YOUR CROP NEEDS NUTRIENTS TO GROW AND THRIVE. When times get tough, applying nothing other than nitrogen often leads to poor performance. If you need to cut back this year, at least apply crop removal rates of P & K and band them near the row if possible to improve your crop’s ability to take in most of that fertility.

Long-term, building all essential plant nutrients in the soil reduces the amount of water needed for plants to uptake nutrition. Soil test and use variable rate applications to balance soils and maximize productivity.

USING A PRE-EMERGENCE WEED PRESSURE REDUCES WEED PRESSURE AND INCREASES YIELD. Since pre’s often cost between $5 and $15, it doesn’t take much of a yield difference to pay for at least one of them.

SHARPEN IS THE BEST BROADLEAF OPTION. Zidua (or Anthem Flex) offers a different mode of action for grass control that is pretty good on small-seeded broadleaves, as well. Pre-Pare is an ALS grass herbicide that’s inexpensive yet effective.

WE RECOMMEND SPREADING RISK BY PLANTING SEVERAL VARIETIES ACROSS YOUR FARM. You don’t know what the weather is going to do, which diseases will be an issue, etc., so don’t put all your eggs in one basket.

HIT THE OPTIMUM PLANTING WINDOW TO MAXIMIZE YIELD POTENTIAL. In most cases, this means early planting rather than late planting. Vary your planting population to learn what works best for different areas of your farm. We usually suggest cutting the seeding rate in very high fertility areas and where you’ve had lodging in the past.

USE A SEED TREATMENT FUNGICIDE PACKAGE WITH MULTIPLE MODES OF ACTION. Neonicotinoid insecticide is good and has a broad spectrum. Adding Teraxxa insecticide gives you a second mode of action that is much better on wireworms if that’s a concern for you.

Also consider adding a natural product to the mix. I love using Nutri-Cycle and HeatShield on the seed mixed with the liquid seed treatment package OR in a talc-based application called Nutri-Shield as you run into the drill. It improves nutrient uptake and early-season stress tolerance. Split a few fields to prove this out on your farm. It has certainly made a difference on ours.

ERR ON THE EARLY SIDE WITH ALL YOUR POST-EMERGE APPLICATIONS THIS YEAR AND DON’T BE LATE. This one change will make a big difference and not cost you any money. With your first pass, scout for insects before spraying so you can add $2 worth of insecticide where needed. Also, identifying where you need grass control in addition to broadleaf control will save you yield and money. If you can get by with just broadleaf control, it’s obviously much cheaper. If you need grass control, as well, it will save you yield to get that sprayed early.

ALSO, ADD A FUNGICIDE IN WITH THIS PASS EVERY TIME. I prefer the low rate of Nexicor that has three modes of action rather than a cheap propiconazole with limited disease control. Remember, getting off to a GREAT start is key to getting the yield you need to make a profit.

WE HAVE HAD SUCH GOOD SUCCESS SPRAYING PALISADE TO LIMIT THE HEIGHT OF WHEAT THAT WE USE IT EVERY TIME. It eliminates the lodging issues by shortening wheat and allowing more of the energy/nutrients to go to producing yield rather than a tall plant. We’ve used 7 ounces of Palisade at Feekes 4 or Feekes 5 with great results. If it is hot and very dry at that time, skip the application.

SCOUT AND SEE IF YOU NEED TO ADD INSECTICIDE AT THIS TIME, BUT THERE’S NO POINT IN SCOUTING FOR DISEASE. Keeping the flag leaf clean is critical for yield protection. If you see much disease at all, you’ve already lost yield. While this is the fungicide application that usually pays the best, it’s the one that gets skipped the most. Rather than cut the application to save money, use a cheaper fungicide if necessary to reduce costs while still getting disease protection.

FUSARIUM HEAD BLIGHT OR SCAB WILL CRUSH YIELDS AND QUALITY. The best fungicides like Miravis Ace and Prosaro Pro are great. If you need to cut costs, at least use a generic tebuconazole for a couple bucks to avoid a disaster.

In the off-season, take a hard look at a fertility build program, soil pH maintenance, and drainage tile installation as these three things could make farming more fun and profitable going forward.