The Upper Midwest Field Office of the USDA National Ag Statistics Service released its annual 2015 Agricultural Chemical Use Surveys of farmers who planted soybean, spring wheat and oats and their fertilizer and pesticide use, as well as pest management practices.

Here’s what NASS learned from Minnesota farmers:

Soybean fertilizer use

Survey notes fertilizer, pesticide use in Minnesota soybean, spring wheat and oat fields

Of the three primary macronutrients, potash was the most widely used on soybean acres planted in the state. Minnesota farmers applied potash to 29% of planted acres at an average rate of 60 pounds per acre per year. Macronutrients nitrogen and phosphate were applied to 19% and 27% of soybean acres, at an average rate of 14 and 50 pounds per acre per year, respectively. The secondary macronutrient, sulfur, was applied to 6% of acres planted to soybeans.

Pesticide use in soybeans

Herbicide active ingredients were applied to 96% of the soybeans planted. Glyphosate potassium salt was the most widely used pesticide overall, and was the active ingredient with the greatest total amount. Fungicide and insecticide active ingredients were applied to 11% and 56%, respectively, of soybean acres planted in Minnesota.

Spring wheat fertilizer use

Nitrogen was the most widely used on spring wheat—95% of planted acres—at an average rate of 105 pounds per acre per year. Macronutrients phosphate and potash were applied to the majority of acres, at an average rate of 38 and 34 pounds per acre per year, respectively. The secondary macronutrient, sulfur, was applied to 30% of acres planted to spring wheat.

Pesticide use in spring wheat

Herbicide active ingredients were applied to 97% of the spring wheat acres planted. Tebuconazole was the most widely used pesticide overall, and MCPA, 2-ethylhexyl was the active ingredient with the greatest total amount. Fungicide and insecticide active ingredients were applied to 76% and 41% of spring wheat acres planted, respectively.

Fertilizer use in oats

N was the most widely used on oats with farmers applying N to 60% of planted acres at an average rate of 49 pounds per acre per year. Macronutrients phosphate and potash were applied to 50% and 53% of the oat acres, at an average rate of 26 and 45 pounds per acre per year, respectively. The secondary macronutrient, sulfur, was applied to 21 percent of acres planted to oats.

Pesticide use in oats

Herbicide active ingredients were applied to 43% of the oat acres planted in Minnesota. 2,4-D, dimethylamine salt was the most widely used pesticide overall, and was the active ingredient with the greatest total amount.