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Nitrogen choices complicated this spring

Input decisions are being complicated by the combination of tight margins and challenging weather.

Dan Kaiser, a nutrient management specialist with the University of Minnesota, says several years of low commodity prices have not correlated to lower input costs.

Additionally, a wet harvest in 2018 impeded plans to put fertilizer on in the fall.

“Particularly in situations where not as much nitrogen was applied, I would expect to see some slightly higher prices this spring just because overall demand will be slightly higher.”

He tells Brownfield farmers should consider current genetics and conditions when calculating the Return on Investment.

“We’re probably still going to be close to that .10 price ratio if you look at the price ratio of nitrogen to the price of corn, we tend to moderate around there.”

However, Kaiser says that ratio could be a bit higher this spring because of nitrogen prices.