Agronomy is the theory and practice of crop production and soil management. Soil is not just dirt, but useful dirt.

Soil is made up of pore space (air and water) and solid components (mineral and organic). Soils are formed by the action of climate, organisms, vegetation, topography, time and drainage upon the soil parent material – the rock which has, and continues to, weather to form soil.

Many different soils have formed around the world in response to geologic time and prevailing climate; each soil has inherent characteristics and fertility levels/needs for particular types of crops grown and food production. As a result, nutrient needs differ across the world.

There are 17 essential elements required by plants for normal growth and development. The majority of a crop’s nutrient needs are derived from the environment (carbon, hydrogen and oxygen); the 14 mineral elements required are most often delivered through fertilizer supplements. Each nutrient plays a specific role within a plant and cannot be replaced by an alternate nutrient.

The majority of the world’s soils are unable to supply adequate plant nutrition for the growth of our food. The science of agronomy utilizes the understanding of plant nutrient requirements, soil testing and plant tissue testing to ensure that only those nutrients required are applied in the amount needed. The practice of “4R” agronomy (right product, right rate, right time, right placement) ensures that we only add what is needed to supplement the soil’s supply, in order to grow food for the world’s population.

Fertilizer materials are drawn from nature, and often recombined, concentrated, blended and balanced according to crop requirements. Applied fertilizer supplements the soil’s shortfall in providing adequate plant nutrition to grow food. Fertilizer materials are applied in an efficient, economic and environmentally responsible manner, in order to grow the world’s food supply.