Minnesota Crop News

Photo credit: University of Minnesota Extension The benefits and challenges of manure use in general is the topic on this 40th episode of the Advancing Nitrogen Smart podcast series. What is it about manure that makes it good for the soil - and what makes livestock bedding an important addition? What's in manure that's organic but isn't living? What makes the benefits of manure usage long-term in nature? How should people think about manure use related to water quality issues? What kinds of tech might farmers want to be on the lookout for which affect manure use efficiency? According to panelist Melissa Wilson, manure is like a multivitamin for the soil. Find out why she thinks so on today show. Read the full transcript here Guests: Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato) Melissa Wilson, Extension manure nutrient management specialist (St. Paul) Additional resources: Manure management How to put together a manure management plan Nitrogen availability of different...

Sulfur-deficient corn. Photo: UMN Extension As commercial corn yields continue to climb, optimizing input efficiency is no longer just about deciding how much nitrogen (N) to apply. Today, there is a lot of information out there that focuses on nutrient interactions – specifically the biological partnership between N and sulfur (S). But a common question persists among agronomists and progressive growers alike: If you crank up your nitrogen application rates, do you need to scale up your sulfur rates in tandem? Extension nutrient management specialist Dan Kaiser addressed exactly this question over ten study locations in Minnesota. From 2011 to 2013, Kaiser led a rigorous research project conducted across central and southern Minnesota. By examining leaf chemistry at silking (R1) and nutrient concentration in the harvested grain, the study provides definitive insights into managing this complex nutritional duo. The nitrogen-sulfur partnership: What happens in the plant? Biochemically, ...

Photo: University of Minnesota Extension By: Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist One thing I hear a lot from people is that sulfate, the form of sulfur available to plants, does not hang around in the soil from one year to the next. In most soils, the rate at which sulfur leaches is much slower compared to nitrogen in the nitrate form (the exception being sandy soils which can quickly leach most nutrients). While it is true that sulfate has a negative charge and can be leached, the rate of leaching really depends on the soil. What does current research say about how sulfate carries over in Minnesota soils? Currently, I have multiple research projects funded by both the Agricultural Fertilizer Research and Education Council (AFREC) and the Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council studying how sulfur carries over in our soils. In my AFREC-funded long-term sulfur trial, we applied sulfur over a period of four years in continuous corn. In year five, we divided t...

About half of corn’s sulfur requirement is taken up between V5 to early silking. Only 10% of sulfur is taken up by corn prior to V5, but this timeframe is critical and deficiencies early in the growing season can limit yield – particularly in cool and wet springs. This blog post was originally posted August 2019.  When needed, sulfur fertilization can produce profitable increases in corn yields. In this short video, Extension soil fertility specialist Dan Kaiser walks you through how to choose the right source of sulfur, and when and how to apply effectively. For more information, read our sulfur guide . --- Subscribe to Minnesota Crop News email alerts for research updates and current growing conditions. For the latest nutrient management information, like UMN Extension Nutrient Management on Facebook , follow us on Twitter , and visit our website . Support for this project was provided in part by the Agricultural Fertilizer Research & Education Council (AFR...

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...

This month's episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast is all about sulfur. Fertilizer guidelines go through changes periodically, but are there any upcoming changes to the sulfur fertilizer guidelines specifically? What does current research tell us about managing sulfur for Minnesota crops?  Were there any surprising results? Should growers proactively add sulfur to crops out of caution, or is that practice unnecessary? What are some final takeaways that our panelists want Minnesota farmers to know about?  TRANSCRIPT Guests: Jeff Coulter, Extension corn agronomist (St. Paul) Jeff Vetsch, U of M researcher (Waseca) Seth Naeve, Extension soybean agronomist (St. Paul) Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul) Additional Resources: Sulfur for Minnesota soils Is it worth applying sulfur to your soybean crop? Sulfur fertilizer application: Does S carry over from one year to the next? Video: What source of sulfur is right for you? Fertilizing Corn in ...

Today on the podcast we focus on soybean nutrient management in western Minnesota. Our four panelists conduct research across Minnesota and North Dakota. They'll explain their research trials, and discuss some preliminary results. Also, what should growers keep in mind as we transition into 2025? What are the panelists' concerns about IDC? That and much more on our last episode of 2024.   TRANSCRIPT Guests: Lindsay Malone, Assistant professor, Climate Smart Approaches in Agriculture (NDSU) Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul) Lindsay Pease, Extension nutrient and water management specialist (Crookston) Seth Naeve, Extension soybean agronomist (St. Paul) Additional Resources: Growing soybean Is it worth applying sulfur to your soybean crop? Chloride and soybean: What to know about potash fertilizer management — Click here to listen to all Nutrient Management Podcast episodes. For the latest nutrient management information, subscribe to the Nutrien...

This episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast is our annual fall fertilizer outlook for 2024. 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? TRANSCRIPT Guests: Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul) Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato) Jeff Vetsch, U of M researcher (Waseca) Fabian Fernandez, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul) Additional resources: Are you overspending on fertilizer? 2024 Certified Soil Testing Laboratories Nitrogen Fertilizer BMPs for Agricultural Lands --- For the latest nutrient management information, subscribe to the Nutrient Management Podcast wherever you listen...

