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Minnesota Nitrogen Rule could be first of its kind

The head of the Minnesota Corn Growers Association says their state could soon be the first to regulate nitrogen use and serves as a lesson for more proactive nutrient stewardship education in agriculture.

“In the absence of information, people gravitate to, ‘Well you must be doing the worst practices,’ particularly the disconnect where people just don’t know any more the practices that farmers are using.”       

Adam Birr tells Brownfield a controversial nitrogen rule has been produced by the Minnesota State Department of Agriculture and would restrict fall nitrogen application.

“When you go down this regulatory pathway, they tend to go simple, with one practice, and we know dealing with these issues it’s complicated.  :07

He reminds farmers to remain nimble to Mother Nature this spring and adjust in-season fertilizer applications to field conditions.