Growers’ Perspectives on ESN Smart Nitrogen

At the 2022 Top Producer Summit we had the opportunity to meet with growers from across the country. When asked to share their perspectives on the value of ESN, particularly in adverse weather conditions, here is what we heard from farmers David Swailes of Highlight Hills Farms, Iowa, and Ronald Stone of Stone Farms, Iowa, and crop consultant Neil Kottschade of Ag Advisory.

David Swailes: “The loss of nitrogen is a big concern, and having it be available later in the season when the crop needs it the most.”

Ronald Stone: “If you’re losing nitrogen, you’re losing dollars.”

Neil Kottschade: “It leaches, and there’s about nothing you can do to counteract that besides using a product that has a polymer coating on it like ESN.”

David Swailes: “Even through adverse weather conditions, I feel like my ESN will be there.”

Ronald Stone: “The thing that really got me interested in ESN was making the food available to the plant when it wants food.”

David Swailes: “I choose to use ESN because it does work out better and it is available later in the season.”

Neil Kottschade: “Controlled release of ESN is driven by both temperature and moisture. You can go through the whole growing season.”

Ronald Stone: “So we’re really making the nitrogen safe from loss until we need it.”

Neil Kottschade: “There’s a significant yield impact by using a good source that’s consistently stable and releasing.”

David Swailes: “We saw a big yield bump, we had more consistent average yields on our farms, and the test weight was higher.”

Ronald Stone: “If it has a higher test weight, there’s more dollars in the bank at the end.”

Neil Kottschade: “It’s been great to see, since I’ve started, the great return in the last 10 years that the guys have had.”

David Swailes: “I’m talking 10 bushels an acre at least.”

Ronald Stone: “Six years of really unbelievable results.”

Neil Kottschade: “Once we get the farmer to try ESN, the chance that they’re going to continuously use it is about a 99 percent chance.”

Ronald Stone: “Since I’ve started using strip-till and ESN, I don’t think I’ll ever go back.”

Neil Kottschade: “The product costs more, but the return and the ease of using it more than makes up for it.”