For many years, soil fertility and fertilizer use trials have been conducted at many locations throughout Minnesota. Cooperation of many crop producers in letting us use small parts of their fields has been a key to successful completion of these studies. The situation has not changed for 2006. Several trials are planned and locations are needed. Some specifics for the various trials are described below.

Coating Corn Seed With Zinc: One location where the soil test for zinc is less than 0.7 ppm. Cooperating farmer will not be planting the test plots. Herbicide and fertilizer programs will be arranged. Size requirement is approximately one acre.

Near Seed Placement of Fertilizer for Corn and Soybeans: Two sites for corn and one site for soybeans are needed. For corn, one site should have a loamy sand or sandy loam texture. The other site should have a silt loam or silty clay loam texture. For the site to be planted to soybeans, the soil should have a silt loam or silty clay loam texture. Sites chosen should have high soil test values for P and K. Cooperating farmer will not be planting the test plots. Herbicide and fertilizer program will be arranged. Size requirement for each site is approximately 1.25 acres.

Competition Crops and Iron Deficiency Chlorosis: Seeking a site that will be planted to soybeans where Iron Deficiency Chlorosis is a problem when soybeans are planted. Cooperating farmer will not be planting the test plots. Size requirement will be 1 to 1.25 acres.

Seed Placed Iron and Iron Deficiency Chlorosis: Seeking a site that will be planted to soybeans where Iron Deficiency Chlorosis is a problem. The cooperating farmer will not plant the test plots. Fertilizer and herbicide application will be arranged. Area needed will be approximately 1 acre.

In general, arrangements with the cooperating farmers are not complicated. We ask that the cooperating farmer do the necessary tillage. We apply the fertilizer, the various treatments, and appropriate herbicides. The grain produced usually goes to the cooperating farmer. Because of the high price of gas, we seek sites that are reasonably close to the Twin Cities.

Please contact me if you know of sites that could be used for these various trials. I can be reached at:
(612) 625-6210 (office)
(507) 263-9127 (home) or
rehmx001@umn.edu