If you’re no-tilling and seeding cover crops, you’re in a much better position to deal with higher nitrogen (N) prices than many other growers. That’s because cover crops can provide up to 100 pounds per acre of N you don’t have to buy.

Iranian Crisis

Due to the conflict with Iran, price increases since late winter have ranged from 20-25% for anhydrous ammonia to over 40% for urea. As a result, many growers are trimming N rates.  

For corn following soybeans the latest University of Illinois recommendation is 178 pounds of N per acre applied in the fall or 172 pounds of N with spring application. For corn following corn, the N guideline drops from 194 to 186, a reduction of 8 pounds per acre.

An 8 pound per acre reduction would save nearly $5 per acre at the $1,000 per ton price of anhydrous. With spring applications of a liquid solution or urea, the savings reach $7 per acre. 

Home-Grown Nitrogen

Oregon State University data indicates cover crops can provide up to 100 pounds per acre of N. The actual credit depends on the percentage of N of the cover crop biomass. 

Hairy vetch is often considered the best cover crop for producing nitrogen. Sometimes it can provide most or all the N needed for a corn crop. 

In combination with long-term efforts to build soil health, legume cover crops often deliver enough N to meet the needs of most or all of a corn crop’s needs. In fact, some corn growers have found no-tilling corn into a living red clover cover crop can reduce N purchases to only 60 pounds per acre with 250-bushel corn.

When writing a check for costly fertilizer, no-till and cover crops keep you from spending even more dollars. With 1,000 acres of no-till corn, your savings could reach as much as $45,000.

Plus, it’s a good time to show your banker the many benefits of cover crops, especially when it means you’ll be needing less money for fertilizer in these tough times.