Fall fertilizer applications underway in Missouri – Brownfield Ag News

Report on 2025 Fall Fertilizer Application in Missouri and Sustainable Development Goal Implications

Executive Summary

• This report analyzes the early commencement of fall fertilizer applications in Missouri, focusing on market dynamics for nitrogen and phosphate as of November 2025.
• The analysis is framed within the context of key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), highlighting the intersection of agricultural economics, food security, and environmental stewardship.

Key Agricultural Observations

• Early Application Timing: Favorable soil temperatures have permitted an earlier-than-usual start to anhydrous fertilizer applications, a practice critical for nutrient management.
• Nitrogen Market Stability: Demand for nitrogen remains consistent, with its value considered proportionate to commodity crop prices, indicating stable planning for producers.
• Phosphate Market Volatility: A significant increase in phosphate fertilizer values is observed due to constrained global supply. This economic pressure may cause producers to delay applications, potentially impacting soil nutrient levels for the next growing season.

Assessment of Impacts on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

1. SDG 2: Zero Hunger

   • The timely and adequate application of fertilizers is fundamental to optimizing crop yields and maintaining robust food production systems.
   • Price volatility and supply constraints for essential nutrients like phosphate present a direct challenge to farm-level planning and could impact future yields, thereby affecting regional and global food security objectives.

2. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

   • The report highlights the direct link between the availability of finite global resources (phosphate) and local agricultural production patterns.
   • Farmers’ decisions to alter application schedules based on cost underscore the need for efficient nutrient management strategies to ensure the sustainable use of resources and promote responsible production cycles.

3. SDG 6, 14, & 15: Clean Water, Life Below Water, and Life on Land

   • The practice of applying fertilizer only when soil temperatures are optimal is a critical Best Management Practice (BMP) that directly supports these environmental goals.
   • Proper timing minimizes the risk of nutrient runoff into waterways, a primary cause of water pollution (eutrophication). This protects aquatic ecosystems (SDG 14), preserves water quality (SDG 6), and enhances nutrient uptake by crops, contributing to improved soil health (SDG 15).

4. SDG 13: Climate Action

   • The production and application of nitrogen-based fertilizers are significant sources of nitrous oxide (N₂O), a potent greenhouse gas.
   • Efficient application strategies, guided by soil conditions and precise crop needs, are essential for mitigating the agricultural sector’s climate footprint and contributing to national climate action targets.

Conclusion

• Current agricultural practices in Missouri are dictated by a complex interplay of environmental conditions, such as soil temperature, and global economic forces, including fertilizer supply and demand.
• These operational decisions have direct and significant implications for achieving a range of Sustainable Development Goals, reinforcing the need for integrated strategies that balance economic viability with environmental responsibility and global food security.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

   The article on fall fertilizer applications in Missouri connects to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), primarily focusing on agriculture, resource management, and economic viability. The key SDGs identified are:

   • SDG 2: Zero Hunger: The core topic is fertilizer application, a critical practice for enhancing crop yields and ensuring food production. The article discusses nitrogen and phosphate, which are essential for growing crops like corn and soybeans, directly linking to food security.
   • SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: The article touches upon the management of natural resources, specifically phosphate and nitrogen fertilizers. It highlights issues of “global supply,” “availability of the product,” and price (“values”), which influence farmers’ decisions on when and how much to apply, reflecting patterns of consumption and production.
   • SDG 15: Life on Land: The practice of applying fertilizer relates to land and soil management. The mention of applying fertilizer based on “soil temperatures” is a technique to ensure nutrient uptake by crops and minimize environmental runoff, which is crucial for maintaining soil quality and protecting terrestrial ecosystems.
   • SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: The article discusses the economic aspects of farming, such as the cost of fertilizers (“phosphate fertilizer values have seen a bigger move higher”) and how these costs influence farmers’ decisions (“might cause farmers to delay applications until spring”). This relates to the economic productivity and sustainability of the agricultural sector.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

   Based on the article’s focus, the following specific targets can be identified:

   • Target 2.4 (under SDG 2): “By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production… and that progressively improve land and soil quality.” The article’s discussion of applying anhydrous fertilizer when “soil temperatures are allowing for that” is an example of a resilient and efficient agricultural practice aimed at maximizing nutrient use and productivity.
   • Target 12.2 (under SDG 12): “By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.” The article’s focus on the “global supply” of phosphate and the high “values” (cost) of fertilizers implies a need for efficient use of these finite or energy-intensive resources. Farmers delaying applications due to cost is a direct response to the economic pressures of resource management.
   • Target 15.3 (under SDG 15): “By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil… and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world.” Proper fertilizer management, as hinted at by timing applications to soil temperature, is fundamental to maintaining soil health and preventing degradation from nutrient imbalances or runoff. The article mentions applying fertilizer “before tilling,” a practice directly related to land and soil management.
   • Target 8.2 (under SDG 8): “Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through… innovation…” The economic considerations discussed, such as the relationship between “nitrogen values relative to corn,” show how farmers must innovate and adapt their practices to remain economically productive and viable in the face of fluctuating input costs.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

   The article does not explicitly mention official SDG indicators, but it provides information that can be used as proxies or qualitative measures for them:

   • Implied Indicator for Target 2.4: While not a formal indicator, the “consistent” demand for nitrogen fertilizer, as mentioned by Chris DeMoss, can be seen as a proxy for efforts to maintain or increase agricultural productivity (Indicator 2.4.1: Proportion of agricultural area under productive and sustainable agriculture). The timing of application based on soil temperature is a qualitative measure of implementing sustainable practices.
   • Implied Indicator for Target 12.2: The discussion of “phosphate fertilizer values” and “global supply” relates to the concept of Domestic Material Consumption (Indicator 12.2.2). The rising cost and supply constraints mentioned in the article reflect the pressures on these materials, and tracking fertilizer consumption rates in agriculture would be a way to measure progress toward efficient use.
   • Implied Indicator for Target 15.3: The article’s reference to applying fertilizer based on “soil temperatures” implies an awareness of soil health. This practice can be seen as a measure to prevent land degradation. Progress could be measured by tracking the adoption rate of such best management practices among farmers, which contributes to the goal of Indicator 15.3.1 (Proportion of land that is degraded over total land area).

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis

Source: brownfieldagnews.com