By Stephanie Porter, ISA Outreach Agronomist, and Jared Chester, Beck’s Hybrids PFR Agronomy/Data Information Specialist

Sulfur is getting a lot more attention lately, and for good reasons. In a recent Beck’s Agronomy webinar, hosted by Illinois Soybean Growers, sulfur was highlighted as an increasingly important nutrient in corn production. Years ago, we could count on rainfall and atmospheric deposition to supply sulfur, but that’s no longer the case. Today, deficiencies are showing up more often, especially on lighter soils or fields with lower organic matter, so it’s something growers can’t afford to overlook.

One of the big takeaways from Beck’s was how closely sulfur works with nitrogen. If sulfur isn’t there, you may not be getting the full benefit of your nitrogen program. In other words, just adding more nitrogen doesn’t always increase yield if sulfur is limited. But even with that benefit, their data also shows sulfur doesn’t pay everywhere. The key is figuring out which acres need it, rather than applying it across the board. Timing matters too. Sulfur needs to be available early when the crop is really taking off, not just in a small starter amount.

When you shift over to soybeans, the story gets a little more complicated. Results from the Illinois Soybean Association’s On-Farm Trial Network show that sulfur can help, but not always. In 2025 trials across Illinois, some fields picked up two to seven bushels per acre with sulfur, especially on sandy soils, lower organic matter areas or fields with heavy residue where mineralization was limited. But many other fields showed little to no response, especially where sulfur levels were already adequate.

Sulfur isn’t “free” anymore, but it’s also not a guaranteed win. The best approach is to be targeted and pay attention to soil type, organic matter, residue, weather conditions and focus on the acres more likely to respond. When used in the right place and at the right time, sulfur can pay, but like a lot of inputs, it works best when you match it to the field rather than making it a blanket decision.

To learn more about fertility placement and timing, you can watch the webinar recording here: ISG Webinar: Practical Farm Research: Fertility Placement & Timing Insights with Beck’s Hybrids.