Fall is an excellent time to test soils for nutrient levels, both for fertilizer applications that might be made yet this fall, as well as complete nutrient management plans for the following year’s crop. As growers begin to prepare for the 2022 crop year, consulting with a crop adviser to implement purposeful fertilizer management plans is important The fall harvest season marks the start of planning for the 2022 crop, beginning with nutrient management. Fertilizer application plans combine soil test information, yield performance in the field, and detailed fertilizer recommendations to create nutrient management that optimizes crop performance while limiting environmental impacts. With fertilizer prices at higher levels than in past years, comprehensive nutrient management plans are more important than ever. Nutrient management decisions should be driven by data, including assessments of existing soil nutrient levels. Intensive sampling approaches such as grid or zone soil testing provide high levels of resolution to precisely identify optimal nutrient application rates. Fall is an excellent time to test soils for nutrient levels, both for fertilizer applications that might be made yet this fall, as well as complete nutrient management plans for the following year’s crop. Soil test data becomes even more powerful when combined with yield data to assess crop removal. Modern technology allows for nutrient application rates to closely match what’s been removed from the field through grain. Multiple years of data also allow for the identification of productivity zones in the field and provide a better determination of future yield targets than one year’s data alone. Today’s fertilizer recommendations are the result of long-term determination of crop response to nutrient application rates, timing, and placement. Underpinned by scientific measurement, these recommendations are also the product of observed crop response in the field. Putting all these pieces of nutrient management together is where crop advisors excel. Not only are these certified professionals current on new advances in nutrient management, but they also can see trends across a region that might not be seen on a farm level. As growers begin to prepare for the 2022 crop year, consulting with a crop adviser to implement purposeful fertilizer management plans is an important first step. This newsletter is brought to you by the Michigan Agri-Business Association and the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program. For more information, visit miagbiz.org.
