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Optimizing nutrient efficiency brings economic benefits

Soaring fertilizer prices are leading many farmers to adjust their nutrient management plans. 

Drew Beckman, field agronomist with Beck’s Hybrids, says research shows many producers are applying more nitrogen than is economically optimal.

“On our PFR farms we find that 160 units of overall nitrogen is our economic optimum rate, which is probably a little bit lower than most people would expect, but we’re also making a lot of those applications in season,” he says.

He tells Brownfield that shifting management practices to more in-season applications can improve nitrogen use efficiency rates.

“There’s a lot of growers that are just worried about profitability and I think it’s a little bit of a mindset switch to say, okay, is this additional nitrogen completely paying for itself?”  He says, “Is there a different way that we can put this on and did those additional bushels actually pay for themselves at the end of the day?”

Beckman says producers can’t eliminate fertilizer costs from the operation, but increasing efficiency will help the bottom line.

Brownfield spoke with Beckman at Beck’s Becknology Days in El Paso, Illinois.

AUDIO: Drew Beckman – Beck’s Hybrid’s