If you’ve thumbed through any agriculture or major news publication in the past few weeks, you likely have noticed the headlines are pretty grim: Wet spring, flooding, late planting, trade war. It makes sense that farmers are nervous, but it puts pressure on retailers like you to not only mitigate their fears, but also provide strong recommendations for how they should adjust their nutrient management plans and field activities among all the chaos.
Scott Pringnitz, a Corteva Agriscience™ market development specialist, covers Ohio and Michigan in his territory and wants to encourage farmers and retailers alike that they are not alone.
“In general, across the U.S. corn geographies, we are running about a month behind,” says Pringnitz. “We had a poor fall season in terms of precipitation. Additionally, given the flooding and rain this spring, we are seeing a compressed timeline with planting and crop protection applications. That combination is extremely unique and stressful going into June, but from what I see, most regions are experiencing the same stressors.”
The delay in planting is an obvious concern, but weather events have also significantly impacted nitrogen applications across the Corn Belt to-date.
“In my area, retailers reported limited anhydrous ammonia availability in April and May. Because of the poor fall, many anhydrous customers were not able to apply, thus driving up spring demand. We saw long lines to source anhydrous and major delays in trucking logistics. Beyond that only small pockets of my territory were able to get nitrogen applied in sporadic dry windows in April,” says Pringnitz.
Pringnitz goes on to explain that most areas are switching to sidedress applications due to planting delays and difficult weather.
“Little preplant was applied in many areas across the Corn Belt, so sidedress applications are rising. Planters are, rightfully so, dictating the application windows and planters outpace a retailer’s ability to apply treatments. That said, it’s a mixed bag regarding how or when nutrient applications will occur over the next few weeks.”
UAN and urea are the most common nitrogen fertilizers used during sidedress in the Eastern corn belt and Pringnitz recommends retailers and farmers continue to use a nitrogen stabilizer, despite the delay in application and planting.
“Loyal Instinct® users know the value of protecting their nitrogen from leaching and denitrification in these wet conditions and extending nitrogen availability through key corn growth stages,” says Pringnitz. “We are seeing challenges with some farmers, however, that are new to sidedressing this year. Many are not fully sold on the benefits of stabilizing sidedress nitrogen, so it’s important for retailers to remind them of the university research and field trials that prove the yield benefits of stabilizing with Instinct® or N-Serve®.”
Looking ahead to summer, Pringnitz has recommendations for farmers and retailers who may be worried about field impacts due to late planting and crop protection applications.
“First, make your sidedress applications as early as practical. Second, keep Instinct® in your sidedress applications. Intentionally delaying nitrogen applications beyond early sidedress risks a reduction in yield when nitrogen isn’t available when the corn needs it. Finally, if it continues to be a wet year, be on high alert for crop diseases. Fungicide applications may be more profitable than the average year,” says Pringnitz.
Given current news and planting status, farmers and retailers can’t help but think ahead to what this means for harvest this year. While many aren’t hopeful, Pringnitz has a more optimistic viewpoint.
“Even though we have a delayed, condensed spring, and commodity markets are not strong, let’s not lose site of our targets and ways to optimize the yields we do have,” says Pringnitz. “I like to remind my customers of previous years when planting went late into June, yet we still saw over 200-bushel corn come harvest. 2011 was a great example of that.”
Pringnitz also highlights the fact that the number of growing degree days were tracking behind averages early in the spring. The heat units have not been there, so farmers haven’t missed as much of the growing season as the calendar indicates.
“All is not lost. The growing season is long, so retailers should keep their farmers focused on the yield and the season at large and not make drastic decisions based on current fears,” says Pringnitz.