Nitrogen and sulfur: In-season application, nutrient interactions, precision tech & more

Understanding how nitrogen behaves in the environment is more important than ever. Having access to unbiased, research-based information is crucial for growers as they try to make the most efficient input decisions for their farms, maximizing profits while at the same time minimizing nitrogen loss to the environment.For the last decade, the Nitrogen Smart curriculum at University of Minnesota Extension has been examining and unpacking the latest in nitrogen research. This program is now being presented in short, topic-specific podcasts and easy-to-watch videos. The new program, Advancing Nitrogen Smart, will feature timely topics for Minnesota farmers and agricultural professionals.The defining principle of Nitrogen Smart has always been that participants are not told what to do; instead, they are given the information necessary to make their own best decisions.In this short episode, U of M Extension educator Brad Carlson introduces the Advancing Nitrogen Smart series and some of the topics to be discussed in future episodes, such as nitrogen fundamentals and how N behaves in the environment, nitrogen recommendations and the research that went into them, adapting management practices, and more.  Sign up to receive the Advancing Nitrogen Smart podcast series here at the U of M Extension Nutrient Management Podcast station. Watch our videos on YouTube at @UMNcrops. Have a question? Email us at [email protected]. To find additional resources and our past curriculum, please visit our Nitrogen Smart webpage at: z.umn.edu/NitrogenSmart. Nitrogen Smart is proud to be supported by the farm families of Minnesota and their corn check-off investment through Minnesota Corn.

Understanding how nitrogen behaves in the environment is more important than ever. And when growers have access to unbiased, research-based information, they’re better equipped to make farm-specific nitrogen management decisions.Here at Advancing Nitrogen Smart, we unpack and examine the latest up-to-date nitrogen data to help farmers maximize their profits while at the same time minimize nitrogen loss to the environment. We cover topics that are timely and relevant for Minnesota farmers and agricultural professionals, just as we’ve been doing for the last 10 years with our in-person and online Nitrogen Smart courses.We’re starting off this series with a discussion about placement, and what Minnesota farmers should know about depth, incorporation, loss pathways, and more!

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, we’re talking about nitrogen and sulfur application. What does current nitrogen and sulfur research mean for Minnesota growers? What do we know about the relationship between N and S in crops? What -if any- considerations should farmers make when applying S? Do N application rates need to be changed? With an earlier planting window this year will there be any issues related to N and S growers should be concerned about?Guests:Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)Yuxin Miao, Assistant Professor of Precision Agriculture and Nutrient Management (St. Paul)Jeff Coulter, Extension corn agronomist (St. Paul)Fabian Fernandez, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)Additional resources:Is it worth applying sulfur to your soybean crop?Sulfur fertilizer application: Does S carry over from one year to the next?Making sense of Minnesota’s corn fertilizer guidelines: Frequently asked questions and answersPrecision Agriculture Center---For the latest nutrient management information, subscribe to the Nutrient Management Podcast wherever you listen and never miss an episode! And don't forget to subscribe to the Minnesota Crop News daily or weekly email newsletter, subscribe to our YouTube channel, like UMN Extension Nutrient Management on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and visit our website.If you have questions or comments, please email us at [email protected] for the Nutrient Management Podcast is provided by Minnesota's fertilizer tonnage fee through the Agricultural Fertilizer Research & Education Council (AFREC). Learn more at MNsoilfertility.com.

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, we’re talking about soybean fertilizer management. What should farmers who are growing soybeans this year be thinking about, including IDC concerns from last year? What does new research tell us about soybean and sulfur? Are there other nutrients or practices that our panelists do or don't suggest for soybean based on current research? What tips do our panelists have for Minnesota soybean growers looking to increase yield?Guests:Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)Jeff Vetsch, U of M researcher (Waseca)Seth Naeve, Extension soybean agronomist (St. Paul)Additional resources:Managing iron deficiency chlorosis in soybeanIs it worth applying sulfur to your soybean crop?Sulfur fertilizer application: Does S carry over from one year to the next?Soybean fertilizer guidelines---For the latest nutrient management information, subscribe to the Nutrient Management Podcast wherever you listen and never miss an episode! And don't forget to subscribe to the Minnesota Crop News daily or weekly email newsletter, subscribe to our YouTube channel, like UMN Extension Nutrient Management on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and visit our website.If you have questions or comments, please email us at [email protected] for the Nutrient Management Podcast is provided by Minnesota's fertilizer tonnage fee through the Agricultural Fertilizer Research & Education Council (AFREC). Learn more at MNsoilfertility.com.

This episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast is our 2024 Spring fertilizer outlook: Key decisions after a warm winter. What are the field conditions our panelists are seeing across the state? What options for early fertilizer application should Minnesota growers consider? What practices should be avoided-and why? Should growers be concerned about nitrogen carryover? What economic practices should growers keep in mind as the season begins?Guests:Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)Fabian Fernandez, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)Lindsay Pease, Extension nutrient and water management specialist (Crookston)Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato) Additional resources:Corn fertilizer guidelinesSoybean fertilizer guidelinesFINBIN - The Farm Financial Management Database---For the latest nutrient management information, subscribe to the Nutrient Management Podcast wherever you listen and never miss an episode! And don't forget to subscribe to the Minnesota Crop News daily or weekly email newsletter, subscribe to our YouTube channel, like UMN Extension Nutrient Management on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and visit our website.If you have questions or comments, please email us at [email protected] for the Nutrient Management Podcast is provided by Minnesota's fertilizer tonnage fee through the Agricultural Fertilizer Research & Education Council (AFREC). Learn more at MNsoilfertility.com.

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, we’re talking about cover crops in Minnesota: Recent challenges and future solutions. What were the cover crop issues for 2022 and 2023? Based on the conditions right now and from last spring, what might some good management practices be going forward? What was the decision-making process for a panelist adjusting rye seeding rate requirements in the fall of 2024 when drilled. What advice would the panel have for someone brand new to cover crops, and who has concerns that were exacerbated by this last cycle? Guests:Anna Cates, Extension soil health specialist (St. Paul)Jeff Vetsch, U of M researcher (Waseca)Jared House, Grant County Soil & Water Conservation District (Elbow Lake)Ryan Buetow, Minnesota NRCS State Agronomist (St. Paul)Additional resources:Why did cover crops cause issues in Minnesota the last two years and what should growers do going forward?Recording of Feb. 2024 Strategic Farming webinar on "Thirsty cover crops: Do they impact our cash crops?"Register for Cover Crop Academy: New hybrid, year-long, statewide course starts June 2024Growing cover crops in Minnesota: 4 great resources to get you startedCover crop recipes (Midwest Cover Crops Council)Grant County SWCDMinnesota NRCS---For the latest nutrient management information, subscribe to the Nutrient Management Podcast wherever you listen and never miss an episode! And don't forget to subscribe to the Minnesota Crop News daily or weekly email newsletter, subscribe to our YouTube channel, like UMN Extension Nutrient Management on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and visit our website.If you have questions or comments, please email us at [email protected]!Support for the Nutrient Management Podcast is provided by Minnesota's fertilizer tonnage fee through the Agricultural Fertilizer Research & Education Council (AFREC). Learn more at MNsoilfertility.com.

This episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast is our 2023 AFREC research roundup. What is AFREC and how does it help our panelists conduct their research? What AFREC-funded projects are they currently working on? Have there been any interesting findings from the 2023 growing season? What have been our panelists’ favorite AFREC research projects and why? What would happen if AFREC were to go away? Guests:Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)Jeff Vetsch, U of M researcher (Waseca)Lindsay Pease, Extension nutrient and water management specialist (Crookston)Fabian Fernandez, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)Additional Resources:2024 Nutrient Management, and Nitrogen conferencesAFREC websiteAFREC videoMDA web page on AFREC---For the latest nutrient management information, subscribe to the Nutrient Management Podcast wherever you listen and never miss an episode! And don't forget to subscribe to the Minnesota Crop News daily or weekly email newsletter, subscribe to our YouTube channel, like UMN Extension Nutrient Management on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and visit our website.Support for the Nutrient Management Podcast is provided by Minnesota's fertilizer tonnage fee through the Agricultural Fertilizer Research & Education Council (AFREC). Learn more at MNsoilfertility.com.

