By Hailee Holliday
KTEN Reporter
As posted and broadcasted on KTEN, July 7, 2008.

Researchers at The Sam Noble Foundation are studying ways to help farmers and ranchers save money on fertilizer. They say looking at alternatives is vital to what they claim is a critical period in agriculture. KTEN's Hailee Holliday reports.

Pasture and Range Consultant Dr. James Rogers says five years ago nitrogen was 25-cents per pound and is now 65-cents.

Noble Foundation researchers are studying the possibility of using legume grass, such as alfalfa and clovers, to help offset the need for expensive fertilizers.

They say although farmers and ranchers will be happy to know that it will help in cost, legumes do take more management skill.

Researchers say with cattle being a predominant agricultural business in the area, it's important to find how legumes and grasses can work together to support the cattle industry.

Dr. Rogers says farmers and ranchers have been contacting them for answers on how they can save money.

He says, "We are getting a lot of calls on "what can we do?". Well legumes are one thing they can do. Its not going to be cure all, it's not going to replace all of their fertilizers. We're just looking at this as a source to replace some of the nitrogen inputs."

Dr. Rogers says the way fertilizers have been used may be gone forever and using legumes as a positive alternative could be the future of agriculture.

This article and broadcast appeared on KTEN, www.kten.com, on July 7, 2008.