Wheat Pete's Word, Feb 16: All the ways for K, understanding delta yield, and making the right call

If you’re thinking of using a foliar spray to fix a macro nutrient deficiency, just hold on — Peter “Wheat Pete” Johnson has some thoughts on that.

That’s just one of the topics he covers on this episode of Wheat Pete’s Word. Also on the podcast, hear about other options for glyphosate, why phone calls can matter so much, the nutrient value of straw, and finding Delta yield.

Have a question you’d like Johnson to address or some yield results to send in? Disagree with something he’s said? Leave him a message at 1-888-746-3311, send him a tweet (@wheatpete), or email him at [email protected]

SUMMARY

• There are still Olympics going on, apparently
• Stress in the countryside and online. Please, take a step back and ask, “Are you OK?”
• Glyphosate shortage looming? Possibly
• Tune in to The Agronomists, Feb 28, 8 pm E: Herbicide plan B, C, and so on 
• For corn, we can live without it, decent options
• Starting to hear that four-letter-word: tillage
• Dr. Sikkema suggest one tillage pass has less of a carbon footprint vs. 1 litre glyphosate application
• January was COLD. -7.6 degree C average temp. 24 year average -4.8 (for Strathroy)
• Pete was out in South Dakota last week, and it’s been incredibly mild and little snow
• La Nina effects. Hear more about what to expect in the next few months for Canada here
• Wheat straw demand! A penny a pound covers the PKS removed (not the organic matter). But add in the N, and it’s 2.25 cents/pound. That is nutrient value only
• Potash in the starter can be critical
• Can foliar K work? Nope, it’s a macro, not a micro
• Sand soil, low CEC 120 ppm K in soil test. Below says I need more, more, more. Where does it come from? Soybean crop doesn’t take it all up. Comes out of the corn stalks and organic matter
• Calcium is a smaller molecule than magnesium? Nope, other way around! But it’s hydrated magnesium vs hydrated calcium and when hydrated, calcium is smaller
• What the heck is Delta yield? Essentially its corn yield at zero added N vs non-limited N. That yield difference (Delta), non-limited minus zero strip, equals delta and it’s a way to determine the most economical rate of N

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