Return On Investment on Agronomic Decisions

kourtneyb93
Sep 25
4 min read

Updated: Nov 14

Return on Investment (ROI) seems to be the buzz word as we near harvest season. Growers and Agronomists alike will be discussing the results of agronomic decisions that they made for the 2025 crop season and deciding if they should budget for those same investments in 2026.

Agronomic decisions are a combination of agronomy and economics... decisions in products and services that address numerous crop production concerns, potentially increasing yields through improved growth and development and/or protecting yield from diseases, insects or weed competition. The economics kick in when the cost of the product or service is compared to the return on investment...ROI.

This fall, the Schuyler Cooperative is recommending growers to Soil Sample, Apply Ag Lime, enhance their Phosphate (P) & Potassium (K) applications and consider a fall burndown. Why? Continue reading as we address the ROI of Agronomic Decisions around each one of these products/services.

Soil sampling is a foundational service provided by growers/retailers across the country. Growers and agronomist schedule soil sampling to receive a report card on their soil's potential. The report card comes in the form of data. That data serves many purposes. We will key in on three. Do I need to build, maintain or can I draw down any of my macro or micronutrients? The data from a soil report helps a grower and their agronomist decide if nutrient levels are sufficient for their yield goals. If nutrient levels are below average, then a build (crop removal plus) application will be scheduled. If nutrient levels are sufficient for yield goals, then a maintenance (crop removal only) application will be scheduled.

Finally, if nutrient levels are above average, then a draw down (less than crop removal) application will be decided on. These decisions need to be based on a recent soil sample, realistic yield goals and cost of fertilizers. If it's been a while since you have soil sampled, we strongly recommend contacting members of the Schuyler Cooperative Agronomy team to schedule your soil sampling. Reviewing a soil report gives you and your Schuyler Cooperative Agronomist the opportunity to make informed decisions that affect the long-term goals of your farming operation.

The Schuyler Cooperative offers soil amendments that address various soil pH concerns. Historically, low soil pH has been addressed through ag-lime or pelletized lime applications. These applications address the deficiencies of calcium carbonate and the presence of hydrogen on the soil collide. Adequate calcium carbonate levels in the soil replace the hydrogen, raising the soil pH.

What's the key concern with low soil pH? Low soil pH affects the percentage nutrient uptake and potential yield. The greatest effect on nutrient uptake can be seen across Nitrogen (N), Phosphate (P) and Potassium (K). The ideal soil pH is 6.8... allowing for maximum nutrient uptake and crop yield potential. A soil pH of 5.7 drops nutrient uptake on N, P and K to

40 – 60% and lowers crop yield potential on corn and soybeans to 80 - 85%. A crop’s growth and development are greatly affected by this drop in nutrient uptake through vegetative and reproductive stages. Corn has three critical yield determining stages: V6 – ear girth, V8-V10 for ear length, and VT through Black layer on Test Weight. If you have seen less than average yields due to decreased root development, reduced plant health, increased stalk quality concerns then reviewing your soil’s pH and scheduling lime applications accordingly is strongly recommended. Ag-Lime applications are a long-term solution to the effects of low soil pH. Pelletized Lime applications offer a year-to-year solution in managing low soil pH, especially when ground is rented.

Another concern with soil pH can be due to a soils structure. Poorly drained soils may have high pH’s (8 +) related to accumulation of salts. Reviewing a soil report with your Schuyler Cooperative’s agronomist may help determine if your soil is suffering from excess salts. Application's of calcium sulfate (gypsum) or elemental sulfur (90% S) can be used to reclaim these soils. These two products help free the excess salts from the soil collide, allowing them to naturally leach from the soil. The key is drainage. If the soils internal drainage is limited, then deep tillage or tiling maybe a consideration.

Over the past three years, Schuyler Cooperative has been reviewing products that help with nutrient uptake. One of those products is Titan XC. Titan XC is applied to dry phosphorous (11-52-0) or Potassium (0-0-60) Titan XC is an biological extract helps break down the treated fertilizer, giving a quick release and improved uptake. These improvements increase root growth and development, allowing for better nutrient use efficiency, optimizing yield potential and improved return on investment of applied fertilizer products. While reviewing soil reports and developing P & K application recommendation, ask your Schuyler Cooperative Agronomist to review the features, benefits and cost of applying Titan XC to your P & K products.

Fall burndown was very limited in 2024 due to the dry conditions that led into the fall harvest. 2025 is nearly opposite to 2024 with soil moisture conditions above normal. We should expect winter annual weeds to germinate and become established this fall/winter. So, as you combine, take note of what you're seeing for winter annuals and decide if a fall burndown is right for your operations. The benefits of a fall herbicide application have offered a proven ROI.

Fall Herbicide Benefits Include:

Effective Weed Control: Fall applications can control winter annual and perennial weeds, preventing dense mats that interfere with planting and tillage.
Reduced Seed Bank: By eliminating weeds before they reproduce, fall applications decrease the soil seed bank, reducing future weed problems.
Consistency and Predictability: Fall applications provide more consistent results as compared to spring applications, which can be affected by weather conditions.
Reduced Workload: Fall applications reduce the spring workload, allowing for better timing of pre-emerge herbicide applications, closer to spring planting.
Improved Crop Emergence: By controlling weeds early in the season, fall applications help ensure uniform crop emergence and reduce crop stress from weed competition.