testing as required, and the record keping as required, they are pretty close to be i compliance.  One of the issues raised was  that farmers are not sure about release rates especially of nitrogen.   My solution would be that they use the presidedress nitrate test and add extra nitrogen as needed.

The article also points out that written plans are needed only for large Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations CAFO's).  What is seldom pointed out is that all livestock operations must comply with rules no matter what size.

I think the plans need to be much simpler so that farmers will actually look at them from time to time.  The smallest one I ever wrote was in a 1 inch binder. The largest one was ina 3 inch binder.  Even though I reviewed it page by page with the clients, I suspect that review may be last time they looked at the plan. I always tried to get critical information on one page if possible.  When to spread manure and where on one page, and additional nutrients needed  on each field was on another page.