January Chat to Focus on Maximizing On-Farm ROI

With farm input prices at record highs, it’s no wonder farmers are already starting to wonder how those prices will impact their bottom line for next year’s growing season. That’s why Ashland Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) is bringing together leading experts in the field to help farmers maximize their profitability during these challenging times.

The district’s January 25 Conservation Chat: Show Me the Money (and the Nutrients) will be held at the Ashland County Service Center at noon and will include information from local agronomists on steps they can take to combat rising fertilizer prices as well as information on how using manure as a nitrogen source may be an option for many farmers this year and how that source may impact their nutrient management plans. And finally, cost-share information will be available for farmers  who are interested in trying any of the five crop and nutrient modeling tools the district has available to producers.

“These are challenging times for farmers, with fertilizer prices hitting record highs and many producers are starting to get concerned about even having access to the nutrients they need this spring,” said Jane Houin, Ashland SWCD director. “We want this lunch and learn Conservation Chat to be an opportunity for farmers to hear from experts in these areas on how they can use the nutrients they do apply most efficiently and with the biggest return on investment for their operations. And the good news is, more efficient nutrient management is a cornerstone principle of on-farm conservation.”

Local agronomists from Nutrient Ag Solutions will be talking about fertilizer pricing, access, availability and recommendations they are making to farmers on how to make the most of their nutrient dollars.

“The foundation of really identifying what your nutrient needs are is a good, current soil test and a nutrient management plan,” Houin said, noting that Ashland SWCD provides soil testing services to farmers and also offers free voluntary nutrient management plan development. “Kip Studer from the Ohio Department of Agriculture is going to share why those plans are so important and how switching nutrient sources - like using manure as a replacement for some or all of your commercial fertilizer - can impact that plan.”

Of course, Houin added, farmers all know that plans can change in season like the weather—literally. Adjusting those plans on the go can be a challenge, but Houin said Ashland SWCD is offering Ashland County farmers access to a series of five precision conservation modeling tools to help make those adjustments on the fly while protecting your bottom line and the environment.

“Today’s farm equipment and technology, from auto steer to yield monitors, is not the same as it was 20 years ago, and it only makes sense that our decision-making technology has evolved as well,” Houin said. “Through some innovate industry partnerships, our SWCD is able to offer the use of five different precision conservation crop and nutrient modeling tools to help producers make the best decisions for their operations in terms of both sustainability and profitability.”

Producers will get an overview of those five models: the TruTerra Insights Engine, the FieldPrint calculator, AdaptN nitrogen model, Field Forecasting Tool, and On Field Ohio. Plus, they’ll have an in-depth look at how those models can work together to maximize their fertilizer’s return on investment and improve their return on investment.

“We are just really excited to bring tools like this to our farmers with no out-of-pocket cost to our producers,” Houin said. “There’s no other SWCD in Ohio that has been able to partner with industry in this way to place these cutting edge tools into the hands of our farmers. That’s really what sustainability is about.  Whether we’re industry, government, or the farmers in the field, we all have the same goal of improving our sustainability and protecting our soil and water resources—and the foundation of that goal has to lie in protecting our farmers’ bottom lines.”

The Conservation Chat: Show Me the Money will take place at the Ashland County Service Center at noon. There is no cost to attend and lunch is provided, but preregistration is required  For more information, contact Ashland SWCD at 419-281-7645 or visit www.ashlandswcd.com