12-27 IAT Dirt Bank Account

A company named Mosaic has been preaching a balanced crop nutrition plan with farmers for the last two years. The goal has been to assist growers in understanding that Nitrogen, Phosphorous, and Potassium need to be available in the correct amounts to achieve consistently high results. Once these key nutrients are met, the addition of sulfur and selected micronutrients can take yields to the next level. Yield levels on all major crops have been increasing over the last decade, yet many growers continue to fertilize the same as they did in the past. Crops are removing nutrients from the soil at an increasing rate. Soil test levels that were once in the very high category have sometimes dropped to the high or even medium category. Soils testing below the critical levels may lead to significant yield loss and will be very costly to build and restore the soils to their most productive level.

University studies show that 40-60% of yield increases are the result of soil fertility management. This includes applying the right product at the right rate in the right place at the right time – commonly referred to as the 4R's of nutrient management.

Dan Froehlich, Ph. D. Director of Agronomy explains the need for balanced crop nutrition: "We look at the soil as a big bank account. You put nutrients in and as the crop grows it's removing those, you take the grain off and it removes different nutrients and if you take out more than you put in, eventually you're gonna have to replace that so mining the soil is when you're taking more out than what you're putting back on."