A VISITING US consultant has warned about the dangers of using too much nitrogen.
While nitrogen may boost plant growth, Neil Kinsey says overuse could result in deficiencies of copper and calcium in some farming soils.
"Most farmers want a high yield and try to use N to get this," Neil said.
"In time past there has been a tendency for farmers to put on more because it was cheap."
An agricultural economics graduate at the University of Missouri and author of the book Hands-On Agronomy, Neil is recognised as an expert in building healthy, balanced soils.
He said the overuse of nitrogen could tie up copper which was vital to stop lodging in wheat and for stock strength.
Excess nitrogen also depleted calcium levels.
"In the US, most of the pasture land is deficient in calcium," he said.
But Mr Kinsey said while farmers continued to be paid for bulk rather than quality, the push to grow heavier crops with nitrogen would probably continue.
He said consumer attitude had to change before farmers could afford to grow healthier, more nutritious food.
Mr Kinsey runs Kinsey Agricultural Services which specialises in solving soil fertility problems.
He was in the Wimmera last week for a three-day course which attracted farmers from Victoria and interstate.
He raised concerns about the limited understanding of soil test results, even among those advising farmers.
Mr Kinsey said most farmers didn't trust a soil test because they couldn't decipher the results and had to rely on those selling farm inputs to tell them what they needed in their own soil.
He argued that it was easier to learn about nutrient and fertiliser needs than to try and keep up with the latest herbicides and seed developments.
"Learn it for yourself," Mr Kinsey said.
He said US fertilisers were now four times the price they had been last year and farmers were turning to him for advice.
"Our business has tripled in the space of this year," Mr Kinsey said.
He suggested farmers start with a crop yield goal and then work out what nutrients and inputs they needed to achieve this.
They then had to work out what this would cost and prioritise inputs based on a budget, he said.
He said compost fertiliser was an option for many farmers as long as it contained what the soil needed and would not cause an excess of any nutrients.