The fluctuation in fertilizer price affects the economic optimum N rate. To account for this change, the ratio of the price of N per pound to the value of a bushel of corn has been added to the N rate decision. The price/value ratio is used to determine the maximum return to N value (MRTN). The MRTN is the N rate that maximizes profit to the producer.
Effective strategies for reducing nitrate loss to groundwater are practices that reduce the amount of N used to produce a crop with maximum efficiency while reducing the amount of N that may be leached through the soil profile.
Nitrogen application rates will be dependent on the DWSMA BMP rate and University of Minnesota guidelines for corn. University of Minnesota Extension Fertilizer Guidelines for Agronomic Crops in Minnesota
Requirements to qualify Nitrogen Reduction Initiative funding:
- Take appropriate N credit for all sources, including legumes and livestock manure. Also include N supplied in a starter, weed and feed program, and contributions from phosphorus fertilizers such as MAP and DAP, or other inorganic fertilizers which contain N when calculating the total N rate.
- N credits from manure shall be from actual test results and applied at known rates.
- Apply an N rate at least 15 lbs. lower than the 0.1 MRTN rate for corn following corn (160 lbs./ac.) or at least 10 lbs. lower than the 0.1 MRTN rate for corn following soybeans (130 lbs./ac); at least 15 lbs. lower than the 0.1 MRTN for corn following corn on irrigated sandy soils (195 lbs./ac.) or at least 10 lbs. lower than the 0.1 MRTN rate for corn following soybeans (170 lbs./ac.) on irrigated sandy soils; or at least 15 lbs. lower than the DWSMA BMP rate for corn following corn, or at least 10 lbs. lower than the DWSMA BMP rate for corn following soybeans if the DWSMA rate is lower than the 0.1 MRTN.
- Payment is earmarked for producers who haven’t met the 10 or 15 lbs. threshold in the past.
- Organic crop land or crop land transitioning to organic is not eligible for the Nitrogen Reduction Initiative.
Producer Compensation
Producers who enroll in the Nitrogen Reduction Initiative may be eligible for compensation based on meeting the components of the technical resources mentioned above. Producers may be eligible for a payment of $25/acre up to 200 acres for a maximum of $5,000. Payment to producer will be made upon receipt of nitrogen records that indicate the applicable reduction in N based on fertilizer inputs and crediting all other sources of N.
The fluctuation in fertilizer price affects the economic optimum N rate. To account for this change, the ratio of the price of N per pound to the value of a bushel of corn has been added to the N rate decision. The price/value ratio is used to determine the maximum return to N value (MRTN). The MRTN is the N rate that maximizes profit to the producer.
Effective strategies for reducing nitrate loss to groundwater are practices that reduce the amount of N used to produce a crop with maximum efficiency while reducing the amount of N that may be leached through the soil profile.
Nitrogen application rates will be dependent on the DWSMA BMP rate and University of Minnesota guidelines for corn. University of Minnesota Extension Fertilizer Guidelines for Agronomic Crops in Minnesota
Requirements to qualify Nitrogen Reduction Initiative funding:
- Take appropriate N credit for all sources, including legumes and livestock manure. Also include N supplied in a starter, weed and feed program, and contributions from phosphorus fertilizers such as MAP and DAP, or other inorganic fertilizers which contain N when calculating the total N rate.
- N credits from manure shall be from actual test results and applied at known rates.
- Apply an N rate at least 15 lbs. lower than the 0.1 MRTN rate for corn following corn (160 lbs./ac.) or at least 10 lbs. lower than the 0.1 MRTN rate for corn following soybeans (130 lbs./ac); at least 15 lbs. lower than the 0.1 MRTN for corn following corn on irrigated sandy soils (195 lbs./ac.) or at least 10 lbs. lower than the 0.1 MRTN rate for corn following soybeans (170 lbs./ac.) on irrigated sandy soils; or at least 15 lbs. lower than the DWSMA BMP rate for corn following corn, or at least 10 lbs. lower than the DWSMA BMP rate for corn following soybeans if the DWSMA rate is lower than the 0.1 MRTN.
- Payment is earmarked for producers who haven’t met the 10 or 15 lbs. threshold in the past.
- Organic crop land or crop land transitioning to organic is not eligible for the Nitrogen Reduction Initiative.
