Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

Training & Reporting: during 2024, our committee was able to get Sara Delheimer to provide training on writing NIMSS Reports, focusing on reporting impacts effectively for multistate projects. Our committee emphasized updating and keeping the compendium active and highlighting accomplishments and impacts in state reports.

Status of Committee objectives & activities: Field testing of non-traditional fertilizers and soil amendments continues by committee members but is largely dependent on funding. The objective of maintaining a public-access research website is currently done well. The committee discussed the need for a "common project" to increase group collaboration, particularly of interest to multiple new members who joined the committee in the last two years.

Website & Communication (https://ncera103.org): The committee discussed the need to continuously improve website traffic and effectiveness. Specifically, transitioning documents to HTML, with PDFs available for printing. Suggestions to include the website link (or QR code) in reports for greater visibility with the use.

Publications & Research: Dan Kaiser (MN) started a publication on P solubilizers; the committee discussed continuing this work. Brady Goettl (ND) also started a publication on guidelines for on-farm testing of non-traditional products.

Previous publications by the committee may also need updates and revisions to include new members; some of these publications are: soil-wetting products, biologicals, and low-volume fertilizers.

Standard protocols for testing products and regional research were discussed, and potential funding sources were identified.

Funding Opportunities: several options were discussed, including the FFAR Enhanced Efficiency Fertilizers (EEFs), where our committee can emphasize multistate research collaborations. John Jones (IL) and Dan Kaiser (MN) will coordinate the pre-proposal.

Committee member updates:

Changes during 2024:

• Iowa: Richard Roth is the new representative from Iowa.
• Illinois: Emerson was replaced by Giovani Preza.
• North Dakota: Franzen was replaced by Brady Goettl.
• Ohio: Ed Lentz replaced by Manbir Rakkar.
• Indiana: Jim Camberato was temporarily replaced by Dan Quinn.
• Wisconsin: Natasha Rayne is the new representative.

 Action Items:

• Update state contacts and consider committee contributions for upcoming reports.
• Increase website visibility and finalize publications.
• Explore funding options and prepare proposals for multistate research projects.

Leadership Roles: Kansas is the current chair, and Kentucky holds the secretary position for 2024, changing to Kentucky (chair) and Michigan (secretary) for 2025 and 2026.

Fertilizers and soil amendments are essential for crop production in the USA and globally. While traditional products have a proven track record of effectiveness, the agricultural market is increasingly inundated with non-traditional products. Many of these new products lack adequate scientific validation and are often marketed based on theoretical claims without empirical evidence.

The NCERA 103 committee has proactively addressed this issue by rigorously evaluating non-traditional agricultural products. Committee members have coordinated research efforts across states to ensure robust, regionally representative data by utilizing statistically valid field research. The committee has launched an independently hosted website with improved accessibility for disseminating findings. Additionally, discussions have been initiated to develop a practical guide on conducting on-farm research, which will be published on the website. State-specific extension programs and regionally tailored educational materials have been delivered to support farmers and agronomists in the North Central region.

Through these initiatives, the NCERA 103 committee has provided field research evidence supporting the performance of various non-traditional products across the NC region. For example, a recent publication on the use of biologicals in crop production and the newly launched website have enhanced access to critical information for farmers. At the same time, the annual meetings continue to foster collaboration and knowledge sharing among participating members. Thousands of farmers and agronomists have been reached through extension programs and educational materials with the combined efforts of the committee members.

D.A Ruiz Diaz. 2024. Soil Test Interpretations and Fertilizer Recommendations in Kansas. Kansas State University. MF2586.

Holman, J.D., Ruiz Diaz, D.A., Obour, A.K. and Assefa, Y., 2024. Nitrogen fertilizer source, rate, placement, and application timing effect on sorghum (grain and forage) and corn grain yields. Agrosystems, Geosciences & Environment, 7(1), p.e20469.

