Grandma Said: You Get What You Pay For
A couple of years ago, a Growers Mineral, Corp. customer bought a used planter to replace an aging piece of iron in their farm operation. When the planter was purchased new, it had a liquid 2x2 fertilizer placement kit added to the planter. After a few years of usage, the farmer added an in-furrow fertilizer attachment to the planter. The 2x2 fertilizer system and the in-furrow fertilizer system were kept separate so different fertilizers could be applied with the planter.
After the Growers customers purchased the planter, they combined the 2x2 and in-furrow systems because they were using GMS at both positions. Incidentally, they used different rates at the 2 positions and controlled the rate of application by varying the size of orifice at each position. Only one piston pump was used to distribute the GMS and water mixture.
The first year of planting with the new planter proved to be quite an experience for the operation. The planter itself worked very well in all aspects of seed handling, but the big problem was getting the proper volume of fertilizer applied to the soil. All the data furnished by the planter manufacturer or orifice manufacturer did not result in an accurate volume delivered to the soil. It was very apparent that the furnished numbers for application pressure were too low. Therefore, the farmers continued to increase application pressure until the necessary volume could be reached. The next season of planting at the higher pressures started to split hoses and uncouple hose clamps to the extent that the farmers decided to check the inside of the fertilizer system before the following planting season.
Picture 1 with this article shows what the problem was with having to increase the pump pressure in order to achieve correct applied volumes. The previous planter owner had always said that the price of fertilizer rules on his farm.
Since 1955, Growers Mineral, Corp., has told farmers that a true solution fertilizer will not segregate the fertilizer minerals out of the water so that uniformity is compromised as shown in the picture. Manufacturing method (hot mix), clean minerals (technical grade ingredients), and right rates (correct nutrient balance) are the key to manufacturing a true solution fertilizer that will not segregate even many years after being manufactured.
Over the years, Growers has heard the price discussion, but test plots and the ease and simplicity of handling has always backed what Grandma said: "You get what you pay for.”
This is an excerpt from the Early Fall Growers Solution (2024) written by Jim Halbeisen, Director of Research & Education.
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