Brad Forkner, Nutrient Management Specialist: Great Fall Financial Decisions, August 13th 2012

1. Check nitrates in the corn stalks before ensiling, but for sure before baling.  Nitrates will dissipate by half in the full fermentation process, but not if it is baled.
2. Mycotoxins/Aflotoxins above 20ppb cannot enter the food chain.  They will not diffuse in either silage or baling.  When storing your own grain, be aware that they will continue to grow and spread rapidly above 16% moisture.  Don’t take the chance of storing it at home.  The air you breathe cleaning that bin just might be your last!!
3. Know what is in your DDG’s for these reasons.
4. Check plant back restrictions for the next crop.  Lack of rain will increase the normal time to break down herbicides and insecticides.  Especially if you want to get back into fall wheat for quick feed.
5. A soil test is cheaper than blindly buying fertilizer.  Dry soils give different results.  P2O5 is tied up in the residue until it decays.  Don’t rebuy what you already own.
6. Break loose the salts and heavy metals in your manure and soils while starting residue decay before buying more fertilizer.  I will share how to do this.
7. Some surface applied nitrogen and organic acids this fall will reduce disease carryover and have the P and K readily available next spring.
8. Avoid the temptation to do deep ripping, it will only bring anaerobic soil to the surface and destroy the microbes that are working for you.  Feed the microbes first this year.
9. If you are in a cash position, there may not be a better time to replace and update worn equipment and facilities, companies need cash flow just like you do.
10. Take time to keep yourself, your family, and your employees mentally and physically healthy.  Probably this should be listed first and tenth!forkner54@ameritech.netTwitter: @BradForkner