Iowa farmers expect to harvest a good corn crop this fall but spring germination issues will likely keep it from topping 2023 crop yields, says Nutrien Ag Solutions crop consultant Jeff Hink.
In this report from the Farm Progress Show in Boone, Iowa, Hink takes a look at how growers in the state are changing and adapting their nitrogen use practices and strategies to make more timely application to optimize corn yield and return on investment, while minimizing loss.
Hink emphasizes that any effective nutrient management strategy is well rooted in the 4Rs — applying fertilizer at the right time, place, source, and rate. When it comes to nitrogen, he notes a growing trend towards less fall application and more in-season applications to maximize return on investment.
Overall, Hink says sidedressing and split applications have allowed growers to better target their nitrogen inputs to when the crop needs the nitrogen to optimize yield. He notes that growers are also adjusting rates based on soil types as well as yield potential.
Hink is also seeing an increasing fit for slow release nitrogen products like ESN Smart Nitrogen which helps protect nitrogen from leaching during heavy rains. His preferred strategy, to help manage the increasing challenge of weather events, involves a base rate of UAN in the spring followed by applications at specific corn growth stages, leveraging ESN and ammonium sulphate for flexibility and efficiency. Watch the video below.
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