Spring often is a stressful time for growers, but this planting season has been especially trying because of spiking costs.
"Fertilizer and fuel -- we call those the f-words," quipped Gary Blocker, owner of Zim Sod Co.
The cost of fertilizer has risen even more dramatically than fuel prices. Farmers paid an average of 65 percent more for fertilizer in April than they did the previous year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Add higher seed prices to the mix, and Troy Salzer, a Carlton County farmer and University of Minnesota Extension educator, said: "The costs have just been breathtaking."
"I have seen people who have traditionally used commercial fertilizer get sticker shock and simply go without it," Salzer said.
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Peter Laveau used commercial fertilizer to plant about 100 acres of corn on his Wrenshall farm in 2007, but "I couldn't see the point this year, for what it would have cost," he said.
Laveau will rely instead on manure from his dairy operation. To make maximum use of this resource, he had both soil from his fields and manure samples from his herd tested for nutrient content. This information helped him determine the most suitable application rates.
Tony Zupanicich, who owns and operates a beef cattle farm northeast of Cherry, said fewer people are wrinkling their nose at manure, given the cost of commercial fertilizers.
"Some people say manure smells bad. Others have said it smells like money. These days, manure smells like gold to me," he said.
The cost of commercial fertilizers is even more stunning viewed over a five-year period. Zupanicich ran a few comparisons:
* A ton of nitrogen fertilizer that cost him $213 in 2003 now sells for $730 -- a 3.4-fold price increase.
* A ton of phosphate fertilizer that sold for $240 in 2003 now costs $1,199 -- five times what it used to.
* A ton of potassium fertilizer that went for $144 in 2003 now costs $645 -- a 4.5-fold price jump.
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In the face of higher planting costs, Salzer said it's more important than ever that farmers protect themselves.
"With people risking that much, I sure hope they're investing in adequate crop insurance," he said. But Salzer expressed concern that financially squeezed farmers might be tempted to cut corners on insurance. "That scares me, frankly," he said.
For some producers, switching to manure isn't a viable option, either because they lack an adequate supply or because it's not a suitable replacement for commercial fertilizers.
Blocker said manure isn't an adequate substitute for his sod operation because of its nutrient makeup. However, he has begun experimenting with a bacterial fertilizer to replace some conventional granulated grass feed he has used in the past.
Bay Produce also has unique needs as a producer of tomatoes and peppers in the Northland. Henk Vendenbrink, a grower for the Superior company, said special nitrogen blends are key to successfully operating a hydroponic greenhouse. He estimates that soluble fertilizer bills now account for about 10 to 12 percent of Bay Produce's total operating budget.
Vendenbrink believes growing international demand for fertilizers is primarily responsible for rising prices. Earlier this year, he had trouble procuring the type of fertilizer Bay Produce uses. He now tries to keep an extra supply on hand.
Bay Produce delivers about 400,000 pounds of tomatoes to market annually, and while its prices have increased, they have not kept pace with rising expenses, Vendenbrink said.
"We can't easily pass all our costs along, we have to absorb many of them," he said.
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Bay Produce tomatoes must compete with fruit from around the world, but here's a small silver lining for the company. As the greenhouse primarily serves customers in close proximity, its transportation costs are relatively modest.
"At least that makes it a little easier to compete with tomatoes out of Mexico," Vendenbrink said.
PETER PASSI covers business and development. He can be reached weekdays at (218) 279-5526 or by e-mail at ppassi@duluthnews.com .
