FS MiField® Trial Results in a Yield Increase Up to 8.3 B/A

Corn growers are constantly in search of higher yields. They look for an edge – an input – that will help them maximize yield each year.

Starter fertilizer is often that tool to give your corn an early kickstart for higher yields at harvest. Placed near the seed at planting, starters enhance seed development by supplying young root systems with essential nutrients to promote early growth. Starters are particularly beneficial when planting seed in cold, wet soils.

“Four-year trending data, from FS MiField Applied Research trials, continues to demonstrate the value of starters. The results from the aggregated data showed that fields treated with starters outyielded untreated fields by an average of 4.29 b/a.” said Brendan Bachman, Sr. Agronomy and Technology Manager at GROWMARK.

In a previous MiField® focus trial conducted in Fulton County Illinois, yields were even higher when applying InVigoron® starter fertilizer from FS. A 5 gl/a rate of InVigoron helped boost corn yields by 8.3 b/a over untreated acres. Even a lower starter rate of 3 gl/a increased yield by 5.4 b/a.

If you are considering using a starter this season to give your seed a kickstart, your local FS Crop Specialist is your best resource. They will:

• Evaluate your soil profile to determine if a starter makes sense for your fields
• Which of the two most common types, ortho or poly phosphate will be most effective
• select the right starter blend, rate, time and placement
• your ROI on this investment

To help you evaluate the value of applying a starter fertilizer to your seed this year, contact your local FS Crop Specialist. And click here to learn about the newest trial results, the 2019 MiField Trial Report. These results, compiled from over 1,400 side-by-side on-farm trials, test agronomic practices to learn which practices can improve yield and profitability for your farm.