The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach are reminding farmers to wait until soil temperatures remain below 50 degrees Fahrenheit before applying anhydrous ammonia (NH3) fertilizer this fall, to help reduce nitrogen loss and protect the environment.

Soil temperatures have been slow to cool due to the unusually warm late October temperatures. “Soil temperatures, like air temperatures, can change quickly so it is important that we wait with applications until soils are likely to remain below 50 degrees,” said Bill Northey, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture.

ISU Extension and Outreach maintains a statewide real-time soil temperature data map on its website that agriculture retailers and farmers can use to determine when fall N applications are appropriate.

For additional factors farmers should consider when applying anhydrous ammonia and local ISU Extension and Outreach specialists farmers can contact with questions, check out the full article on the ISU Extension and Outreach website.