It has never been more important to have a current soil test on your field. Soil tests measure the soil's ability to supply essential nutrients. We utilize the soil test report results to guide our plant food recommendations using our Build, Maintain or Drawdown approach to 4R Nutrient Management.

The resulting soil test values guide the recommendation conversation to determining if the field or areas in the field require a build-up because they are too low, or maintain because they are at target levels or drawdown, even a zero recommendation if soil tests are higher than what is required to meet desired production levels for optimum returns.

Our approach to nutrient management is to assure we are not deficient in any one essential nutrient, therefore, limiting yields and neither are soil test levels too high impacting both on the pocketbook and potentially causing environmental concerns.

With recent increases in fertilizer, values are more important than ever to have current soils test no older than 4 years to make decisions on adjustments to fertility programs. It is important to follow 4R Nutrient Stewardship by applying the Right Product at the Right Rate at the Right Time in the right place.

Sounds simple enough but can be quite complex to implement an appropriate strategy to optimize nutrient use efficiency.

The type of soil sampling service can have a profound effect on how efficiently nutrients are used whether it is commercial fertilizer, biosolids or manures.

If samples are taken randomly or as a composite sample on 25 acres, the resulting product recommended will be broadcast at a flat rate, likely being over and or under applied across the field. When samples are georeferenced in a zone or grid sample system, with a map of values the areas of the field can be addressed as required optimizing nutrient use.

Areas of the field may have higher soil test values that result in a drawdown recommendation. High test values caused by past practices can be drawn down without fear of yield loss. However, different areas in the field may be lacking in one or more essential nutrients, and require some more buildup. It could be the case of an imbalance caused by an abundance of some, and a lack of other nutrients. This leads back to the 4Rs of putting on the Right Product at the Right Rate, at the Right Time in the Right Place.

There may be areas of the field that have low pH and require lime. By raising the pH, nutrients already present have may become more available to the crop. If we guess that an entire field needs lime, based on a sample or two, and did a flat rate lime application it could become costly in two ways. First unnecessary expenditure on lime and second we run the risk of increasing the pH in areas that did not need the limestone and inducing a manganese deficiency. Again, without an effective sampling process, variable-rate lime is not possible. Lime should also be applied using the 4R’s.

The increase in crop prices has made the cost of soil sampling look very attractive. In a rotation, a one-bushel increase in corn, one bushel of soybeans and one bushel of wheat would cover the cost of 2.5-acre grids by a factor of 2.3 times, resulting in a better assessment of nutrient needs.

Combining all of this with our comprehensive crop planning, by farm, by field, by crop, and by product will offer you peace of mind knowing your plan meets your needs.

All of this and more can be viewed on your myFS Solution Centre portal and downloadable app for iOS and Android devices.

Sign up today by visiting agris.coop/myFS or contact your local AGRIS crop specialists or AGRIS branch to find out more.