Believe it or not, November is an important month for growers outside of harvest. It’s the time to make decisions that help dictate your yield in the coming year. Although we cannot control weather, or markets for that matter, you can take steps to ensure you get the best output from your soil under the conditions you are given.
This month’s Farm Journal magazine notes that November is the number one seed buying month. I recommend meeting with your local Stine Seed representative to find the best seed fit for your soil needs.
After you have your seed order lined up, the next item on your agenda should be fertility planning. Nutrient inputs are critical for optimal corn production. Soil testing will get you started on the right foot. Remember to base your fertilizer needs on realistic yield expectations. The goal should be to replace nutrients used by the previous crop to maintain nutrient balance. Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are critical elements, and timing their input into your crops will help increase efficiency.
Nitrogen (N) — This should be applied according to the crop’s needs and will often involve split applications. Corn uses only 15 percent of required N from V5–V8 and will need the most at the V10 growth state, which is usually about 40 days after planting.
Potassium (K) — This nutrient is an essential component for grain production. It is responsible for moving energy, including water, carbohydrates and nutrients, into the plant tissue. A lack of K in a plant may result in yellowing of leaves, stunted growth and less grain fill, ultimately affecting yield. Soybeans and heavy tillage contenders, like silage corn, will deplete the soil of K more so than other crops. On the other hand, moistened soil in the spring has proved to increase the availability of K. K can be applied in a pre-plant situation or a post plant.
Phosphorus (P) — Essential for crop production, P encourages early plant vigor and overall plant health. After harvest, it’s important for growers to test their soils to determine the best placement of P as the nutrient is not mobile in crops, which limits plant uptake. There are a few placement options for growers to consider for their phosphorus fertilizer, including broadcast applications before planting and banding applications after planting.
To learn more about Stine’s 2018 seed lineup and tips for nutrient applications this fall, contact your Stine sales rep.