When it comes to managing nitrogen and protecting crops from disease, there’s no magic formula that works for every farmer.
AgriGold Agronomist George Madison says one of the biggest mistakes growers can make is assuming that what works for their neighbor will automatically work for them.
He says, “So I’ve got a lot of growers that are constantly asking about nitrogen management. Is the program they’re using, is that the best? I would say it depends. Everybody’s strategy is different. And if one grower is using XYZ nitrogen strategy, whether that’s up front, whether that’s side dress, whatever that looks like, if it’s working for them, it might not work for their neighbor.”
Madison says the same philosophy applies to disease management. Weather conditions, crop development, and disease pressure can change dramatically from one growing season to the next.
That’s why he encourages farmers to spend time scouting their fields and talking with other growers about what they’re seeing.
He adds, “It seems like what works this year may not work next year. The best thing a grower can do is just stay out in their fields, keeping an eye on their crop, making those observations of when disease starts to set in. And honestly, looking through their network, you know, if they hear some growers in their circle that they’re starting to see disease pop up, that’s a good indication that they’re going to be fighting it here pretty soon.”
The bottom line? There’s no substitute for knowing your own fields. Madison says staying observant, communicating with neighboring growers, and being willing to adjust your management strategy can help farmers make better decisions throughout the growing season.
Because in farming, the only thing more unpredictable than the weather might be what works from one year to the next.
Watch George Madison’s observations here:
