Phosphorous could be "overprioritized" as farmers weigh input costs
Corn farmers are likely looking to shave input costs in the face of low commodity prices.
And University of Minnesota Extension nutrient management specialist Daniel Kaiser says phosphorous might be overprioritized going into 2025.
"Looking back this fall, the prices have been pretty strong yet on MAP and DAP in terms of some of the growers' attitudes towards reductions, particularly in phosphorous."
He tells Brownfield a soil test will probably show phosphorous is a nutrient farmers can afford to cut back on.
"Because we don't need to be as precise I think as people think we need to be in terms of maintaining soil tests, we don't have to be putting on exact removal annually to hold your soil tests at a good level over time. So I think that'll be the one that's interesting."
Kaiser says there should be more concern about insufficient potassium levels, especially in areas that were dry this year.