Seeding is kicking off across the province. And whether you're already putting in fertilizer, or still fine-tuning your plan, it’s important to make informed decisions when it comes to your inputs for the season ahead.
New products are everywhere on the market and choosing the right ones can determine profitability and long-term success for your farm. I’m going to talk about one group of products that gets a lot of attention -- micronutrient fertilizers.
Micronutrients: Micronutrient deficiencies are less common than macronutrient ones, but they can still cause significant yield loss. The key to deciding whether to apply micronutrients is to check for deficiencies. Remember Liebig’s Law of the Minimum – plants are limited by the nutrient in lowest supply. If you’re not deficient in a nutrient, adding more won’t boost yields. To check for deficiencies, work with a local agronomist to do soil or tissue testing.
On-Farm Trials: Another way to assess new products is through on-farm trials. If you’re trying something new, start small. For foliar products, it can be as simple as tossing in one jug and then recording the GPS line where you made the change. This will help you understand if the product is likely to give you a yield boost before committing large amounts of money. Always check for tank-mixing compatibilities when testing new products.
Closing: To summarize, by using soil tests and on-farm trials, you can make smarter decisions on which products to apply. Make sure you’re choosing the right inputs for your farm’s unique needs this growing season