Recent rainfall across the district has been very welcome indeed, especially considering much of the region’s decile 2 growing season in 2024. As a result grower sentiment has improved somewhat and in the months ahead it will be important to implement a well considered soil nutrition plan. For many it will be a season to get the basics right and focus on what’s important right now.

To some extent the scene has already been set by an abrupt spring finish followed by a dry summer and lack of soil mineralisation. So the first thing to determine is the current nutrient status of your farm’s soil.
You will want the best information possible, and Summit was recently recognised at both the Australian Agronomy Conference in Albany and the Fertilizer Australia Conference in Cairns for its ongoing pursuit of excellence and commitment to WA farmers through Fertcare.
Our awarded inSITE program is aligned with industry best practice and our commitment is to offer growers the best recommendations based on up-to-date soil and plant analysis.

Compared with previous years, regional inSITE test results from samples taken over summer are showing a clear trend of low soil nitrate and ammonium levels (Figure 1).

That might be surprising given the light grain harvest, but probably not given the lack of any significant summer rain events to drive mineralisation.
A compounding factor for the months ahead would be if we go into a cold winter, there won’t be a lot more early to mid-season mineralisation of nutrients.

Potassium deficiencies have also been identified with inSITE. Growers are collecting potash now from the Summit depot to be applied to responsive soil types.
We understand the challenges growers are currently facing and thankfully offsetting the tough 2024 season to some extent, is that nitrogen and potassium fertilizer costs have improved significantly from recent highs. Urea has dropped by 30% from recent historical highs of $1200/t, and potash is less than half the $1400/t it was just a few years ago.

Combined with phosphorus, N&K really are the important drivers of early crop growth.
Therefore, don’t hold back because they come at a much lower cost/risk than just a few years ago.

For more information on Summit’s N&K products, please contact your Local Area Managers Nick Donkin and Matt Ryan