2009 Fluid Forum - Shifting Paradigms in Evaluating Plant Nutrition

The Fluid Fertilizer Foundation held their annual Fluid Forum on February 16-17, 2009 in Scottsdale, Arizona. The first half of the program focused on the overall theme of the meeting - “Shifting Paradigms in Evaluating Plant Nutrition”. A common thread of the presentations was that increasing productivity (yields) of our agricultural production systems may require a different approach to developing efficient fertility programs than we may have used in the past. Dr. Terry Kastens focused his comments on how crop input costs and crop prices have become much more volatile in recent years and how this volatility may impact management decisions in the past. Dr. Randy Brown then focused on how crop advisors help farmers develop nutrient management plans in a time of record crop/fertilizer price volatility. Both of these topics are of vital importance for the upcoming crop year.

Several speakers then visited on how we might adopt new information and technology to move crop production further up the yield curve and why we may need to update our approaches to crop nutrition. Dr. Dale Blevins and Dr. Derrick both explored foliar crop nutrition and it’s potentially more important role in efficient future agricultural systems. Dr. Patrick Brown then focused his comments on why we need to move away from using average field values for developing crop nutrition systems in the future – and instead utilize measured crop and soil variability/distribution in developing overall field level nutrient management plans. Matt Wiebers then followed up with how his company uses new GPS/GIS technology and variable rate equipment for conducting larger scale,  on-farm, replicated research studies to evaluate new practices and products.

The remainder of the program consisted of 14 presentations updating the attendees on the various research projects supported by the Fluid Fertilizer Foundation. These research projects cover crops ranging from corn to soybeans to vegetable crops and wheat. Geographically, the research project presentations included Australia (2), Argentina (1), Canada (2) and many states in the United States.
Additionally, several awards were presented at this annual event. Dr. Paul Fixen, the International Plant Nutrition Institute, was awarded the FFF Werner Nelson Award. This award recognizes individuals who has been closely associated with the fertilizer industry in promoting sound fertility programs and has made other substantial contributions via research, development of recommendations and/or written materials.

Dr. Mike McLaughlin, the University of Adelaide - Australia, was presented the FFF Researcher of the Year Award. This award recognizes long-term excellence for crop nutrition related research contributions that improve crop production profitability and sustainability utilizing fluid fertilizers.
Finally, several long time FFF members were recognized by being named FFF Fellows. The Fluid Fertilizer Fellows Award was established in 2002 in order to recognize individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the fluid fertilizer industry. Honored with a FFF Fellow Award were Ken Washburn, Kim Polizotto, Harold Reetz, Raun Lohry Nyle Wollenhaupt.

Dates for the 2010 Fluid Forum are February 14-16, 2010 in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Past Headline News: 1 - Fertilizer & Crop Prices
Past Headline News: 2 - Fluid Technology Workshop
Past Headline News: 3 - Shifting Paradigms in Evaluating Plant Nutrition
Past Headline News: 4 - Fluid Fertilizer Compatibility Chart
Past Headline News: 5 - Pushing The Yield Barrier
Past Headline News: 6 - '11 Fluid Forum – The Need For Intensified Cropping
Past Headline News: 7 - 2012 Fluid Forum