AgroInsights- Harvest & Hibernation

Sep 05, 2023

Jill Herold, Sales Agronomist US West

The 2023 season is coming to a close. Grain fields have or will be combined soon, corn chopped, potatoes and sugar beets dug. Or if you are in wheat country you might be thinking about planting winter wheat. What about those crops that are permanent or perennial? Like orchard crops or hay/alfalfa.


Fall is a good time to make certain applications, whether for fallow ground or a permanent/perennial crop. Take weed control for example, with the right mode of action you can get better weed control with certain species in the fall since plants are moving nutrients into their roots to prepare for dormancy into winter. Early in my career I spent several years crop consulting, and on alfalfa/hay ground we always advised in the fall to “put it to bed wet” meaning to water up the soil profile going into winter to help protect the roots and to help it “wake up” better in the spring. Why not take these same principles and apply them to plant nutrition? Potassium is responsible for over 60 different plant processes, such as stress mitigation, plant immune response, cold tolerance, and it can move in BOTH the xylem and phloem carting other nutrients where they need to go in the plant. Wouldn’t it make sense, just as a bear going into hibernation builds on fat reserves for the winter, that crops like alfalfa/hay or even orchards/vines might benefit from some added nutrition to better survive the winter/dormancy and wake up “on the right side of the bed” in the spring?!


Let’s consider winter wheat; those seedlings will need a good start to get up and be able to survive the winter. Dry fertilizers might ultimately seem a better option in the beginning, but with a dry prill here, one over there, are those seedling roots going to be able to reach it in time to utilize those nutrients? Dry fertilizers need moisture to breakdown and become plant available, this takes time and of course moisture, both of which we don’t typically get a lot of in the fall. Liquid fertilizer is more plant available, and when applied with the planter, those nutrients are in straight shot of the seedling roots. Another advantage to many of the NACHURS liquid fertilizers is the low salt content allowing for closer placement to the seed.


As we start to head into fall, I know the last thing on our minds is next year’s fertility plans and early buy of fertilizers. However, some ‘food for thought’ to consider before you just write off any ideas of filling up your tanks this fall…it might be a good idea for your crops to “put them to bed with a full belly”. NACHURS is offering a deal for early buy and early take. Considering how shipping and supply chain ripples impacted agriculture this past spring it would behoove you to give it some thought to ensure you have what you and your crops need going into next year.


For more information contact your local NACHURS sales manager or sales agronomist.




10 Apr, 2024
Wayne Becker, District Sales Manager & Agronomy Specialist Blending two NACHURS products (Triple Option® and Balance®) at a 1:1 ratio has proven to jump start soybeans and increase profitability. Many farmers would like to use in-furrow starter fertilizer with their beans but are uncertain of the benefits. When beans are first planted early growth is very important. • It is a race against time between soybeans and weeds, fighting for water, sunlight and nutrients. • The quicker a canopy is established, the less weeds are able to steal resources, which could affect yield potential. Traditional In-furrow fertilization of beans is usually not as easy to visually observe as when it is applied to corn or wheat. However, that does not mean that they are not extremely important. This treatment will provide early season fertility that will help the young crop remain strong and vibrant, enabling them to better deal with stresses like insects, drought or water logging. NACHURS liquid fertilizer has been providing the best in-furrow fertilizer treatments for 75+ years. With NACHURS in-furrow, producers have always been able to safely provide the traditional benefits without decreasing germination because of the fertilizer’s low-salt content and superior availability. New focus on plant and soil health has raised the bar even higher. The NACHURS Bio-K® line of fertilizers is the most available source of K on the market, yet it also promotes both soil and plant health. Because the Bio-K fertilizer is a carbon molecule combined with potassium, applying it in-furrow provides beneficial soil microbes with a food source. This enables microbes to increase nutrient availability – for all types of crops. Legumes use Rhizobia to “fix” their own nitrogen. NACHURS has developed a product specially designed to stimulate early development of these important soil microbes. It is called Balance®. We combine the rhizobia stimulating qualities of Balance with Triple Option which maximizes quantity of other nutrients. The result is improved potential for early season growth and greater profitability of soybeans
25 Mar, 2024
Producing High-Quality Forages and Corn Silage for Dairy Farms...
12 Feb, 2024
MARION, OHIO – February 8, 2024 – The 2024 Commodity Classic in Houston will be here before we know it. 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 create a lot of buzz with the unveiling of their new tradeshow booth (#2903), the launch of a new specialty additive technology presented by V.P. of Product Development, Tommy Roach during the “Mini What’s New” Session on Thursday morning at 10:00 am, and our in-booth panel discussions on Thursday and Friday at 2:30 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 follow up with a daily happy hour, 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 #2903 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 www.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 www.wilburellis.com
02 Feb, 2024
Is all liquid fertilizer really the same?
30 Jan, 2024
Protecting Rolling Hills for the Next Generation
20 Dec, 2023
Soil moisture will be a critical factor going into spring 2024.
14 Dec, 2023
NACHURS Bio-K® and Nitrogen Use Efficiency
12 Dec, 2023
PRODUCT HIGHLIGHT
More Posts
Share by: