Fertilizer Preparedness for 2020
Sep 28, 2020
Many
areas did not have a normal fall fertilizer run in 2019 due to uncooperative
soil and weather conditions. This means
that the spring of 2020 will be unusually busy for fertilizer application. Growers should plan early to avoid bottlenecks. Some of this planning should include:
- Completing your cropping
and rotational plan so that you know your key crop acres and field locations. - Developing a fertility
plan for each field with the exact amount of plant nutrient required/desired
(use your soil test results). - Taking possession of
straight-grade or blended product early to have supplies already on-farm. - Pre-buying (if possible)
some of your spring needs to ensure supply. - Booking custom application
for a portion of your acres. - Purchasing your seed
supply early to save time in spring. - Ensuring equipment is
fully maintained and serviced so that you can roll as soon as soil and weather
allow. - Hiring extra labour in
anticipation of a busy season. - Planning to start early on
better drained fields in spring. - If possible, assigning
“fertilizer duty” to an individual, so that acres are completed in a timely
manner in advance of seeding.
It
was a challenging fall and harvest and we all deserve a break. However, be sure to kick-start your 2020
fertilizer planning soon, so that you are as prepared as you can be. Good luck in 2020 and let’s hope our weather
co-operates!
Please
contact your local Shur-Gro sales agronomist for assistance with fertility
plans, product supply, and custom application needs.