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, we’re talking about nitrogen management and water quality in southeast Minnesota. What is the situation in southeast Minnesota and why is it different from the rest of the state? What is the history of this work in southeast Minnesota on nitrogen issues? What is being done about the situation, and what are our current recommendations for southeast MN? Where does our panel see this issue going in the future?Guests:Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato)Jeff Vetsch, U of M researcher (Waseca)Greg Klinger, Olmsted County Soil and Water Conservation District (Rochester)Additional resources:How to interpret a water test for nitrateWatershed planning and nitrate reduction podcastSix observations from six years of tile sampling for nitrates in southeast MinnesotaNitrogen SmartNitrogen management: Two on-farm research programs offer Minnesota corn growers opportunity to improve N fertilizer practicesMinnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program (MAWQCP): Impacts on farm economics and the environmentOlmsted County Soil and Water Conservation DistrictSoutheast Minnesota Groundwater ResourcesFertilizing Corn in Minnesota---For the latest nutrient management information, subscribe to the Nutrient Management Podcast wherever you listen and never miss an episode! And don't forget to subscribe to the Minnesota Crop News daily or weekly email newsletter, subscribe to our YouTube channel, like UMN Extension Nutrient Management on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and visit our website.Support for the Nutrient Management Podcast is provided by Minnesota's fertilizer tonnage fee through the Agricultural Fertilizer Research & Education Council (AFREC). Learn more at MNsoilfertility.com.

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, we’re talking about edge of field N and P reduction strategies. What is an edge of field practice and why are they used? What specific practices do our panelists have experience with, and which have the most potential for use in Minnesota? Are these practices a farmer can pursue alone, or do they require local government to be involved? What assistance is available for farmers who are interested in one of these practices? Guests:Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato) Laura Christianson, researcher, U of M Department of Soil, Water, and Climate (St. Paul)Jeff Strock, Extension soil scientist (Lamberton)Additional resources:Minnesota Nutrient Reduction StrategyNRCS MinnesotaMinnesota SWCDs on the webSWROC Soil & Agricultural Water ManagementVideo: A Holistic Approach to Managing Agricultural Drainage WaterBioreactors: Reducing water pollution with microbes and wood chipsPodcast: Watershed planning and nitrate reductionNitrogen Smart online coursesPlan to attend Nitrogen, Nutrient Management Conferences in February 2024 in St. Cloud, MankatoHow to interpret a water test for nitrateBefore applying manure, check the Runoff Risk Advisory Forecast---For the latest nutrient management information, subscribe to the Nutrient Management Podcast wherever you listen and never miss an episode! And don't forget to subscribe to the Minnesota Crop News daily or weekly email newsletter, subscribe to our YouTube channel, like UMN Extension Nutrient Management on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and visit our website.Support for the Nutrient Management Podcast is provided by Minnesota's fertilizer tonnage fee through the Agricultural Fertilizer Research & Education Council (AFREC). Learn more at MNsoilfertility.com.

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, we’re talking about fall soil sampling. What do conditions look like around the state? Is there a best time to take soil samples in the fall? What should you watch out for when sampling dry fields? What should you keep in mind when using grid versus zone soil sampling?Guests:Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato) Lindsay Pease, Extension nutrient and water management specialist (Crookston)Fabian Fernandez, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)Additional resources:Video: How to take a soil sampleUnderstanding the soil test reportFall fertilizer outlook: Prices, drought, N sources, soil testing, and moreU of M fertilizer recommendations by cropNitrogen Smart’s online course adds advanced sessions on manure management, the 4RsLearn about your land using the Web Soil SurveyFinbin---For the latest nutrient management information, subscribe to the Nutrient Management Podcast wherever you listen and never miss an episode! And don't forget to subscribe to the Minnesota Crop News daily or weekly email newsletter, subscribe to our YouTube channel, like UMN Extension Nutrient Management on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and visit our website.Support for the Nutrient Management Podcast is provided by Minnesota's fertilizer tonnage fee through the Agricultural Fertilizer Research & Education Council (AFREC). Learn more at MNsoilfertility.com.