Nitrogen-fixing biological products: Four Midwest experts weigh in on industry claims, on-farm research tips, and more

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, we’re talking about supplemental nitrogen fertilizer. What are conditions like around the state? What practices do the worst looking fields seem to have in common? How does a producer assess their situation? What are some recommendations moving forward?Guests:Fabian Fernandez, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)Jeff Vetsch, U of M researcher (Waseca)Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato)Additional resources:Should you apply supplemental nitrogen fertilizer this year?Corn CalculatorSplit-applying nitrogen for corn: Three keys for successful sidedress applicationsShould you add inhibitors to your sidedress nitrogen application?Fertilizing 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.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 all about biologicals. What should companies consider as they test their biological products? Can growers reduce their nitrogen requirements due to biological use? Is there new research out there that tells us about biologicals’ effectiveness? What should growers watch out for when they consider companies’ claims about biological products?Guests:Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)Carl Rosen, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)Emerson Nafgizer, Extension agronomist, retired (Champaign, IL)Dave Franzen, Extension soils specialist, North Dakota State University (Fargo, ND)Additional resources:Nebraska On-Farm Research NetworkPractical Farmers of Iowa Farmer-Led ResearchIowa Soybean AssociationNCERA103.orgNitrogen-fixing biological products: New report summarizes research from across the Corn Belt---For the latest nutrient management information, subscribe to the Nutrient Management Podcast 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 Advancing Nitrogen Smart podcast series, we’re talking all about carryover nitrogen. Our two panelists explain what carryover nitrogen is, how and when to test for carryover nitrogen, and what to keep in mind with this potential N fertilizer credit for Minnesota growers.Guests:Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato)Additional resources:Do you have nitrogen carryover?Fertilizing corn in MinnesotaRegional corn rate calculatorMinnesota Valley Testing Laboratories (MVTL)Nitrogen Smart---For the latest nutrient management information, subscribe to the Nutrient Management Podcast. 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] Nitrogen Smart is proud to be supported by the farm families of Minnesota and their corn check-off investment through Minnesota Corn.

In this episode of the Advancing Nitrogen Smart series, we’re talking in-depth about nitrogen best management practices. How are BMPs calculated, and how do they change over time? What should growers keep in mind regarding regional adjustments in the BMPs? What kinds of risks are these BMPs designed to address? How do the 4 Rs figure in to Minnesota's nitrogen best management practices?Guests:Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato)Additional resources:Nitrogen Fertilizer Best Management Practices for Agricultural LandsFertilizing Corn in Minnesota---For the latest nutrient management information, subscribe to the Nutrient Management Podcast. 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] 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. 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.