Cost and timeliness of alternative nitrogen application methods

Production, in terms of revenue and cost for well-drained farms in the Midwest, is a function of amongst other things, climatic variability. In the current situation of low commodity prices, producers often focus on ways in which they can modify their practices to maximize profits. With nitrogen being the single most important macronutrient for corn production in the Midwest, the timing of application has several implications both financially and environmentally. Regulation of fall-applied nitrogen is a timely issue to address. There has been an increase in technology to be able to apply nutrients closer to crop utilization but there is an impending question of how all planned nitrogen application will be accomplished in a policy and weather constrained system. This thesis develops cost analysis for nitrogen application completion given workday probabilities and machinery specifications. Improving nitrogen use efficiency has been the goal of many while adaptation of new technology has been slow. This paper seeks to provide insight into the decision-making process that goes along with nitrogen application which includes costs and probability of completion.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Agricultural & Applied Economics

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2017

Author dc:creator

• Kinkade, Shawn Patrick

Contributors dc:contributor

• Schnitkey, Gary D.

• Nitrogen
• Climate
• Net present value
• Machinery

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2017 Shawn Kinkade

Language dc:language

eng

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/98119

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/98119