Pires, C. B., Krupek, F. S., Carmona, G. I., Ortez, O. A., Thompson, L., Quinn, D. J.,Ruiz Diaz and Ciampitti. 2024. Perspective of US farmers on collaborative on‐farm agronomic research. Agronomy Journal.https://doi.org/10.1002/agj2.21560

Massigoge, I., Baral, R., Cominelli, S., Denson, E., Helguera, P.G., Guareschi, C., Simão, L.M., Rud, J.P., Pires, C.B., Dille, J.A. and Ruiz Diaz. 2024. Exploring alternative crop rotations to continuous winter wheat for agricultural intensification in the US central great plains. Agricultural Systems, 216, p.103879.

Kaiser, D., Mallarino, A.P., Jones, J. and RUiz Diaz, D., 2024. Phosphorus fertilizer guidelines: Four Midwest experts talk profit, yield, soil tests & more.

Simao, L.M., Cruppe, G., Michau, J.P., Schillinger, W.F., Ruiz Diaz, D.A., Dille, A.J., Rice, C.W. and Lollato, R.P., 2024. Beyond grain: Agronomic, ecological, and economic benefits of diversifying crop rotations with wheat. Advances in Agronomy, 186, p.51.

Dave Franzen, North Dakota State University and members of the NCERA-103 committee, James Camberato, Emerson Nafziger, Daniel Kaiser, Kelly Nelson/Gurbir Singh, Dorivar Ruiz-Diaz, Ed Lentz, Kurt Steinke, John Grove/Edwin Ritchey, Leandro Bortolon, Carl Rosen, Bijesh Maharjan/Laura Thompson. 2023. Performance of Selected Commercially Available Asymbiotic N-fixing Products in the North Central Region. https://www.ndsu.edu/fileadmin/snrs/Files/SF2080_Performance_of_Selected_N-fixing_Products.pdf

D.W. Franzen, and NCERA-103 Committee. 2022. Nitrogen Extenders and Additives for field crops. North Dakota State University. SF1581

A joint Indiana (Purdue) and Michigan (Michigan State University) sulfur publication on "Sulfur deficiency in corn, soybean, wheat, and alfalfa was released and can be found at: https://www.canr.msu.edu/soilfertility/Files/Bulletins/Sulfur%20Deficiency%20in%20Corn,%20Soybean,%20Wheat,%20and%20Alfalfa.pdf

A complete production guide for soft winter wheat including nutrient management strategies "Michigan Wheat 101" can be found at: https://www.canr.msu.edu/soilfertility/Files/Bulletins/Wheat-101%20MSU%202021.pdf

Metiva, M., E. Bunting, K. Steinke, and Z. Hayden. Topdress strategies and remote sensing for nitrogen management in processing carrots. Agron. J. (Accepted Oct. 2022). https://doi.org/10.1002/agj2.21257

Purucker, S., and K. Steinke. Sugarbeet response to plant population, nitrogen rate, row spacing, and starter fertilizer strategies. J. of Sugarbeet Res. (Accepted Aug. 2022). DOI: 10.5274/jsbr.59.1.23

Breunig, M., M. Nagelkirk, A. Byrne, J. Wilbur, K. Steinke, and M. Chilvers. 2022. Meta-analysis of yield response to applications of fungicides made at different crop growth stages in Michigan winter wheat. Plant Health Prog. 23:300-307. doi.org/10.1094/PHP-09-21-0118-RS.

Rutan, J., N. Rosenzweig, and K. Steinke. 2022. Soil bacterical community composition following cover crops and corn nitrogen management. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 86:51-64. doi: 10.1002/saj2.20336.

Spring urea causing sugar beet stand loss: What you need to know (https://blog-crop-news.extension.umn.edu/2021/02/spring-urea-causing-sugar-beet-stand.html)

University of MN Nutrient Management Podcast: Fall fertilizer outlook: What to know about prices, inhibitors, biologicals & more (https://blog-crop-news.extension.umn.edu/2022/07/annual-fall-fertilizer-outlook.html)

University of MN Nutrient Management Podcast: What's new on the topic of biostimulants? (https://blog-crop-news.extension.umn.edu/2022/12/whats-new-on-topic-of-biostimulants.html

Fleuridor, L., Fulford, A., Lindsey, L.E., Lentz  E., Watters, H., Dorrance, A., Minyo, R.,  Richer, E., Chaganti, V., Kumaran, S.,  & Culman, S.W. 2022. Ohio Grain Crop Response to Sulfur Fertilization. Agronomy Journal (In Review)

Ritchey, E.L., C.D. Teutsch, J.H. Grove, and J.M. McGrath. 2022. Calcium or Lime? Which Raises Soil pH?. University of Kentucky Corn and Soybean Newsletter Issue 4 Volume 2:4-6.

