Some livestock producers will be tempted to reduce their costs by reducing their fertilization programs. In most cases, that's really a false economy. There will be less total forage produced or it may be of lesser quality, meaning the farmer will have to spend money on supplemental feeds. Our Extension forage agronomist, Dr. Don Ball, tells me one key is to more efficiently use the fertilizer applied. First, have soil tests done.
Soil tests are especially important now because it is wasteful to apply more fertilizer than needed.
Take the guesswork out of fertilization. Get soil tests done and get the facts. Next, apply fertilizer when it will do the most good. Timing is particularly crucial with nitrogen fertilizers. Nitrogen leaches out of the soil easily, so try to apply just before times of optimum growing condition.