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Northern Indiana | We did a trial for a few years on part of the acres we farm. Can definitely see what the idea is behind split apply and gave it a look. Did all NH3 upfront and did some half NH3 upfront followed by a V6 pass with the second half 28% using a coulter and high pressure nozzle. Never saw anything that stood out statistically. Also had to make an extra pass on those acres so more time and fuel and depreciation expense, pay more for the 28 vs NH3, slow down on our spraying due to manpower, and damage more corn driving through it. There’s areas and situations that it surely makes a difference but from our perspective we’re happy doing all pre-plant NH3. Once the planter leaves the field it’s ready to go. Especially nice this year watching the neighbors try to sidedress really big corn that they weren’t able to get done earlier because of rain and needing to keep the corn planter moving on any good work days. Now that it’s raining again they’re going to have the same problem with timing to sidedress their later planted corn. Lots of logistics. Whereas putting all of ours on pre plant we typically don’t have a lot else going on at that time. Working some bean ground or spraying burn down is the only other thing going and that’s a 1 man show for us. Either have someone working ground or spraying no-till ground. All that to say, there are pros and cons each way. We have neighbors that seem to be in the field with y drops every other week doing something, neighbors that will put it all on in one shot sidedressing, some that split apply pre and post and some like us that do all pre plant. Personally I think, and I could very well be wrong, that the extra passes don’t get added in to the total cost per acre for a lot of guys the way they should. Seems like some see a little yield bump and say more bushels means more money but profit is king and we haven’t seen that kind of return. 1000 ways to skin the cat, I’ve seen guys do all sorts of ways and they’re still in business | |
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