John Christian Fertilizer Values Serving a diverse clientele in - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

John Christian Fertilizer Values

• Serving a diverse clientele in production agriculture – Commercial Fertilizer – Seed – Crop protection products – Custom Application – Soil Testing / Information Management – Manure Management

Caledonia, MI

East Saugatuck, MI

Bangor, MI

West Olive, MI

Commercial fertilizer prices determines value of other nutrient sources. • Nitrogen – Urea $440.00 / Ton $.478 / # of N – 28% $260.00 / Ton $.464 / # of N – Ammonium Sulfate $280 / Ton $.667 / # of N $.311 / # of total nutrients

Phosphorus is center of attention • Phosphorus – MAP $575 / Ton $.553 / # of P2O5 $.456 / # of total nutrients – 10 ‐ 34 ‐ 0 $435 / Ton $.64 / # of P2O5 $.494 / # of total nutrients – 5 ‐ 13 ‐ 8 $825 / Ton$3.17 / # of P2O5 $1.59 / # of total nutrients

Recent pricing has reduced usage • Potassium – Potash $485 / Ton $.391 / # of K2O – Potassium Sulfate $770 / Ton $.77 / # of K2O $.575 / # of total nutrients • Sulfur – 90% Sulfur $375 / Ton $.21 / # of S

Calcium / Magnesium • Hi Calcium Ag Lime $30.00 / Ton – $.07 / lb of Calcium – $.13 / lb of Magnesium (.10 / # of Total Nutrients) • Pelletized Lime $130.00 / Ton – $.36 / lb of Calcium – $.41 / lb of Magnesium (.385 / # of Total Nutrients) • K Mag $375.00 / Ton – $1.705 / lb of Magnesium (.426 / # of Total Nutrients)

Fertilizer Nutrients Are Valuable! • PPI estimates that 57% of corn yields are attributable to proper fertility and liming as calculated by University of Illinois and PPI. • Nitrogen could represent up to 41% of corn yields. • N & P have represented 40 % of wheat yields over a 70 year average • Across all crops and conditions, approx. 40% of yield is contributable to proper fertility. Data supported by American Society of Agronomy –

Where do Bio ‐ Solids fit? • Against Commercial Fertilizer – Supplying 100 # of N is a value of about $40.00 / A • Any other nutrients add to value • Against Value of Crop – 175 bu Corn @ $3.25 / bu = $568.75 • If Bio ‐ Solids comprised 40% of fertilizer inputs and fertilizer delivered 40% of yield. ($568.75 *.4 *.4 = $91.00 / Acre)

Bio ‐ Solids / Solid Value • Against Nutrients needed to produce a crop – 175 bu corn requires 657 # of overall Macro ‐ Nutrients. If the average Macro ‐ Nutrient is valued at $.30 / lb and Bio ‐ Solids comprise 30% of total nutrients needed = $59.13 / Acre – $59.00 / Acre does not include any value of lime that may be contributed. Lime requirement could be 500 # / Acre / year @ $30.00 / Ton is $7.50 / Acre that Bio ‐ Solids could replace all or part of.

Additional benefits • Carbon / Humates – $.65 ‐ ?? / lbs. • Tillage • Micro ‐ nutrients • Beneficial microbes • Water holding capacity

Just when you thought I was sold • Issues that distract from overall value – Compaction – Phosphorus • Is it really available? • Right to farm guidelines • Competing with Animal Waste for land • Protection of available land for manure application – Uniformity – Unwanted metals / risk of pollutants – Public perception

Change! • Our experience on bringing non ‐ traditional value – Farmpeat delivers $3.00 of value for every $1.00 of cost. • 1:1 value for N,P,K • Virtually no demand for traditional row crops • Started building Sustainable Horticultural Soils in 2004