Maryland farmer Temple Rhodes is adjusting his corn production methods in response to strict fertilizer regulations, he said on Apr. 17. Operating Chestnut Manor Farms on the Delmarva Peninsula, Rhodes must comply with state-mandated nutrient management plans that limit nitrogen and phosphorus use.
The issue is significant for farmers in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, where environmental concerns have led to close monitoring of agricultural practices. “We are in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, so all eyes are on us,” Rhodes said. He added that compliance with these regulations is not optional: “It is forced on us with no incentive. You just have to do it. So, we have to reinvent ourselves. We have to start looking at other ways to do things.”
Rhodes grows corn, soybeans, wheat, and grain sorghum while also running a cattle operation during winter months using cover crops for feed. To adapt to the regulatory environment, he shifted from applying all fertilizer before planting—known as front-loading—to a systematic approach involving split applications throughout the growing season and increased use of cover crops.
“We used to put 100% of our nitrogen up front… That is where we find out we are making a mistake,” he said about earlier practices under less scrutiny. Now his system uses planter-applied fertilizers and multiple in-season applications: “When you take a systematic approach… it becomes a different animal.” State rules also require him to rely on algorithms that factor soil samples and yield history when determining how much fertilizer can be applied.
To improve efficiency within these limits, Rhodes began testing new technologies such as a biostimulant from NewLeaf Symbiotics containing PPFMs (Pink-Pigmented Facultative Methylotrophs). The product aims to boost crop yield and stress tolerance by enhancing root systems and nutrient uptake. After sharing results with XtremeAg—a group testing farm innovations nationwide—Rhodes found promising outcomes: reduced irrigation needs and increased plant biomass by about 30%. “If I build a plant that scavenges more [nutrients], that is a home run for us,” he said.
While larger plants created some challenges related to nitrogen management later in the season—leading him to adjust application timing—the experimental treatment still resulted in higher yields compared with standard fields.
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Looking ahead after two years of field trials showing consistent results across his acreage, Rhodes plans full adoption of this technology: “We plant about 1,700 acres of corn so it’s going on every acre of corn.”
The broader implications highlight how Maryland farmers may continue innovating under regulatory pressure while seeking sustainable solutions within environmental guidelines.
