The answer is not increasing N rates preplant or in the fall, hoping that the added N will compensate for loss. The solution is to split the application reasonably and use appropriate soil and plant analysis to guide the applications. 1998 was a tough year for Northern Plains agriculture. To weather these times, wise production decisions must be made. Sometimes it is many years before lessons learned from a year can be recalled to help solve a future problem, but eventually these experiences recur.
Some experiences are immediately useful.
As many guesses as possible need to be eliminated from a farm production plan. Although about one-third of North Dakota fields are regularly soil tested, the rest are not. Producers need to know that certain inputs are or are not needed, not guess that they are. Soil testing each field will help to increase the impact of fertilizer production inputs and makecertain that the right nutrients are applied for each crop. An economic crisis in the region's agriculture has prompted North Dakota State University's College of Agriculture to resume its Alternative Career Program for Experienced Farmers and Ranchers.