Many farmers are finished with harvest for the year, and will be getting things ready for next year.

Iowa State University Extension Field Agronomist Mike Witt says that in the Guthrie County area, the amount of farmers finished with soybeans is in the upper 90 percent range, while the amount of corn fields that have been harvested is sitting in the 70 percent range. He mentions that fall fertilizer applications are going on now, with anhydrous and manure being the two main forms of fertilizer.

Witt tells Raccoon Valley Radio that with most other activities in farming, it’s important to keep safety top of mind when applying fertilizers.

“So there is a little bit more danger when it comes to running anhydrous and some of those, compared to manure, just with the style that those materials are stored at and how that works. So being vigilant, making sure there are no leaks, making sure that all seals are tight when you’re out there and doing any of those type of application methods is very important for all of those applications.”

Witt explains that while manure is typically safer, it doesn’t spread as easily as anhydrous does. He adds that manure does have the benefit of additional organic matter and nutrients that are added along with nitrogen, while anhydrous is mainly nitrogen that is being added to the field.