Producer Compensation
Producers who enroll in the Nitrogen Reduction Initiative may be eligible for compensation based on meeting the components of the technical resources mentioned above. Producers may be eligible for a payment of $25/acre up to 200 acres for a maximum of $5,000. Payment to producer will be made upon receipt of nitrogen records that indicate the applicable reduction in N based on fertilizer inputs and crediting all other sources of N.
Establish a perennial crop on crop land for at least three years where none has existed for five or more years. The integration of perennial crops has been shown to increase overall uptake of nitrogen making it less available for leaching and/or utilize soil moisture thereby reducing nitrate movement when compared to annual row crop production. Perennial crops have a longer growing season compared to annual crops. The resulting uptake of nitrogen and water during the leaching-prone spring and fall periods reduces nitrate leaching losses. Because perennial crops are effective in taking up nitrogen and have lower overall nitrogen needs compared to annual crops such as corn and potatoes, less nitrogen is needed to be applied through fertilizer.
Requirements to qualify for Perennial Crop Initiative funding:
- The perennial crop will replace an annual row crop or will be used in a rotation with annual row crops where a perennial crop hasn’t been used within the last five years.
- Seed bed preparation, seeding rate and spacing must be adequate to ensure good establishment of the perennial crop and be based on the technical resources listed below.
- After establishment, the perennial crop should remain in the field for at least three growing seasons. Perennial crops may include alfalfa or mixed hay, pasture, Kernza, etc.
- Nitrogen application from fertilizer and/or manure must follow guidance from the University of Minnesota. If additional N is needed, in-season soil or plant testing or other adaptive management technologies verified by the MDA can be used to document and quantify this need and additional nitrogen can be added
- If used in a rotation with annual crops, adequate nitrogen credit must be taken from the perennial crop using University of Minnesota recommendations.
The MDA recognizes there is active and ongoing research related to new or emerging perennial crops and the development of agronomic best management practices is ongoing. Farmers should adopt best management practices as they become available.
Technical Resources
- University of Minnesota Extension’s Establishing alfalfa-grass mixtures
- University of Minnesota Extension’s Fertilizing grass-legume mixtures in Minnesota
- University of Minnesota Extension’s Managing the rotation from alfalfa to corn
- University of Minnesota Extension’s Planting forages
Producer Compensation
Producers who enroll in the Perennial Crop Initiative may be eligible for compensation based on meeting the components in the University of Minnesota technical resources. Producers may be eligible for a payment of $50/acre up to 100 acres for a maximum of $5,000. Payment will be made upon successful establishment of the perennial crop.
Establish a perennial crop on crop land for at least three years where none has existed for five or more years. The integration of perennial crops has been shown to increase overall uptake of nitrogen making it less available for leaching and/or utilize soil moisture thereby reducing nitrate movement when compared to annual row crop production. Perennial crops have a longer growing season compared to annual crops. The resulting uptake of nitrogen and water during the leaching-prone spring and fall periods reduces nitrate leaching losses. Because perennial crops are effective in taking up nitrogen and have lower overall nitrogen needs compared to annual crops such as corn and potatoes, less nitrogen is needed to be applied through fertilizer.
Requirements to qualify for Perennial Crop Initiative funding:
- The perennial crop will replace an annual row crop or will be used in a rotation with annual row crops where a perennial crop hasn’t been used within the last five years.
- Seed bed preparation, seeding rate and spacing must be adequate to ensure good establishment of the perennial crop and be based on the technical resources listed below.
- After establishment, the perennial crop should remain in the field for at least three growing seasons. Perennial crops may include alfalfa or mixed hay, pasture, Kernza, etc.
- Nitrogen application from fertilizer and/or manure must follow guidance from the University of Minnesota. If additional N is needed, in-season soil or plant testing or other adaptive management technologies verified by the MDA can be used to document and quantify this need and additional nitrogen can be added
- If used in a rotation with annual crops, adequate nitrogen credit must be taken from the perennial crop using University of Minnesota recommendations.
The MDA recognizes there is active and ongoing research related to new or emerging perennial crops and the development of agronomic best management practices is ongoing. Farmers should adopt best management practices as they become available.
