Grower Profile

A lifetime of farming has taught middle Tennessee native, Corey Trout, in crop production the latest nutrient management tools and techniques are as important for a 187-acre farm, as they are for any size operation. AVAIL^® Phosphorus Fertilizer Enhancer and NutriSphere-N^® Nitrogen Fertilizer Manager have proven key in the success of his operation by improving the efficiency of his nutrient management practices.

The Right Mix
Trout purchases the majority of his fertilizer from Rutherford Farmers Co-op in Eagleville, Tenn., and he applies all fertilizer himself. In 2009, he began incorporating Season Pass^® with AVAIL^® into his starter fertilizer program, supplied by Southern States Cooperative in Franklin, Ky. Trout shares his standard fertilization protocol below:

Alfalfa

Nutrient mix:
• Spring broadcast 100 lbs. per acre of 18-46-0 + AVAIL
• 200 lbs. per acre of 0-0-60
• Additional boron (B) and zinc (Zn)

Grass Hay/ Wheat Hay

Nutrient mix:
• Spring-applied; broadcast
• 90 lbs. per acre of 46-0-0 + NutriSphere-N
• 166 lbs. per acre of 18-46-0 + AVAIL
• 180 lbs. per acre of 0-0-60
• Additional boron (B), zinc (Zn) and sulfur (S) – rate varies per soil test results

Corn

Nutrient mix:
• 2x2 band – 47 lbs. per acre of 46-0-0 + NutriSphere-N
• 100 lbs. per acre of 18-46-0 + AVAIL
• 200 lbs. per acre of 0-0-60

In-furrow:
• Dribble 5 gal. per acre of Season Pass + AVAIL

Micronutrients:
• Foliar feed blended micronutrients

Sidedress:
• 90 units of 46-0-0 +NutriSphere-N

Test for Success
Trout explains that prior to 2007, his soils tested high in phosphate levels, but plant tissue samples showed otherwise.

"We weren’t getting enough phosphorus in the plant. We began looking for answers and that’s when we discovered AVAIL” says Trout. “Since we started adding AVAIL to our phosphorus fertilizer, tissue and soil samples are showing more phosphate uptake in the plant, even after we reduced the rate of phosphate fertilizer we’re applying.”

As maintenance, Trout tests soil nutrient levels every other year. Also, he soil tests prior to sowing a new grass or alfalfa stand.

Seeing is Believing
Positive, first-hand field results have made Trout a loyal AVAIL and NutriSphere-N user.

“We used to cut 26 inches of alfalfa every 30 to 32 days – now, with the AVAIL technology, we can cut 32 inches of alfalfa every 26 days,” says Trout. “We’ve experienced better leaf retention and disease seems to be a lot less severe.”

“With NutriSphere-N we’ve experienced better yields using less nitrogen fertilizer. For corn, I sidedress urea treated with NutriSphere-N; our nitrogen is continuously protected,” says Trout. “It’s usable through ear-fill, something we’ve never experienced using an ammonia-type product. We can give corn that last 30-day punch to really fill those ears out.”

Weathering the Weather
Producing a quality crop under extreme weather challenges is an annual occurrence for Trout.

“In this part of the country, it’s tough to predict what Mother Nature has in store for us. Anything we can do to protect our fertilizer investment is worth investigating,” says Trout. “Our corn crop has a higher drought tolerance due to better root penetration from using AVAIL. And, under hot, humid conditions, NutriSphere-N reduces nitrogen volatilization.”

No Pain No Grain
Trout reminds growers incorporating new products and techniques as part of a sound nutrient management program, is a practice that benefits all farming operations regardless of size.

“Yield speaks just as loud in a 10 acre field as it does in a field with a thousand acres.”

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