What's the yield-limiting factor on your farm? Chances are, you're doing a great job with the major fertilizer items (N, P, & K), but have you considered micronutrients as a factor that's holding you back?

The key micronutrients that our crops need include manganese, iron, copper, boron, and zinc. They are called MICROnutrients because plants only need a small amount compared to the MACROnutrients like N, P, & K. However, these micronutrients are still crucial for your crops. They are typically catalysts for a plant to produce higher quality and higher yields. Take for example manganese. Manganese helps convert oxygen in the leaves, which directly affects chlorophyll production.

Since we believe micronutrient deficiencies are a huge problem on farms throughout the region, we pulled corn tissue samples last summer on 650 farms through the Micro Challenge. The results may surprise you. Here are the number (and percentage) of samples that tested low or deficient.

After seeing all the micronutrient problems we have, our recommendation is to apply some micros on your farm at planting time. However, when you do, you may have problems with mixing or with nutrient availability. Since micronutrients are needed at such low rates, the BALANCE of nutrients becomes extremely critical. For example, if you apply too much zinc, then you can limit copper uptake in the plant, and vice versa. That's why we prefer blended products that are correctly balanced. For example, with TJ MicroMix Corn formulation, the proper amounts of chelated micronutrients are included in the package and linked together through a chain technology. That way when your plant pulls in one micronutrient, it pulls them ALL in at the right ratio.

If you don't think you have a micronutrient problem, pull some tissue samples yourself this summer. If you're like 98.4% of others out there, based on our results from 2004, one or more micronutrients are limiting your yields. With the solution as cheap as it is, don't let the micros stand in your way to great yields, high quality, and most importantly, profitability!