New Products

Beyond the Surfactant: Product Focuses on Water Optimization

Thu, 14 May 2026 17:08:30 GMT

Huma has announced the California registration of Surf-Max, a next-generation water optimizer and surfactant designed to help growers “make every drop count” amid tightening water allocations. Moving beyond traditional surfactants, Surf-Max is positioned as a water efficiency optimizer that reduces surface tension by 50%, ensuring moisture and nutrients reach the root zone instead of pooling or evaporating.

Official California Registration

The most significant news is that Surf-Max is now registered for use in California. This opens up access to 9.6 million acres of irrigated land where water scarcity is an issue. While previously available in other parts of the West and Southwest, this registration allows Huma to target the high-value specialty crop market in California directly.

Data-Driven Results: 7 Years of Significant Water Savings

The product is backed by a substantial seven-year research study from Spain (Agron) that demonstrated a 10% to 30% reduction in water use while maintaining consistent yields.

“Previously, this product was mainly marketed a surfactant, and then there’s been some recent research that’s come out of our distributor in Spain that says, holy cow, it’s really a water efficiency utilization tool,” says Fred Nichols, executive vice president, chief sales & marketing officer.

Specific highlights include:

22% water savings in lettuce
20% water savings in olives
15% water savings in tomatoes

“Making Water Wetter” with Micro Carbon Technology

Nichols describes the product as a “water efficiency optimizer” rather than just a traditional surfactant.

“There’s all kinds of surfactants on the market, and a lot of times, it’s the lowest price wins. This is not that. This is something totally different thanks to the Micro Carbon Technology,” Nichols says.

Powered by Huma’s proprietary Micro Carbon Technology, Surf-Max reduces water surface tension by 50%. This prevents pooling, puddling, and evaporation, instead creating a “wetting bulb” that moves water and nutrients horizontally and vertically into the root zone (down to about 15 inches).

“It’s a two-for-one. It’s a water optimizer, while being an excellent carrier with our humic-based liquid carrier. It delivers what you want, where you want it. And when you put that on with your fertigation, it will not pool, it will not puddle, which leads to higher evaporation,” Nichols says.

Enhanced Nutrient Density & ROI

Beyond hydration, the product acts as a high-efficiency carrier that improves nutrient uptake. Field results showed significant increases in nutrient density for processed tomatoes, including:

50% increase in phosphorus
28% increase in copper
11-17% increase in iron and manganese

Small Dose, Big Impact: One Pint Per Acre

Surf-Max is designed for modern irrigation systems, including drip tape and pivots, without the risk of clogging or equipment damage. It features an low use rate of just one pint per acre, making it an eco-friendly and cost-effective solution for growers looking to maximize their return on investment (ROI).

“This is an eco-friendly, biodegradable product that is a great fit for fertigation,” Nichols says.

Strategic Evolution for Huma

This launch represents a shift in Huma’s brand positioning. By moving beyond traditional soil amendments into “water optimization,” Huma is broadening its portfolio to provide diverse, technology-driven solutions for the “today’s reality” of restricted water allocations.

“In the past, this product was a modest product for us. But with the new registration, the long-term study from our distributor, and our better placement in market, we are changing the reach of this product,” Nichols says.

Corteva Launches New Fungicide For Sugarbeets

Wed, 13 May 2026 13:31:03 GMT

Corteva Agriscience announced Wednesday the U.S. launch of Verpixo fungicide, a new tool designed to combat Cercospora leaf spot (CLS) in sugarbeets.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has registered the product for the 2026 growing season. Verpixo features Adavelt active, which the EPA has designated as a reduced-risk chemistry.

New Mode of Action

Verpixo introduces a Fungicide Resistance Action Committee (FRAC) Group 21 mode of action to the sugarbeet market. Derived from a naturally occurring compound in soil bacteria, the fungicide offers broad-spectrum control and provides growers with increased application flexibility.

Cercospora leaf spot is considered the most economically damaging fungal disease for the U.S. sugarbeet industry. According to the Beet Sugar Development Foundation, the disease could have caused more than $900 million in economic losses during the 2024 production year if left unmanaged.

“Extensive lab and in-field testing confirm the efficacy of Verpixo fungicide with Adavelt active against CLS, which can cause up to 30% annual yield loss,” says Colleen Kent, specialty crops portfolio marketing lead with Corteva, in a press release.

Combating Resistance

The disease is characterized by brown spots on leaves that inhibit a plant’s ability to photosynthesize, directly reducing sugar content and root weight. Because CLS is polycyclic—meaning it can produce spores multiple times in a single season—ongoing management is required.

Current fungicides and some genetic traits have seen a decline in efficacy due to resistance. Verpixo uses translaminar movement to protect both the top and bottom of leaf surfaces.

