With the harvest season in full swing, all the planning and preparation put forth earlier in the spring may or may not be paying off in yield and profit.

As you look back in hindsight maybe recordkeeping could be an area that you could improve. Having detailed records of nutrients applied and harvest amounts can help fine tune profit margins.

Soil samples are considered the minimum for any recordkeeping program and should be kept up-to-date, and while the standard soil test covers most macronutrients, perhaps getting a more detailed analysis including micronutrients, especially if your macros are in the optimum range, can help pinpoint deficiencies you may still be seeing.

Manure application records are a must and should detail how much, when, incorporation and what crop or residue it was applied to.

A manure analysis is money well spent because bedding and storage time can impact the nutrient analysis from book values found in the Penn State Agronomy guide. A manure analysis along with good application records can have a big impact on the overall need of commercial fertilizer.

Since manure is a very stable source of nitrogen, these applications, coupled with a no-till system that builds organic matter can in some cases eliminate or greatly reduce synthetic fertilizer use.

During the growing season a plant tissue test with either a chlorophyll meter or tissue sample can verify nutrient uptake and is an excellent way to see exactly what is still required by the plant to make yield.

In Butler County, the Conservation District has a chlorophyll meter available and can be used on most grass type crops to determine nitrogen need that can be satisfied through top dressing applications.

There are also agronomic companies that perform tissue tests and provide analysis and recommendations; these tissue tests are a good option when examining micronutrient uptake.

In the end, records and their ability to help in overall operation are only as helpful as what you put into them. By taking some extra time to get into a routine, you can have a lasting impact on the farm’s profitability.

Andy Gaver is a conservationist with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in Butler County.