Heat, drought force Nebraska farmers to balance nitrogen more closely

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – Each farmer in Nebraska is aware of there’s not a drop of water to spare. So when you end up with somewhat leftover nitrogen after shedding corn crop attributable to local weather challenges, do the mathematics and take it.

“It is rather necessary on these fields which have drought-stressed yields to do soil samples so you know the way a lot nitrogen is on the market,” Chapman corn and soybean farmer Gary Greving mentioned. “So when you’re gonna placed on 200 items of nitrogen to get 200 bushels, however you’ve obtained 100 items [of nitrogen remaining] on the market already then simply put the hundred on and go from there.”

In these circumstances, Greving says farmers may truly get monetary savings by shopping for much less nitrogen, which comes at a premium value attributable to lingering provide chain points if winter climate doesn’t wash away the excess.

“With our nitrogen administration techniques on the Central Platte NRD we’re required to [soil test] and pattern our water,” Greving mentioned. “That’s going to be crucial to handle that concern out within the fields and much more so within the fields that have been dry land, solely rain-fed, which it was not rain-fed this 12 months…It’s nonetheless a subject of debate about our irrigated floor each fall and each spring on what we will placed on to maximise our yield with the minimal quantity of nitrogen.”

Brian Johnson’s household has been farming in Wayne County for 150 years. Now they develop primarily corn, soybeans, and alfalfa. His grandfather’s approach of doing issues doesn’t maintain water in these instances. It’s all about know-how and realizing what every part of cropland can deal with, whereas additionally adapting every year to adjustments.

“Simply planning dates have been large,” Johnson mentioned. “We’ve obtained some [fields] now which might be over 150, we planted some two weeks later, we’re solely doing 70. That’s the identical variety of corn, the whole lot, identical discipline. The warmth, the drought, the whole lot.”

Nebraska Extension Water and Crops Educator Jeremy Milander assist farmers like Johnson be extra environment friendly. Milander works on the Haskell Agricultural Laboratory and farm in Harmony, the place he was in a position to reveal a kind of testing beneficial within the fall. Stalk testing is finished earlier than corn is turned to feed to guarantee the nitrogen ranges aren’t too excessive for livestock to eat.

“You should utilize that together with quite a lot of different info as effectively to gauge how efficient your nitrogen administration is,” Milander mentioned.

He additionally reminds us that the environment friendly use of nitrogen isn’t nearly crop yields and earnings. It’s additionally about maintaining nitrogen ranges in groundwater down, to maintain neighborhood water secure as effectively.

Copyright 2022 WOWT. All rights reserved.