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? TRANSCRIPT   Guests: Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul) Yuxin Mao, Assistant Professor of Precision Agriculture and Nutrient Management (St. Paul) Jeff Coulter, Extension corn agronomist (St. Paul) Fabian Fernandez, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul) Additional resources: Is it worth applying sulfur to your soybean crop? Sulfur fertilizer application: Does S carry over from one year to the next? Making sense of Minnesota’s corn fertilizer guidelines: Frequently ask...

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 you do or don't suggest for soybean based on current research? What tips do you have for Minnesota soybean growers looking to increase yield? TRANSCRIPT Guests: Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul) Jeff Vetsch, U of M researcher (Waseca) Seth Naeve, Extension soybean agronomist (St. Paul) Additional resources: Managing iron deficiency chlorosis in soybean Is it worth applying sulfur to your soybean crop? Sulfur fertilizer application: Does S carry over from one year to the next? Soybean fertilizer guidelines --- For the latest nutrient management information, subscribe to the Nutrient Management Podcast wherever you listen and never miss an...

By: Dan Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist One question I have been receiving lately has been, what is the value of sulfur for soybean? Sulfur is an essential nutrient needed by all crops. Research has shown that sulfur can increase the yield of soybean in Minnesota but the larger responses that we have seen in Minnesota occurred before sulfur was being consistently applied to row crops in the state. Sulfur carryover While the crop-available form of sulfur (sulfate) is leachable in the soils, the movement of sulfate is not rapid, and some sulfate can be carried over from one year to the next. One example is a study funded by AFREC where sulfur was applied at 25 pounds per acre as ammonium sulfate (AMS) ahead of the corn crop over a period of six years. Corn was grown in years 1, 3, and 5 while the impacts of carryover sulfate were measured on soybean in years 2, 4, and 6. During the first application of sulfur, there was little crop response to the applied sulfur, but ove...

By: Dan Kaiser, Extension specialist The benefits of sulfur application have been widely seen across Minnesota for the last ten years. One question that seems to persist is, what is the best option when applying sulfur in the fall? Coming back in spring with a second pass of dry fertilizer is not always an option. While the sulfate form of sulfur is mobile in the soil, there are a few things to consider when deciding which source of sulfur to choose and when to apply. Movement of sulfate in the soil profile is not as rapid as nitrate. Sulfate, the form of sulfur available to crops, is an anion and is therefore not held in the soil. Since sulfate is subject to leaching, many seem to compare the leaching potential of sulfate to nitrate. While sulfate can move readily through the soil profile, recent research in Minnesota demonstrates that the sulfate form of sulfur can be applied in fall and benefit corn production. Facts to consider when applying a form of sulfate in the fall...

Sulfur deficiency in corn  By: Dan Kaiser, Extension soil fertility specialist Sulfur has become an important crop nutrient applied to corn fields across Minnesota. Recent research has shown a benefit from applying sulfur in fields low in organic matter and in high residue situations where mineralization and release of sulfate sulfur from organic matter are limited. What can make sulfur application challenging is that the form of sulfur available for crop uptake is sulfate. Sulfate is an anion and, like nitrate, can leach deep in the soil profile where crop roots cannot reach. The addition of sulfur fertilizers to fall phosphorus and potassium applications leads to questions about what the best form of sulfur is. Choosing the right form is critical to ensure crops are not short of this necessary nutrient early in the growing season. Commercial sulfur fertilizer sources include either elemental or sulfate forms of sulfur. The difference between the two is that sulfate ...

By: Dan Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist Can elemental sulfur (S) supply available S to crops for a longer period of time compared to sulfate sources? An ongoing study is looking at how different sources of sulfur fertilizer behave over time. The sources we are looking at are potassium (K) sulfate, K-MST (Micronized Sulfur Technology), and Tiger 90. Data from 2023 shows some interesting results. Background Sulfur (S) is contained in many forms in the soil but mostly in organic forms that are not plant available. Only sulfate forms of sulfur can be taken up by plants. Similar to nitrate, the sulfate anion is negatively charged, and many consider sulfur to be highly leachable. While movement of sulfur can be rapid in some soils, studies have shown that sulfate can be taken up by a crop one or more years after application. Elemental sulfur has to be oxidized, a process by which microorganisms in the soil convert elemental sulfur to sulfate. Since this process is controlled...

By: Dan Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist Earlier this year, I wrote about recent research showing that alfalfa benefits from sulfur fertilizer application. Those studies seem to confirm the current U of M alfalfa fertilizer guidelines for sulfur application, which suggest applying 10 to 25 pounds of sulfur fertilizer per acre, depending on overall production and soil organic matter concentration in the top six inches of soil. But what source of sulfur fertilizer is best for alfalfa? That’s the current focus of two studies funded by Minnesota’s fertilizer check-off dollars through the Agricultural Fertilizer Research and Education Council (AFREC) . Sulfur fertilizer sources In these two new studies, we compare specific classes of sulfur fertilizer sources at three different rates. One area of interest is whether different elemental sulfur sources can oxidize enough sulfur in a given year. There are two main options for growers if they wish to apply elemental sulfur. The...