Farmers know that every growing season brings about its own set of challenges. This year it was no different; a dry spring accompanied by an untimely frost caused damage to fall wheat, alfalfa corn and bean crops, some of which had to be replanted. Next came pounding rains which sealed of clay soils followed by drought in some areas.

Plants with strong root systems had a definite edge in survival and recovery. Crops that were supplied with the proper nutritional package at planting developed a root system capable of foraging for nutrition and soil moisture thus enabling them to withstand these environmental conditions. Growers can never control the environment but by eliminating as many variables that influence crop health that can be managed effectively at planting enables growers and their crops to survive then thrive under many adverse conditions.

This year provided an excellent opportunity for foliar feeding with ALPINE Fortified Foliar to add nutrition to plants still stressed. In later stages when beans and corn were leveling out, an application of ALPINE K20-S and ALPINE SRN provided added nutrition to keep the crop progressing.

By using the 4 R’s of plant nutrition: Right product, Right time, Right Rate and Right Location growers can mitigate many environmental stresses that are not in their control. Although crops still require good fall weather to finish, crop that received the extra care and attention to supplying proper nutrition can be spotted throughout the territory.

– Steve