Post-Harvest Soil Sampling for Best Fertilizer Plans

Place soil sampling at the top of your fall to-do list because “soil samples should be the base of all fertilizer decisions on the farm,” said Dan Klinke, Federated’s agronomy sales rep in Osceola. 
 
“Soil samples let you know how to best invest your dollar,” he said, “especially in harder economic times.” Take soil samples as soon as the beans are off – and before fall tillage.
 
Fall fertilizer is agronomically and economically a good decision; fertilizer is typically less expensive in the autumn than the same product would be in the spring. And even though fall is busy, it’s not as hectic as spring. Spreading out the workload makes good sense, too.
 
Consider these factors when making fall fertilizer plans:

• pH should be in the optimum range for the crop you plan for 2026 to minimize nutrients from being tied up in the soil.
  • If you plan to apply lime on your fields this fall, let your Federated Agronomist know before your combine hits the field!
• P and K need time to break down in the soil to be available to the crop; fall applications make that process most efficient.
  • Federated’s precision VRT spreading capabilities put the P and K where it’s needed in the field to avoid under/over applying nutrients; this is made possible with grid sampling (a precision ag service available from Federated).

Contact your Federated Agronomist to discuss all of your fall fertilizer plans and/or to arrange for grid soil sampling for precision fertilizer applications.