Nitrogen loss: Lessons learned from the 2024 growing season is the big topic on today's episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast. What N application practices looked particularly bad in 2024? Some farmers are saying they are no longer going to apply fall N based on how 2024 played out. Is this warranted, or is it an overreaction? Is there any data back from split-application trials, or evaluations of rescue treatments? What did it tell us? In hindsight, what would have been ideal practices...

In episode 12 of the Advancing Nitrogen Smart series Brad and Dan talk in detail about nitrification inhibitors. What are the two types of inhibitors, and what are best practices for incorporation? How do soil type, temperature, and precipitation factor into farmer decision-making? How much time does a nitrification inhibitor buy you? In what circumstances should inhibitors be avoided altogether? These answers and many, many more on today's episode. Guests: Brad Carlson, Extension educator...

Today we’re talking all about fall application. What's the first thing farmers should know about applying in fall? What’s the difference in N efficiency at 50 the degree threshold versus even a 55 degree threshold, and then when have those degree dates happened historically? Guests: Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato)Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)Additional resources: Minnesota Department of Agriculture Soil Temperature NetworkSouthern Research and...

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, our panelists discuss liming in detail. What kind of variation is there in liming recommendations? Since pH changes aren’t instant, when is the best time to apply limestone? Is lime application economically justified, and in what circumstances? What should growers know about selecting liming materials? What other bits of advice do our panelists recommend? Guests: John Jones, Soil Fertility, plant nutrition, and nutrient management research,...

In this episode of Advancing Nitrogen Smart, Melissa Wilson, Extension manure management specialist joins Brad Carlson to discuss fall manure application. What are the most important dos and don'ts of fall application? How much time can nitrification inhibitors buy you after application? What's the optimum soil temperature for application, and what if you can't wait? What are characteristics of manure from different sources, and how can they work to your advantage? Guests: Brad Carlson,...

In this episode of the Advancing Nitrogen Smart series, we discuss probably the most important topic for many farmers - rate. What makes both over-application and under-application of nitrogen counter-productive in terms of yield? How does a Maximum Return To Nitrogen (MRTN) rate approach differ from a yield-based approach? What are long-term environmental consequences of over-application, and how does this relate to a farmer's operation? What are some ways to address in-field variability...

This episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast is our annual fall fertilizer outlook. After such a challenging growing season throughout most of the state, how do things look headed toward harvest? Since most of the state went from being too dry last year to too wet this year, how should this affect the approach to fertility management? What role will fertility play in sound financial management this fall? What advice do our panelists give growers as we head into the fall? Guests: Daniel...

In the 8th episode of the Advancing Nitrogen Smart series, we’re taking about timing. What makes understanding timing crucial to using nitrogen efficiently? Should growers apply in fall, and if so, what source should be avoided? Between which growth stages does corn take up the bulk of a field's N? What do weather extremes teach us about optimal timing? Do some timing decisions negatively affect farmers' finances? In what ways? Guests: Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato)Daniel Kaiser,...

In this episode of the Advancing Nitrogen Smart series, our two experts discuss nitrogen pools. What are nitrogen pools, and where do we find them? How is N actually consumed by the plant, and what forms of N will plants take up more readily? What are some potential signs of N deficiency in the plant? How do nitrogen pools relate back to the 4R's, like timing? Guests: Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato)Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)Additional...

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, we’re talking about phosphorus fertilizer guidelines throughout Minnesota and the Midwest. What are current state guidelines throughout the region, and are they satisfactory? Should farmers forgo taking a soil test to measure their P levels, or should the test be prioritized? Might state phosphorus guidelines need to be revised, and if so, in what ways? What guidance or advice pertaining to phosphorus guidelines would our panelists tell...

In this 6th episode of the Advancing Nitrogen Smart series, we’re taking an up-close look at the nitrogen transformation process. We’ll talk more about temperature conditions, rainfall versus drainage, and what makes knowing these details so valuable to Minnesota farmers and producers, as well was to growers around the world. Guests: Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato)Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)Additional resources: NitrogenUnderstanding nitrogen...

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, we’re talking about manure application in 2024. What’s the value of manure today, given that fertilizer prices are still elevated compared to 2018 and 2019? What does long-term research show us about manure’s value, and how might this information benefit growers and producers? Which manure best management practices (BMPs) help growers be most efficient? In what ways has ManureDB benefited farmers since its launch one year ago? What’s on the...

