Grower Profile

Over the last four decades, Randy Byro has been perfecting the art of growing corn and soybeans at Byro + Byro Farms, in Sibley County, Minn. Right out of college, Byro began developing the right fertility mix to fit his 2,600 acre operation, experimenting with new products to help him take the family farm to the next level.

The right recipe

Byro’s typical fertilizer practice over the course of a growing season is as follows:

Fall:       Byro applies two-thirds of his fertilizer in the fall. He puts down 150 pounds-per-acre of phosphorus (P) and 150 pounds-per-acre of potassium (K) plus sulfur and zinc.     

Spring: He applies the final third of his P and K with sulfur and zinc in the spring. Byro uses 10-34-0 with AVAIL® Phosphorus Fertilizer Enhancer at a rate of seven gallons-per-acre and applies anhydrous ammonia for his corn.

Doing the math

At the end of the day, numbers don’t lie. Byro’s goal always has been to continue increasing crop yields. His local fertilizer dealer recommended adding AVAIL to his starter to increase P availability for plant uptake, enhancing overall plant health and yield. Byro decided to put AVAIL to the test and noticed a six to eight bushel advantage over untreated acres by mixing AVAIL with his starter fertilizer.  

Byro says, “Our corn stays greener longer, especially in drought conditions. Ear retention appears to be much better too.”

The ultimate goal

Byro says he’s passionate about farming, the lifestyle he’s able to lead and enjoys learning about all of the new technologies available to farmers today. He personally strives to make sure he leaves the land in better condition than those before him.

Along with that, Byro offers a little advice to fellow growers across the country. “Be sure not to short your fertility program and don’t be afraid to try new products. They may be just what you need to take your operation to new heights.”