Soil testing remains one of the most cost-effective methods for farmers and ag retail advisors to optimize ROI while avoiding unneeded nutrient applications. With wheat harvest wrapping up, these harvested fields are prime areas for grid or zone sampling plans that can identify nutrient variability within the field.
Areas of fields with deficient nutrient levels can be located and be brought up to sufficient levels, boosting yield potential. Identifying areas with excess nutrient levels offers the opportunity to reduce nutrient application rates in those areas, while still maintaining full yield potential. The cost of a soil testing program, as a result, is well worth it in terms of the full range of economic benefits back to the farm business.
There continue to be substantial environmental benefits to soil testing, which supports farmers’ ongoing efforts to protect soil health and water quality. Soil testing promotes strong on-farm stewardship by optimizing nutrient use and avoiding runoff.
Both of these benefits are enhanced by the continued advance of technology. One of the most exciting elements of modern agriculture is the pace at which visualization and modeling based on gathered data can benefit on-farm decision making. This holds true with soil testing data. Modern variable rate application equipment can utilize the data layers generated by intensive soil sampling to precisely apply prescribed fertilizer rates on a sub-acre basis.
Ag retail advisors – including more than 300 Certified Crop Advisers across Michigan – can work with farmers to help them craft a soil testing program tailored to their business.
Managing these open wheat fields into the fall benefits from a cost-effective soil testing program, with intensive soil testing offering the opportunity to benefit farm economics in both the short and long-term.
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.
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Michigan’s Pesticide Container Recycling Program provides cost-free recycling opportunities for pesticide users to properly and safely dispose of containers. The program is a partnership between the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program, the Michigan Agri-Business Association, the Ag Container Recycling Council and pesticide users across Michigan. The program ensures that plastics are recycled or converted to other beneficial uses instead of taking up landfill space and decreases the likeliness that unclean or improperly stored contents will leach pesticide residue into the environment.
U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin (MI-07) recently announced that she is co-leading bipartisan legislation to encourage domestic production of minerals critical to U.S. economic and national security by adding phosphate and potash – minerals used for the production of fertilizer – to the Department of Interior’s Critical Minerals List. The legislation can be found HERE.
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