03/01/06 Energy estimator for nitrogen

With the steep run up in fuel and fertilizer prices its imperative that farmers apply only what's needed when it's needed. The USDA has just put out on its website what's called the energy estimator for nitrogen. KNIGHT "A simple tool that helps a farmer weight this practice versus that practice, this form of nitrogen versus another, manure versus commercial." That's Bruce Knight, the chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service who says farmers do calculate these kinds of things but they may be using outdated information. KNIGHT "The spreading cost of any manure may be very different now and may be much more cost effective today than it was a year ago or certainly five years ago." Knight says that farmers using the estimator can look at four different crops. KNIGHT "And then plugs in the units of nitrogen that they're expecting to need. They're going to need their soil test records or need their expected levels certainly from what they've used previously to start plugging those in." Cost of the fertilizer is part of the equation. If a producer has bids or has pre-purchased fertilizer those costs can be plugged in. You'll find the energy estimator at the USDA website, www.nrcs.usda.gov. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott