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It’s N time in the Corn Belt
Farmers across the Corn Belt are busy feeding crops nitrogen.
University of Minnesota water resources extension educator Brad Carlson tells Brownfield a lot of corn is managed for side-dress.
“So I’d like to remind farmers that the primary purpose for side-dressing is that there’s the potential for the loss of nitrogen prior to the time the crop needs it.”
He says much of the Midwest has experienced typical conditions, but in extreme cases growers might have to deviate from recommended rates.
Carlson also reminds farmers applying split-nitrogen as top-dressed urea to include an inhibitor.
“If you’re going to just simply lay it on the soil surface, it takes about a quarter of an inch of rain to move it in. And you will potentially start losing nitrogen after a couple of days if it simply lays on the surface.”
He says it’s worth the investment to put a urease inhibitor on top-dressed urea.