Farmers and crop consultants in Western Canada have slightly different approaches to manage weather-related fertilizer application risks.
With variable moisture, do you apply the full amount at seeding and hope for rain — or find another way?
Most producers contacted by Grainews opt for some version of split fertilizer application when facing dry growing conditions and drought potential. Where moisture isn’t as much of a concern, variable rate application serves to manage the issue.
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Owen Orsak, Binscarth, Man.
Owen Orsak, who farms with family members at Binscarth in west-central Manitoba, says the farm receives decent moisture for crop production in most years.
In fact, in the winter of 2023-24, it had more snow than most parts of Western Canada. When rain was in the forecast as he started seeding in early May, it was “almost too much,” Orsak says.
“We really don’t need it, but I’m not going to look a gift horse in the mouth.”
In most years they have adequate moisture, “so with fertilizer we are probably in the ‘apply the full amount and hope for or expect rain’ category,” he says.
“We’ve had some drier years, but in the last 20 to 25 years no real serious drought. We can be fairly confident the rain will come.”
Orsak says soil testing, practicing the four Rs (right rate, right source, right placement and right timing) and variable rate technology are part of his risk management strategy when applying fertilizer on 5,000 acres of grain, oilseeds and pulse crops.
He has a one-pass seeding system that applies all fertilizer. He uses a combination of liquid nitrogen 28-0-0 along with granular phosphorus. A paired-row air drill places the liquid nitrogen three inches to the side and one inch down from the seed row.
With cereals, all phosphorus goes in the seed row. With canola, he puts some granular phosphorus in the seed row and some 10-34 liquid phosphorus banded to the side with the liquid nitrogen.
“With the banding, I know the fertilizer is there,” Orsak says. “If we have moisture, it will get used and if it is a drier year or dry spot in the field, it will be there until we do get moisture.
“I am a big proponent of variable fertilizer technology. We farm in the ravines of the Assiniboine Valley so we have some fields where there can be 100-foot or more elevation difference over a quarter or half section.”
Last year was a good example of wide variation in production. On one half-section, the lower part of the field had moisture and plenty of topsoil that had moved off the hilltops over the past 100 years.
The lower part of the field produced 100 bushels of wheat per acre and the ridge top of the half section, which received only 2.5 inches of rain, yielded 15 bushels per acre.
“Soil testing showed on the lower part of the half section we only had about 20 pounds of residual nitrogen, while at the top we had about 90 lbs. of nitrogen,” he says.
“So this year, with the variable rate, we will apply fertilizer accordingly — higher rates in the lower part of the field and little or no added nitrogen on the top of the field.”
Some farmers may avoid liquid nitrogen because it is bulkier and can be more expensive, but Orsak says the system works well for them. They have storage capacity and a seeding system suited to apply liquid nitrogen, “and last year, for example, we were able to buy at a pretty good price.”
Steve Larocque, Beyond Agronomy
In south-central Alberta, consulting agrologist Steve Larocque says he recommends farmers apply a split application of fertilizer to manage their risk if conditions are dry.
Based at Three Hills, about 90 minutes north of Calgary, Larocque owns Beyond Agronomy consulting services and farms himself at Morin, Alta. His preference is to start out with a soil test analysis to gauge residual fertility.
“Ideally start with a soil test, but if that information is not available, then I would recommend applying about 75 per cent of the usual fertility rate at time of seeding,” he says.
“If you normally apply 100 lbs.of N to the crop, then back off to between 75 and 80 lbs. at seeding. If you don’t do anything else, that 75-80 lbs.will probably carry the crop through the season.
“But you can assess the growing conditions over the next few weeks. If it looks like there is going to be sufficient moisture to grow the crop, then you can top up with another 20 or 25 lbs. of nitrogen by early June.”
He recommends a top dress with liquid nitrogen such as UAN 28-0-0. It can usually be delivered in an 8,400-gallon load so the farmer can determine how much product is needed. Ideally, there would be rainfall shortly after application to carry it into the soil.
Depending on product cost, Larocque says it may cost $10-$15 per acre to add the top-up nitrogen, so producers should figure out the economics of the expected yield return.
In extremely dry conditions and if the producer is “bearish,” they could apply 50 per cent of the recommended fertility at seeding. If conditions warrant, they could then do two top-up applications two to three weeks apart after seeding, timing it so all fertilizer is applied by early June.
“If you’re really bearish, go with the 50 per cent rate to start, but it’s really like outguessing the market or outguessing the weather. It depends what you are comfortable with. Starting with 50 per cent is higher risk.”
John McKee, Stirling, Alta.
In southern Alberta, John McKee say he applies the bulk of fertilizer at seeding but is prepared to top dress both irrigated and dryland crops to capture higher yields and higher quality, depending on the year and crop.
McKee owns and operates the 6,000-acre J & C McKee Conservation Farming, which includes about 1,500 acres of irrigated crops as well as 4,500 acres of dryland that produce wheat, malt barley, canola and peas.
With regular soil testing and good production records, McKee says he has a pretty good handle on the production capability of his fields.
“Most years we get pretty decent yields so we’re probably pretty close to that five per cent management rule, making small tweaks here and there to improve yield and efficiency.”
He also credits having two young men keenly involved in day-to-day operations, which helps improve overall production. McKee’s son Joseph is serious about farming and a man from a neighbouring farm, Danny McGlenn, has recently joined the McKee farm operation.
