Wilbur-Ellis Highlights New Organic Nitrogen Management Playbook

Nitrogen is typically the biggest driver of consistent yields, crop quality, and grower profitability. But for organic growers, nitrogen is an even more significant factor, since finding a source of readily available nitrogen can be a challenge.

Gina Colfer, Sustainable Solutions Agronomy Manager for Organics and Wilbur-Ellis, said organic producers have few options from where nitrogen can be sourced, leaving growers more susceptible to volatility and shortages. Today, Colfer noted, many organic growers are rethinking their approach to fertility. Rather than increasing nitrogen applications, hoping it will remain in the soil until the crop needs it, the focus is moving toward improving nitrogen availability and nutrient use efficiency through the season.

Colfer said it’s all about soil health.

“Cover cropping is like the low hanging fruit when it comes to getting carbon into your system," she said. "So if organic growers can incorporate cover crops into that system, but still feel confident that they're not tying up their nitrogen for that next successive spring crop, then that's where they're changing. They're going to incorporate a cover crop and then they are going to spoon feed nitrogen through the season."

Provide Exactly What Your Crop Needs

Colfer added spoon feeding nitrogen throughout the growing season has a host of benefits.

“And you can really dial in, that timing of critical growth periods of that crop," said Colfer. " So, like for potatoes, when that real demand for nitrogen is taking place, that's when you can really dial in that precision application and apply the exact amount of nitrogen that's needed for that crop.”

We Want Organics To Thrive

Colfer added there are so many things for organic growers to keep straight in their mind, it’s best to reach out to your local Wilbur Ellis rep with any questions.

“We're really focusing on organics," Colfer noted. "We want organics to thrive and we want our, organic growers to have these tools in the toolbox because it's not easy, right? Being an organic grower, it takes a lot of agronomy to really understand, how to grow a successful organic crop because we don't have the we don't have that easy button.”

Visit Wilbur-Ellis' Organic Website to learn more about the playbook or to have your questions answered.