LAKELAND, TENN. (RFD NEWS) — As farmers move into the fall months, fertility applications for next season are traditionally part of the fieldwork plan.
Huma Chief Sales and Marketing Officer Fred Nichols joined us on Monday’s Market Day Report to discuss how growers can make fall fertilizer a strategy, not just an application.
In his interview with RFD News, Nichols says growers should look beyond simply making an application and instead consider how each fertility decision fits into their overall farm strategy.
Nichols also recommends farmers first determine what they want to accomplish with their fall fertility program.
“Fall fertilizer really, you know, it should be a strategy, not just an application,” Nichols said. “And I think too often, that’s really what it’s looked at is just simply an application. But there’s a lot bigger picture to look at.”
That includes reviewing yield records to determine how many nutrients the previous crop removed and what needs to be replenished.
For some farmers, fall fertility can also be part of a pricing strategy.
“Take a look at, can I lock in better prices now, you know, versus paying in the spring,” Nichols said.
He noted that nitrogen may be worth considering now, while phosphorus and potassium can have different pricing and scheduling considerations.
Nichols also encouraged growers to consider whether fall fertility fits into their broader soil health strategy.
Consider Fertility a Part of Overall Soil Health
Nichols says farmers should not simply make fall fertility an annual tradition because it is what they have always done.
“Don’t just make it an annual fall tradition, right? You know, just because Dad did it, Grandpa did it may or may not make the most sense for your farm,” he said.
He pointed to multiple ways farmers can feed a crop, including dry fertilizer applications in the fall, spring, and in-season.
Nichols also said growers should consider the impact of adding salt content to the soil when using dry fertilizer and compare that with other available options.
He said liquid phosphorus products are currently more affordable than some dry products, making it important for farmers to reevaluate when and how they apply nutrients.
On soil health, Nichols offered a simple way to think about seasonal management.
“We always like to say: you focus on fungus in the fall and bacteria in the spring,” Nichols said, describing fungi as “Mother Nature’s cleanup crew” because they are decomposers that convert dead organic matter into available nutrients.
“The higher the fungi levels, you know, the more active they are, the better nutrient availability you’re going to get to take out what you’ve already got in that soil,” he said.
Adding products that promote fungal activity can help maximize an investment in commercial fertilizer, manure, or other nutrient sources, according to Nichols.
Maximizing ROI with Every Application
With fertilizer and other input costs top of mind, Nichols says farmers should focus on making their nutrient investments as bioavailable as possible.
“That really goes hand-in-hand with bioavailability, right? That’s really what you want to do with your fertilizer investment for next year’s crops,” Nichols said.
For manure applications, Nichols said farmers should consider buffering salts and reducing heavy metals. With dry fertilizer, he said growers want to make sure nutrients remain where they are needed in the soil profile and remain bioavailable.
He also suggested farmers consider “spoon-feeding” nutrients rather than putting everything down at once.
“Maybe some folks might want to take a look at hedging their bets,” Nichols said. “You put some dry down in the fall and then in the spring, you take a look at maybe some liquids and even in-season applications when the crop needs it most.”
Nichols said fall costs are certainly part of the decision, but farmers should also consider soil health, crop performance, and ensuring nutrient delivery.
LEARN MORE: www.huma.us