“These two young bucks, these brainiacs, just have such a passion for agriculture and are so keen on pushing the boundaries, that they are always pushing me,” McKee says.
“So we are able to do more. For example, when I was working by myself, I would put all fertilizer on at seeding because that’s what I had time for. Now with more help, we can refine that and hopefully improve yields.”
Most fertilizer is banded in the fall for the irrigated crops, with “a bit more” applied beside the seed at seeding. Later they use a high-clearance sprayer outfitted with streamer bars to top dress the crops with liquid nitrogen.
“The amount will vary depending on the crop and depending on the year, but we do it to help improve yield as well as protein,” McKee says.
“The streamer bars (which direct the flow of fertilizer versus a spray nozzle) improve fertilizer efficiency as more nitrogen is applied to the soil, and there is less risk of crop injury. The timing of application is about the same as herbicide timing — anywhere from the five-leaf stage to flag leaf stage.”
With dryland crops, most of the fertilizer is applied at seeding with a double shoot opener placing fertilizer beside the seed.
“Even in drier years we’ve had some excellent yields, so we target our fertility for yields about 20 per cent above the crop insurance average,” McKee says. “We do regular soil testing so we know how much is residual in the soil, and we also know yield history so we can analyze the information to decide how much fertilizer to apply.”
If it looks like a particularly good growing season, the dryland crops can be top-dressed with liquid nitrogen as well.
“I’m not bragging but we have seen 90- to 95-bushel yields on dryland barley. I’m not sure where that yield came from, but the potential is there.”
Terry Aberhart, Sure Grow Solutions/Aberhart Farms
In eastern Saskatchewan, Terry Aberhart says they do more split applications of nitrogen fertilizer in recent years on the family farm near Langenburg.
It is beneficial during dry growing seasons, but has potential to improve both yield and crop quality in any growing season, he says.
“In a dry year, apply X amount of fertilizer at time of seeding and if stays dry, then maybe quit there,” says Aberhart, who also owns Sure Growth Solutions crop consulting services.
“And if you do get moisture after seeding, then you can top dress. It is something that isn’t done a lot in Western Canada but it can be a risk management tool in a dry year. And we’ve also seen on our farm over the past three years, the split application can improve both yield and protein even though we are applying the same units of nitrogen that we would in a single application.”
When it comes to managing soil fertility, Aberhart encourages producers to soil test regularly. Particularly in drier years, a soil test can be an important starting point.
“If you applied nitrogen last year and it was a dry growing season, you could have significant nitrogen carryover,” he says.
“If you applied 100 lbs. of N, for example, planning for a 70-bushel crop and it only produced 40 bushels, then you may have 30 bushels worth or perhaps 60 or 70 lbs. of N in the soil for this year’s crop. But you need the soil test to find out.”
He recommends routine soil testing so producers can see trends in soil fertility with different crops and growing conditions and develop confidence in the recommendations. Soil samples must be collected properly, from the same location each year, and not over a fertilizer band, for example. And it is always worthwhile to work with a consulting agrologist.
When it comes to a split application, Aberhart says it can vary depending on nitrogen carryover and the crop being grown.
“On our farm this year we had quite a bit of nitrogen carryover so we applied about 30 per cent of the total nitrogen needed for the expected yield and we will plan to a do a top dress afterwards.
“If there was no nitrogen carryover, then you’d probably want to apply between 50 and 60 per cent of nitrogen at time of seeding and then be prepared to top dress. Depending on your farm and soil conditions the initial fertilizer application could range between 25 and 75 per cent of the recommended rate.”
As for the top dress product, Aberhart has used both liquid and granular nitrogen. Each has pros and cons and both should be applied when there is a good expectation of moisture.
On cereals he applies the top dress before the six-leaf stage, which will influence yield. If applied later, at the six-leaf to flag leaf stage, it will have more impact on protein.
The top dress application is usually done about the same time as the herbicide application. The nitrogen applied is then used to feed the crop and not the weeds, improving efficiency.
Aberhart cautions that when it comes to top dressing, more nitrogen isn’t necessarily better.
“We’ve also seen in some research on our farm that there is a tipping point when it comes to top dressing nitrogen. We can apply a certain amount depending on growing conditions, but if we apply too much, we have seen the crops devote more energy and moisture in breaking down that nitrogen and that takes away from yield.
“We have actually seen a two- or three-bushel yield drag. It is not a good feeling to know you applied more nitrogen to increase yield and in fact it resulted in reduced yield. It is something we pay attention to now.
“So again, working with an agrologist will help you manage that top dress application.”
If the farm has a good record of soil testing and it shows fairly high phosphorus levels, the farm might cut back on phosphorus in a dry year and essentially mine the soil for one year until moisture or profit margins improve.
“You don’t want to do it every year, but you can draw down that phosphorus bank account for one season and then start rebuilding the account the next year.”
Research has shown yield benefits from leaving stubble as tall as possible to help trap snow and increase soil moisture. Reducing or eliminating soil disturbance also helps conserve soil moisture.
Aberhart also recommends installing a weather station on the farm or taking soil moisture readings to confirm how much moisture is available to the crop.
When planning crop rotation, know that some crops are more adapted to dry growing conditions. For example, peas are shallow-rooted and need more moisture, and wheat is better able to reach subsurface moisture than barley.
“Farmers may not be able to change their rotation a great deal, but it is something to think about,” Aberhart says.
