It’s basic math, applied to chemistry. Crops use nutrients, absorbing them to fuel their growth. When crops are harvested, these nutrients are harvested as well, leaving behind soil that has been depleted by its effort to feed the plants. To maintain soil productivity, these nutrients must be replaced to allow for a robust growing cycle the following year.
For most farmers, commercial fertilizers are applied to nourish the soil, returning the nutrients that next year’s crop will require. Whether synthetic or natural, fertilizers promote plant growth and boost yield, using the same nutrients that are naturally found in soil in a form that plants can digest; potassium, nitrogen, phosphorus and sulphur. Without this boost, rebuilding soil fertility to a level that enables it to support a good crop could take years.
For thirty years, Denis Drinkwalter has operated Cavan Agri Services, providing fertilizer, seed, crop protection tools and custom applications of these products for farmers in the area. With a full time staff of eight and more during the planting season, this independent operator has served several generations of farmers within a forty mile radius of their plant on County Rd. 10. Staff spend the off-season getting their equipment ready for spring, tuning up their fleet of nine trucks and two terragators. When the season starts, staff are advising customers on soil conditions and remedies, as well as delivering and applying product.
It’s not a one-size-fits-all kind of business, particularly when it comes to fertilizer. The nutritional needs of each field can vary significantly, based on soil type, crop rotation history, crop selection and other site-specific factors. Fertilizers suppliers like Cavan Agri Services blend nutrients into precise combinations to match the unique needs of different crops and fields, and start the process with soil samples to identify the nutritional deficiencies in each location. Because fertilizer is an expensive input in a low margin business, farmers are careful to select the optimum blend of nutrients in the most efficient amounts to achieve their objectives. In addition to having the right blend of nutrients, staff also advise customers about optimal placement and application techniques to ensure the nutrients are available to the crops.
Seed sales are relatively stable, as most farmers follow a regular crop rotation rather than chase higher prices in specific crops.
Over the years, Drinkwalter sees fewer farmers operating larger farms. This trend concentrates the risk for his business as larger accounts means the firm has more eggs in fewer baskets. Less than half of his customers have adopted some of the modern precision agriculture techniques, as these tools are expensive and sophisticated. Certified Crop Advisor Adam Shea has recently joined his staff, deepening his pool of expertise in crop input advice. All staff are well versed in the 4R principles of nutrient management, which means the right fertilizer at the right rate at the right time and at the right place. Poorly managed fertilizer applications can hurt not only the farmer’s bottom line, but can make their way into water and air, damaging the reputation of the entire industry.
Drinkwalter and his staff are gearing up for next week’s East Central Farm Show in Lindsay, where plans for the upcoming planting season will begin in earnest. It’s been a long, hard winter, and while the weather is not conducive to farmers getting out on the land, it certainly won’t prevent them from getting out to the farm show! KG
