Five Ways to Elevate Your Fertilizer Budget and Nutrient Management Plan
The long-term success of your farm is not only critical to your own profitability and prosperity, but it is critical to the success of the next generation on your farm. Setting up the next generation for success means creating a strong plan now and intensely managing your input costs and return on investment (ROI). During this upcoming growing season, farmers should consider their fertilizer budget along with the following tips to fuel their crops and reduce their costs. The key? Every decision must have a direct purpose behind it.¹
1. Make informed decisions that balance short and long-term goals.
How you choose to invest in your soil now could impact its fertility and productivity for years to come. Carefully weigh decisions around your nutrient management plans and ensure that each decision is informed by data (i.e., soil test results). Reflect on the possibilities that come from each nutrient management decision while thoroughly considering the short and long-term goals of your farm. A great place to start when it comes to making informed nutrient management decisions? The 4R Nutrient Stewardship framework. Designed to help farmers use the right source and rate of fertilizer, at the right time and in the right place, this framework focuses on improving crop productivity, sustainability, and ROI through strategic nutrient management.
2. Examine your nutrient bank using soil test data.
Some fields may contain elevated levels of one nutrient and low levels of others. A soil test can help you uncover these nutrient levels and make more informed nutrient management decisions. If your soil test results find that phosphorus is extremely high in your soil, you may be able to take advantage of that nutrient supply and reduce fertilizer rates for that growing season. Taking advantage of the nutrients that are already in your soil and the nutrient bank account available will allow you to better manage your fertilizer dollars.
3. Better manage your fertilizer budget with management zones.
Some fields on your farm have higher nutrient levels, and some have extremely low nutrient levels. Some areas of your field can withstand a year without additional nutrients, and some cannot. Thus, reducing costs across the board is not always in the best interest of your crop. Take advantage of management zones to better manage your fertilizer dollars this season. Management zones help farmers find fields where fertilizer rates can be adjusted to cut costs while continuing to maintain yield. Rather than cut the cost of fertilizer across your entire farm, you can take a closer look at cutting costs on specific fields where you can afford the decreased fertility.¹
Consider creating a budget that you can adjust based on the needs of your fields. Typically, farmers will invest between 16-20% of their estimated crop income into fertilizer and nutrient management.¹ While each year’s fertility plan will be different, you can adjust your overall budget based on your field’s needs every season.
4. Create and consult your team of trusted agronomists, advisors, and retailers.
Your retailers, agronomists, and advisors are equally invested in your success and prosperity. It’s important to remember to work with your team and lean on them to help support your agronomic decisions and provide insight into your nutrient management plans.
Pro tip: work with your fertilizer retailer every fall to lock in your fertilizer needs and costs to save you time and money in the spring.¹
5. Examine the effectiveness of your current plan.
Nutrient management plans are not timeless documents that we can use the same way every year. They must be continually adjusted and altered to maintain profitability, productivity, and fertility. To better manage and prioritize your fertilizer dollars this upcoming growing season, examine the effectiveness of your current plans. Look closely at the 4Rs of nutrient stewardship: the right source, the right rate, the right time, and the right place. Would adjusting or changing the timing or rate of your fertilizer enhance its productivity and increase your ROI? Do fall applications result in less nutrient loss than spring applications? Would in-season fertility perform better in your area? Reflecting on these questions will help you better manage your fertilizer dollars and more effectively manage your time and resources.
Prioritizing your fertilizer dollars is essential to the short and long-term success of your farm. Making informed decisions that balance short and long-term goals, examining your nutrient bank with soil test data, adjusting your budget with management zones, consulting your team of advisors, and examining current plans are a great place for you to get started.
To learn more about optimizing fertilizer use and creating a strong nutrient management plan, visit these eKonomics resources:
The Dirt Season 3 Episode 10: Put Your Soil Test to the Test
The Dirt Season 3 Episode 22: The FRST Step to Optimizing Fertilizer Use
Fertilizer Decisions With The Prairie Nutrient Removal Calculator
Manage Nutrients AND High Fertilizer Prices
Science-Based Nutrient Management in Times of High Fertilizer Prices
Investing In Sustainability And Profitability With The 4Rs
The Importance Of The 4Rs: Asking The Next Question
