Houston, 7 May (Argus) — Midwest corn farmers may need to increase nitrogen applications to boost yields after a prolonged winter that will likely reduce crop supply.
Dry conditions in 2012 reduced yields in major corn-producing states like Illinois and Iowa, which raised expectations that Corn Belt soils would retain nutrients like nitrogen into the next planting cycle.
Missouri farmers, who had their lowest corn production since 1999, may have anticipated needing less product to meet their nitrogen requirements after 2012's poor harvest. The dry fall turned into a long, wet and cold winter for much of the region, which may have caused nitrogen applied in the fall to leach deep into soils and away from the reach of corn roots.
“If that's the case, we certainly have an issue because it (nitrogen) has been vulnerable sitting out there,” University of Missouri professor and nutrient management expert Peter Scharf said.
Anhydrous ammonia is a popular fall nitrogen fertilizer because it takes the longest to convert to nitrate in soil, making it the least vulnerable to dissipating, Scharf said. However, the nitrogen credit growers may have anticipated this winter and early spring may now be gone, which should prompt additional nitrogen demand for this year's crop.
Missouri corn farmers typically apply about 140-150lbs/acre, though late planting and the nitrogen loss associated with it will prompt growers to use more this season.
“If you haven't gotten fertilizer fieldwork done already, I'd bump up nitrogen rates between twenty and forty pounds per acre when you do it to compensate for the loss of some of the soil N contribution,” Scharf said. “All bets are off on counting on anything (nitrogen) being there from fertilizer applied last year and not used.”
With only 12pc of the total US corn crop planted as of 5 May, timing is now the main concern for growers, as later planting risks yield penalties. Though nitrogen is likely needed across many Corn Belt fields, demand for ammonia is falling while the need for granular and liquid products is rising. Scharf praised ammonia's ability to deliver nutrients, but said “it is not good at doing that quickly and speed is becoming an issue now.”
Those growing corn-on-corn this year may be in particular need of additional nitrogen, as the lack of rotation typically brings a 10pc yield penalty compared to rotated corn, Scharf said. However, US growers have not changed their planting intentions, as USDA projects over 97mn acres of corn to be planted this year, though a decline in corn acreage planted may be reflected in USDA's 12 June Crop Production report should delays persist.
Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) September corn contracts preliminarily settled just above $5.61/bushel today.
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