-Farm News photo by Clayton Rye
Ben Thomas’ pen is pointing to the timeline at the bottom of his computer that moves each day showing past events and projections for future applications.

CLEAR LAKE — When anhydrous ammonia reached $700 a ton last fall, farmers looked at that price with disbelief.

But that was just the beginning as anhydrous ammonia prices continued to rise, doubling into spring.

It is anticipated that a year from now, anhydrous ammonia could be in the range of $2,000 a ton for the 2023 crop year. Nitrogen and potassium prices are expected to rise in a similar fashion.

Ben Thomas is a dealer for Pioneer Seed, running his business located north of Clear Lake. Thomas has a nitrogen management program available from Pioneer that will assist farmers in making fertilizer application decisions throughout the crop year.

“It’s a season-long nitrogen management program,” said Thomas.

Jeff Midtgaard is employed by Thomas and is Thomas’ right-hand man in the business.

“There is a lot more interest in the management program this year due to nitrogen prices,” said Midtgaard.

As Pioneer is a seed business, why would Pioneer promote a nitrogen management program?

“They want to see their product succeed,” Thomas replied, referring to the seed business.

The management program has been in development for 4 to 5 years, according to Thomas, and is being updated and improved continuously.

“We’re getting good at it,” said Thomas.

The program is web-based but a computer and monitor are not necessarily a requirement. It will work on a smart phone as an app. To get a better view of everything, a bigger screen is needed.

Thomas said the program will work on tablets and iPads, providing the bigger screen for best viewing. In setting up the program, a customer is the administrator and allows Pioneer access as an advisor.

Seed selection is not limited to Pioneer. Hybrids from other companies can be included.

A yield goal is made for each field to determine the best nitrogen rates. Other data inputs as part of the setup include soil types, past yields, drainage and planting information. The program accepts data from variable rate planters.

“Stand establishment is the key,” said Ben Thomas.

The management program tracks local weather throughout the growing season to determine the best timing and rate of fertilizer application. If a user wants to input their own weather information, they can override the automated inputs. Day by day, a timeline is displayed at the bottom of the computer screen showing past events and at that day’s date, the line is extended with projected nitrogen application times.

The nitrogen management program is priced at $3 per acre. Variable rate nitrogen plus potassium and phosphorus can also be included in the program for additional cost. The nitrogen management program should be able to help farmers determine the right balance between too little and too much nitrogen and application time to receive maximum benefit. It will be a departure from the past way of determining nitrogen rates.

“It used to be we figured if 180 pounds of nitrogen is good, then we will put on 220 pounds,” said Thomas.