Ritchey, E.L. C.D. Teutsch, and J.H. Grove. 2022. Calcium or Lime? Which Raises Soil pH? A Follow Up. University of Kentucky Corn and Soybean Newsletter Issue 4 Volume 10:1-3. 

Nafziger, E, J Sawyer, C Laboski, & D Franzen (2022) The MRTN approach to making nitrogen recommendations: background and implementation. Crops & Soils 55 (2):4-11. https://doi.org/10.1002/crso.20180

Bean, G. M., Ransom, C. J., Kitchen, N. R., Scharf, P. C., Veum, K. S., Camberato, J. J., Ferguson, R. B., Fernandez, F. G., Franzen, D. W., Laboski, C. A. M., Nafziger, E. D., Sawyer, J. E., & Nielsen, R. L. 2021. Soil hydrologic grouping guide which soil and weather properties best estimate corn nitrogen need. Agronomy Journal. 113: 5541– 5555. https://doi.org/10.1002/agj2.20888  

Belknap, R.A., K.A. Nelson, and G. Singh 2022.  Long-term reduced tillage and no-till cropping systems affect claypan soil properties and soybean cyst nematode. Agron. J. 114:2947-2955. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/agj2.21140.

Dhakal, D., Z.L. Erwin, and K.A. Nelson. 2022. Grazing cover crops in a no-till corn and soybean rotation. Agron. J. 114:1255-1268. doi: 10.1002/agj2.20999.

Li, D., Miao, Y., Ransom, C.J., Bean, G.M., Kitchen, N.R., Fernandez, F.G., Sawyer, J.E., Camberato, J.J., Carter, P., Ferguson, R.B., Franzen, D.W., Laboski, C.A., Nafziger, E.D., Shanahan, J. 2022. Corn nitrogen nutrition index prediction improved by integrating genetic, environmental, and management factors with active canopy sensing using machine learning. Remote Sensing. 14(2):394. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs14020394

Kitchen, N.R., Ransom, C.J., Schepers, J.S., Hatfield, J.L., Massey, R., & Drummond, S.T. 2022. A new perspective when examining maize fertilizer nitrogen use efficiency, incrementally. PLoS ONE 17(5): e0267215.  https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0267215  

Nelson, K.A., R.A. Belknap, D. Brake, and G. Singh.  2022.  Broadcast overseed timing of ryegrass and cereal rye in soybean affects rotational crops in upstate Missouri. Crop, Forage, & Turfgrass Manage. 8, e20184. https://doi.org10.1002/cft2.20184.

Ransom, C.J., Clark, J., Bean, G.M., Bandura, C., Schafer, M., Kitchen, N.R., Camberato, J.J., Ferguson, R.B., Fernandez, F.G., Franzen, D.W. 2021. Data from a public–industry partnership for enhancing corn nitrogen research. Agronomy Journal. https://doi.org/10.1002/agj2.20812  

Svedin, J., Kitchen, N. R., Ransom, C. J., Veum, K. S., & Myers, R. L. 2022. A tale of two fields: Management legacy, soil health, and productivity. Agricultural & Environmental Letters, 7, e20090. https://doi.org/10.1002/ael2.20090

Svedin, J. D., Kitchen, N. R, Ransom, C. J., Veum, K. S., & Anderson, S. H. 2022. Can soil biology tests improve phosphorus and potassium corn fertilizer recommendations? Agronomy Journal, 114, 3457– 3472. https://doi.org/10.1002/agj2.21180