For most farmers, the corn and beans are up and well under way. You might be wondering what you can do to make your crops healthier and add a few extra bushels. Foliar feeding is an excellent way to do just that. Here are 3 steps to ensure the best results when foliar feeding.

Step One -Tissue Test. Plant tissue analysis helps you pick the right fertilizer and allows you to see what nutrients are limiting your yield potential. Most tissue tests are around $20.00 per sample, and you can have your results back in a week or less. Learn more about tissue sampling later in this month's newsletter or talk to your local Hefty Seed Company agronomist.

Step Two - Timing. In corn, the final possible time to foliar feed is just before the tassel emerges from the whorl, but you'll need a highboy or airplane to do it. With beans, the best time to foliar feed is just prior to or at bloom. Soybean bloom starts when you see the first flower on the plant and can occur from late June to early July. If foliar applications happen much after 1st bloom, flowers start to abort and yield potential is lost. Other applications can be done at pod initiation and pod fill but are usually not recommended if the first shot is missed.

Step Three - Products. Tissue sample results will determine what you put out for a foliar product. For low phosphorus levels, one to three gallons per acre of 3-18-18 or 9-18-9 works well. One to three gallons per acre of 3-18-18 does a good job on plants deficient in potassium. An inexpensive source of nitrogen is liquid urea at one to two gallons per acre, if your plants lack N. We've had the best success with liquid urea in early August. For micro-nutrient deficiencies we recommend one quart of TJ Micromix per acre. This can be mixed with the above products, but make sure and do a jar test to ensure compatability.

By following these basics, you can be well on your way to improving plant health, as well as yield!