Spoon-Feeding Your Crops
04/04/25 • 47 min
We dive deep into nitrogen management strategies, balancing science with the practical realities of farm operations to maximize yield while controlling input costs.
• Fall versus spring anhydrous application depends on soil conditions, workload management, and weather patterns
• Soil temperature and biology significantly impact nitrogen availability to crops
• Soil moisture must be adequate to properly seal anhydrous and convert it to plant-available forms
• Progressive farmers are achieving nitrogen efficiency rates around 0.7 pounds per bushel of corn
• Side-dressing nitrogen at V3 growth stage offers optimal timing for corn utilization
• Spoon-feeding mobile nutrients like nitrogen, sulfur, and boron maximizes fertilizer efficiency
• Early morning applications of foliar products provide yield advantages over midday applications
• Harvesting soybeans at higher moisture (15-16%) rather than waiting until 8-9% could capture 5+ bushels per acre
• Family involvement creates valuable learning opportunities and problem-solving skills for the next generation
• Full-season soybean varieties may provide advantages as growing seasons shift with changing climate patterns
Share this episode with your farming friends and let us know what topics you'd like us to cover by emailing [email protected].
We dive deep into nitrogen management strategies, balancing science with the practical realities of farm operations to maximize yield while controlling input costs.
• Fall versus spring anhydrous application depends on soil conditions, workload management, and weather patterns
• Soil temperature and biology significantly impact nitrogen availability to crops
• Soil moisture must be adequate to properly seal anhydrous and convert it to plant-available forms
• Progressive farmers are achieving nitrogen efficiency rates around 0.7 pounds per bushel of corn
• Side-dressing nitrogen at V3 growth stage offers optimal timing for corn utilization
• Spoon-feeding mobile nutrients like nitrogen, sulfur, and boron maximizes fertilizer efficiency
• Early morning applications of foliar products provide yield advantages over midday applications
• Harvesting soybeans at higher moisture (15-16%) rather than waiting until 8-9% could capture 5+ bushels per acre
• Family involvement creates valuable learning opportunities and problem-solving skills for the next generation
• Full-season soybean varieties may provide advantages as growing seasons shift with changing climate patterns
Share this episode with your farming friends and let us know what topics you'd like us to cover by emailing [email protected].
Previous Episode
Soil Health, Root Structure, and Spring Planting Decisions Will Define Your Season
Beck's Field Agronomist Greg Shepard shares insights on spring planting readiness, soil biology research, and practical farming recommendations based on Beck's Practical Farm Research (PFR) findings. The conversation explores the fascinating connection between soil health and crop performance, revealing how understanding root structures and biological processes can dramatically improve yields.
• Spring soil conditions currently showing good freeze-thaw cycles but need rain to settle "fluffy" topsoil
• Planter maintenance is critical with corn being particularly sensitive to depth, spacing, and emergence timing
• Talc replacement powders with biologicals showing consistent ROI in Beck's PFR trials
• "Root Reveal" research project classifying corn hybrids by root structure (horizontal, balanced, vertical)
• Micronutrient applications, particularly boron and sulfur, becoming increasingly important
• Soil biology mirrors gut health - both systems require diverse microorganisms to process nutrients
• Timing field operations properly to avoid microscopic compaction that restricts root growth
• Beck's PFR research available to all farmers, not just Beck's customers
To find out more about Beck's Practical Farm Research and access their studies, visit beckshydrids.com to download the PFR book or speak with a local dealer.
Next Episode
Faith, Family, and Farming: How One Farmer Built a Multi-Generational Operation
We welcome Steve Boender, a farmer from Oskaloosa who shares his remarkable journey of faith, family, and farming over 50 years. Steve reveals how he and his wife Jan started with nothing but an FHA loan at ages 18 and 19, building a diverse agricultural enterprise while raising six children who've all returned to agriculture in various capacities.
• Started farming in 1974 with 200 acres and an FHA loan at age 18
• Found resilience through faith during the 1980s farm crisis when banks refused loans
• Created independent business opportunities for each child rather than just positions in the family operation
• Diversified beyond traditional farming into seed sales, custom work, trucking, and excavation
• Measures success not by how necessary he is to the operation but by how well it runs in his absence
• Built a reputation for servant leadership that extends throughout the agricultural community
• Believes in the principle that "when you shovel out, God shovels back—and God has a bigger shovel"
• Views his responsibility as not just teaching his children but teaching them to teach their children
• Values relationships over self-sufficiency, recognizing the importance of both giving and receiving help
Join us next week for more wisdom from Steve as we continue exploring what truly makes the farmer agriculture's greatest asset.
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