Apply liquids during cool days, preferably when there is dew on the leaves to dilute the fertilizer. Expect some burn with liquid materials. The problems we have had this season in obtaining specialized products for rotational crops, such as inoculum for field peas or ammonium sulfate for canola underscores the importance in future years of ordering early. The agricultural manufacturing and distribution network is not used to, nor will it soon be used to, the new Freedom to Farm rotational options that producers now have available. It puts pressure on producers to try to line up associated supplies earlier than in the past.
Some crops are more sensitive to low boron levels than others.
Two indicator crops that are particularly sensitive to low boron are alfalfa and sunflower. However, there have been only very rare instances in North Dakota where boron deficiency in alfalfa has been suspected. In sunflower, deficiencies have been sought for decades by North Dakota soil scientists, but none have been documented. The lack of documented deficiency is a reason why our recommendations for boron from a soil test become confused. In order for a region to establish critical levels for soil tests, where a response could be expected above a soil test level, there first must be a response to application.