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Mid January, 2001
C.O.R.N. 2001-1
In This Issue:
A) Getting The Most From Your 2001 Nitrogen Dollars
B) Osu Extension Agronomic Crops Team Workshops In February
C) White Food Grade Corn: 2000 Performance
Background
It is almost certain that nitrogen fertilizer prices will be higher for the
2001 crop year, and in some places, supplies may not be adequate to meet the
needs. These problems are coming about because of rapidly escalating natural
gas prices. Over the past 10 years, natural gas price to North American ammonia
producers was around $2.00 per MMBtu, but this price has climbed in 2000, averaging
about $4.00 for January through October, and reaching $6.00 in November, with
projections for the price to be in the $8.00 range in January 2001.
Natural gas is used as a feedstock - a source of both energy and of the hydrogen to combine with nitrogen from the air to form ammonia (NH3) in the production of anhydrous ammonia. Each ton of ammonia requires about 33.5 MMBtu of natural gas for the hydrogen source, plus additional energy for the manufacturing, storing, and shipping processes. At $8.00 per MMBtu of gas, the raw product cost of ammonia would be $270 per ton. Adding costs of manufacturing, storing, and shipping, the price to a Midwestern farmer could reach $400 per ton, or $0.24 per pound of N. This compares to an average figure over the last 10 years of $230 per ton, or $0.14 per pound of N. Since all other nitrogen fertilizers (urea, urea-ammonium nitrate solutions, and ammonium nitrate) are produced from ammonia, one can expect prices for these products to increase as well. Some of these other products are also imported, and other countries have not increased gas prices as much, so their relative increases in price may be less.
Another concern will be the potential spot shortages of nitrogen fertilizers. At the end of 2000, over one-third of the potential ammonia production capacity was idle because of high natural gas prices, and other plants were running at less than capacity. If gas prices remain high, ammonia supply could fall 10 percent short of last year's supply. Shortage of other products will probably be less, since they are provided in part by imports.
Dealing with higher N prices
Data collected from 50 Illinois environments where corn followed soybean and
from 28 environments where corn followed corn provided N response curves that
form the basis for our recommendations. The optimum N rate is that place on
these curves where the last pound of N was just paid for by the yield increase
from that N. Complete data is available at http://www.ag.ohio-state.edu/~corn/library/articles/nprice01.html.
These data suggest a reduction of about 6 to 7 lb of N per acre for each 5-cent increase in the price of N per pound, which is equivalent to an increase of $82.00 per ton of ammonia. In both rotations, adjusting the N rate downward to accommodate a 5-cent increase in the cost of a pound of N will result in a yield decrease of only about one bushel per acre.
Table 1. Effect of changing nitrogen price on rate of N needed to attain economic optimum yield and the effect on yield of changing the N rate.
| Ammonia Nitrogen | |||||
| Price | Price | Corn-Corn | Soy-Corn | ||
| $/ton N | $/lb | Optimum N | Yield@opt | Optimum N | Yield@opt N |
| $230 | 0.14 | 161 | 150 | 146 | 170 |
| $312 | 0.19 | 155 | 150 | 139 | 169 |
| $394 | 0.24 | 149 | 149 | 131 | 168 |
| $476 | 0.29 | 143 | 148 | 124 | 167 |
| $558 | 0.34 | 136 | 147 | 117 | 166 |
| $640 | 0.39 | 130 | 146 | 110 | 164 |
| $722 | 0.44 | 124 | 145 | 102 | 163 |
Note: Since the locations used in the continuous corn studies were not all the same as those used for the corn-soybean studies, one cannot use the data in this table to determine the N reduction appropriate for corn after soybeans.
This does not mean that profit will not change as N costs increase: a price move from $230 per ton of ammonia to $394 per ton would mean a reduction in N rate from 146 to 131 lb for corn following soybean, but the cost of N per acre would rise from $20.44 to $31.44, or by $11.00 per acre, and the yield would drop by 2 bushels per acre, for a loss in income of $3.80, totaling a drop in net revenue of $14.80 per acre. For corn following corn, the comparable figures would be an increase in N cost from $22.54 to $35.76 and a decrease in yield of about 1 bushel, for a decrease in income per acre to nitrogen of about $15.12 per acre.
Limited N supplies
If you are unable to obtain the total amount of fertilizer nitrogen that you need for all your acres, consider each of the following suggestions in planning your nitrogen program.
-Take credit for homegrown nitrogen: Corn yield is almost always better for corn following another crop, especially a legume, and the nitrogen requirement is less for corn following a legume than for corn following corn or grass. Reduce the N application by at least 40 pounds per acre for corn following soybean. Many studies have shown that corn following a good stand of alfalfa needs no additional fertilizer nitrogen. At the very least, reduce nitrogen application by 100 pounds per acre for corn following alfalfa.
-Use alternative sources of nitrogen: Utilize livestock manure, whether your own or from a neighbor, as a nitrogen source. Consider using sewage sludge from a local municipality. The municipality will have information on the availability of nitrogen from the sludge and on the regulations associated with its use.
-By-product fertilizers, such as urea or ammonium sulfate solutions, may be available from industries. Liquid urea should be incorporated to avoid volatilization loss.
-Change crop rotation: In the unlikely event that you are not able to get any nitrogen, consider shifting a large part of the acreage to a legume such as soybean. Our best information indicates that soybean following soybean will yield about 10 percent (4-5 bushel) less than soybean following corn. Growing second year soybeans will increase the potential for disease and nematode problems, so use care in selecting varieties.