Technical Resources
- University of Minnesota Extension’s Establishing alfalfa-grass mixtures
- University of Minnesota Extension’s Fertilizing grass-legume mixtures in Minnesota
- University of Minnesota Extension’s Managing the rotation from alfalfa to corn
- University of Minnesota Extension’s Planting forages
Producer Compensation
Producers who enroll in the Perennial Crop Initiative may be eligible for compensation based on meeting the components in the University of Minnesota technical resources. Producers may be eligible for a payment of $50/acre up to 100 acres for a maximum of $5,000. Payment will be made upon successful establishment of the perennial crop.
Farmers sharing information with other farmers can be an effective way to promote the use of practices. The Demonstration Site Initiative gives an opportunity for producers to set up and manage an educational project on their farm. Demonstration sites will serve as an outreach and educational opportunity for local farmers and agronomists to learn about the impacts of the adopted practices. The MDA recognizes there is active and ongoing research related to nitrogen management, and development of agronomic best management practices is ongoing. Farmers should adopt best management practices as they become available.
Requirements to qualify for Demonstration Site Initiative funding:
- Demonstration sites may consist of cover crop, perennial crop, relay crop, or small grain initiatives that were integrated into the crop rotation.
- Work with MDA field staff to plan, develop, and design a demonstration site and program based on adoption of any number of BMPs that have the potential to reduce nitrate leaching.
- The purpose of the project study is to provide site data (ex. economics, methods, or agronomic information) that will be used for demonstration, education, or outreach purposes.
- The producer agrees to hold at least one educational field day at the site and/or provide published results of the information derived from the demonstration site project during each year of participation. All information collected and released as part of this project is considered public data.
- Funding through this initiative may be available for producers operating in a Level 2 DWSMA.
- Producers are encouraged to work with partners to present educational information pertinent to nitrogen reduction or other conservation practices on the demonstration site.
- The producer will allow MDA staff to access the demonstration site for the purpose of collecting in-field information or outreach and education (field days). MDA shall provide the producer with copies of results and any written summaries for data collected at the site.
Producer Compensation
- Producers who enroll in the Demonstration Site Initiative may be eligible for compensation based on meeting the guidelines planned out and demonstrated in an individual work plan. Producers who work with MDA field staff and complete a successful demonstration may be eligible for a payment of $5,000 for a one-year demonstration and up to $15,000 for a three-year demonstration project.
Farmers sharing information with other farmers can be an effective way to promote the use of practices. The Demonstration Site Initiative gives an opportunity for producers to set up and manage an educational project on their farm. Demonstration sites will serve as an outreach and educational opportunity for local farmers and agronomists to learn about the impacts of the adopted practices. The MDA recognizes there is active and ongoing research related to nitrogen management, and development of agronomic best management practices is ongoing. Farmers should adopt best management practices as they become available.
Requirements to qualify for Demonstration Site Initiative funding:
- Demonstration sites may consist of cover crop, perennial crop, relay crop, or small grain initiatives that were integrated into the crop rotation.
- Work with MDA field staff to plan, develop, and design a demonstration site and program based on adoption of any number of BMPs that have the potential to reduce nitrate leaching.
- The purpose of the project study is to provide site data (ex. economics, methods, or agronomic information) that will be used for demonstration, education, or outreach purposes.
- The producer agrees to hold at least one educational field day at the site and/or provide published results of the information derived from the demonstration site project during each year of participation. All information collected and released as part of this project is considered public data.
- Funding through this initiative may be available for producers operating in a Level 2 DWSMA.
- Producers are encouraged to work with partners to present educational information pertinent to nitrogen reduction or other conservation practices on the demonstration site.
- The producer will allow MDA staff to access the demonstration site for the purpose of collecting in-field information or outreach and education (field days). MDA shall provide the producer with copies of results and any written summaries for data collected at the site.
Producer Compensation
- Producers who enroll in the Demonstration Site Initiative may be eligible for compensation based on meeting the guidelines planned out and demonstrated in an individual work plan. Producers who work with MDA field staff and complete a successful demonstration may be eligible for a payment of $5,000 for a one-year demonstration and up to $15,000 for a three-year demonstration project.
Initiate a spring pre-plant N test following University of Minnesota guidelines.
