The Benefits of Fall Fertilizer

There are a lot of reasons to apply fall fertilizer. Brad Hipsag, Federated agronomy sales rep in Ogilvie, outlines a few of the more important reasons to apply now.

Logistical Benefits

“Timing is a big one,” Hipsag said. “Typically for fall broadcast application, we’re working with a bigger window to get your phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) down versus a spring application. There’s more time for the nutrients to break down in the soil and be available for spring planting.”

Additionally, when applying in the fall, we can follow the combine and be ahead of the tillage. “In the fall,” Hipsag said, “We’re typically spreading on drier soils than in the spring. In short, fall spreading takes a lot of pressure off spring applications”

Agronomic Benefits

When it comes to agronomic benefits, a fall fertilizer application allows granular fertilizer to interact with the soil and become plant-available nutrients. “Phosphorus and potassium are positively charged ions and bind tightly to the negatively charged soil,” Hipsag said. “This minimizes any potential nutrient loss on most soils.”

Perhaps most importantly, spreading fertilizer in the fall allows you to get it right. If you’re soil testing after harvest (as you should!), you’ll know what your soil needs. “Spreading after a fall soil test confirms the correct rates of DAP and potash fertilizer in a field,” Hipsag concludes.

Contact your Federated Agronomist to set up your soil test or fertilizer applications today.