Agronomy Articles
High Fertilizer Prices and Low Commodity Markets: Why Fertilizer Still Matters for a Big Crop
By Clint Even, Agronomist, Marion
In today's agricultural landscape, farmers are facing a tough equation: fertilizer prices remain high, while commodity prices—particularly for corn, soybeans, and wheat—have seen a significant drop. This squeeze on margins is causing many to reconsider input costs. Yet, despite the financial pressure, fertilizer remains a critical investment when it comes to growing a high-yielding crop.
Fertilizer plays an irreplaceable role in supplying essential nutrients that crops need to reach their full potential. Cutting back too much on fertilizer in an attempt to save costs can ultimately lead to lower yields, leaving farmers with fewer bushels to sell in an already soft market. The result? Potentially greater losses in both production and revenue.
While it’s tempting to dial back on nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, or potassium, under-fertilizing during key growth stages could mean missing out on a profitable harvest—especially in years when weather and soil conditions are favorable.
Now more than ever, strategic fertilizer use is key. Precision application, soil testing, and CMT variable rate technologies can help optimize input use and stretch every dollar. But skipping or skimping on fertilizer entirely is a risk that could cost more than it saves.
Reach out with any questions about locking in early fertilizer or joining our CMT program to your local CFC agronomist.
8/22/2025
Soybean Fungicides
By Allen Johansen, Agronomy Department Purchasing Manager
Fungicides play a critical role in protecting soybean crops from diseases such as white mold, frogeye leaf spot, septoria brown spot, and soybean rust. These diseases can significantly reduce yield and grain quality if left untreated. Fungicides help by preventing infection and slowing the spread of existing diseases, especially under warm, humid conditions favorable to fungal growth.
The most effective time to apply fungicides is typically between the R1 (beginning bloom) and R3 (beginning pod) growth stages. Research shows that spraying during this window can maximize yield potential and economic return, especially when disease pressure is moderate to high. Scouting fields before spraying is essential. You should look for disease symptoms in the lower canopy and assess environmental risk factors. If weather forecasts suggest continued moisture and humidity, a preventive fungicide application may be necessary even with a lack of severe symptoms.
Choosing the right fungicide is also important. Products containing multiple modes of action can help manage resistance and provide broader-spectrum control. Finally, growers should always follow label recommendations and integrate fungicides into a broader disease management plan, including crop rotation and resistant varieties, to ensure long-term sustainability and profitability. If you have any questions on whether a fungicide would benefit your operation, please contact one of our agronomists for help!
8/8/2025
Best Management Practices
By Chris Rutledge, Agronomist, Irene
What a year 2025 has been, going from dry to really wet. Corn fungicide is winding down and soybean fungicide is in full motion. If you haven’t tried fungicide, I challenge you to try some and don’t just take it to yield. What is plant health, moisture, and standability? It all has a value! I am currently not seeing much for disease and insect pressure but if that changes you will need to discuss best management practices with your sales agronomist. A failure to plan is a plan for failure! As we near fall, let’s work on some preplanning with your sales agronomist and build off that plan for a successful fall and 2026 season! I hope everyone has a safe and bountiful harvest!
8/1/2025
Agronomy Staff
 Jeff Schmiesing
Agronomy Dept. Manager
Cell: 605-940-7665
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 Allen Johansen
Agronomy Dept.
Purchasing Manager
Cell: 605-661-4882
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