Years with lower corn prices lead to many farmers making soybeans a bigger part of their crop plan. The Maximum Farming System® can help make the most of such changes and provide optimal fertilizer management, which varies by crop. For example, corn benefits dramatically from in-furrow fertilization that provides sufficient levels of tissue phosphorus during early growth stages to maximize kernel number. And, beyond providing balanced early nutrition and foliar fertilization around pollination, optimal fertilizer use efficiencies rely on adjusting split nitrogen levels by hybrid response type in corn.

In contrast, soybean yields are more dependent on soil quality and late season stress tolerance, especially between R3 through R5 when most yield potential is determined. While all crops benefit from supplemental foliar fertilization during the transition to reproductive phase, soybeans benefit more because of their extended flowering period. Good soil health and late season foliar applications are essential to maximize summer rooting and promote new nodulation to ensure better grain fill.

Get in contact with a local Maximum Farming System representative to implement the System on your farm.

by Dr. Brian Gardener, Ag Spectrum Technical Director