Spoon-Feeding Your Crops

We dive deep into nitrogen management strategies, balancing science with the practical realities of farm operations to maximize yield while controlling input costs.

• Fall versus spring anhydrous application depends on soil conditions, workload management, and weather patterns
• Soil temperature and biology significantly impact nitrogen availability to crops
• Soil moisture must be adequate to properly seal anhydrous and convert it to plant-available forms
• Progressive farmers are achieving nitrogen efficiency rates around 0.7 pounds per bushel of corn
• Side-dressing nitrogen at V3 growth stage offers optimal timing for corn utilization
• Spoon-feeding mobile nutrients like nitrogen, sulfur, and boron maximizes fertilizer efficiency
• Early morning applications of foliar products provide yield advantages over midday applications
• Harvesting soybeans at higher moisture (15-16%) rather than waiting until 8-9% could capture 5+ bushels per acre
• Family involvement creates valuable learning opportunities and problem-solving skills for the next generation
• Full-season soybean varieties may provide advantages as growing seasons shift with changing climate patterns

Share this episode with your farming friends and let us know what topics you'd like us to cover by emailing farmersgreatestasset@gmail.com.

Chapters

• 0:14 Welcome and Anhydrous Timing Debate
• 1:17 Soil Conditions Drive Everything
• 5:17 Nitrogen Uptake and Corn Growth
• 9:00 Side Dressing Benefits and Timing
• 15:08 PFR Research and Science-Based Farming
• 22:00 Seeding Rates and Farm Experimentation
• 30:08 Spoon-Feeding Nutrients for Maximum Efficiency
• 38:03 Family Involvement in Farming
• 43:20 Keeping Moisture in Soybeans