AMES, Iowa—Farmers wishing to maximize the profits from their fertilizer dollars will want to attend one of 15 in-person workshops or a virtual workshop hosted by Iowa State University. The workshop series, called Soil Testing Interpretations and Recommendations: Maximizing Return on Investment, will be held in February and March. This series will address the profitable management of soil fertility in Iowa, as conditions continue to change with increased fertilizer input costs and a rising demand for nutrients from higher-yielding crops.

“These workshops will lead farmers through the basics of soil testing, analytical tests, calculating crop nutrient removal, understanding return on investment from fertilizer applications, how crop response correlates to soil test levels and what is known about crop response to micronutrients,” says Josh Michel, field agronomist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

The workshops are designed to help farmers understand their current soil nutrient situation, the amount their crops are using in a growing season and what needs to be added.

“While many decisions have already been made for the 2022 growing season,” said Virgil Schmitt, field agronomist with ISU Extension and Outreach, “fertility decisions will continue to evolve with changes in fertilizer prices and land tenure.”

Workshop details and locations

Workshops will be offered in person and one virtual option will be offered as well.

Space is limited and pre-registration is required. Registration is $40, and includes publications, copies of presentations, and any refreshments or meal (if provided for in-person meetings). Registrants should contact the extension office listed below to register for the workshop they plan attend. Registration fees for in-person workshops may be paid in advance or the day of the program.

In-person workshop dates, times and locations are listed below. Register with the appropriate ISU Extension and Outreach county office.

• Feb. 8, 1-4:30 p.m. at Water’s Edge Nature Center in Algona. Complete the online registration form found on the Kossuth County webpage or call 515-295-2469 to register by Feb. 1.
• Feb. 10, 1-4 p.m. at the Borlaug Learning Center near Nashua. Call Floyd County at 641-228-1453 to register by Feb. 3.
• Feb. 14, 1-4:30 p.m. at the ISU Extension and Outreach Harrison County office. Lunch will be served before the meeting. Call 712-644-2105 to register by Feb. 7.
• Feb. 15, 1-4:30 p.m. at the ISU Extension and Outreach Crawford County office. Lunch will be served before the meeting. Call 712-263-4697 to register by Feb. 8.
• Feb. 16, 1-4:30 p.m. at the American Legion Hall in Coon Rapids. Lunch will be served before the meeting. Call 641-747-2276 to register by Feb.9.
• Feb. 22, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Elkhorn Town Hall. Lunch is included. Call 712-755-3104 to register by Feb. 15.
• Feb. 23, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Grundy Center Community Center. Call 319-824-6979 to register by Feb. 16.
• Feb. 23, 1-4 p.m. at the Lytton Fire Station. Lunch will be served before the meeting. Call 712-297-8611 to register by Feb. 16.
• Feb. 24, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Leonard Goode Community Center in Ogden. Snacks will be provided. Call 515-386-2138 to register by Feb. 17.
• Feb. 24, from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the ISU Extension and Outreach Cedar County office. Lunch is included. Call 563-886-6157 to register by Feb. 17.
• Feb. 25, from 9 a.m. to noon at the ISU Extension and Outreach Black Hawk County office. Call 319-234-6811 to register by Feb. 18.
• Feb. 28, 1-4 p.m. at the ISU Extension and Outreach Fayette County office, 218 South Main Street, Fayette. Register by Feb. 21.
• March 1, in Dyersville, hosted by both Dubuque and Delaware counties. The location will be at FarmTek, located at 1440 18th Ave. SW, Highway 20, Dyersville. Register by Feb. 22.
• March 2, 1-4 p.m. at the library in Riceville. Call 563-547-3001 to register by Feb. 23.
• March 3, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the ISU Extension and Outreach Henry County office. Lunch will be provided. Call 319-385-8126 to register by Feb. 24.
• March 4, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at the ISU Extension and Outreach Wapello County office. Lunch will be provided. Call 641-732-5574 to register by Feb. 25.
• March 17, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the LeMars Convention Center. Lunch will be provided. Call 712-546-7835 to register by March 10.
• March 21, from 1-4 p.m. at the ISU Extension and Outreach Winneshiek County office. This event is co-sponsored by Allamakee/Winneshiek counties. No lunch, but there will be light refreshments. Register by March 14.

A virtual, statewide option is being offered via Zoom as well. This will be offered in a four-part series from Feb. 22-25 each day from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. Registration is $40. To register, contact the ISU Extension and Outreach Kossuth County office at 515-295-2469 or go to https://go.iastate.edu/DJLJVN to register online.

Participants who register and pay the registration fee by Feb. 15 will receive a mailed copy of supporting materials for the program prior to Feb. 22. Participants who register, but whose payment is received after Feb. 15, will receive electronic copies of the supporting materials.

For additional information or if you have questions, contact your local extension field agronomist.

Soil probe in use.

(Contributed press release, ISU Extension and Outreach)