Remember Micronutrients

Crops in many areas look decent with the moisture we have received here in late July and August, as long as areas have not flooded out. At this time, it looks like crops will be pulling a fair amount of fertility out of the soil, and many farmers are starting to think about fall fertilizer. We must feed our soil to grow a crop capable of producing above-average yields and giving each farmer a competitive edge. While we are addressing soil fertility, do not forget about micronutrients.

A lack of micronutrients can be a severe limiting factor in nutrient uptake. Sulfur has proven to be a nutrient that we have been lacking for several years. Sulfur is available in multiple forms and can be applied in a wide range of methods, including dry, liquid, or foliar applications. Elemental sulfur is an easy product to blend with fertilizer and apply to our crops. Elemental sulfur does not break down as rapidly as some other forms, so when applied annually or biannually, it can work very well as a long-term sulfur source.

We also have a dry micronutrient product that contains sulfur, manganese, boron, zinc, and calcium. This micro pack performs very well when mixed with a dry fertilizer and elemental sulfur blend. The sulfur in the micronutrient package provides an early boost until the elemental sulfur becomes available through the soil profile. This combination also provides boron, manganese, zinc, and calcium to help feed a good crop.

Contact your local SFG agronomist to discuss your fall fertilizer, sulfur, and micronutrient needs for fall application. Be sure to have a safe fall season!