How to slash fertilizer costs without killing yields: Expert breakdown for 2026 farm planning

Fertilizer costs are crushing farm budgets at $170/acre - but you're not powerless. In this Ag Marketing IQ In Depth episode, agricultural economist David Widmar reveals the hard truths about fertilizer pricing and actionable strategies to regain control of your operation's profitability.

Key takeaways:
• Why fertilizer now eats 25% of corn budgets (vs. 19% pre-2022)
• Which fertilizer sources offer the best value right now
• How precision soil sampling can deliver massive ROI in 2026
• The dangerous temptation that's costing farmers yields
• Why university budgets don't tell your whole story

Cost-cutting strategies covered:
• Smart fertilizer source selection (some up 50%, others only 1%)
• Precision sampling and variable rate application
• P&K banking opportunities you might be missing
• Fixed vs. variable cost optimization
• Break-even analysis that actually works for YOUR farm

David Widmar breaks down the numbers every farmer needs to know, from the $270/acre fertilizer nightmare of 2022 to today's "new normal" where yesterday's highs are today's lows.

Perfect for corn and soybean farmers, farm managers, agricultural consultants and anyone serious about farm profitability in challenging times.

Presented by Farm Futures | Ag Marketing IQ In-Depth Series

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