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The use of starter fertilizer during late planting

An extension nutrient management specialist wants corn farmers to think twice before scrapping starter fertilizer plans because of late planting.

Daniel Kaiser with the University of Minnesota says while it might be tempting to save on inputs now that soils have warmed up, growers need to remember a starter is part of a season-long fertility program.

“You’re applying plant nutrients, and with yield that’s what the crop is going to respond to.  It’s going to respond to the nutrients, not as much that placement method near the seed.  You’ll see that visually with the growth response, but your yield usually is going to be dictated by the amount of nutrients.”

He tells Brownfield even during a typical spring, the decision to use a starter can be complicated.

“Into situations like we’re in now, what should farmers do with starter?  Normally we plant earlier (and) expect the starter to have a greater impact.  And as we start getting later, there’s more and more questions, particularly as we try to speed up planting and what to do.”

Kaiser says there is data suggesting a starter used during late planting is not necessarily a bad thing.

He adds minimum tillage situations tend to benefit the most, particularly with having phosphorous near the seed at planting.

 

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