Phosphorus is a vital nutrient for wheat and other small grain production. In many ways it is even more important than nitrogen. We always think of nitrogen as the nutrient that allows plants to grow vigorously, and get the crop off to a good start, but without proper phosphorus levels, adequate or excess nitrogen will [...]
Winter chill hangs in the air, but it’s not too soon to plan for topdressing. Today, we are focusing on the why, when and how of topdressing wheat. Topdressing is the process of adding a second round of nitrogen during late dormancy to early green up, compensating for any deficiencies and giving wheat an extra [...]
The cost of commercial fertilizer is a significant expense each year for crop production. But fertilizer has always been an input with a positive return on investment when applied at proper rates, and when replacing nutrients that are deficient in soils. One fertilizer source that is usually in great demand where available is manure. Beef [...]
Anhydrous and strip tilling can be a match made in heaven or a recipe for disaster. Seedbed preparation and a nitrogen application are accomplished at the same time with strip till, making it an efficient one pass operation. But, timing, soil type, soil moisture and application depth all affect the success of an anhydrous application. [...]
Alfalfa continues to be a valuable commodity across the country. Producing enough quality alfalfa to meet the needs of the beef and dairy industry has been a challenge, especially during the dry years we have experienced lately. In order to maximize forage production, alfalfa needs to be properly managed for pests, water and fertilizer. Sometimes [...]
Sugar’s rich history predates the Age of Discovery, but it was Napoleon Bonaparte who started the sugar beet business. The British had blockades in place in the West Indies and Philippines during the war, so no cane sugar was getting to France. Napoleon commissioned his scientists to find a suitable replacement for cane sugar to [...]
Next to nitrogen, phosphorus is the most important nutrient needed by a wheat crop. Phosphorus (P) is vital for plant development starting when wheat is just a seedling and continuing all the way to maturity. Besides playing a role in the quality and formation of seeds, this nutrient helps ensure uniform heading, faster maturity and [...]
