The pros and cons of top dressing nitrogen

The pros and cons of top dressing nitrogen

Q & A with Nutrien Ag Solutions

Q: What are the advantages and disadvantages of top dressing nitrogen? A: Top dressing nitrogen is one fertilizer option to help achieve yield goals. The advantages include increasing yield potential, increasing time efficiency and diffusing financial risk. Timing is key. The nitrogen needs to be applied early in the growing season and before a rain […] Read more

A Saskatchewan potash mine under storm clouds. (BobLoblaw/iStock/Getty Images)

Global fertilizer market prices vary

CNS Canada — A mixed bag for fertilizer prices is expected over the next few months, as some continue to increase while others should drop, according to an analyst. “The fertilizer market has remained pretty firm over the past six months… we had kind of anticipated some declines across all the different nutrients, (but) they’ve […] Read more


(Photo courtesy Nutrien)

Global fertilizer prices set to fall

CNS Canada — Global fertilizer demand has been higher, leading to increased prices, but with more capacity coming online prices should start to fall, according to an analyst. “Urea prices globally have moved a little higher over the past few months. They’ve been relatively volatile, that’s just kind of a function of some better than […] Read more

Consider options for protecting nitrogen

Consider options for protecting nitrogen

N-stabilizing products are not new, but there are still questions about how they work

If you are concerned about the all-important nitrogen losses due to environmental factors, there are several solutions in the form of nitrogen stabilizing or Enhanced Efficiency Fertilizer (EEF) products to choose from. All can be quite effective according to private, government and university researchers, but along comes the big depends. It depends on moisture conditions, […] Read more


The future of broadcasting nitrogen in the fall

The future of broadcasting nitrogen in the fall

The inefficient practice is on the rise; however limits may be on the way in Manitoba

Broadcasting in fall is the quickest and easiest way to apply nitrogen — and the least efficient. So why, anecdotally at least, does the practice seem to be on the increase? Bigger farms and a shortage of labour could be part of it. Moreover, nobody knows when poor weather will shut down field operations. And […] Read more

(Fertilizer Safety and Security Council)

Farmers wait for fertilizer prices to fall amid oversupply

CNS Canada — As more fertilizer plants are built around the world and U.S. corn acreage shrinks, the typical thinking holds that prices for urea and nitrogen should fall, but that hasn’t been the case so far for Canadian farmers. “They’re more on the steady side,” said Todd Lewis, president of the Agricultural Producers Association […] Read more


While this research work is specific to an Agrotain nitrogen stabilizer, Rigas Karamanos says it shows how newer fertilizer technology may not completely prevent but can reduce nitrogen losses under adverse (winter) field conditions.

Fertilizer expert discourages winter application

While winter application can even out workload, losses are high and pollution is a risk

Considering how the 2016 growing/harvest season went, there may be a real crunch this spring to first find and then get fertilizer applied at seeding, but if you’re thinking it might be a good idea to get a jump on workload and apply fertilizer this winter on snow or frozen ground — DON’T. That’s the advice […] Read more

New Wheat crop

In-crop nitrogen fertilizer application

Agronomy Management: In-crop N application is becoming more popular. But is it a good fit for your farm?

Many farmers in Western Canada band their nitrogen (N) fertilizer before seeding or place all fertilizer in a side or mid-row band at the time of planting for their cereal and oilseed crops. Both are very sound practices. After seeding, most of the N fertilizer will slowly convert from ammonium nitrate (NH4+) to nitrate nitrogen (NO3-), the form […] Read more


field of flowering mustard

Mustard fertilizer management

In Part 2 of a 4-part series on mustard agronomy, Ross McKenzie talks fertilizer

In the last issue of Grainews, I discussed agronomic management of growing mustard. In this issue we’ll discuss nitrogen requirements; in the next issue, we’ll discuss the other nutrients mustard needs to achieve optimum production. Mustard grown on cereal stubble almost always needs nitrogen fertilizer, frequently needs phosphate fertilizer and occasionally needs sulphur fertilizer. Soil […] Read more

(Fertilizer Safety and Security Council)

Fertilizer expected to be pricier by springtime

CNS Canada –– Relatively cheap natural gas has helped push down fertilizer prices for Canadian farmers over the past winter, but that should change by springtime. One Manitoba farm leader noted urea fertilizer that went for $545 per tonne last August could now be acquired for $445 per tonne. “Phosphate fertilizer was going for $721 […] Read more