“Verpixo fungicide with Adavelt active has no known resistance, making it ideally suited for resistance management programs,” Kent reports.

Environmental Impact

Corteva stated that the product’s natural origin and environmental profile are compatible with Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs, allowing beneficial insects to thrive while controlling the fungal pathogen.

The fungicide is now available for use in the 2026 season and is compatible with standard tank-mix practices.

Can Adjuvants Boost the Bottom Line?

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 20:06:53 GMT

Start clean, stay clean. Sounds simple in theory, but when it comes to weed management, making it happen (and on a budget) is easier said than done.

As valuable as spring burndowns are, a burndown alone doesn’t usually cut it. Between weeds’ herbicide tolerances, trait-specific requirements, changing regulations and more, controlling weeds takes a complex tank mix and careful planning.

With all those moving parts, it’s understandable why so many growers overlook adjuvants. But that could be a costly mistake, according to Dylan Tyler, an agronomist with WinField^® United .

Should Growers Use an Adjuvant?
Throughout his time as an agronomist, Dylan Tyler has seen and heard it all. He tells us many growers ask if adjuvants are really necessary in their herbicide applications. Tyler’s response? “Yes, without a doubt. Adjuvants should be included in every tank mix to help get chemistries to the target.”

Tyler emphasizes the right adjuvant can help ensure your herbicide is working towards its purpose.

“In a hostile environment of weeds, you need to level the playing field to give herbicides a better shot at success. An adjuvant is just that — it levels the playing field, giving you an advantage over weeds,” he says.

Research by the Council of Producers and Distributors of Agrotechnology (CPDA) shows how critical the right adjuvant is in achieving proper control. By excluding an adjuvant (when the label calls for one), growers could face a 30-90% reduction in herbicide performance.¹ Including the wrong type of adjuvant also is risky, with the potential for herbicide performance to decrease by up to 50% and the possibility of crop injury.¹

What Type of Adjuvant is the “Right Adjuvant?”
Many common herbicides require an oil adjuvant to emulsify the tank mix and reach their full potential.

Tyler explains, “Beyond emulsifying, oil adjuvants play a key role in herbicide uptake. When pesticides are sprayed, the droplets sit on the leaf’s waxy surface, where they face the possibility of being degraded by the sun before they absorb into the plant. Oil adjuvants help prevent this by dissolving the plant’s waxy cuticle, facilitating quicker and increased uptake.”

In WinField United Controlled Environments Trials, adding SuperLock^™ adjuvant to the tank enhanced weed control of smooth pigweed vs. herbicide alone.

(Photo credit: WinField^® United)

There are two broad classes of oil adjuvants: methylated seed oils (MSOs) and crop oil concentrates (COCs). This includes those with a high surfactant component (HSMSOs and HSCOCs). The primary agronomic difference is MSOs are intense with more potential phyto than COCs but can be necessary in certain fields to get effective weed control.

To choose the best for your grower’s needs, Tyler suggests starting with the herbicide label’s recommendation.

What About The Bottom Line?
While input costs are admittedly high, adding an adjuvant to herbicide applications could pay off in greater overall ROI.

“Analyzing expenses alone isn’t always helpful,” Tyler says, suggesting a shift in focus to ROI.

“Look at weed control holistically. Every droplet from the sprayer is just as important in the process as those bigger line items — the sprayer, the driver, the nozzles. When those don’t work, you throw away dollars, time and yields. The same principle applies for chemistries. For every droplet lost to drift or degradation, that’s another negative towards ROI. And if you don’t manage weeds effectively the first time, the cost of additional applications is higher than the initial investment of a good adjuvant,” Tyler notes.

For growers looking to stretch herbicide performance and dollars, Tyler recommends SuperLock^™ adjuvant .

“SuperLock^™ adjuvant is one of the firsts in the industry to add drift reduction to a crop oil,” he explains. “By combining a HSCOC and drift and deposition aid, SuperLock^™ adjuvant is a convenient option to maximize ROI potential with minimal effort. It’s also flexible across tank-mix partners, including glufosinate, 2,4-D, clethodim and mesotrione,” Tyler adds.

An Agronomist’s Final Word
“If growers are thinking about what is cheapest instead of what will improve ROI, they might only be hurting themselves,” Tyler cautions. “As you think about 2026, I urge you to re-evaluate your grower’s weed control goals and determine an adjuvant plan that will work for their fields and budget.”

¹Council of Producers and Distributors of Agrotechnology, 2022. https://cpda.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/CPDA-Adjuvant-Cert-Program-Flyer-2022.pdf.

Koch Launches Centuro A-PRO: Reducing Nitrogen Stabilizer Use Rates by 67%

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 19:22:36 GMT

Koch Agronomic Services expands its nitrogen stabilizer portfolio with Centuro A-Pro designed to stabilize anhydrous ammonia and UAN ensuring nitrogen stays in the ammonium form longer.

