With higher fertilizer prices, it appears that many no-tillers are taking a closer look at how nutrients other than nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium can help keep no-till soybean yields at a high level.
One of the fertilizer recommendation philosophy is based on an ideal ratio of soil cations. Another is based simply on the levels of these cations available in soil.
Year after year, fertilizer is the big gorilla in the room when it comes to farm expenditures. In 2014, the readers of No-Till Farmer spent an average of $85,513 per farm to feed their crops — far outpacing the average of $69,732 spent on average, per farm, for land rent.
University of Kentucky Ag Extension explains what agricultural lime is, how it works and why some of these lime "alternatives" aren't going to affect soil pH.
Fall is an excellent time to test soil pH and determine whether any lime needs to be applied for future crops. Proper soil pH is important for nutrient availability, herbicide activity, and crop development. For most soils, additional lime is not needed every year. Consider these points before liming your fields:
Foliar feeding corn and soybeans remains a controversial subject in some corners of agriculture, but not to an increasing number of farmers who are using the practice to fine-tune fertilization strategies to maximize yields.
Shifting from conventional tillage to no-till often requires a lot of physical change in your operation. Just as importantly, adopting this new way of farming demands a strong dose of faith during a transition period that might take several years. I like to joke it’s the same kind of devotion it takes to make a good marriage work.
Five years ago, Nick and Luke Miller returned to Miller Farms near Oconomowoc, Wis., bringing with them a passion for change that works well with the no-till tradition their father, Bob, began 16 years ago.
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