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Finding fertilizer savings top of mind for many Illinois farmers

A pair of Illinois farmers say they’re taking steps to save on fertilizer costs this year.

Southern Illinois farmer Granvil Travis says he’s relying on past year’s applications.

“On years when fertilizer is cheaper, we’ll go ahead and spend extra on fertilizer to build up what I would call the bank.”  He says, “In years where prices get super high and we really need to budget, we can pull out of that bank and still raise a normal crop.”

AUDIO: Granvil Travis – Illinois farmer

Eastern Illinois farmer Sarah Hastings tells Brownfield their operation has moved away from dry fertilizer.

“We switched to a new liquid system ahead of beans.”  She says, “We thought, let’s try to concentrate that fertilizer right in the furrow so we can hopefully maybe put a little bit less on and have it right there for our beans and try to save a little bit of money.”

She says tight margins are causing most farmers in her area to look at cost saving measures.

“You get the whole gamut.”  She says, “I’ve heard some people say, I’m going to hope for the best and put my usual amount of fertilizer on ahead of corn and beans. I’ve heard some people say, you know what, the beans are going to have to carry themselves this year, and I’m not going to put dry down ahead of beans. It’s really hard with the uncertainty. You know, we have so much uncertainty.”

Both say they made the decision to try to save on fertilizers even before the recent price hikes caused by the conflict in the Middle East, and they’re concerned where prices might be when it’s time to book for the 2027 crop.

AUDIO: Sarah Hastings – Illinois farmer