By Blake Jackson
Derek Davis, a fifth-generation farmer in central Missouri, says careful soil testing has become one of the most important tools for managing rising production costs. By analyzing nutrient levels before planting and throughout the growing season, Davis can make adjustments that improve crop health while reducing unnecessary fertilizer applications.
“It allows us to project the next several weeks so that we can make corrections in season if needed to raise as healthy of a crop as we can,” Davis said.
Knowing how much nitrogen and phosphorus already exist in the soil can help farmers cut fertilizer expenses, which is especially important as prices for fuel and crop inputs continue to climb.
Farmers across the country are facing difficult financial decisions, including delaying equipment purchases, reducing pesticide applications, or lowering fertilizer use altogether.
DeDe Jones, a risk management economist with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, said growers are searching for ways to remain profitable during an unusually expensive season.
“This is not going to be a year where there’s a silver bullet where essentially I say, ‘Grow this crop and you’ll be fine,’” Jones said. “In terms of the input cost side, it just is going to come down to these little adjustments you can make.”
Jones also supports soil testing as a way to reduce fertilizer expenses. “With nitrogen being so extremely high [in cost] right now, any residual you can take advantage of that’s already in the soil is going to help the bottom line,” Jones said.
Davis, who also operates a crop consulting business, said interest in soil testing has increased significantly in recent years. Still, some growers have taken more drastic measures. “There’s a lot of growers that I’m aware of that simply just cut fertilizer, or most of it, out,” Davis said.
According to economists from Purdue University and Michigan State University, producers may shift acreage from corn to soybeans or focus less on maximizing yields and more on protecting profits as input costs continue to rise.
Photo Credit: pexels-jan-kroon
Categories: Missouri, Crops, General