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You belong to IFCA because you want us to watch out for your best interests and defend our industry to secure a prosperous future. That is what this message is all about.
This fall promises a cherished opportunity to get tillage and fertilization done now. But, now more than ever we are under the microscope from activist groups who are pressuring USEPA through lawsuits to develop nutrient standards for our industry. They have been successful in
If we can not police ourselves with regard to the proper timing of fall fertilizer application then lawsuits may force USEPA and Illinois EPA to create regulations limiting or even banning fall applied nitrogen. Dealers and farmers could also be subjected to lawsuits regarding the decisions you make on nitrogen and phosphorus application.
IFCA will take a strong leadership role in defending the judicious use of fall applied nitrogen. However, we must have the backing of our members, and your customers, to do this. No one wants to have a finger pointed at them for going too early, so let’s all stick to our agronomic guns. The future of Fall N depends upon it.
The IFCA recommends the use of nitrogen stabilizers for all fall applied nitrogen to better assure protection against Indian summer warm spikes and also to protect the nitrogen into the spring. It behooves everyone to wait until after October 15 before you think about fall application, and then only if the soil temperatures are in the low 50 degree range, with the weather forecast looking like the temps will stay that way.
If your customers will not use a nitrogen stabilizer, you should wait until the soil temperatures are below 50 degrees F and will stay that way.
You may think these recommendations are tough, but they aren’t as tough as a possible future that doesn’t include fall N application at all. That could cost
Daily 4 inch soil temperatures are posted at www.ifca.com.