News

Fall fertilizer application season starts early

The senior director of plant foods at MFA Incorporated, a Missouri-based farm cooperative, says fall fieldwork is underway and fertilizer is being applied as soil temps allow.

Chris DeMoss tells Brownfield there’s been good demand for potash, potassium and anhydrous in Missouri and many farmers had booked fertilizer early to lock in better prices.

“Fertilizer values are relatively low compared to a year ago, especially when you’re looking at the value of the inputs versus the outputs. Corn prices are down, but they’re not down as much as fertilizer prices have come down. It’s true for soybeans and in fact, soybeans have a better ratio.”

DeMoss says fall fertilizer applications are happening earlier than usual.

“Usually we don’t see this kind of work starting until later in November, but with this weather: the rain coupled with cooler ground temps, we’re starting to see anhydrous applied in the northern part of Missouri.”

He says more widespread fertilizer applications are expected by the end of the week.