Gypsum: Does It Fit In Kentucky Production?
BETTY VALLE GEGG-NAEGER
MidAmerica Farmer Grower
PRINCETON, KY.
While at this time there isn’t much demand for gypsum, growers in Kentucky are focusing on gypsum as a possible grain crop.
John Grove, research soil scientist with the University of Kentucky in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, discussed the possibility at the wheat science field day recently.
John Grove, research soil scientist with the University of Kentucky in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, explains that gypsum may have value in grain crop production.
Photo by John LaRose, Jr.
“There’s a lot of interest on the part of growers for using gypsum in grain crop production, some in wheat but a lot in corn and beans too,” he said. “I’m giving farmers the message that there is occasionally a use where it might be needed, but in general we haven’t yet documented much of a need for a large amount of gypsum in the state of Kentucky. Hopefully the message will be carried home and they’ll realize that there might be some other inputs that they can spend their money on better.”
His message is that gypsum may have value, and researchers are still looking to see exactly how to get that value for gypsum inside the state of Kentucky particularly in row crop production.∆
BETTY VALLE GEGG-NAEGER: Senior Staff Writer, MidAmerica Farmer Grower