Most of Minnesota’s soil (coarse-textured sands excluded) mineralize significant amounts of nitrogen from soil organic matter throughout the summer. This nitrate is consumed by the growing crop until the crop reaches maturity. Typically, plant uptake of nitrate slows significantly around the first week of September and comes to a halt a few weeks after that. Mineralization of organic matter continues, however, with significant amounts of nitrate accumulating between early September and Late October. Because the loss process of nitrate is water-based and requires saturation of the soil, a typical wet spring will cause this nitrate to be flushed via leaching or lost to the atmosphere through denitrification. It is for this reason that farmers typically cannot credit this “carryover” nitrogen when determining how much fertilizer to apply for the next year’s crop. It is only through a pre-plant nitrate test that producers will be able to accurately estimate the plant-available N within the root zone.
Requirements to qualify for Perennial Crop Initiative funding:
- Initiate a spring pre-plant N test.
- Follow UMN technical guidelines for performing the pre-plant N test.
- Apply nitrogen fertilizer at rates that follow UMN technical guidelines, yet don't exceed DWSMA rates.
The MDA recognizes there still is active and ongoing research related to nitrogen management, and development of agronomic best management practices is ongoing. Farmers should adopt best management practices as they become available.
Technical Resources
- University of Minnesota Extension Minnesota Crop News blog: “For the second year in row, taking a pre-plant soil nitrate test this spring could pay big”
- University of Minnesota Extension Minnesota Crop News blog: “Taking soil samples for nitrogen analysis could pay this year”
Producer Compensation
Producers who enroll in the Pre-plant Nitrate Testing Initiative may be eligible for compensation based on meeting the components in the University of Minnesota technical resources. Producers may be eligible for a payment of $50/sample up to $5,000 maximum per producer per year.
Initiate a spring pre-plant N test following University of Minnesota guidelines.
Most of Minnesota’s soil (coarse-textured sands excluded) mineralize significant amounts of nitrogen from soil organic matter throughout the summer. This nitrate is consumed by the growing crop until the crop reaches maturity. Typically, plant uptake of nitrate slows significantly around the first week of September and comes to a halt a few weeks after that. Mineralization of organic matter continues, however, with significant amounts of nitrate accumulating between early September and Late October. Because the loss process of nitrate is water-based and requires saturation of the soil, a typical wet spring will cause this nitrate to be flushed via leaching or lost to the atmosphere through denitrification. It is for this reason that farmers typically cannot credit this “carryover” nitrogen when determining how much fertilizer to apply for the next year’s crop. It is only through a pre-plant nitrate test that producers will be able to accurately estimate the plant-available N within the root zone.
Requirements to qualify for Perennial Crop Initiative funding:
- Initiate a spring pre-plant N test.
- Follow UMN technical guidelines for performing the pre-plant N test.
- Apply nitrogen fertilizer at rates that follow UMN technical guidelines, yet don't exceed DWSMA rates.
The MDA recognizes there still is active and ongoing research related to nitrogen management, and development of agronomic best management practices is ongoing. Farmers should adopt best management practices as they become available.
Technical Resources
- University of Minnesota Extension Minnesota Crop News blog: “For the second year in row, taking a pre-plant soil nitrate test this spring could pay big”
- University of Minnesota Extension Minnesota Crop News blog: “Taking soil samples for nitrogen analysis could pay this year”
Producer Compensation
Producers who enroll in the Pre-plant Nitrate Testing Initiative may be eligible for compensation based on meeting the components in the University of Minnesota technical resources. Producers may be eligible for a payment of $50/sample up to $5,000 maximum per producer per year.
Precision nitrogen management (PNM) aims to match N fertilizer supply with crop N demand in both space and time. It has great potential to improve corn N use efficiency, increase growers’ profitability and protect the environment while maximizing crop yield. Plant testing and analysis are also useful tools for diagnosing and monitoring nutrients in agronomic crops. The key to successful plant analysis is developing a plan that includes the correct test, timing, sampling technique and interpretation.
General requirements to qualify for Precision Agriculture Initiative funding:
- Commercial Precision Ag Company Estimation - Provide documentation that shows fields, acres, estimated N application rates, and type of testing technology used by a commercial precision ag company to estimate in-season N rate.
- In-Season Tissue Testing or Pre-sidedress Soil N Testing - Provide test results from a lab for in-season soil or tissue testing. The PSNT is most valuable in situations where manure is used and/or legumes have been terminated in the last two years.
- Purchase Precision Testing Equipment - Provide receipts for precision equipment purchased for the purpose of in-season N testing. Before purchasing equipment, the technology being used must be reviewed by MDA field staff to verify that it provides accurate estimates of additional N need under Minnesota crop production conditions.
