Many farmers will be turning their attention to fall fertilizer, now that harvest is starting to wind down.

John Heard is the province's soil fertility specialist.

He says the ideal temperature to apply fertilizer is at five degrees Celsius, however ten degrees and dropping is also a good spot to be at.

"Studies done here show that if at fifteen degrees [Celsius], if temperatures stayed that way, within 25 days, all that urea would have converted to nitrate, which is the form that's vulnerable to loss. We use cold temperatures to slow down or stop that microbial process because we don't want fertilizer to overwinter in the nitrate form."

He encourages producers to use enhanced efficiency fertilizers if they want to apply nitrate into warmer soils.

Heard says its important to get a soil test done to determine what type of fertilizer is needed.