Navigating Today’s Economic Challenges: Strategic Nutrient Management for Growers

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Tightened profit margins have prompted a renewed focus on operational efficiency, particularly in nutrient management, where every input dollar must work harder. By embracing innovative solutions and strategic planning, growers can feel more confident in the face of uncertainty. To explore how these challenges can be transformed into opportunities, we spoke with Matt Fryer, technical agronomist for Koch Agronomic Services (KAS).

How do rising costs and volatile commodity prices impact decision-making at an operation level?

Growers are navigating a difficult economic landscape with high expenses and lower market returns, making every decision count. With thin margins, every dollar spent must bring value, so growers are closely scrutinizing each product’s return on investment to protect their bottom line and maximize their operation’s profitability.

Economic pressures can also affect growers on a personal level. Many have a deep emotional commitment to their work, and when economic conditions don’t align, it can impact their sense of stability and identity.

Why is it essential to be strategic and intentional with nutrient management plans?

Nitrogen is a key nutrient for crops. But as we have established, it is highly susceptible to loss through volatilization, leaching and denitrification — all of which can severely impact yields and profitability. Volatilization alone can lead to up to 40% nitrogen loss when urea or UAN isn’t properly incorporated or protected. Leaching and denitrification can also contribute to losses, potentially resulting in up to 50% of applied nitrogen being lost over a four- to eight-week period.

Given these risks, a strategic nutrient management plan is vital. By investing in stabilizers and optimizing application timing, growers can reduce nitrogen losses and maximize the return on every dollar invested. Nitrogen is susceptible to loss, regardless of the price of corn. How we approach protecting this valuable nutrient is critical to preserving yields and making the most of a grower’s investment. A strategic approach can make all the difference in a challenging market.

Whether a grower applies nitrogen in the fall or spring, keeping it in the root zone is essential so crops can absorb it when needed most during the growing season. With a well-planned nutrient management strategy that includes proper timing and stabilizer products, growers can help prevent nitrogen loss and increase operational efficiency.

What best practices and strategies can growers adopt to enhance nitrogen use efficiency and optimize their ROI?

Growers should combine trusted resources and strategic approaches to maximize their nutrient investment. Building relationships with local university extension partners provides valuable insights into soil needs and fertilizer recommendations, helping growers understand the science behind nutrient rates and apply resources more effectively. By incorporating the 4Rs of nutrient stewardship — applying the right source at the right rate, at the right time and in the right place — growers can enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of their nutrient management strategies.

Regular soil testing plays an important role in identifying nutrient levels, preventing over-application, and optimizing nitrogen inputs. In addition, in-season tissue sampling and end-of-season cornstalk nitrate tests can help growers fine-tune nitrogen applications, revealing if they’re under or over-applying nitrogen and guiding adjustments for future growing seasons.

While soil testing and tissue sampling are often considered an extra cost, they are a worthwhile investment in understanding exactly what your crops need.

Working closely with local university extension specialists gives growers a clearer understanding of their soils’ needs and helps them make informed adjustments, especially in today’s tight economic climate. This knowledge, combined with the 4Rs framework, helps growers target nutrient applications more effectively, saving costs while promoting soil health and productivity.

Koch Agronomic Services: Your partner in protecting nitrogen and boosting yield potential

KAS is dedicated to empowering growers with the resources, expertise and products they need to maximize their productivity and protect their nitrogen investments.

At KAS, we see ourselves as more than just a supplier of products; we’re a partner in helping growers succeed. Our team works closely with ag retailers and growers to help them make informed nutrient management decisions backed by science and years of agronomic research.

Through stabilizers like ANVOL™ and CENTURO™ and the stabilized finished fertilizer SUPERU™, KAS offers solutions that help growers minimize nitrogen loss, safeguard yields and enhance long-term profitability. Partnering with KAS gives growers access to the tools and expertise they need to optimize nitrogen use, strengthen their return on investment and sustain productivity season after season.

To find a rep or retailer near you, visit https://kochagronomicservices.com/find-a-rep.

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