The Crop year selected for manure and fertilizer applications should always be the same as that of the harvested crop that follows these applications and uses the nutrients.

Selecting Seasons of Application:

Fall: Use for late summer and fall applications that are applied prior to a crop that will be harvested the following that crop year. Also use for late summer or fall applications prior to cover crops that will not be harvested, as these nutrients will be returned to the soil and should be credited to the following harvested crop.

Winter: Use for applications that are planned for the time when the soil is likely to be frozen, usually December through March or mid-April, depending on location.

Spring: Use for applications that are planned for after the soil has completely thawed and before mid-June.

Summer: Use for mid-June to August applications for hay crops or crops that will be harvested in that crop year, including crops that are seeded in the summer for a late summer or fall harvest.

Examples:

•Manure is planned following wheat harvest in summer of 2014 and no other crop is planned for this field until corn will be planted in spring 2015. This application is for Fall of Crop year 2015.

•Manure is planned following corn silage harvest in 2014 before seeding a rye cover crop (will not be harvested). This application is for Fall of Crop year 2015.

•Manure is planned following corn silage harvest in 2014 before seeding a rye forage crop that will be harvested in May 2015. This application is for Fall of Crop year 2015.

•Manure is planned following the next-to-last cut of alfalfa in the summer of 2014. This application is for Summer of Crop year 2014.

•Manure is planned following the last cut of alfalfa in the late summer or early fall of 2014. This application is for Fall of Crop year 2015.