- Precision Soil Sampling - Conduct precision soil sampling (zone or grid based) for nitrate-nitrogen with a minimum of two zones that correspond to a minimum of two nitrogen application rates. Develop management zones or grids based on relevant information, such as soil organic matter, Lidar DEM, yield maps, digital soil survey information, remote sensing, proximal sensing or other geospatial data. Work with an agronomist to develop prescriptions for in-season application of nitrogen where no more than 75% of the DWSMA BMP rate can be applied before sidedress, and the remaining is applied in-season as a variable rate application.
The MDA recognizes there still is active and ongoing research related to nitrogen management, and development of agronomic best management practices is ongoing. Farmers should adopt best management practices as they become available.
Technical Resources
- University of Minnesota Extension Minnesota Crop News On-farm precision ag research update: In-season site-specific side-dress nitrogen rate recommendations for corn
- University of Minnesota Extension Testing and analysis
- University of Minnesota Extension Understanding plant analysis for crops
- University of Minnesota Extension Minnesota Crop News Tissue sampling tips for corn, soybean, sugarbeet and wheat
- University of Minnesota Minnesota Crop News Precision agriculture and nutrient management
Producer Compensation
Producers who enroll in the Precision Agriculture Initiative may be eligible for compensation based on meeting the requirements listed above. Financial assistance of $50/test sample (zone or grid based) up to $5,000 (provide sample data) or reimburse the cost of testing equipment up to $5,000, or reimburse the cost of commercial infrared, thermal, visible, or other spectral wavelength testing at $20/acre up to 250 acres.
Precision nitrogen management (PNM) aims to match N fertilizer supply with crop N demand in both space and time. It has great potential to improve corn N use efficiency, increase growers’ profitability and protect the environment while maximizing crop yield. Plant testing and analysis are also useful tools for diagnosing and monitoring nutrients in agronomic crops. The key to successful plant analysis is developing a plan that includes the correct test, timing, sampling technique and interpretation.
General requirements to qualify for Precision Agriculture Initiative funding:
- Commercial Precision Ag Company Estimation - Provide documentation that shows fields, acres, estimated N application rates, and type of testing technology used by a commercial precision ag company to estimate in-season N rate.
- In-Season Tissue Testing or Pre-sidedress Soil N Testing - Provide test results from a lab for in-season soil or tissue testing. The PSNT is most valuable in situations where manure is used and/or legumes have been terminated in the last two years.
- Purchase Precision Testing Equipment - Provide receipts for precision equipment purchased for the purpose of in-season N testing. Before purchasing equipment, the technology being used must be reviewed by MDA field staff to verify that it provides accurate estimates of additional N need under Minnesota crop production conditions.
- Precision Soil Sampling - Conduct precision soil sampling (zone or grid based) for nitrate-nitrogen with a minimum of two zones that correspond to a minimum of two nitrogen application rates. Develop management zones or grids based on relevant information, such as soil organic matter, Lidar DEM, yield maps, digital soil survey information, remote sensing, proximal sensing or other geospatial data. Work with an agronomist to develop prescriptions for in-season application of nitrogen where no more than 75% of the DWSMA BMP rate can be applied before sidedress, and the remaining is applied in-season as a variable rate application.
The MDA recognizes there still is active and ongoing research related to nitrogen management, and development of agronomic best management practices is ongoing. Farmers should adopt best management practices as they become available.
Technical Resources
- University of Minnesota Extension Minnesota Crop News On-farm precision ag research update: In-season site-specific side-dress nitrogen rate recommendations for corn
- University of Minnesota Extension Testing and analysis
- University of Minnesota Extension Understanding plant analysis for crops
- University of Minnesota Extension Minnesota Crop News Tissue sampling tips for corn, soybean, sugarbeet and wheat
- University of Minnesota Minnesota Crop News Precision agriculture and nutrient management
Producer Compensation
Producers who enroll in the Precision Agriculture Initiative may be eligible for compensation based on meeting the requirements listed above. Financial assistance of $50/test sample (zone or grid based) up to $5,000 (provide sample data) or reimburse the cost of testing equipment up to $5,000, or reimburse the cost of commercial infrared, thermal, visible, or other spectral wavelength testing at $20/acre up to 250 acres.