Soil test results can help farmers be more strategic with input investments, agronomists stress

Farmers are expecting another year of tight profits, and it is why agronomists stress the importance of soil testing and viewing the results from a wide lens.

“It’s not individual nutrients that we’re looking at. We need to take the test as a whole. Many of these nutrients interact with each other. There are ratios that we keep in mind. We think that the law of minimum crop production can only be as good as the limiting factor. And with so many metrics on a soil test, it’s important to understand how we balance those things out. So again, understanding the soil test as a whole, sitting down with your local agronomist, it’s a great opportunity this time of year to set yourself up for success out in the field in 2025,” said Nick Frederking.

Agronomists are well aware some farmers are looking at trimming fertilizer costs this year. They say it is possible, but you need to make sure you are not sacrificing yield.

Related Stories
In honor of Veterans Day this weekend, we wanted to take a moment to highlight an incredible program connecting our great nation’s heroes with agriculture!
Shaun Haney, host of Rural Radio Channel 147’s Real Ag Radio, joined us Friday on Market Day Report with an update on the important vote involving the use of ag machinery in Canada.
Falling feed costs and strong demand for butter could be good news for dairy farmers looking to get their finances back on track.
Author Lee Klancher joined RFD-TV’s Market Day Report to discuss a new, special edition version of his book, “Farmall Century” hitting the shelves in honor of the iconic tractor’s major milestone and impact on the ag industry over the last century.
In today’s production update, Total Acre Farming’s David Hula has an enlightening conversation with Jeremy Rountree about a new, industry-disrupting product from Brandt Fungicide.