In the 5th episode of the Advancing Nitrogen Smart series, we’re talking about the ways the soil stores water, and how nitrogen transforms in that soil under different climate conditions. We’ll discuss field saturation and the water budget, heat units and how to track them, and how these trends have changed throughout MN over the last 60 years. Guests: Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato)Additional Resources Nitrogen...

In the 4th episode of the Advancing Nitrogen Smart series, we’re talking in-depth about sidedress. What are the growth stages critical to growers when sidedressing? What are options for assessing whether to add supplemental N, and how should they be used? How do wet conditions affect yield, and are rescue treatments economically advantageous? What sensing methods are available (such as drones) and what are their pros and cons? Guests: Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist...

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, we’re talking about supplemental nitrogen fertilizer. What are conditions like around the state? What practices do the worst looking fields seem to have in common? How does a producer assess their situation? What are some recommendations moving forward? Guests: Fabian Fernandez, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)Jeff Vetsch, U of M researcher (Waseca)Brad...

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, we’re talking all about biologicals. What should companies consider as they test their biological products? Can growers reduce their nitrogen requirements due to biological use? Is there new research out there that tells us about biologicals’ effectiveness? What should growers watch out for when they consider companies’ claims about biological products? Guests: Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)Carl Rosen,...

In this episode of the Advancing Nitrogen Smart podcast series, we’re talking all about carryover nitrogen. Our two panelists explain what carryover nitrogen is, how and when to test for carryover nitrogen, and what to keep in mind with this potential N fertilizer credit for Minnesota growers. Guests: Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato)Additional resources: Do you have nitrogen carryover?Fertilizing corn in...

In this episode of the Advancing Nitrogen Smart series, we’re talking in-depth about nitrogen best management practices. How are BMPs calculated, and how do they change over time? What should growers keep in mind regarding regional adjustments in the BMPs? What kinds of risks are these BMPs designed to address? How do the 4 Rs figure in to Minnesota's nitrogen best management practices? Guests: Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)Brad Carlson, Extension educator...

Understanding how nitrogen behaves in the environment is more important than ever. Having access to unbiased, research-based information is crucial for growers as they try to make the most efficient input decisions for their farms, maximizing profits while at the same time minimizing nitrogen loss to the environment. For the last decade, the Nitrogen Smart curriculum at University of Minnesota Extension has been examining and unpacking the latest in nitrogen research. This program is now...

Understanding how nitrogen behaves in the environment is more important than ever. And when growers have access to unbiased, research-based information, they’re better equipped to make farm-specific nitrogen management decisions. Here at Advancing Nitrogen Smart, we unpack and examine the latest up-to-date nitrogen data to help farmers maximize their profits while at the same time minimize nitrogen loss to the environment. We cover topics that are timely and relevant for Minnesota farmers...

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, we’re talking about nitrogen and sulfur application. What does current nitrogen and sulfur research mean for Minnesota growers? What do we know about the relationship between N and S in crops? What -if any- considerations should farmers make when applying S? Do N application rates need to be changed? With an earlier planting window this year will there be any issues related to N and S growers should be concerned about? Guests: Daniel...

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, we’re talking about soybean fertilizer management. What should farmers who are growing soybeans this year be thinking about, including IDC concerns from last year? What does new research tell us about soybean and sulfur? Are there other nutrients or practices that our panelists do or don't suggest for soybean based on current research? What tips do our panelists have for Minnesota soybean growers looking to increase yield? Guests: Daniel...

This episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast is our 2024 Spring fertilizer outlook: Key decisions after a warm winter. What are the field conditions our panelists are seeing across the state? What options for early fertilizer application should Minnesota growers consider? What practices should be avoided-and why? Should growers be concerned about nitrogen carryover? What economic practices should growers keep in mind as the season begins? Guests: Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient...

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, we’re talking about cover crops in Minnesota: Recent challenges and future solutions. What were the cover crop issues for 2022 and 2023? Based on the conditions right now and from last spring, what might some good management practices be going forward? What was the decision-making process for a panelist adjusting rye seeding rate requirements in the fall of 2024 when drilled. What advice would the panel have for someone brand new to cover...