February 2025

Increasing nitrogen & phosphorus efficiency

Plants need both Nitrogen (N) and Phosphorus (P) to grow well. A lack of these two elements limits growth. Farmers apply N & P fertilizer, especially to corn, to increase yields but there is a limit. Since the 1900’s, N fertilizer applications have increased 5X or 500% while P fertilizer inputs have increase 76%. Too much N fertilizer ties up soil P levels and other nutrients. A recent study looked at how farmers may be able to reduce N fertilizer inputs while increasing crop yields and enhancing P fertilizer use efficiency. P fertilizer stocks are running low in the USA (expected to be depleted by 2050), so farmers need to start thinking about how they can use our existing stocks of P fertilizer better, both mined and in the soil, to enhance yields.

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Bird Flu Update

The price of eggs has soared and consumers can blame the Bird Flu virus (Avian Influenza or H5N1 virus). Egg prices may increase another 20% in 2025 before decreasing. Darke and Mercer county had two new outbreaks, 1.4 million birds in Mercer County. Bird Flu affects dairy and beef cattle, swine (hogs), even cats, and dogs. Currently, there are at least 100 million poultry affected by Bird flu and at least 11,000 cases in wild birds identified. . The Bird Flu is especially high in wild bird populations and has been around at least since the 1900’s. The problem is it now has moved into domestic livestock farms.

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McCoy on FAA admission

Last Tuesday, January 28 the FAA admitted the mysterious drones seen flying around the country were, in fact, authorized flights given permission by their agency. This news was presented by Donald Trump’s new Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt at a press conference that morning.

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