Lessons From 2024: Fertility Planning for a Productive 2025

Planning ahead usually requires looking back — especially for growers working to develop fertility strategies for the next season. Fortunately, lessons learned in 2024 can provide valuable insights that will help drive productivity in 2025. Extensive soil and tissue data collected by agronomists at Helena Agri-Enterprises over the past several years have shed light on recurring nutrient deficiencies, trends across regions and the importance of making data-driven decisions for maximizing yield.

“The soil does a good job of telling us what it needs,” says Derek Emerine, National Agronomist for Helena Agri-Enterprises. “Soil testing provides a road map of what nutrients are lacking in the ground, while tissue testing offers insight into what the plant itself is experiencing.” Helena regularly schedules both tests across different growing conditions, which allows teams to detect trends and develop tailored fertility strategies. With rising input costs and tighter budgets, Emerine says testing is more important than ever. Accurate data helps growers allocate their fertilization budget where it will deliver the most return on investment. It's important to remember that crops need 17 essential nutrients, including N-P-K as primary nutrients, secondary nutrients like calcium, sulfur and magnesium, and micronutrients like zinc and boron. Balancing these ensures a healthier, more productive crop.

“I can’t advocate enough for soil sampling to find out what’s going on on your farm so you can make good decisions for the crop season,” Emerine says.

While every farm is different, some common themes can be seen. For example, Helena’s team of agronomists has found that potassium, sulfur, zinc and boron consistently show up as deficient across various crops and regions. More specifically:

• Corn: Key soil deficiencies include potassium, sulfur and zinc, while tissue tests also reveal low levels of phosphorus and magnesium.
• Soybeans: Potassium and sulfur top the list of deficiencies in the plant.
• Wheat: Boron and potassium stand out as critical nutrients needed.
• Cotton: The biggest needs are potassium, sulfur and zinc, with nitrogen showing up to a lesser degree.

These nutrients play essential roles. Potassium is crucial for water transport, stalk strength and overall plant resilience, while sulfur is necessary for nitrogen utilization. But many growers focus more on the macronutrients of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (N-P-K). In doing so, they often overlook potassium, even though it’s vital for plant health and, in most crops, is taken up in higher quantities than phosphorus.

Emerine advises growers to prioritize their fertility programs based on solid data, not just habit. While it may be tempting to cut fertilizer costs across the board, a more targeted approach can prevent undersupplying critical nutrients — and still save money. With commodity prices falling and land rents rising, making informed decisions has never been more vital.

“Get the data and be open to what it’s telling you,” Emerine says. “You may find that you can cut your budget but still make the yield — or higher — than you’ve historically made.”

Working with a trusted agronomist to interpret soil and tissue results can provide the insights needed to optimize fertilization strategies. As you plan for 2025, consider the specific needs of your farm. Relying on data may mean shifting from practices that have been standard for decades, but this flexibility could lead to the yield bump you need in the coming year.

In 2025, let data be your guide. By closely monitoring your soil and plant health, you can make decisions that maximize both productivity and profitability.

Connect with your local Helena representative for personalized advice to help shape your fertility plan next year.