With planting hijacked by adverse weather, nutrients become even more critical, even with the challenge of application timing. At this point, if fertilizer hasn't already been applied, preplant options are essentially gone and side-dressing is the best means to apply urea on corn (see related article).

Urea 46-0-0 has the highest analysis of dry fertilizer for nitrogen (N).

• - N is very mobile, the majority of it moves up and down freely with soil moisture.
• - N is eventually converted to ammonia (NH3) and some is lost as a gas into the air.
• - N loss increases when temps rise above 55 F, when there is significant crop residue on the soil, and if too much urea is applied at one time.
• - N loss is protected by incorporation, or by application before rainfall, or by using a urease inhibitor.

Sidedressing N after weeds have been controlled is a good way to “feed the corn, not the weeds,” said Brad Hipsag, Federated ag sales rep at the Ogilvie location.

AMS 21-0-0-24 addresses sulfur (S) deficiency, especially for plants grown in low organic matter soils. These deficiencies, according to Hipsag, “can usually be corrected by topdressing at 25-50 lbs. of S per acre, or 100-200 lbs. of AMS per acre.”

Alfalfa and soybeans – legumes that are high in protein – use a lot of sulfur, Hipsag noted. Corn requires sufficient S as well.

• - 60 bu. soybeans will have roughly 25 lbs. of S in it, and 60% of that is in the seed.
• - 5T alfalfa can use 27 lbs. of S per acre.
• - 200 bu. corn can use 16 lbs. of S in the grain and another 14 lbs. in the stover.

Crop nutrition becomes even more important in a challenging growing season. Talk to your Federated Agronomist to discuss the best options for your corn, soybeans, and alfalfa.