Back in November of 2024, I created an article titled, “Winning by a Hair”. This November, I wanted to expand on the lessons from the past two years. Recalling the story of the tortoise and the hare reminds us that slow and steady may win the race or just leave us out in the cold. The words slow and steady can again be attached to awaiting our spring planting as well, and even though harvest is fresh in our memories, so is the opportunity to recall what worked well with our crop plan, and what we may need to adjust for 2027. With farming being a series of lessons from the first crop we plant through to the 48th crop we will plant next year, it is becoming more urgent to improve from what we learned. As we look back on what may have caused stress in 2026, for both crops and us, it is important to understand why and how we responded to these stresses. More effectively we need to consider what we learned from these opportunities. For those who struggled through a wet spring, how did your later-planted crops respond? When crops had ample moisture enhancing a perfect seeding time, only to collapse from a month of drought, was there a recovery opportunity? In areas that have witnessed yields never achieved before, did we get a chance to discover what triggers or events amplified these successes? Every result reveals a learning opportunity for us to take advantage of if we choose! “Winning By a Hair, Revisited” can fit multiple connotations, but I wanted to expand on how your crops succeed by a hair, or many hairs. Combing through what we continue to learn directed me to step back to early spring, as we were seeding the 2026 crops and germination began. The emergence of the radical root initiated the brains of each plant, reaching into the soil for moisture and nutrition. The journey that started is what we have the power to influence throughout the year. Nutrients placed close to each seed must be safe for the seed, available to the plant, and balanced. Helping each seed reach its genetic potential requires both these conditions and a clear understanding of nutrient availability and uptake. As this root continues to express itself, it allows sprouts and cotyledons the ability to emerge above ground to enable photosynthesis, thereby maintaining and feeding the plant and root. The plant, although independent, relies on our management to achieve greater success. As roots grow and absorb naturally available nutrients and applied fertilizer, they reflect the quality of our crop management. This is where we can add a little more information into the equation. Understanding the value of orthophosphate as the only form a plant can utilize, and having the ability to protect it from tying up in the soil is another crop-planning strategy. Humic, fulvic and organic acid products continue to be introduced and incorporated into cropping plans. The high chelation value that protects phosphorous is only one of the effects, with a greater expression being that of increased root tips and hairs. Having great root proliferation and growth allows the crop to engage in microbial feeding as well. Measurements of increased root tip numbers and root lengths indicate that humic acids and ALPINE Bio-K can help crops access more nutrients from the soil. Dr. John Strauss, a director of Agronomy in Tulsa, Oklahoma, has documented that a fertilizer blend of N, P, K vs only N, P causes a synergistic effect of over 9%. This begins a process of nutrient use efficiency out of the gate. This engrained into the understanding that potassium is a plants nutrient facilitator, allowing plants the ability to transport fertility, as well as improving water management. This is where potassium’s role brings the theme of “Winning by a Hair, Revisited” into focus. The increased turgor pressure and stomatal activity begins to allow plants to manage the weather effects discussed in paragraph two. It is also documented that the nutrient and sugar transport enabled by potassium feeds not only the plant, but the soil microorganisms as well. Knowing this, we continue to learn that as microbes move in and out of the roots, their exit increases root hair length and efficiency, which are instrumental in water uptake and management. It is through the balanced fertility program that our ALPINE Bio-K amplifies a plant’s ability to create greater success and improve efficiency within the plant. There is more to explore. As you plan your 2027 starter fertilizer program, consider the value of potassium, especially ALPINE Bio-K .  Throughout the winter, please reach out with your questions on potassium, humic acids, and nutrient balances with micronutrients. Your ALPINE DSMs and dealers will be happy to assist! I wish everyone a safe and joyous Fall.

Transform Your Harvest: Discover the Benefits of Finish Line®

The effect of foliar fertilization on wheat yield.

The 2025 Commodity Classic in Denver begins this weekend. This is one of the best opportunities to spend a few days with some of the most innovative people in agriculture. Commodity Classic is America’s largest farmer-led, farmer -focused agricultural and educational experience. This year is no exception to the continued excellence that you have come to expect. NACHURS is sure to be busy with a lot of activity throughout the weekend. Come and see us at our booth (#1210) to discuss the latest trends in fertility and more. We will feature in-booth panel discussions on Sunday and Monday at 4:30 pm. Each day will be a riveting conversation with the Xtreme Ag founders who are some of the top producers in the country. We will have happy hour beginning at 4:00 pm on Sunday and Monday. We will also feature 4th generation farmer and author Dennis Bulani offering book signings of his new release, “What a Farmer Wants You to Know About Food”, so please join us! The NACHURS name has long been synonymous with high quality precision placed fertility products. Our products form the foundation of environmentally sound and sustainable fertilizer programs for all crops across North America and beyond. For further information, please contact NACHURS at 800-622-4877 or stop by our booth #1210 at the show. ###  About Nachurs Alpine Solutions® Nachurs Alpine Solutions (NAS) became a division of Wilbur-Ellis in 2019. NAS is a 75+ year-old specialty chemical business that pioneered the low salt liquid starter fertilizer industry by introducing the first true solution liquid NPK fertilizer. Today, NPK liquid fertilizers sold by NAS are marketed under the NACHURS brand in the United States and under the ALPINE brand in Canada. For more information visit nachurs-alpine.com About the Wilbur-Ellis Companies Founded in 1921, the Wilbur-Ellis companies are leading international marketers, distributors and manufacturers of agricultural products, animal nutrients and specialty chemicals and ingredients. By developing strong relationships, making strategic market investments and capitalizing on new opportunities. For more information, please visit wilburellis.com

We are at the point in the year where things are slowing down around the farm and it is time to reflect on the season to remind ourselves what we learned. Over the last couple of weeks, the District Sales Managers and I have spent some time reflecting on what worked well in the field and the challenges we faced too. Here are the top 5 things we learned from 2024 growing season: #1 Split applying Nitrogen and Sulfur is a practice that should be embraced on a yearly basis when growing corn. Do you remember how the planting season started and what happened in the first 60 days after the planters started rolling? Our field conditions started out dry with some areas of the corn belt showing up on the drought map. Then mother nature blessed us with rain that never stopped in some areas making it difficult to finish planting. Growers that had split applied their Nitrogen and Sulfur were able to avoid nutrient loss from the rain but also apply the nutrients when the crop needed it most. In the end yield was better on split applied nitrogen fields compared to fields that had all the N applied in the fall or spring before planting. #2 For the past 2 seasons in the North region, we have seen the benefits of adding NACHURS Humi-Flex FA to the in-furrow starter fertilizer. NACHURS Humi-Flex FA is our fulvic acid and it is becoming a valuable component in our starter fertilizer for many reasons. We are using it to chelate the nutrients in the starter fertilizer especially phosphorus. Humi-Flex FA also buffers the soil pH to neutral in that nutrient band keeping nutrients available in fields that have less then optimal pH for crop growth. Finally, we use Humi-Flex FA to create a healthy soil microbiome that leads to more root mass and nutrient uptake. #3 Nutrient uptake charts for corn and soybeans have been a great tool for our team to help our customers visualize the crops nutrient needs based on timing during the growing season.

The importance of Phosphorus

Fungicide applications: the determining factors to be considered

Strategic Applied Fertilizer: Reallocation

The right nutrient source

The right nutrient source!

'Tis the Season