There is no doubt that the agricultural industry has had to navigate a more challenging economic landscape in recent years. During uncertain economic conditions like these, farmers work to continue to meet crop demand while reducing costs, increasing profitability, and maintaining yield. As you begin looking at the best ways to reduce costs and save money, remember that there are certain amendments and products you should never cut back on.
The four basic elements that can increase yield include sunshine, adequate water, adequate nutrients, and superior genetics. Other crop inputs and farm expenditures may protect crops, but they will not increase potential yield. Farmers can manage their water supply with soil water conservation and irrigation water application if it’s available in their region. But for most farms, only adequate nutrients and the selection of the best crop genetics for their farm can actually increase yield potential. Let’s dig into adequate nutrition.
Adequate Nutrients
As farmers grow high-yielding crops that have continued to demand more of our soil, and the nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, and sulfur that we have in the soil nutrient bank, fertilizer has become a critical component of sustainable nutrient management plans.
When finances are tight, make science-based decisions before cutting back on fertilizer. Fertilizers provide the building blocks of essential nutrients to create a foundation for higher yield potential. Without fertilizer nutrients, crop yield, quality, and soil health will continuously decline. Soil tests, field trials, and advice from trusted agronomists can help you determine the right rates required for each nutrient and the amount required for plant development. If you ignore the adequate amount required of each nutrient, then every other dollar spent on your farm is at risk of loss.
While fertilizer is essential to helping provide your crops with all the nutrients they need to grow, it’s also essential to the long-term health of your soil. Fertilizer allows you to sustain productive yields on the same land, in the same soil, for longer periods of time; they replenish vital nutrients and preserve and maintain the nutrient bank we rely on for crop production. As fertilizer helps you produce healthy and productive crops, those crops will return more organic matter to the soil and protect it from erosion.
Saving On Fertilizer Dollars
While reducing fertilizer costs may not be a viable option, you can look at managing your nutrients more sustainably to make the most of your fertilizer investment. Consider implementing 4R nutrient stewardship—a sustainable nutrient management framework that can help you use the right fertilizer source, at the right rate, at the right time, and in the right place. You can also take advantage of soil sampling and tissue testing to get a more accurate picture of the nutrients in your soil to make more informed input decisions; it is far more important to focus on the implementing the right rate of each nutrient rather than trying to achieve a lower rate.
eKonomics tools are a great place to start when it comes to managing your fertilizer more efficiently. The Nutrient ROI Calculator helps determine the increase in yield and financial return you will receive from phosphorus and potassium applications. The Nutrient Removal Calculator can help determine how much of each nutrient you should be replacing after harvest. These tools can help you better manage your fertilizer dollars during uncertain financial times and help ensure you don’t have to cut back on your nutrient management plans.
Learn more about the importance of science-based nutrient management and the necessity of crop nutrition no matter what economic conditions you face in the following resources:
Manage Nutrients AND High Fertilizer Prices
Science-Based Nutrient Management in Times of High Fertilizer Prices Part One
Science-Based Nutrient Management in Times of High Fertilizer Prices Part Two
The Dirt Episode 21: The Necessity of Nutrients
Tight Supply Doesn’t Always Mean High Prices
Five Essential Fertilizer Facts About The Power Of Fertilizer
The Dirt Episode 20: Fertilizer – Feeding the World
Building a Soil Nutrient Bank to Maximize Yield Potential
Phosphorus: Because It’s Worth It
Why You Shouldn’t Skip Potassium Application, Even In Uncertain Times
Even with Lower Crop Prices, Investing in K Can Be Very Profitable
Sources:
¹The Ugly Truth: 2023 and 2024 Will Go Down As the Two Largest Declines in Net Farm Income Ever
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