2025 IN YOUR FIELDS Newsletter. The traditional approach to nutrient management has brought us to the new century, but it is time to consider new strategies that accommodate technological advancements and environmental concerns. The IN YOUR FIELDS newsletter will present several new approaches to consider as the growing season progresses. Please read and enjoy the Complimentary Winter Issue of the newsletter at The Complimentary Issue is an example of what will be published starting in early April. Use the link in the newsletter to subscribe ($85 for season).

There was no response on 33 of 77 sites in the early 1990s. I attempted to explain away most non-responsive sites by blaming drought, historic manure applications (beyond 3 years), and old pastures. However, I could not find any reason for 11-12 sites. It was these sites that Dr. Richard Mulvaney used to test his amino-sugar N test. He found elevated amino sugars in all unexplained site samples, the beginning of the ISNT. Unfortunately, research efforts at several Midwest land-grant universities failed to repeat the findings, and the ISNT faded away. However, I refuse to let go of the possibility that readily available organic N is significantly involved with N nutrition. Close-to-real-time soil testing for plant-available N (PAN) is a different way of examining its contribution. I see it as a part of N management's future. "Looking at the same thing in a different way is all that is needed for discovery."

The rates of N applied over time may play a significant role in the N nutrition of the 2025 crop rather than pounds applied in 2025. It suggests N captured by the soil's microorganisms, whether leftover from a previous crop or immobilized by cover crops, may not be lost but captured merely as part of the soil’s organic fraction to be released sometime in the future. Another question to address... when is it released?

I have worked with N for several years. My research involved trying to find a better N recommendation system. Of 77 N-rate study sites in IL over 2 years (5 rates - 3 reps), 33 sites did not show a yield response to any fertilizer rate applied. Work by Dr. Mulvaney at IL uncovered that most of my unexplained non-responding sites had high levels of organic N that was soon-to-be available (readily available organic N). The lack of any N response in fields rotated out of alfalfa is another fragment of support for the idea that mineralized N plays a significant role in N nutrition. There remain more questions than answers, but it is not part of any effort to limit nutrient use. Improved N management by optimizing utilization of both what is applied and what is mineralized is essential for both improved farm profitability and environmental stewardship. My quest for a better N recommendation system continues. :-)

Consider multiple N applications in 2025. Utilize different N sources, rates, times of application, and placements. Spreading the amount of N over multiple applications minimizes the environmental risk of loss and reduces the rate applied per application. Reducing the rate per acre increases the acres covered with each load, allowing for more time between loads and reducing the chance of a work stoppage during times of limited supply. - Be ready to take advantage of a break in the weather, which allows for knifed-in applications of anhydrous ammonia in late winter or early spring. - Consider applying preplant herbicides with UAN as the carrier rather than water. Use 14 gallons of 32% UAN Solution to deliver 52 pounds of N per acre. - Consider a post-emerge knifed-in or Y-drop UAN anhydrous ammonia or UAN application for the remaining N to be applied. Consider a post-emerge broadcast urea application with NBPT (a volatilization inhibitor). Surface broadcast urea with a volatilization inhibitor is my preferred method of post-emerge N applications. - Consider utilizing custom applications to optimize operational labor, allowing you to focus on planting and early weed management.

RT @FieldAdvisor: Counting down the days until the Field Advisor Forum on Jan. 16th! See the full agenda below and register here - https://…

The shortened fall N season will condense a lot of N applications into a smaller window of opportunity this Spring. The cost of N will likely be higher, logistics to keep supply at terminals will be challenged, and equipment to make timely applications may be stretched. A warm, dry, late winter will resolve many supply and logistical challenges, but it cannot be planned for or included as part of a realistic strategy. Plan now for a Spring that may be challenged with equipment availability and temporary product supply shortfalls. All the work will get done, and patience will likely be needed.

There is still time to register for Basics of Applied Agronomy. Twelve lectures (3 each on soil and water, nutrient, pest, and crop management) will help you prepare for the CCA Exams or serve as a review for the upcoming growing season. Register at

Pursuit of an agronomic solution... - A researcher wants to find an answer by performing experiments over locations and time, focusing on normal data distributions with a mean and acceptable error level. - An ag retailer wants an answer that fits the line of equipment they own, the products they inventory, and the services they offer, hoping that good agronomy can make it all fit. - A farmer wants an answer that improves profitability, reduces risk, makes their lives easier, or makes them more competitive. - A successful salesperson must deliver an answer that considers all the above and interprets the best action based on sound agronomic principles, minimizing environmental impact and optimizing farm income.

A must-read for those interested in becoming a Nitrogen Ninja: The Alchemy of Air by Thomas Hager. Available in paperback and (my choice). It is a biography of two scientists responsible for the process of fixing atmospheric N that is used to make N fertilizers. It may sound boring, and the title can be somewhat intimidating, but it captured me from Chapter 1 to the end. I looked forward to longer drives to listen to the book. It brings a flavor of reality to the motivation driving the fixation of atmospheric N and why it was responsible for killing and saving 2,000,000 people. It's a great winter read!

Friday, December 6, 2024 1:57 PM Exploring nutrient management changes. Clean the slate when exploring changes. Let go of the old way to make room for the new. Don't hold on to soil test values if moving to a nutrients-by-removal approach. Use them to monitor the direction soil tests move (up or down) but not to make rate decisions. Let go of a build-up and maintenance approach to making nutrient recommendations. Make decisions explicitly based on removal. Keep the ratio constant. If less is to be applied to keep costs down, keep applied nutrients proportional. Gather nutrient removal data in 2025 to create your own removal factors. It will take a few years and sites to gain confidence, but it is time to start. Work with an ag retailer or consultant who embraces the concept and is willing to help.

RT @4EvergreenTree:

Visionary Agronomics Christmas Wish List: 1. Improved reliability and accuracy of a yield monitor. 2. Software that cleans data and prepares a zonal yield map as the combine leaves the field. 3. Software that makes it easy to create, locate, and drive applicator controllers to place strip trials in selected fields. 4. Automated soil sampler that cuts a 30" slice of soil to be processed and tested at 0-1 and 1-2 ft. Does any of this currently exist? Let me know.

Registration for Basics of Applied Agronomy from January 5 to March 31 is now open. The 12-week course covers the fundamentals of soil and water, nutrient, pest, and crop management. Weekly lectures are followed by quizzes to test comprehension, and a final exam helps determine the overall retention of topics covered. This is a recommended course to help prepare for the CCA exams. It also serves as an excellent refresher in preparation for the 2025 cropping season. Visit for more information or to register.

RT @4EvergreenTree: We had a fantastic turnout for opening day today. Thank you to all of our supporters. If you’re looking for a BIG tree…

Sustainable High Yield: It’s not just about planting the best genetics; it’s about creating an environment for the best genetics to perform. It is about an optimum balance of inputs and resources. An excess of any essential component is a liability.