Early April means it's time for the Spring Fertilizer Outlook here on the Nutrient Management Podcast. Our panel of four specialists and researchers begin by discussing current field conditions throughout Minnesota. World events affecting farmers and other ag professionals are top-of-mind right now. How is price volatility impacting input planning - or is it? Should farmers consider changes to their management plans, and /or potentially cut back on specific inputs? If so, which ones and why? Does soil testing become more important during times when other costs are high? As our panelists talk with farmers across Minnesota, what silver linings and bright spots have they noticed in today's ag environment, and why is it important to keep these in mind? All this and much more on today's episode.

Guests:

• Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato)
• Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)
• Jeff Vetsch, Lead SROC researcher (Waseca)
• Lindsay Pease, Extension nutrient and water management specialist (Crookston)

Additional Resources:

• cornnratecalc.org (MRTN rate calculator)
• Are you overspending on fertilizer?
• Drought conditions overview
• Phosphorus: Rate guidelines, sources & best practices for Minnesota, Midwest farmers
• Do biostimulant seed treatments boost soybean yields? New study across 103 locations in 22 states says no
• Nutrient management

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For the latest nutrient management information, subscribe to the Nutrient Management Podcast. And don't forget to subscribe to the Minnesota Crop News daily or weekly email newsletter, subscribe to our YouTube channel, like UMN Extension Nutrient Management on Facebook, follow us on X (formerly twitter), and visit our website.

If you have questions or comments, please email us at nutmgmt@umn.edu.

Support for the Nutrient Management Podcast is provided by Minnesota's fertilizer tonnage fee through the Agricultural Fertilizer Research & Education Council (AFREC). Learn more at MNsoilfertility.com.

Brad Carlson and Jeff Vetsch talk about variable rate sensors on today's Advancing Nitrogen Smart Podcast episode. What is meant by the term 'active sensors' and what data do active sensors capture? Which specific brands of sensors have the Southern Research and Outreach Center (SROC) researched, and how did they perform? What stage does corn need to reach before sensors can best contribute to variable rate decision making? How do other field variables like soil texture or irrigation systems contribute (or not) to variable rate sensing? Join us today for part one of a two-part discussion on variable rate technology with Brad and Jeff.

Guests:

• Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato)
• Jeff Vetsch, Lead researcher at the Southern Research and Outreach Center (Waseca)

Additional Resources:

• 5 Things to consider for sensor-based nitrogen management
• Variable rate nitrogen and nitrogen advisory tools: Do they work?
• Variable rate technology: How should farmers evaluate outcomes?
• Things to consider when sidedressing nitrogen
• Nitrogen smart
• Nitrogen

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For the latest nutrient management information, subscribe to the Nutrient Management Podcast. And don't forget to subscribe to the Minnesota Crop News daily or weekly email newsletter, subscribe to our YouTube channel, like UMN Extension Nutrient Management on Facebook, follow us on X (formerly twitter), and visit our website.

If you have questions or comments, please email us at nutmgmt@umn.edu.

Advancing Nitrogen Smart is proud to be supported by the farm families of Minnesota and their corn check-off investment through Minnesota Corn.

Today on the Nutrient Management Podcast we discuss phosphorus with experts from Minnesota and across the Midwest. Why are Midwest phosphorus guidelines different from state to state? Are Minnesota's current P guidelines satisfactory - or do states' P guidelines need revision? Would a P-rate calculator that incorporates economics be a useful tool, similar to nitrogen's MRTN calculator? What 'Phosphorus & the 4R's' tips and suggestions do our Minnesota, Ohio, Illinois and South Dakota panelists recommend for area farmers? Nitrates and water quality issues continue to be top-of-mind - would switching P sources be beneficial? What new and ongoing phosphorus-related research projects are panelists watching? All this and much more on today's show.

Guests:

• Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)
• John Jones, soil fertility, plant nutrition, and nutrient management research, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (Champaign, IL)
• Jason Clark, Extension soil fertility specialist, South Dakota State University (Brookings, SD)
• Manbir Rakkar, assistant professor, soil fertility and nutrient management, The Ohio State University (Brewster, OH)

Additional resources:

• Understanding phosphorus in Minnesota soils
• Videos of the 2026 Nutrient Management and Nitrogen Conferences are now available
• Phosphorus fertilizer sources: What are the differences and which one should you use?
• Is 'fixed' P lost? 4 things to consider
• Minnesota Nutrient Reduction Strategy

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For the latest nutrient management information, subscribe to the Nutrient Management Podcast. And don't forget to subscribe to the Minnesota Crop News daily or weekly email newsletter, subscribe to our YouTube channel, like UMN Extension Nutrient Management on Facebook, follow us on X (formerly twitter), and visit our website.

If you have questions or comments, please email us at nutmgmt@umn.edu.

Support for the Nutrient Management Podcast is provided by Minnesota's fertilizer tonnage fee through the Agricultural Fertilizer Research & Education Council (AFREC). Learn more at MNsoilfertility.com.