News from Your Federated Agronomists | April 9, 2019

Prepare the Seed Bed, Adjust the Planter Today. Avoid Regrets Tomorrow. Good crop management practice includes soil and seed bed preparation. “The goal should be to achieve a firm seed bed with minimum moisture loss. It is also important to distribute crop residues,” said John Swanson, Federated agronomist at the Ogilvie location. Unevenly distributed crop residue contributes to uneven soil temperatures and moisture levels, and those variations in the seed bed inhibit good seed-to-soil contact. The goal should be “to minimize the variability . . . to get crops off to a good start,” he said. Then, with a prepared seedbed .. . Read more.

Finalize Crop Protection Plans Now The frost isn’t all out and the planters haven’t hit the field, but it’s last call for crop protection plans! “We need to have a plan A, plan B, and sometimes a plan C,” said Craig Loen, Federated agronomist at the Osceola location. Those plans should include a discussion of what specific chemicals to use on each crop and/or field, as well as a list of alternative chemistry options ... Read more.

Communication & Teamwork: Key to Custom Application Services Federated provides custom application services for both crop protection and dry fertilizer. “We take custom application seriously,” said Tim Stelter, manager at Federated’s Osceola location. “It is a service that requires a lot of work, training, certification, on Federated’s side, and a lot of trust, on the grower’s side.” Photo: Osceola's new John Deere sprayer. “We are the professionals,” he said, and “we try our very best,” emphasizing that the communication piece between Federated applicators and growers is an essential component . .. Read more.

Get Going with USA500 Starter Additive “When the calendar says we need to get going, we need to go,” said Craig Peterson, Federated agronomist at the Ogilvie location, which often means the soils are cool and conditions are less than favorable. Consequently, the result is often slower emergence and slow early season growth. USA500, a universal starter additive for liquid fertilizer, can offset some of the challenges that come with early planting. It can be applied in furrow or a 2” x 2” band. USA500 applied at 48 oz./ac. contains 1 qt. zinc, 8 oz. phosphate protection, a bio-stimulant, 6 oz. fulvic acid, and 5% nitrogen. USA500: helps move nutrients into the plant for quicker emergence and early season vigor, provides phosphate protection, which, even under good conditions, helps keep phosphate from getting tied up in the soil, adds essential zinc, and boosts early root growth with its bio-stimulants. “We can add USA500 to your liquid starter right at our facility so you are ready to plant,” said Peterson, “or it can be purchased by the bulk tote or jug; once added it mixes well and stays in suspension.” Talk to your local Federated Agronomist about trying USA500 on your farm this spring. (Click on image to read USA500 fact sheet.)

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