As nitrogen remains a costly input, farmers can save by following the recommended maximum return to nitrogen rate (MRTN).
Laura Gentry oversees the Precision Conservation Management Program in Illinois and tells Brownfield about 70% of those farmers are applying above the suggested MRTN rate.
“And yet, for seven consecutive years we have found that farmers who are applying within that maximum return to nitrogen range have the most profitable corn fields in our database.”
University of Illinois Farm Management Professor Gary Schnitkey says the current MRTN rate for corn following soybeans is 160 for northern Illinois, 169 for central and 188 for southern Illinois, based on a $5.50 corn price and $12.50 anhydrous ammonia price.
