"Fertilizer Is Out Of Control" - US Farmers Ditch Corn For Soy To Save On Costs

Therussophile.org ^ | 4-1-2022

[blam]

The rising cost of natural gas, the primary input for most nitrogen fertilizer, has been one reason for rising fertilizer prices. Also, global supplies are expected to tighten as Russia will limit fertilizer exports to ‘unfriendly‘ countries. Russia is one of the biggest exporters globally — the US just so happens to be a large importer of nitrogen and potash from Russia.

Gregerson said due to global disruptions, “getting fertilizer is going to be more and more of a problem for the world in general.” In return, farmers will transition to crops that use less fertilizer — and it will be done globally.

In central Illinois, farmer Kenneth Hartman said he might not get much income off the soybeans but won’t have the expenses of planting corn.

Hartman also said high costs to plant corn is still a gamble because there’s still an environmental factor the crop year could be poor.

Increasing fertilizer prices could convince more farmers to plant more soy and less corn. If so, this would be the first time since 1983.

[Alas Babylon!]

Most legumes, alfalfa and clovers actually add more nitrogen (N) to the soil, especially when tilled in.

Well-established perennial legumes, including red and white clover, have been reported to provide 75 to 200 pounds fixed N per acre. This compares with alfalfa, which provides 150 to 200 pounds fixed N per acre.

I garden 2 big plots (100 by 30 feet) and alternate them with crimson clover each year. This means I have one plot in clover right now, just starting to flower, and the other I tilled in last Fall. Hopefully, my corn and vegies will grow like weeds.

If farmers would do this multiyear planting they’d get more yield per acre, even if it means a reduction in acreage overall.

I think cover crops need to be pushed like counter plowing was in the 1930s.

[Iceclimber58]

New diesel trucks don’t care for bio diesel. The common rail high pressure system will run on b20. Doesn’t mean it likes it, long term. B5 would be best.

[glennaro]

If you like your meat with lots of estrogen.

Now that's a loaded comment! Cheers!

[Lazamataz]

Time to take corn out of our gas

Never, in my life, have I heard of a society that burns its food.

[Lazamataz]

if it isn’t clear to anyone who is paying even a shred of attention that the Democrat/Communist Party is doing everything and anything it can — day in and day out — to destroy our Republic, then it will never be clear to them. This is as blatant as it gets ....

I think the only way they could be more blatant is if they ordered a nuclear strike on the continental US.

[Starboard]

Spot on comment!

I hereby nominate it for Post of the Day Award.

[Starboard]

Southerners took grits up to a whole new level. ;)

[DannyTN]

"I don't know what less corn and more soy means for us."

• More estrogen.
• Higher fuel costs (ethanol)
• Higher hushpuppy cost
• Higher Taco Bell costs (corn tortillas)

[Fury]

More soybeans = more miso soup - yummy!

[PeterPrinciple]

https://www.rrfn.com/2019/03/29/more-corn-less-soybeans/

---

Folks,

manufactured news. Back in 2019 it was the opposite.

Stop the fear porn. Every article has an agenda. There is some truth but seek higher ground to interpret.

[Pollard]

http://www.livecornfree.com/2010/04/ingredients-derived-from-corn-what-to.html

• Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C)
  
• Baking Powder (corn starch)
• Brown Sugar – look for use of Caramel color. Domino’s Brown sugar no longer uses Caramel color
• Calcium Citrate - the calcium salt of citric acid. See Citrate below for details.
  
• Caramel – coloring used in soft drinks, derived from corn “or cane sugar.” The “or” in Coca-Cola's explanation refers to a temporary change to make the ingredients Kosher for Passover. The rest of the year, it is from corn.
  
• Cellulose, Vegetable, Powered, etc.
• Citrate - can refer either to the conjugate base of citric acid, or to the esters of citric acid. An example of the former, a salt is trisodium citrate; an ester is triethyl citrate. Forms of Citrate include: Calcium Citrate, Magnesium Citrate, Potassium Citrate, Sodium Citrate, and more.
  
• Citric Acid - the source sugar is corn steep liquor along with hydrolyzed corn starch
  
• Corn
  
• Corn Meal – items baked sitting on Corn Meal such as Bagels, Breads or Pizza, may not list Corn Meal as an ingredient
  
• Corn Starch – in most over the counter medicines that come in a dry pill form. Yes, this includes Benedryl too. Watch for Corn Syrup in the liquid forms.
  
• Corn Syrup
• Decyl Glucoside - used in personal care products such as shampoo. It is produced by the reaction of glucose from corn starch with the fatty alcohol decanol which is derived from coconut.
  
