Timely Action Is Critical: Yield loss from nitrogen deficiency occurs before visual symptoms appear—monitor now to act before it’s too late.
West Central Illinois is on track for one of its best corn crops ever—if Mother Nature and nitrogen cooperate. With excellent emergence, strong stands, and timely rainfall, the yield potential is sky-high across the counties surrounding Macomb. However, maintaining this momentum hinges on a critical factor: nitrogen availability.
“From a yield standpoint, our farmers are thinking this is going to be one of the best crops they’ve ever had—if they continue to get rain,” said Bob Ryan of NVision. “But the only thing holding back this crop is if it runs out of fertilizer, or if we don’t protect it from disease.”
The region has experienced multiple saturation events due to heavy rains in May and June, likely leading to significant nitrogen loss through leaching. Fields that were saturated for days may have lost up to 35% of their applied nitrogen. While many growers budget for some nitrogen loss in a typical year, this season’s weather conditions and above-average yield potential may require reassessment.
“In these big rain events, combined with the extra yield potential, they’re probably below their usual nitrogen threshold,” Ryan explained. “They probably need to supplement nitrogen to achieve full yield.”
That’s where tools like NVision in AGMRI come in. The platform helps growers monitor nitrogen levels and other fertility risks proactively—long before visual symptoms appear.
“If you think you can scout for nitrogen loss, by the time you see it visually, it’s already taken yield,” Ryan emphasized. “We need a tool that can catch nitrogen deficiency before the naked eye can see it.”
NVision identifies field-level variability and flags areas that may require supplemental nitrogen—even in fields that look lush and healthy. Many growers are already taking action, flying on 100 pounds of urea to supply an additional 46 units of nitrogen and protect their crop’s potential.
“Our trials, across all my years of testing, showed that when NVision said we needed nitrogen, the average yield increase was 25.5 bushels per acre,” said Ryan. “That’s a pretty good ROI, even at $4 corn.”
Nitrogen management strategies vary—some farmers apply urea aerially, others use high-clearance equipment, irrigation pivots, or emerging foliar technologies. The key is tailoring the approach to your operation and letting data guide your decisions.
“My one takeaway or advice to growers is we have to maximize yields, and the biggest thing that we can control that impacts yields is nitrogen. And, if you’ve got a great stand of corn, please monitor it and feed it what it needs, so that you can maximize your yields, and hopefully your profits, in what I know is a challenging year right now.”
If you’re aiming for top-end yields, now is the time to act. Use NVision to assess your crop’s nitrogen needs, and give your corn every opportunity to reach its full potential.
