With fields starting to dry up, many farmers in the province are turning their attention to spring fertilizer.

John Heard is the Soil Fertility Specialist with Manitoba Agriculture.

"Farmers are generally nimble enough that if they are shutout in the fall, they have some options that they can use and employ in the spring," he commented.

Heard says that it's generally too wet for tillage at this point, noting that there are only a few crops for which farmers would leave nitrogen on the surface.

He adds the first step of a good soil fertility program is to get a soil test done.

"I have seen some soil sampling trucks driving around fields and of course that's the first step of any fertility program, is finding out what's there so that to me was good news to see some soil sampling. Not all our fields get sampled in the fall, so now is still a very good time to get that inventory and make an informed decision."

Heard notes there are many spring options that are part of the 4R Nutrient Stewardship Program.

He expects to see some tractors in the fields as early as next week.