• Dextrin, Maltodextrin – thickening agents found in sauces (check those frozen veggies!) salad dressings, and ice cream
  
• Dextrose (glucose) – corn sugar, found in cookies, ice cream, and paired with glucose in hospital IVs unless specified not to! Can also be used as a carrier with anesthetic shots such as Lidocaine and Novocaine! Dextrose is also injected into meat, lunch meats and deli cuts. Be weary of “honey baked” items, the sweet flavor may not be from honey.
• Ethanol - made by fermenting sugars produced from corn starch.
• Ferrous Gluconate - i.e. as found in canned olives, and comes from corn or potato acid.
  
• Flavoring - Artificial or "Natural Flavors" - as defined by the FDA regulations of labeling of spices, flavorings, and colorings.
• Golden Syrup - Sometimes recommended as an alternate to Corn Syrup, but it may contain Corn Syrup as well.
  
• Honey - May contain corn syrup, as HFCS is sometimes fed to bees, resulting in corn in the honey produced.
  
• Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein (HVP)
• Iodized Salt – Morton’s FAQ explains why they add Dextrose (corn) to their salt.
• Lactic Acid - Commercially, lactic acid can be made synthetically from chemicals or organically as a byproduct of corn fermentation.
• Lauryl Glucoside - is a surfactant used in cosmetics. It is a glycoside produced from glucose and lauryl alcohol.
• Magnesium Citrate - Magnesium salt of citric acid.
  
• Magnesium Stearate
• Malic Acid
  
• Malt
  
• Malt Flavoring
  
• Maltitol - (also known as Maltisorb and Maltisweet) Commercially, maltitol is a disaccharide produced by Corn Products Specialty Ingredients (formerly SPI Polyols), Cargill, Roquette, and Towa, among other companies. Maltitol is made by hydrogenation of maltose obtained from starch.
  
• Maltodextrin
• Maltose
  
• Mannitol - A naturally occurring alcohol that is often combined with corn derived sugars. Here is the link on USDA's website explaining this practice.
• Methyl Gluceth - an emollient used in cosmetics manufactured from corn sugar and corn starch.
  
• Modified Food Starch
• Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) - The MSGMyth site explains MSG is made from corn.
• Polydextrose - is synthesized from dextrose, and contains sorbitol and citric acid. It is a food ingredient classified as soluble fiber and is frequently used to increase the non-dietary fiber content of food, replace sugar, reduce calories and reduce fat content.  Note: Dextrose, Sorbitol, and Citric Acid are all on this list of ingredients derived from corn.
• Polylactic Acid (PLA) - Plastic made from corn starch (U.S.) or sugarcane.
  
• Polysorbates (i.e. Polysorbate 80) - Polysorbates are oily liquids derived from PEG-ylated sorbitan (a derivative of sorbitol) esterified with fatty acids.
• Potassium Citrate - See Citrate above for details.
• Powdered Sugar - contains corn starch
  
• Saccharin – in powder form IS Sweet’N Low and therefore contains Dextrose.
• Sodium Citrate - See Citrate above for details.
• Sodium Erythorbate - is produced from sugars derived from sources such as beets, sugar cane and corn. It is a food additive used predominantly in meats, poultry, and soft drinks.
• Sodium Starch Glycolate - is the sodium salt of a carboxymethyl ether of starch. It can be derived from any starch source (rice, corn, potatoes, etc).
• Sorbitan - is a mixture of chemical compounds derived from the dehydration of sorbitol.
  
• Sorbitan Monostearate - an ester of sorbitol and stearic acid. You will see this ingredient used in Yeast (and possibly other places as well).
  
• Sorbitol – You will find Sorbitol in Sugar Free items such as candy, chewing gum, cosmetics, mouth wash, and toothpaste
• Starch – often this is corn starch unless it specifies something else, like potato starch
• Sucralose - Sucralose by itself may be corn free, though it is likely one best to avoid. Repackaged as the brand Splenda, it will contain dextrose and/or maltodextrin.
  
• Sweet’N Low – contains Dextrose, and according to Sweet’N Low, ALL sugar substitutes in powder form contain Dextrose.
  
• Tocopherol (Vitamin E)
• Vanilla Extract – most brands will have corn syrup, though you can find organic brands that do not, though the alcohol may be corn-derived.
• Vinegar, Distilled White - can be made from any sugar, but the most common method is to use corn that has been converted from starch into sugar.
• Vitamins - Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) and Vitamin E (Tocopherols). Use caution with products that are "enriched" with added vitamins. The vitamins may be corn-derived, or corn-derivatives may be used in the binding (if solid) or suspension (if liquid) of the vitamin compound.
  
