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Coping with Fertilizer Logistics in 2007

This is the first year in almost two decades when the Ontario fertilizer industry is going to have to supply fertilizer for a two million acre plus corn crop, and it is coming in a year when there are also record planting intentions in the rest of North America as well. While I have been assured that the total supply of fertilizer for the province will meet everyone's needs, there is a distinct possibility that some dealers will run short of either product or application equipment at some point during the season. This risk is greatest if we have an extended stretch of good planting weather when we have everyone running at once.

While we all hope that we won't be caught in any spot shortages, we should be prepared to adjust our plans should the contingency arise. There are a number of options to choose from, to optimize crop yields in the instance where fertilizer is not available on the day we want to head to the field.

• Shut down and wait - This is the least desirable option, unless you are operating at the very beginning of the planting window. In almost all cases, you would be better to get the crop in the ground early, and worry about fertilizer later.
  
• Replace fertilizer with manure - This is a viable option for some farmers, particularly if they have neighbours who would normally be applying manure on their hay fields in summer. Things to watch out for are delays in planting if everything is not in place to apply the manure, and the potential for compaction.
  
• Switch starter fertilizer products - If you were planning to use MAP in a starter, and only DAP is available, you should be able to formulate a starter blend that still meets crop requirements. The difference in potential yield from different P sources is less than the difference from one day's delay in planting.
  
• Cut starter rates - I would not advocate planting without starter fertilizer unless your soil tests are high, but if you know there may be tight supplies, spreading the same fertilizer over more acres will generate more bushels than leaving some acres without starter.
  
• Switch N products - Be prepared to substitute urea for UAN, or vice-versa, if one is in short supply. Any of the granular N fertilizers provide equal nutrient availability, just watch the differences in price.
  
• Broadcast N and K post plant rather than preplant - We like to get the fertilizer broadcast and worked in before planting, but it is almost as available to the plants if it is spread over the top after planting. A shallow incorporation with a harrows will not disturb the seedbed.
  
• Switch to topdress or sidedress N application - Anhydrous ammonia or UAN, knifed between the rows, is an excellent source of N for corn. Some growers have had good success using the streamer nozzles to surface apply UAN on corn up to the 5-6 leaf stage, with little or no leaf burn.

By working with your dealer, you should be able to meet the crop's requirements for nutrients even if we have a challenging year for fertilizer supply.