Fertilizer

Farmer using online tool in field
Brandon Schirmer sprays defoliant on one of the fields at his father's multi-crop 1,014-acre farm, in Batesville, Texas, on Aug. 12, 2020. (Lance Cheung/USDA)

Rising Fuel and Input Prices: Adjusting Enterprise Budgets and Tracking Cost of Production

April 22, 2021
With input expenses on the rise, Extension Educator Glennis McClure analyzes the current cost of production and breakeven estimates for 2021.

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Tractor planting field
The best time to use starter is when the field is deficient in one or more nutrients.

Starter Fertilizer — When is it Needed?

March 24, 2022
As planting season begins, farmers often question if starter fertilizer is providing yield and economic benefits. This article reviews the two main reasons to use a starter and recommendations for a successful application. 

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soybean field

Soybean Micronutrient Management in Southeast Nebraska: Chloride

November 11, 2020
In soybeans, chloride is needed for osmotic regulation in plant cells. Deficiency symptoms are not clearly described but may include chlorosis and wilting of leaves in soybeans. Toxicity symptoms include leaf tip scorching, premature yellowing or bronzing of leaves, and leaf loss.

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soybean showing boron toxicity

Soybean Micronutrient Management in Southeast Nebraska: Boron

October 29, 2020
In soybeans, boron is needed for cell walls during cellular expansion and normal development of nitrogen-fixing root nodules. Overall, soybeans are rather insensitive to boron deficiency but very sensitive to toxicity, including scorching/necrosis on the leaf edges.

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links to New Series on Soybean Micronutrient Management in Southeast Nebraska

New Series on Soybean Micronutrient Management in Southeast Nebraska

October 8, 2020
We are bringing you an extended series of CropWatch articles on micronutrient fertility and plant nutrition for soybean production in southeast Nebraska.

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Plowing a field
Anticipated high residual soil nitrate-N levels in NE rainfed crops of dry 2020 can be credited to reduce N rates for 2021

Planning 2021 Fertilizer-N Application Following a Dry 2020

October 6, 2020
Fertilizer-N is a big investment for crop production in Nebraska and elsewhere. After harvest, growers tend to plan their fertilizer-N management for the next year’s crop. But the question is how much nitrogen can they apply to get the most profit from their fertilizer-N investment?

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nitrogen fertilizer being applied to corn
Photo by Richard Ferguson

Tips for In-season Nitrogen Management in Corn

April 29, 2020
This spring conditions are good for pre-plant fertilizer, but there are still considerations that justify shifting more nitrogen application to in-season versus pre-plant.

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dairy cattle

Emergency Use of Milk as a Fertilizer Q&A

April 23, 2020
Difficult challenges in the dairy industry such as those resulting from COVID-19 result in times when a market is not available for milk. When those occur, using milk as a crop fertilizer may provide a short-term option for gaining some value from milk.

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