Fertilizer Prices: How to Get Most of Your Application?

Fertilizers prices are affected by multiple mar-ket factors beyond the control of livestock pro-ducers. These prices (especially nitrogen) and increasing concerns regarding availability are the main concerns among livestock producers as we start 2022. Nitrogen is an essential commodity for annual ryegrass production this time of the year and as we prepare for the hay season in the spring. Fertilizer prices have been exacerbated to higher rates compared to the 2008 crisis due to COVID-19 which has created low fertilizer inventories and the inabil-ity of the fertilizer industry to adjust production levels coped with strong domestic and global demand (Fig. 1).

Based on current prices (Fig. 2) and the uncer-tain future, we must become more conscious about how we apply fertilizer and the return in forage systems. Forage crops export far more nutrients off the field than grain crops because most of the above-ground growth is removed as hay. Forage and livestock producers are used to applying fertilizers without knowing the needs of existing forage crops and without knowing the soil nutrient reserves that are available. Most of the losses in a forage production system are due to improper fertilization that is done by imple-menting a blanket application. To have a better understanding of fertilizer needs and cost, producers should concentrate on getting a soil sample that could allow developing an efficient production system. Producers should collect a repre-sentative soil sample in field sections no greater than 10 acres and to a minimum depth of six inches. If legumes are present in the pasture, the percent of legumes and species in the stand should be included to obtain a more effective fertilizer recommendation.

Fertilizer efficiency will depend on several factors such as soil type, weather conditions, existing soil nutrient levels, soil pH, fertilizer type, application rate, forage type, etc. Figure 3 represents the possible yield responses based on your soil nutrient levels. Commonly, there is a linear in-crease in forage production with nitrogen (N) appli-cation. On the other hand, phosphorous (P) and potassium (K) had a 95 to 100% response with a very low soil level, 70 to 95% response at a low level, and 40 to 70% response with a medium level.

Financial constraints commonly limit fertilizer use by forage and livestock producers as they strive to maximize net returns on their investments. Under-standing soil test levels will help develop a fertilizer plan to make the wisest economic application. There are different fertilizer sources and some blended fertilizers like triple 13, triple 17, and poul-try litter that might be easier to apply, but you might be applying a nutrient source that you might not need if a soil sample is properly collected. Keep in mind that poultry litter could be a good source of P