Minnesota Crop News

Anhydrous ammonia application in Waseca, MN. Photo: University of Minnesota Extension Early April means it's time for the spring fertilizer outlook here on the Nutrient Management Podcast . Our panel of four specialists and researchers begin by discussing current field conditions throughout Minnesota. World events affecting farmers and other ag professionals are top-of-mind right now. How is price volatility impacting input planning - or is it? Should farmers consider changes to their management plans, and /or potentially cut back on specific inputs? If so, which ones and why? Does soil testing become more important during times when other costs are high? As our panelists talk with farmers across Minnesota, what silver linings and bright spots have they noticed in today's ag environment, and why is it important to keep these in mind? All this and much more on today's episode. Read the full transcript Guests: Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato) Daniel Kaiser, Exte...

Photos: University of Minnesota Extension Today on the Nutrient Management Podcast we discuss phosphorus with experts from Minnesota and across the Midwest. Why are Midwest phosphorus guidelines different from state to state? Are Minnesota's current P guidelines satisfactory - or do states' P guidelines need revision? Would a P-rate calculator that incorporates economics be a useful tool, similar to nitrogen's MRTN calculator? What 'Phosphorus & the 4R's' tips and suggestions do our Minnesota, Ohio, Illinois and South Dakota panelists recommend for area farmers? Nitrates and water quality issues continue to be top-of-mind -  would switching P sources be beneficial? What new and ongoing phosphorus-related research projects are panelists watching? All this and much more on today's show. Read the full transcript Guests: Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul) John Jones, soil fertility, plant nutrition, and nutrient management ...

Nutrient Management Conference, February 3, 2026. Photo: UMN Extension You can now watch video recordings of each of the presentations from the 2026 Nutrient Management Conference held Feb. 3rd in Mankato, and the 2026 Nitrogen Conference from Feb. 17th in St. Cloud. Learn about the latest fertilizer, manure and water quality research from Minnesota and around the Midwest. 2026 Nutrient Management Conference   Soil C, N, and P After Subsurface Tile Installation Lindsay Pease, University of Minnesota   Harnessing Biologicals: Foundational Concepts for Farming  Paulo Pagliari, University of Minnesota    Adding Up the Cl: Fertility, Tillage, and Cover Crops  Anna Cates, University of Minnesota    How Much Phosphorus Do I Really Need?  Dan Kaiser, University of Minnesota Chloride Cycling & Potassium Response from Fertilizer & Manure Carl Rosen, University of Minnesota   Liquid Separated Dairy Manure in a Sugar Beet Rotation Meliss...

Photo: University of Minnesota Extension Biostimulants—especially seed-applied biological products—continue to generate interest across soybean-growing regions. The promise is appealing: improved early vigor, stress tolerance, or yield, often layered on top of existing seed treatments. But do these products actually deliver under real-world farming conditions? A large, multi-state study led by Science for Success , a group of land-grant university soybean agronomists, set out to answer that question using an approach designed to mirror how farmers actually use these products. The study was published in the scientific journal Field Crops Research in December 2025. Seth Naeve, one of the study’s 28 co-authors and a University of Minnesota Extension soybean agronomist, describes the goal clearly: “We were really looking for which products worked in the most locations—and then trying to identify characteristics of environments products worked in—so that we could channel the use towards a...

Fertilizer loading in Southern Minnesota co-op. Photo: University of Minnesota Extension By: Dan Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist For most farmers, the source of dry phosphorus (P) fertilizer is limited to what local retailers have on hand. The most common sources sold in Minnesota are mono-ammonium phosphate (MAP) and di-ammonium phosphate (DAP). Triple superphosphate (TSP) and Crystal Green (struvite) are also available in some areas. What are the differences between these sources and how should growers decide which one to use? What are the differences between MAP and DAP? The chemical formulas for MAP and DAP are: MAP: NH₄H₂PO₄ DAP: (NH 4 ) 2 HPO 4 Looking at the chemical formulas, the primary difference between MAP and DAP is the number of ammonia (NH₄) ions present. MAP contains one ammonium ion per phosphate versus two for DAP. An additional difference is that, when MAP is dissolved in water, it tends to produce an acidic pH while DAP is more alkaline (basic). Sin...

On this episode of the  Nutrient Management Podcast , we talk all about fall manure application. What should be on a farmer’s to-do list to prepare for fall application? What names need to be on an operation's emergency response plan, and what kind of PPE should farmers keep nearby? How much lead time does a lab need to return sample results? If a farmer plans to work with a commercial applicator, what can they do ahead of time to ensure a successful season? All of this, plus a farmer Q&A, on-farm research advice, an update on ManureDB and more on today's show. Read the full transcript Guests: Melissa Wilson, Extension manure nutrient management specialist (St. Paul) Chryseis Modderman, Extension manure nutrient management specialist (Morris, MN) Nancy Bohl Bormann, researcher, manure and nutrient management (St. Paul) Eduardo Garay, on-farm research manager, manure management (St. Paul) Additional Resources: How to put together a manure management plan UMN Manure (YouTube)...

By: Melissa Wilson, Extension specialist; Nancy Bohl Bormann, Researcher; & Chryseis Modderman, Extension educator It’s that time of year when the crops are coming off the field and folks are starting to think about next year’s crop. If you have livestock on your farm, you are also thinking about manure application, which may happen this fall and/or next spring. How can you maximize use of your manure and minimize how much fertilizer you have to purchase? A manure management plan can help you look at the big picture. Remember, manure is like a multivitamin for your field – it has all the nutrients that crops need, just not necessarily in the right amounts! Just like multivitamins for people, you don’t want to overdo it. So, what information do you need for a manure management plan? Manure There are two things you need to know about your manure – how much do you have and what’s in it? If this will be the first year that you apply manure from a new operation, you’ll have to estimate ...

Today on the Advancing Nitrogen Smart Podcast we take a close-up look at bioreactors as an edge-of-field practice. How does this important tool work, and how does it mitigate nitrate loss? What types of carbon sources have traditionally been used in a bioreactor, and what types of carbon could be used in the future? How are bioreactors incorporated in to a farmer's operation? How are they maintained? How effective and efficient are bioreactors? What's on the horizon for the next generation of bioreactor technology? All this and more on today's episode. Read the full transcript here Guests: Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato) Jeff Strock, Extension soil scientist (Lamberton) Additional resources: Nitrogen and phosphorus removal from agricultural drainage water by a modular bioreactor Bioreactor Research 3 takeaways from the Conservation Drainage Network’s annual meeting Edge of field N and P reduction strategies: What to know about conservation drainage ...

It’s that time of year again; time for the Fall Fertilizer Outlook on the Nutrient Management Podcast . Given the overall economics of crop production right now, how should farmers be approaching their fertilizer decisions this fall? What are some regional differences with respect to fertilizer management this year? There has been a renewed focus on the issue of water quality in Minnesota -- how should this affect farmers’ decision-making? How many fertilizer decisions can be pushed off until spring? All of this and more on today’s show. Read the full transcript Guests: Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato) Lindsay Pease, Extension nutrient and water management specialist (Crookston) Jeff Vetsch, Research supervisor (Waseca) Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul) Additional resources: Are you overspending on fertilizer? Making sense of Minnesota's corn fertilizer guidelines: Frequently asked questions, and answers No P, no problem? Skipping phosp...

On today's  Advancing Nitrogen Smart Podcast , Brad Carlson and Melissa Wilson discuss aspects of laws and regulations surrounding manure application in Minnesota. What are the requirements for manure testing, and how often should you do it? What are some general restrictions for manure application in Minnesota? How do buffers and setbacks help you? What kinds of documents should be incorporated into a manure management plan? What contingencies should be put into place in the case of an emergency? All this and more on today's show. TRANSCRIPT Guests: Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato) Melissa Wilson, Extension manure management specialist (St. Paul) Additional resources: Land application of manure: Minimum requirements Manure management Manure sampling and nutrient analysis Manure sampling and testing: Variability, guidelines & testing for your operation ManureDB --- Click here to listen to all Advancing Nitrogen Smart podcast episodes. For the latest nutrient m...

By: Dan Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist With low corn and soybean prices, I have been looking at some of our long-term data to figure out how growers can reduce fertilizer costs. One study I have not spoken much about is a long-term trial that was started in 2011 at the Southwest Research and Outreach Center in Lamberton, Minnesota. Data from this study show some interesting insights on starter fertilizer containing phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and zinc. About the study Initially, the study was established to look at fertilizer additives used in combination with starter fertilizer, and one thing that is unique about this site is that the soil pH is very acid, testing below 5.0. I have maintained the study over time to look at reduced rates of P and K with and without a P and K starter fertilizer in a three-year corn-corn-soybean rotation. The broadcast treatments for the first six years were similar, focused on application of removal rates of P and K for the corn cro...

Cation exchange capacity and cation balancing are the topics of the day in this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast . What are the definitions of cation exchange capacity (CEC) and cation balancing (CB)? How is CEC measured and are those estimates reliable? What does the research say about CEC and CB and their role in a nutrient management strategy? What should farmers remember about cation exchange capacity and cation balancing for their own operations? TRANSCRIPT Guests: Fabian Fernandez, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul) Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul) Carl Rosen, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul) Additional Resources: Timing of K application for corn and soybean production Chloride and soybean: What to know about potash fertilizer management Impact of cation exchange on corn K guidelines Four soil test myths that farmers should know Corn planting and nitrogen management: 5 things to con...

By: Dan Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist Recent posts on social media brought to mind a few things related to what happens to phosphorus (P) fertilizer when it’s applied to soil. With MAP and DAP prices still relatively high, what concerns, if any, should farmers have about how much value they are getting? Here are a few things that you should know about what happens to P when it is applied to the soil. 1. You will never get 100% utilization of the fertilizer you apply the first year after application. Us university types will typically tell you that, at maximum, you might get about 65% of what you apply taken up by the plant in the first year of application. While this might cause some concern about where the other 35% is going, remember that the plant needs a specific amount P to achieve optimal yield. If fertilizer supplies 50% of the crop’s needs for example, then the deficit needs to come from somewhere, and that somewhere is the soil. Where did the P in the soil c...

It's the end of March, which means it's time for the annual Spring Fertilizer Outlook. What are field conditions like throughout Minnesota? What early fertilizer application options might MN growers want to consider? Which early fertilizer application practices might MN growers want to avoid, and why? What are growers excited - or hesitant - about? What about N carryover credits in this more typical season? Our four panelists weigh in. TRANSCRIPT Guests: Fabian Fernandez, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul) Jeff Vetsch, U of M researcher (Waseca) Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato) Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul) Additional Resources: Are you overspending on fertilizer? FINBIN Don't apply commercial fertilizers to snow-covered frozen soils Nutrient Management — Click here to listen to all Nutrient Management Podcast episodes. For the latest nutrient management information, subscribe to the Nutrient Management ...