| KIMBERLY -- Because of natural gas shortages, the cost of
nitrogen is likely to double by spring. With money already tight among
many sugar beet producers, spending more for commercial fertilizer to
achieve high yields critical for survival is worrisome, to say the least.
But what if a guy could keep those escalating fertilizer costs at bay
while actually increasing yields?
The possibility exists, say local dairy compost producers and USDA soil
scientist Dale Westermann.
Compost field studies in 1999 near Kimberly, conducted by the
University of Idaho and Agricultural Research Service, provide good news
to sugar beet growers, Westermann wrote in a report about the experiment.
"Not only was a profitable crop produced with the compost
(manure-based), but it was done with less nitrogen fertilizer," he
said.
"Applying dairy compost increased the root yield 3 to 4 tons an
acre and the potential profit by $126. Compared with a recommended
nitrogen application, the profit increased to $290 per acre when 2.5
tons/A and 100 lbs./A nitrogen were applied."
Westermann qualifies those figures by noting those calculations were
based on a sugar price of $22 per hundred lbs., nitrogen costing 25 cents
per lb., and compost costing $20 per ton. He also said the grower-owned
test ground was one-half mile from Kimberly and would be considered prime
for sugar beets.
Sean Mallet, general manager for Magic Valley Compost, said experience
has taught him and his associates that just as with commercial fertilizer,
compost must be applied in correct amounts. He said since the business was
started six years ago, he has learned that 2.5 to 3 tons/A is the optimum
amount, though sometimes on very poor or abused ground, farmers might
consider applying 5 tons the first year.
He also said he isn't interested in convincing farmers to give up their
commercial fertilizers, at least not initially.
"Compost helps to retain commercial fertilizer in the soil longer
to allow crops to take up fertilizer longer," he said.
As all sugar beet growers know, applying the right amount of nitrogen
to sugar beets is almost an art. He said that soil-testing is key.
Then, Mallett advises farmers to apply a reduced amount of commercial
fertilizer according to the results of the soil test.
"After the plant has used that readily available nitrogen, then it
will begin to tap into the nitrogen from the compost using only as much as
needed," he said. "I feel comfortable in recommending that
farmers cut back 25 percent on commercial fertilizers."
He added that after three or four years farmers might be able to cut
back considerably more.
Chase Bolduc, sales manager for Magic Valley Compost, enjoys explaining
to farmers how much easier it is to add compost to their soil than
separate nutrients purchased at the local fertilizer dealer.
"Instead of putting nutrients in the soil one by one, you put a
stocked refrigerator in the soil," he said.
And as an organic product, compost, which has already gone through the
heat process that kills weed seed, has three times less volume than the
original manure, and doesn't leach -- as commercial nitrogen is so famous
for doing.
"Compost concentrates and stabilizes nutrients," he said.
"It's organic -- insoluble. Any farmer over-applies commercial
fertilizer by 30 to 40 percent because it leaches."
It can help reduce irrigation costs, too.
"Because of its absorption capability, compost can hold up to five
times its weight in water," he said.
Farmers must be finding out there is something to using the
new-and-improved version of manure.
Since starting up the business in '94 with 80-acres' worth of compost
sold, Mallet said this past year his company sold enough to cover 15,000
acres.
"We have three facilities now -- at Jerome, Hollister and
Wendell," he said. Besides that, the company is also providing
composting services for five other dairies. |