In an irrigated corn trial conducted in Benzie county, Michigan in 2022, adding Accomplish MAX to the grower's standard practice (GSP) starter fertilizer led to impressive yield results. 

Accomplish MAX was added to the GSP starter fertilizer at two different rates (1 pint/acre and 1 quart/acre, the recommended rate) and then compared to the GSP alone. The GSP 2x2 starter fertilizer blend consisted of UAN 28% (7.5 gal/acre), ammonium thiosulfate (ATS, 3 gal/acre), 10-34-0 (7.25 gal/acre), and Pro Zinc 10+ (0.25 gal/acre). The grower's fertility program also included a dry fertilizer broadcast application of 46-0-0 (300 lbs/acre) plus 0-0-60 (100 lbs/acre) applied over corn stubble. The field was no-till, corn on corn.

Adding Accomplish MAX at either rate provided both a yield advantage and a return on investment (ROI) for the grower.

Accomplish MAX, a next-generation biocatalyst that provides nutrient efficiency and crop stress tolerance benefits, is now available from Loveland Products through Nutrien Ag Solutions retail locations. It is designed for use with in-furrow starters, 2x2 placement of liquid fertilizers, and liquid sidedress applications.

Accomplish MAX is a proprietary combination of proven Accomplish biocatalyst technology, which growers have used for over a decade to improve nutrient mineralization and uptake on millions of acres across the United States, and cutting-edge kelp technology designed to enhance crop tolerance to abiotic stressors such as cold temperatures, drought and fertilizer salts. 

Key benefits of Accomplish MAX:

• Increases nutrient availability and uptake by mineralizing nutrients in the soil
• Improves plant tolerance to abiotic stresses such as cold temperatures and salinity from commercial fertilizers
• Enhances overall plant performance to help growers reach their yield potential

Fifth-generation farmer, Dave Kolb, of Kolb Farms near Paynesville, Minnesota, is one of 11 children who grew up working on a dairy farm with his siblings and parents. The Kolbs have been in this area since their ancestors arrived to homestead in 1861.

Today, Dave farms and dairies with three of his brothers and his mother. They employ a corn, oat, alfalfa and wheat rotation to produce forage and grain for the 500 cows that they milk. They also raise their own replacement heifers. It is a very busy operation, but Dave and his family members have seen their hard work pay off, including as entrants in the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) Corn Yield Contest.

By Steve Sexton & Brian Cornelious, PhD, Agricen

One of the pillars of the 4R approach to plant nutrition is applying fertilizer in the “Right Place.” This concept has opened the door for researchers and producers alike to examine practices that place small quantities of nutrients in a concentrated zone close to the point of seed placement. The use of starter fertilizer, which is aimed at getting plant nutrients in the “right place,” is becoming a common practice in some parts of the country. Here we look at starter fertilizer programs for corn from a nutrient efficiency perspective.

A standard starter program in the U.S. Corn Belt is 5 gallons of ammonium polyphosphate (APP; 10-34-0) plus 1 quart of zinc. 10-34-0 is a common polyphosphate fertilizer that must be converted into a plant-available form, called orthophosphate, prior to plant uptake and utilization. In fact, most starter fertilizers are primarily composed of the polyphosphate form of phosphorus.

Seeing is believing. These corn plants in Central Indiana show an increase in plant growth and root mass where Accomplish LM is included in the grower's starter fertilizer program. 

For growers who are applying a starter fertilizer this season, adding a fertilizer biocatalyst like Accomplish LM can be an excellent way to enhance a starter application and set the stage for a great yield.

Accomplish LM speeds nutrient mineralization to get nutrients in the right form for plant uptake, while also improving the root systems of young seedlings to facilitate nutrient and water uptake. In these Nebraska and South Dakota trials (below), adding Accomplish LM to starter fertilizer increased corn yields by 8 to 10 bushels per acre. 

By Jeremiah Butler

As we enter planting time and growers make final decisions for the coming crop year, many growers will consider using in-furrow products. There are several reasons why they should research and consider in-furrow applications.  

Many of you have heard Dr. Fred Below of the University of Illinois talk about his “Seven Wonders of the Corn Yield World.” As we look at the factors below, we can see that there is no silver bullet. Attaining a high yield truly takes a systems approach!

By Steve Sexton & Brian Cornelious, PhD, Agricen

Growers use starter fertilizers to try to get plant nutrients in the right place at the right time for early plant growth. By applying small quantities of nutrients close to the seed in starter programs, growers can usually get their crops off to a good start—an advantage they can often maintain during the growing season. However, as with any fertilizer program, making sure that applied nutrients in a starter program are in a plant-available form right when the crop needs them most can be a challenge. How can growers improve the efficiency of their starter programs and realize the payoff of higher yields in the process?

Growers know that uniform corn emergence is a must for achieving great yields. Recent research shows that a delay in emergence of just 12 to 14 hours can affect yield potential.

In side by side field trials at three different locations led by North Carolina State University cropping systems specialist Dr. Ron Heiniger, an in-furrow application of Accomplish LM promoted uniform corn emergence, increased row and kernel number, and increased ear weight by 1/8 lb compared to check (10-27-0 applied in a 2x2 band). Uniform emergence was associated with higher yields: Accomplish LM increased the average yield by +11.5 bushels per acre.

Accomplish LM is a fantastic tool for soybean growers who want to boost plant performance. 

Recent harvest data from Nebraska show impressive results when Accomplish LM is used on soybeans in-furrow as a starter, with a 13.8 bu/acre soybean yield increase compared to untreated acres.