Some farming questions for you guys

1)Commercial Fertilizer application- Apply fall of spring, on sandy soils?
2)Manure (Cattle)-is it better to apply in fall and incorporate or wait till spring(Time constraints are not an issue for me)?
3)Historically when is the best time to prebuy fertilizer?
4) Can I EXPECT more yeild if I plant my corn on 30" rows compared to 38"? If I planted 38" this years at 20,000 population, what should I plant for population at 30"?
5)Any one have any recommendations on soybean seed that did well in dry sandy MN soil this year? Looking for a tall variety, not happy with what I planted this year.
Thanks in advance guys.

Sounds like you need to develop a relationship with your seed/fertilzer salesman. Remember they really do want to help you; they also want to make money.
Appling fertlizer to sandy soil works if you have a crop that will use it before it leaches through.

Are your fertilizer Q's related to corn/soybean rotation or other aspects of your operation? Generally if commercial is applied in the fall there isn't much of it left in the right place after snowmelt.

What kind of cattle manure are you applying? Dry with bedding or liquid? I'll assume liquid, which is higher in N and releases faster. If you put on in the fall, you're throwing away alot of that expensive nitrogen.

Fertilizer prices will likely drop as they are tied to oil prices. Who knows what will happen.

I'll bite. Questions, one and two; spring. Question three; generally has been late fall/early winter but looks like spring this year. Question four; if you are moisture limited, might not be worth the effort. Also wouldn't increase population with 30 inch rows if was moisture limited at 38 inch rows. Otherwise at least a population of 28,000 and expect a yield increase. Question five; no experience in drier sandy soils.

That relationship could be a little strained if they have a warehouse full of high priced fertilizer that they want to clean out. I'd sure be waiting for spring to buy or apply,especially the nitrogen. As for the manure,if it has a fair amount of straw in it,I'd haul it now and get it worked under so it'll start breaking down.

Don't know much about farming in Mn. but down south we spread lime in the fall to correct the soil Ph. and spread a balanced fertilizer in the early spring(late jan. early feb.),then sometime if the rain comes too hard and steady it'll leach out of our sandy/loamy soil and wind up in the ditches along the highways. Also we side-dress our corn with liguid nitrogen once its up kicking good. As for as row spacing it really depends on your equip. but here 30 and 36'' is typical with a lot of irragation before and after pollination. Always heard the snow helps yall as it being loaded with nitrogen and you have better soil also.

All these are based on what I know about here in West KY.

1- Depends.

Pasture, if N is going to be put on in the fall it needs to go on just after the first rain in Sept. so the fescue can use it to get a good bit before it gets cold. P and K can go on in the fall and will not leach out as bad, but if your soil is realy sandy every thing is going to leach.

Row crop, only thing that is put on here in fall is lime so it can react with the soil over winter.

2- You don't see much cow manure spread here because we do not have any confinement operations. Only thing you see here is people who feed on a concrete pad will scrape it off and spread in spring. Assume'n that it works the same as broiler litter here, we put alot of broiler litter on year round. Best time to do it is in the fall, worked in. The N in it is organic N and is in a slow release from. It will not leach out over winter like urea or NH3 will. The down side of this is there is alot more avalible in the spring because thats when most people do a total clean out of the houses.

3- Historically, fall. Toss that out the window, with the cash price of corn at or below cost of production right now there is not a very big demand for fertilizer and oil is drop'n like a rock. If your co-op bought a few barge loads of high dollor imputs this summer thinking that $7 corn was here for good and won't come off the price, find a new supplier.

4- Not sure. Every one here went to 30's about 20 years ago to get a faster canopy. Now with RR corn, that is not as big a deal. Population depends on soils and hybrid. The hybrid I used this year had tag on the bag that recomended a 29 to 33000 population.

5- I have no idea. Test plot info should be come'n out pretty soon in your area. If nothing else, ask around the coffie shops.

Good luck.

Dave