The Associated Press

ABERDEEN - More farmers are looking at cost-effective ways to apply fertilizer because fertilizer costs have skyrocketed in the past year, according to agronomy experts.

On average, fertilizer costs are about 60 percent to 70 percent higher than last spring, said Matt Christopherson of North Central Farmers Elevator in Ipswich.

"There isn't anything that's not up at least half from last year," he said.

Urea, a dry nitrogen source, costs about $150 more a ton than it did last fall, said Scott Hier, director of agronomy for South Dakota Wheat Growers.

"Traditionally, prices will increase from fall to spring, but not near that much," Hier said. "We've gone from an acre of corn costing $80-$90 an acre to fertilize to $130-$140 to fertilize in the last year."

Increased fertilizer demand in the U.S. and worldwide is driving the price up, Hier said.

Christopherson said he's noticed a little more demand for precision applications that put fertilizer directly in the soil rather than on top where it's at risk of being lost by evaporation or run-off.

Hier said Wheat Growers has seen a big push this fall for soil testing and zone management, which allows farmers to use only the amount of fertilizer a certain piece of land needs.

He said interest in strip tilling has also been growing steadily over the past three years. Strip tilling places fertilizer only in narrow bands where crops will be grown.