Harvest might still be in full swing, but before long, our focus shifts to what’s next: setting up your fields for success in 2026 with fall fertilizer. This year, tighter margins and unpredictable markets result in the importance of making sure that every pass across your field, and every pound of fertilizer, counts.
Applying fertilizer can benefit your crops by building root systems and improving nutrient storage. This allows for your crops to build stamina and all nutrients to be ready for early spring growth.
Don’t Cut Corners On Your Nitrogen
When prices climb, it can be tempting to cut back on nitrogen applications. Although this may seem like the best way to save money at first, this can lead to lower yields that can cost you, and your operation, more money in the long run. Your crops still need the nutrients they rely on. The goal is to make sure those nutrients are there when and where your crops need them most.
Beyond rate decisions, timing and efficiency play a major role in protecting your nitrogen investment. Applying the right product at the right time helps ensure more of your nitrogen stays in the root zone instead of being lost to leaching, volatilization, or denitrification. By pairing sound agronomic planning with proven nitrogen management tools, you can maximize nutrient uptake, protect yield potential, and improve your overall return on input dollars—without sacrificing long-term soil productivity.
Application Tip: We recommend a stabilizer with every Nitrogen application. StayPoint N-Snare is built to extend nitrogen availability and uptake and reduce nitrogen loss for your NH3 applications.
Don’t Overlook Potash and MAP
Potassium and phosphorus are the unsung heroes of fall fertility. These nutrients play a huge role in root development, winter hardiness, and early spring vigor. This means that your decisions made this fall are already laying out the foundation for next year’s success.
The choices you make now directly influence how your crop performs when it matters most next season.
This is where Unchained comes into play. Unchained is designed to help your P & K work efficiently by accelerating the breakdown of treated dry fertilizers and converting nutrients to a more plant available form. This enhances root growth, early season vigor, and plant development.
Application Tip: If you are applying P & K this fall, pairing it with Unchained can maximize the plant available form of the nutrients – breaking the “chains”. This is especially valuable if you’re spreading early or dealing with unpredictable fall weather.
