Moisture is needed to temporarily hold the ammonia so it can attach to clay or organic matter in the soil. In addition, if dry soils are cloddy and do not seal properly, the ammonia can be lost.
While the U.S. is expected to have record ag exports for the marketing year, data from USDA’s Foreign Ag Service is showing a trade deficit. Throw on top of that current headwinds, such as the low water levels on the Mississippi River, and there is growing concern about the slowdown in exports and what that could mean for farmers.
“If California were to win this Supreme Court case, there’s nothing stopping the state from saying, for example, you can only sell corn in California if it’s harvested with an electric combine,” says John Dillard, principal at OFW Law.