Worse Starting Conditions Than 2023: Drought and high costs are standing in the way of #Plant24

High costs coupled with ongoing drought could stand in the way of planting season this year.

For the second straight week, prices for all eight major fertilizers are up from the month before. While fertilizer prices have been fairly flat since last October, figures are still relatively high.

This could cause farmers to not do any quick pre-plant or early post-planting fertilizer application.
The Iowa State University Extension recommends manure fertilizer for those looking to avoid higher costs.

While overall drought around the Midwest has improved this year, the U.S. Drought Monitor still shows producers and cropland facing anywhere from abnormal to extreme levels of drought.

Soils are actually starting in worse conditions now than they were last year.

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