• Xanthan Gum - a food additive that is used as a thickening agent. It is found in sauces, spices, and commonly in Gluten Free foods. Xanthan Gum is most often grown on corn, or corn sugars. If an item includes Xanthan Gum and states it is corn-free, call the manufacturing company and inquire as to the source of Xanthan Gum to be sure.
• Xylitol - You will find Xylitol in Sugar Free items such as candy, chewing gum, cosmetics, mouth wash, and toothpaste
  
• Zein – used in time-release medications, derived from Maize

  https://kscorn.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Common-Items-Containing-Corn.pdf

  95% of livestock/animal feed. 97% of gasoline is Ethanol gas. 25% of items in a grocery store contain corn derived ingredients.

  https://www.farmprogress.com/vegetables/13-ways-corn-used-our-everyday-lives

  Diapers, toothpaste, tire mold release agent, cosmetics, deodorant.

[PIF]

corn feeds cows & hogs and fuels cars. Prices for all three will rise. As will DEF for diesels. Truckers will have even higher expenses - we will have higher grocery prices - meat will start at $10 for the lowest grades of hamburger.

But soy sauce will be cheaper.

[Petrosius]

End the ethanol mandates!

[PeterPrinciple]

In central Illinois, farmer Kenneth Hartman said he might not get much income off the soybeans but won’t have the expenses of planting corn.

Hartman also said high costs to plant corn is still a gamble because there’s still an environmental factor the crop year could be poor.

---

Folks,

read it slowly. What is he focussed on:

1) expense of planting corn. should be thinking about net profit. and long term.

2) environmental factor. that is there every year.

There are very good reasons to keep a rotation.

AGain, this is news with an agenda. understand the agenda,

[Pollard]

Quite a few farmers have started planting corn and other crops right into a legume cover crop. They run a roller/crimper on the front of the tractor and a no till seed drill on the back. They get great results and don't buy fertilizer.

[The Louiswu]

“ What will they eat? ”

They will eat well, much better than you will as they will get to pick and choose who gets the available products to grow their food, the food that will be used to feed them, the pols and the elites. This has all happened before, there is nothing new going on here. It’s about control and who’s is charge.

[Mogger]

I wonder if the enviro whackos ever took fertilizer production and movement into consideration when they figured out how much “carbon footprint” was “saved” by adding ethanol to gasoline?

[Pollard]

https://voiceofmuscatine.com/2022/03/07/spring-rain-forecast-brings-good-and-bad-news-for-illinois-farmers/

Ctrl IL is looking good. North has been dry and South is overly wet.

The state climatologist for Illinois says the moisture outlook this month could be good or bad for farmers depending on which part of the state you are in.

Trent Ford tells Brownfield the month of March is expected to be wetter than normal across the entire state, which is a highlight for the drought stricken northwest sector.

“Parts like Winnebago, Stephenson, Jo Davies, Ogle, Lee, all the way down to Rock Island County have been quite dry. Freeport for example, has gotten less than an inch of rain since the beginning of the year, so they are in a 3-4 inch rainfall deficit which adds to the deficit they has from last year. So, that area could really use some precipitation.”

But he says more rain will likely cause flooding and planting delays for farmers south of Interstate 70, where fields have been wet since last fall. Ford says areas in Union County received more than 9 inches of rain in February, about three times more than they usually get.

“Soils are at or above field capacity for saturation. Creeks and larger rivers including the Wabash and the Ohio are in flood stage already and the outlook is really not good news for that area.”

Ford says central Illinois is in a sweet spot, where both soil moisture and rain outlooks are about normal, which is also good news as several counties in that region generally have some of the highest corn and soybean yields and production numbers.

[Basket_of_Deplorables]

“the US just so happens to be a large importer of nitrogen and potash from Russia.”

Not anymore, thanks to Brandon. Like drinking poison, hoping the other guy will die.

[PeterPrinciple]

Quite a few farmers have started planting corn and other crops right into a legume cover crop. They run a roller/crimper on the front of the tractor and a no till seed drill on the back. They get great results and don’t buy fertilizer.

---

Tough times or perceive tough times bring back the entrepreneurship and personal risk and decisions.

My point, said poorly, is what is making the decision? What is the goal? For too many years the goal has been maximum yield, not maximum profit. They are not highly correlated.

I studied farm records in Iowa for 40 years.

Toward the end I told them, the biggest farm mgt decision they made was what color paint was on their machinery. The rest was delegated to govt, seed companies and chemical companies.