With the recent cool temperatures, combined with memories of a miserable fall application season last year, many retailers are asking about the start date for fall ammonia applications.  IFCA began posting the previous day's 4 inch soil temp at noon on our homepage at www.ifca.com.  

 

Last year, IFCA worked in concert with the University of Illinois to provide guidance on the appropriate timing for fall applied nitrogen.  Via a Bulletin from Dr. Nafziger, last year's start date was October 24.  And last year, IFCA's 4R metrics survey of our retail members revealed the over 90% of the fall applied nitrogen in 2018 was applied after the acceptable start date, and also included a labeled nitrification inhibitor in the application.  That metric was applauded by the nutrient stakeholders, including environmental groups, who continue to work in partnership with agriculture on reducing nutrient losses via VOLUNTARY methods.  Please don't forget that by 2025, we are tasked with reducing nitrogen losses by 15% from 2011 nitrate river levels.  The forthcoming Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy biannual report will show good progress being made on reducing nitrogen losses, but we still have a long way to go.  

 

Let's just be honest and say that it would be a shame to backtrack now.  Even in the good old days, long before the nutrient pressures we are under today existed, the guideline for Central Illinois was not to apply until after the 3rd week of October.  Until the soil freezes, nitrification continues to occur, and we need to be pragmatic about not using up all the protection that nitrogen stabilizers provide in the fall months--much of their protection should be counted on for the months of March, April and May when most N losses occur.   

 

Everyone has to make their own decision about when to start, because there is no regulation on the application of ammonia in the fall.  IFCA is very aware of the economic and logistical pressures facing ag retailers and we assure you we are on your side, always.  But if everyone can please be patient, the soil temps look like they will continue to drop; each additional day that we can wait until it looks like they will stay at the 50 degree level, the more our commitment to reducing N losses will again be recognized and appreciated.   

 

Our ask of the industry is to work collectively to do the right thing, wait for the UI guidance that is forthcoming very soon, feel good about your role in providing a valuable N resource at the right time, and uphold our industry's commitment to prove we can reduce nutrient losses without regulation or litigation.  We need only to look at other states to see how fast things change when nutrient choices are taken away from the industry via the legislature or the courts. 

 

Stay tuned for the UI bulletin, and remember how much our industry can get accomplished once when we do get started with fall ammonia.  It could be a lot worse---it could still be 70+ degrees in mid-October and we'd still be weeks away from a fall season, whereas now we are probably just days away.