News from Your Federated Agronomists | Sept. 10, 2019

Successful 2019 Discovery Plot Days Thanks to Area Cooperators & Grower s "Thank you" is a small way of saying how much Federated appreciates the time and effort put into Discovery Plots each year. From the cooperators who provide their land and meeting spaces, to the seed reps who provide detailed information about the hybrids and varieties showcased in the plots, to the growers who attend and ask valuable questions, it's a team effort. Federated Agronomists couldn't do it without all of you. Thank you for your part in making the 2019 Discovery Plot Days a success. Special thanks to the cooperating farms: Paul & Janet Bostrom Farm, Craig, Janet, & Neil Gustafson Farm, Craig Mold Farm, Larry Wilhelm Farm, Darrell Patnode Farm, Steffen Farms, Doug Lezer Farm. Stay tuned for complete soybean and corn plot results this fall. Also watch for additional information about the Enlist E3™ soybean system ; Enlist soybean seed will be available in limited supply for the 2020 growing season. Be sure to talk to your Federated Agronomist soon if you plan to use the Enlist system on your fields. If you were unable to attend a plot tour, contact your Federated Agronomist for an update.

Fall Fertilizer Applications Provide Spring Benefits for Soil and Schedules Aside from the time it saves in the spring, fertilizer application is easier in the fall when it’s being applied on bean stubble or atop other unworked soils. Fall fertilizer applications guard against significant winter soil compaction since the fertilizer is worked in. (Federated Agronomists highly recommend tillage with fall fertilizer applications to reduce the risk of nutrient loss from runoff.) “It’s a good time for [fall fertilization].. . Read more.

Learning the ABCs of VRT Variable Rate Technology (VRT) can be used for a variety of purposes to make automated applications of ag lime, fertilizer, seed, and chemicals as well. Federated growers most widely use VRT for ag lime and fertilizer, “but some growers are using variable rate seeding also,” said Craig Peterson, Federated agronomist at the Ogilvie location. “As you cross your fields, many change elevation and soil type from one end to the other, from one side to the other; in most cases we also find changes in pH, P, and K [based on soil testing] – some at extreme... Read more.

Gypsoil Maximizes Fall Fertilizer Applications Maximize fall fertilizer applications (see related article) by applying Gypsum with the phosphorus (P) and potassium (K). “Gypsum is a slow-release sulfur source for corn, but it is also great for legumes like soybeans and alfalfa, which both respond well to sulfur (S) and calcium (Ca),” said John Swanson, Federated agronomist at the Ogilvie location. Swanson said there’s “a common misconception that Gypsum is a liming agent, but it is actually pH neutral.” It is a great source of season-long sulfur because...  Read more.

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