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AgAdvisor

Quick question before I nail down the rate: what's your soil type situation — mostly Tama/Muscatine-type soils or do you have lighter Clarion/Webster ground mixed in? And are you thinking anhydrous in the fall, pre-plant, or a split program?

Farmer: Tama/Muscatine, pre-plant

AgAdvisor

Iowa State's MRTN puts the optimal rate for corn-on-corn at around 190 lbs N/acre for your yield goal, but if you're rotating from beans that number comes down meaningfully. Pre-plant works well on those soils, though splitting some of it to sidedress at V4-V6 really tightens up your efficiency and cuts your loss risk if you get a wet spring.

What's your rotation — corn-on-corn or coming out of beans?

Farmer: Coming out of beans

AgAdvisor

Target N Rate: 150–160 lbs N/acre

Iowa State's MRTN calculator (PM-2015) puts the economically optimal rate for corn after beans right in that range at current corn prices (~$4.10/bu). No need to push toward the corn-on-corn rates — the soybean credit is real and worth 30-40 lbs N on your bottom line.

Application Plan:

Pre-plant (your main pass):

• Apply 120–130 lbs N/acre as anhydrous ammonia (NH₃) in the 10–14 days before planting

• Target 6–8 inch depth, knife spacing 30 inches or less

• Avoid applying more than 2 weeks out if your soils are warming fast

At-planting (optional but recommended):

• 10–15 lbs N/acre as starter (10-34-0 or similar in-furrow or 2x2)

Sidedress (if you want to split):

• If you're nervous about spring weather, hold 30–40 lbs and sidedress as UAN (28% or 32%) at V4–V6

• On 800 acres, splitting gives you a loss insurance policy

Economics at a glance:

• At $4.10/bu corn and ~$0.55/lb N (anhydrous), your N cost runs roughly $83–$88/acre

• Pushing to 180+ lbs chases bushels that won't pencil out at these prices

• Every 10 lbs N you save is ~$5.50/acre × 800 acres = $4,400 back in your pocket

Bottom line: Pre-plant anhydrous at 120–130 lbs, add starter at planting, and consider a 30–40 lb UAN sidedress if your spring is wet. You'll hit your 220 bu/a goal without over-spending on N at current prices.

Want me to run a full input budget for the 800 acres, or dig into timing risk based on this spring's forecast?

AgAdvisor

What growth stage are your beans, and can you describe the lesions — are they on the upper or lower leaf surface, and what color?

Farmer: V3, they're dark brown on the upper surface

AgAdvisor

Good news is brown spot at V3 is usually not worth treating — it's almost always in the lower canopy and rarely causes meaningful yield loss that early in the season. Fungicide ROI at current soybean prices is tough to justify unless it's moving up fast into the canopy.

What does the rest of the canopy look like — is it staying in the bottom leaves or climbing?

Farmer: It's climbing

AgAdvisor

Here's what I'd do:

Product: Priaxor (fluxapyroxad + pyraclostrobin) is your best fit here — it's got strong activity on Septoria and gives you the broadest residual of the strobilurin/carboxamide premixes. Rate is 4–8 oz/acre; go 6 oz given the pressure you're seeing. Miravis Neo (pydiflumetofen + azoxystrobin + propiconazole) is a solid alternative if you can get it and price is right.

Timing: Spray now, before it hits the upper trifoliate. Don't wait for R1 — that's the conventional wisdom for fungicide timing, but when disease is already climbing at V3 you want to protect that upper canopy as it develops.

ROI check: At ~$10/bu soybeans, you need roughly 1.5–2 bu/acre response to break even on a $25–30/acre fungicide pass (product + application). Research on early brown spot pressure in Illinois shows 3–5 bu/acre response is achievable when disease is actively climbing — so the math works in your favor here.

One caveat: If you're within 2 weeks of R1, just wait and make one well-timed R1 application instead of two passes. But at V3 you've got time — one early pass now, then reassess at R1 whether a second is warranted.

Watch your neighbor fields too — if it's climbing in yours it's likely region-wide pressure this season.

AgAdvisor

What's your primary use — dryland wheat tillage, seeding, or pulling a grain cart at harvest? And are you looking to step up in horsepower, or more about getting into newer tech?

Farmer: I use it for everything, groundwork and harvest. I'm good with HP, and new tech doesn't impress.

AgAdvisor

Farmer: [Wants full valuation]

AgAdvisor

Your 2021 Case IH Magnum 250 — Current Market Value

Retail range of $185,000–$210,000 depending on options (PowerShift vs. CVT, guidance, remotes). CVT-equipped machines are at the top of that range. Trade-in: $165,000–$190,000.

Upgrade Options in the 280–310 HP Class:

Stay Case IH — Magnum 280 or 310

• Seamless transition, same dealer relationship

• Used 2021–2023 Magnum 280s: $220,000–$250,000; 310s: $240,000–$270,000

• CVT is the spec to get for heavy tillage

John Deere 8R 280 or 8R 310

• CommandPro CVT is arguably the best transmission in this class

• StarFire guidance is best-in-class if you ever go precision

• Used 2021–2023: 8R 280s $230K–$260K; 8R 310s $255K–$285K

Fendt 724 or 728 Vario

• Best CVT hands down — VarioDrive is exceptional for fuel economy on long tillage days

• Growing PNW dealer presence, but thinner than Deere or Case

• Fendt owners consistently report 8–12% better fuel efficiency

My Honest Take: For eastern WA wheat and cattle — running drill and heavy tillage — I'd prioritize CVT and hydraulic capacity over raw horsepower. The 280 HP class is your sweet spot; 310+ adds cost without meaningfully changing what you can do.

Net upgrade cost after trade: $45,000–$90,000 out of pocket. Worth pushing dealers on end-of-quarter incentives.

Want me to dig into financing structures or help you think through the trade negotiation?