NUWAY-K&H AGRONOMY ACCOUNT MANAGERS
Excessive moisture early in 2024 created challenges from the start. Crop variability and below average yields were two main aspects of the growing season
Our customers told us that nitrogen (N) management was key in maintaining what yield potential was left. Corn fields that had N applied in spring of 2024 or that had some in-season N application had a big yield response.
If you are not already doing so, consider applying a stabilizer with every application of N. Also, consider split applications of N every crop year. For instance, instead of applying 160 lbs. of fall N with manure or NH3, consider applying 100-120 lbs. of fall N and coming back in spring with the rest—or side dress your remaining N needs. This strategy will help you manage risk if there is excessive moisture that leads to N loss from leaching.
The 2024 growing season also showed us that adequate micro and macro nutrient levels in the soil are even more critical in a stressed environment. For example, potassium (K) is like the elevator that moves other nutrients throughout the plant. K is also responsible for building cellulose in the stalk for strength and for fighting off crop diseases. Fields with adequate K levels showed better stalk integrity and yield.
SoilOptix®
NuWay-K&H Cooperative is now offering a new precision agriculture soil mapping technology that provides high-definition nutrient analysis, soil texture profiling, and elevation data. SoilOptix® provides additional data insights compared to the conventional 2.5-acre grid sample.
Some of the main uses for this technology include variable rate fertilizer recommendations, variable rate seeding prescriptions, and variable rate soil amendment recommendations.
Soil Optix will also allow us to write site-specific in-furrow iron prescriptions in soybean fields that have high soil pH levels.
Herbicide management
Plan ahead for the 2025 growing season for fields that had weed escapes from drowned-out holes or were not able to get sprayed in time. It will be important to rely on increased residual herbicide rates as well as an additional post spray application on drowned-out holes that had weed escapes.
Product Highlights: Liberty® ULTRA from BASF is a new product release for the 2025 growing season. Liberty ULTRA is the next generation glufosinate herbicide that is a higher concentration from the original Liberty. For instance, 24 oz of Liberty ULTRA is equivalent to 32 oz of Liberty.
In addition to the higher concentration of glufosinate, Liberty ULTRA features BASF’s patented Liberty Lock formulation that supposedly drives three times more herbicide into weeds than generic glufosinate on the market.
Looking at other products that help with weed control, NuWay-K&H Cooperative will also ground truth a product called Guardian in 2025. Guardian puts a polymer around a herbicide to slow its release instead of releasing it all at one time. That could gain a couple extra weeks of residual control.
We’ll offer Guardian on a limited basis for the coming crop year to see how it works. Contact your Agronomy Account Manager if you are interested in trying Guardian on a few acres.
Corn rootworm management
One thing to keep in mind when planning for the 2025 season is identify your fields that were corn in 2023. Northern corn rootworm was an issue in some fields in 2023. These fields showed increased rootworm populations and lodging.
Northern corn rootworm has the ability for extended diapause. This means that northern corn rootworm eggs in the soil can lay dormant in the 2024 soybean crop and emerge with the 2025 corn crop. Field-by-field, assess the risk of corn rootworm pressure next year. For high-risk fields, consider using corn hybrid traits or in-furrow insecticide.
“SoilOptix® offers data insights beyond conventional grid-sampling sampling.”
