Production Pointers
May 10, 2013 – Fertilizing forage. Across the northeast, more than five million acres of land produces mixed hay from forage crops other than alfalfa. The hay crop is often undervalued, and therefore much of this land receives little attention to its fertility needs. The lost profit opportunity ow
Crop Nutrient Balances
The crop nutrient balance--the comparison of nutrients applied in relation those removed by crops--is an important indicator of the sustainability performance of crop production. Deficits in the nutrient balance can limit crop yields and deplete soil fertility, and surpluses can cause economic waste
Regional Update
Winter precipitation is up compared to the past two years here in Guelph, Ontario, and it seems much of the Northeast has seen a good deal of snow and rain in the past few months. Following up on a dry year, what does this mean for nutrient availability in the soil for the coming season? First, nit
Regional Profile
The region has many areas with a large ratio of livestock to cropland area, leading to challenges of localized nutrient surpluses associated with managing manure as a source of plant nutrients. In addition to the crops listed above, there are many areas of fruit and vegetable production, both in field and in greenhouses, and both for fresh market and for processing. Potatoes comprise a substantial proportion of crop production in Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick and Maine. Population density is high; land development is taking land from agriculture and impinging upon agricultural activities. Turfgrasses for residential lawns, recreational parks and golf courses occupy a substantial area of land and vary widely in intensity of nutrient use.
Regional Director
Tom Bruulsema
Director
Tom Bruulsema directs research and education programs in the Northeast region for the North American program of the International Plant Nutrition Institute, a not-for-profit, scientific organization dedicated to the responsible management of plant nutrition. Dr. Bruulsema is a Fellow in the Canadian Society of Agronomy, the American Society of Agronomy and the Soil Science Society of America, and a Certified Crop Adviser. He has research experience in soil science with Cornell University and the University of Minnesota, and in Bangladesh agronomy with the Mennonite Central Committee.
