A new law in Minnesota went into effect on September one restricting fall application of nitrogen fertilizer by farmers. The groundwater protection rule prohibits farmers from applying most forms of commercial nitrogen fertilizer in the fall and on frozen ground in areas that are vulnerable to contamination. Past Minnesota Corn Grower’s Association President Harold Wolle says he never applies in the fall on the sandy ground on his operation.

He says the new law shouldn’t be a major problem for most Minnesota producers and there are some exemptions that allow some limited fall application.

Wolle says quite often applying fertilizer at other times during the year can be more effective as well as safer from an environmental standpoint.

Wolle says most producers don’t over apply fertilizer as that becomes expensive and in most cases not necessary.