-Use proven crop production practices: Nitrogen use efficiency will be optimized when soil pH is maintained above 6.0, and soil P and K tests are maintained at the optimum level for your soil type. Use proven practices to control weeds, insects and diseases; and plant adapted, high yielding varieties for your area.
White corn is one of several specialty crops receiving greater attention by Ohio growers as an alternative to yellow dent corn. Premiums are available for white corn grown under contract. We conducted a white corn test in Ohio at the OARDC NW Branch at Hoytville in 2000 as part of a multi-state testing program coordinated by Dr. Larry Darrah, USDA-ARS and the University of Missouri. Results of the 2000 Ohio trial are shown in Table 1. In 2000, 24 white corn hybrids were evaluated along with two yellow dent check hybrids. Test results provide growers with a basis for comparing the relative performance of commercial white corn hybrids and yellow corn hybrids.
Multi-state white corn yield test program results are published yearly. Data presented in the publication include food quality characteristics as well as the typical agronomic traits. For information about the food corn tests and annual field day, check the following web site: http://www.agron.missouri.edu/ars_columbia/fcpt&fd.html
For more information on specialty corns, including white corn, used in value added or identity preserved grain production check out the Ohio State University web site Specialty Corns for Value-Added Grain Production at http://www.ag.ohiostate.edu/~hocorn/.
Please contact Allen Geyer (phone: 614-292-1393; e-mail: geyer.9@osu.edu) if you would like to receive a copy of "White Food Corn - 2000 Performance Tests, Spec. Rep. 535."
Table 1. Yield data from the 2000 Early White Food Grade Corn Performance Test at Hoytville, OH.
| Brand/Hybrid | Yield | Moist |
| Asgrow RX776W | 121.8 | 22.7 |
| Diener D 114W | 105.0 | 22.3 |
| Diener D 115W | 99.7 | 24.7 |
| IFSI 90-1 | 101.1 | 20.0 |
| IFSI 95-2 | 110.2 | 20.5 |
| NC+ 4089W | 94.7 | 26.3 |
| NC+ 4950W | 105.2 | 19.7 |
| Pioneer Brand 32H39 | 110.9 | 25.2 |
| Pioneer Brand 32K72 | 133.3 | 22.5 |
| Pioneer Brand 32Y52 | 103.1 | 21.2 |
| Pioneer Brand 33T17 | 134.1 | 20.3 |
| Pioneer Brand 34P93 | 110.8 | 22.5 |
| Pioneer Brand X1128BW | 137.8 | 21.7 |
| Vineyard V433W | 118.0 | 21.2 |
| Vineyard Vx4359W | 134.5 | 22.3 |
| Vineyard Vx4319W | 126.2 | 21.8 |
| Whisnand 50AW | 100.3 | 21.0 |
| Whisnand 51AW | 100.2 | 20.0 |
| Zimmerman 1780W | 114.8 | 26.6 |
| Zimmerman 1790W | 101.2 | 25.2 |
| Zimmerman N71-T7 | 119.5 | 22.7 |
| Zimmerman Z62W | 100.8 | 21.1 |
| Zimmerman Z75W | 124.2 | 22.8 |
| Zimmerman Z76W | 122.1 | 23.4 |
| Yellow Check B73 x Mo17 | 131.7 | 24.7 |
| Yellow Check Pioneer Brand 3394 | 131.2 | 20.1 |
| Mean | 115.1 | 22.4 |
| LSD (0.05) | 17.3 | 1.5 |
| CV% | 9.2 | 4.1 |
Readers can subscribe electronically to this newsletter by sending an e-mail message to: corn-out-on@postoffice.ag.ohio-state.edu. A successful subscription message will receive by an automatic reply from the listserv. Contact your local Ohio State University Extension Office or e-mail labarge.1@osu.edu if you have problems subscribing.
Past versions of C.O.R.N. can be found on the World Wide Web at: http:/www.ag.ohio-state.edu/~corn/archive/
C.O.R.N. is a summary of crop observations, related information, and appropriate recommendations for Ohio Crop Producers and Industry. C.O.R.N. is produced by the Ohio State University Extension Agronomy Team, State Specialists at The Ohio State University and Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center. C.O.R.N. Questions are directed to State Specialists, Extension Associates, and Agents associated with Ohio State University Extension and the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center at The Ohio State University.
Contributors to C.O.R.N. this week include: State Specialists: Pat Lipps & Anne Dorrance (Plant Pathology), Hal Willson (Entomology), Peter Thomison (Corn Production) District Specialists: Ed Lentz (Agronomy) Extension Agents: Roger Bender (Shelby), Dave Jones (Allen), Barry Ward (Champaign), Dennis Baker (Darke), Greg La Barge (Fulton), Howard Siegrist (Licking), and Glen Arnold (Putnam).Editor: Greg LaBarge Web Editor: Tom Rosati
Information presented above and where trade names are used, they are supplied with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by Ohio State University Extension is implied. Although every attempt is made to produce information that is complete, timely, and accurate, the pesticide user bears responsibility of consulting the pesticide label and adhering to those directions.
All educational programs conducted by Ohio State University Extension are available to clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, gender, age, disability or Vietnam-era veteran status.
Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Keith L. Smith, Director, Ohio State University Extension.
TDD # 1 (800) 589-8292 (Ohio only) or (614) 292-1868
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