Farmers spend their entire spring worrying about what to put into the soil.

This fall it's time to concentrate on what they took out. Ag Reporter Sarah Gustin has the story.

(Tim Morman / Bis. Fertilizer) "This year with the crops you take off, your nitrogen levels are going to be low." Bismarck Fertilizer Company has been performing soil tests from Selfridge to Wilton...from east of Bismarck to Glen Ullin

No matter the location..Morman says there is one continuing trend

(Tim Morman / Bismarck Fertilizer) "Seems like on all the wheat stubble that the guys have sampled so far wheat is going to need nitrogen. There is just no if's, and's or but's about it." Morman says this year it's probably more important than ever to take the time to soil test. As producers know our high yielding crops took alot of groceries out of the ground

(Tim Morman / Bismarck Fertilizer) "With the yields we pulled off this year nitrogen has been low all the way across. There are some areas that haven't been too bad, people hauling alot of manure back have had some levels that are still pretty high in phosphrus, but even potassium and some sulfer have been low too." fertilizer nats..

One silver lining..

The nutrients you need to replenish are going to cost you a fraction of what they did a year ago

Morman says fertilizer costs are lower than they've been in three years

Being about of 1/3 of what they were a year ago

Last year a ton of urea would have cost you 600 dollars

Now you can get that same ton for 350

(Tim Morman / Bismarck Fertilizer) "Anybody that's put it on this fall has definitely going to have a strong advantage on it. It's going to be cheapeer this fall then next spring." Morman says because of the busy spring they haven't done as much fall fertilizing as usual

He says it's really picked up the past 2 weeks

He says fertilizing now won't only save you time come this spring, but cash in the end

South of Bismarck for KX News I am Sarah Gustin."


Morman says another consistent trend that he is seeing is fields are much wetter than average which will definitely be a benefit come this spring. watch the video | save this article / add to your favorites list