Items by Edwin Ritchey
Liquid or dry fertilizer products and their placement: What matters and why
By Edwin Ritchey and John Grove
Published on Oct. 15, 2025
This newsletter starts by addressing the age-old question about different fertilizer forms and sources. We also discuss the various placement options. Many claim that a liquid fertilizer is more efficient and more available for plant use than a dry source.
Determining the nutrient value of different nutrient packages
By Edwin Ritchey and John Grove
Published on Oct. 14, 2025
Plant nutrients, i.e. fertilizers, come in different forms (dry/liquid) and many different analyses.
Follow the Basics to Maintain Yields and Manage Costs
By Edwin Ritchey and John Grove
Published on Feb. 24, 2025
An economist was overheard saying that there were 5 ways to increase profits in any production system: cut costs, cut costs, cut costs, cut costs, and increase yields. This was somewhat a joke but has a solid underlying basis. Let’s delve a little deeper into this strategy with some specific examples and practices to follow.
Too Wet to Soil Sample but Ideal to Check for Soil Compaction
By Edwin Ritchey and John Grove
Published on Feb. 21, 2025
We know producers are ready for the soil to dry out so they can start topdressing wheat with their first shot of nitrogen. This also makes us think about soil compaction, which is simply compressing a given volume of soil into a smaller volume. Compaction can occur in different places in the field and can be due to different reasons.