Maximize fertilizer efficiency with time, placement options

Oct 13, 2023

Fertilizers have become more costly in recent years. To assist with getting the most out of your fertilizers, there are a few application methods that can be used for distribution. Two methods for distribution into the soil are deep banding of granular or anhydrous ammonia, as well as broadcast spreading of a granular product – which is not recommended. The timing of the application is crucial to obtaining the most efficient use of the product. It is important to follow the 4Rs of fertilizer application. These recommendations include applying fertilizer at the: Right Source, Right Rate, Right Time and Right Place.

Banding of granular fertilizer or with anhydrous ammonia can be done in the fall after harvest or within the springtime prior to seeding. The key to success is ensuring the applications are done when soil is cool.

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Video: Dicamba Returns for Georgia Farmers: What the New EPA Ruling Means for Cotton Growers

After being unavailable in 2024 due to registration issues, dicamba products are returning for Georgia farmers this growing season — but under strict new conditions.

In this report from Tifton, Extension Weed Specialist Stanley Culpepper explains the updated EPA ruling, including new application limits, mandatory training requirements, and the need for a restricted use pesticide license. Among the key changes: a cap of two ½-pound applications per year and the required use of an approved volatility reduction agent with every application.

For Georgia cotton producers, the ruling is significant. According to Taylor Sills with the Georgia Cotton Commission, the vast majority of cotton planted in the state carries the dicamba-tolerant trait — meaning farmers had been paying for technology they couldn’t use.

While environmental groups have expressed concerns over spray drift, Georgia growers have reduced off-target pesticide movement by more than 91% over the past decade. Still, this two-year registration period will come with increased scrutiny, making stewardship and compliance more important than ever.