In 1992, Craig Bishop turned a lifelong passion into reality when he began farming on just seventeen acres of peanuts through a sharecropping arrangement with a local farmer in Marianna, Florida. Although Craig was not raised on a farm, agriculture had always been his dream. Through hard work, determination, and commitment, Craig steadily expanded his operation year after year, adding acreage, investing in equipment, and building a successful farming enterprise. Today, he manages 5,000 acres of peanuts, cotton, and corn, reflecting more than three decades of dedication to Florida agriculture with the help of his wife and kids. Bishop Farms has won “Corn Farmer of the Year” through the Jackson County Farm City celebration numerous times. This award represents the farmer with the highest corn yield each year. Along with this award comes plenty more. Bishop Farms has won multiple categories for the state of Florida within the National Corn Growers Association over the last 12 years. Overall, Bishop Farms takes pride in their crops and conservation. 
Side-dress Express
Bishop Farms has adopted a multitude of Best Management Practices (BMPs). Most recently they started side-dressing/Y-dropping the corn they grow which is around 2,000 acres. This practice is commonly used in alignment with BMAP (Basin Management Action Plan) areas and is becoming more popular for each growing season. Side-dressing/Y-dropping corn means to apply fertilizer by the corn plant rows at the root zone vs top dressing/broadcasting fertilizer over the whole field. This is important for young corn plants when the root zone is small. The 4 R’s, Rate, Timing, Placement, and Source are key takeaways when side-dressing/Y-dropping. These components will ensure the corn is up taking the fertilizer when it is needed and that it is readily available at peak growth stages. Overall, this targeted nutrient management approach can enhance crop yields, minimize fertilizer waste, and reduce environmental impacts compared to broadcasting all fertilizers in one application at planting.
In 2025, the Bishops decided to retrofit a piece of equipment to be able to Y-drop. They took a cotton layby sprayer and retrofitted hydraulic hoses on to it to place the liquid nitrogen right next to the corn plant. Craig and his son Marcus Bishop say that economics and conservation are big factors when it comes to Y-dropping on younger corn. When fertigating through a pivot, Marcus observed that up to 40% of nitrogen was lost. They recognized that they could reduce nitrogen loss, cut back on costs, and be reassured that the corn is getting what it needs by Y-dropping. Another practice that helps the Bishops conserve nutrients is using humic acid. Humic acid helps with nutrient uptake and longevity, along with root growth and soil health when used correctly. This allows them to cut back around 20% of their total nitrogen application. 
Continuing Forward
For this year’s growing season, the Bishops now have two Y-dropping machines for the corn they are growing and eventually want to try Y-dropping their cotton. The BMPs that they have adopted, like side-dressing, cover cropping, soil moisture sensors, and strip tilling, represent the stewardship of their operation. Being able to adapt to the evolving agriculture industry is an important take away for Bishop Farms moving forward. Between the relationships with the Bishop farm crew, UF/IFAS Extension and other agencies, Bishop Farms is in good hands.
Authors: Kelsey Crain, Kevin Athearn, Ethan Carter, and Joel Love
University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences; North Florida Research and Education Center – Suwannee Valley
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