As Cody Hornaday, technical agronomist with Koch Agronomic Services, explains the development of Centuro A-Pro was rooted in customer feedback for a more concentrated formula that offers enhanced operational efficiency.

“Koch is big on customer voice,” he says. “We took feedback on Centuro, and basically concentrated the product down to a higher concentration of active ingredient. Therefore, we could then lower the use rate. We now have launched Centuro A-PRO.”

Representing approximately a 67% reduction in the volume of product handled, the lower use rate of Centuro A-Pro is 1.61 gallons per ton of anhydrous ammonia compared to 5 gallons per ton for the original Centuro formulation.

“It is a concentrated formulation of the original Centuro, we are maintaining the same amount of active ingredient per ton of nitrogen. Therefore we get a lower use rate, and we get much more efficiency by handling less volume,” he says. “You still get the same great nitrogen stabilization below ground against denitrification and leaching, but we handle a whole lot less product and get the same effect.”

For retailers, this means operational efficiency realized in less storage needed and improved inventory management due to the lower volume. And for farmers, this equates to faster turnaround times when filling tanks, allowing for more efficient application during tight application windows.

“It’s a win-win for retailers and growers alike,” Hornaday says.

KAS says early trials in corn have shown up to an 18 bu/ac increase versus untreated anhydrous ammonia applications at an application rate of 180 pounds of nitrogen per acre. The company plans to have its full product launch for the fall 2026 application season.

Strategic Fit in the Koch Portfolio

“Nitrogen stabilizers are a tool to ensure that a grower is using all of that nitrogen that they are applying,” Hornaday says. “We want to ensure that Mother Nature doesn’t take away any of that through volatilization or denitrification or leaching, because we know that it’s one of the most expensive inputs that a grower’s going to use for a corn crop.”

He continues, “We’re just looking at trying to be as efficient with the pounds that we’re putting on as we can. Losing any of the money that you put out on a crop that’s already at a tight margin is certainly not what anybody wants to do.”

Continued product development for nitrogen stabilizers underscores how the topic is important—and farmers seek to be efficient with the nitrogen they are buying and applying in any economic environment.

Here’s an outline of the KAS nitrogen stabilizer lineup:

Above-Ground Protection (Urease Inhibition):

Agrotain: The NBPT based product that KAS says set an industry standard for stabilization for urea and UAN.
Anvol: The current flagship product featuring the Duromide molecule, designed for a longer window of protection against volatilization.

Below-Ground Protection (Nitrification Inhibition):

Centuro (Original): The established product for anhydrous ammonia and UAN stabilization.
Centuro A-PRO: The high-efficiency evolution of the below-ground portfolio, specifically targeting growers and retailers who prioritize speed and reduced product handling.

The Fertilizer Gap Is Real — Here Is the Tech Closing It

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 21:39:21 GMT

The ripple effects of global conflict are landing squarely on the farm, where rising fertilizer prices and tightening supply chains are forcing difficult decisions. For many growers, the math no longer works the way it used to.

“More than 80% of rice, cotton and peanut producers reported they cannot afford all required fertilizer,” says Arthur Erickson, CEO of Hylio, underscoring the scale of the challenge facing production agriculture. While specialty crop-specific data remains limited, the broader trend shows that farmers are being pushed to do more with less.

That shift is accelerating interest in precision agriculture tools, particularly drones designed to apply inputs with far greater accuracy than traditional equipment.

Erickson describes the approach as fundamentally data-driven. Farmers can deploy scouting drones or satellite imagery to assess field variability, identifying exactly where fertilizer or crop protection is needed — and where it isn’t.

“You could analyze the pixels essentially across the imagery on your farm, and then, of course, just target those specific areas,” he says. “In that way, just being a lot more surgical … would lead to an overall reduction in your input needed to get the same or better result.”

That level of precision matters most when budgets are squeezed. If growers are cutting fertilizer use by 30% to 50%, blanket applications can translate into wasted product in some areas and insufficient nutrients in others. Targeted spraying allows them to stretch limited resources without sacrificing yield potential.

Arthur Erickson, CEO for Hylio, says farmers can deploy scouting drones or satellite imagery to assess field variability, identifying exactly where fertilizer or crop protection is needed — and where it isn’t.

(Photo courtesy of Hylio)

“You have to have the data,” Erickson says. “You also have to have a precise enough application tool to do right by that data.”

Traditional equipment, he adds, often lacks that granularity. Even with strong field intelligence, a 120-foot boom sprayer or aerial application cannot match the pinpoint accuracy of drones capable of treating small, defined zones.

An Accessible Alternative

The economic pressure extends beyond inputs. Erickson points to a “double whammy” of rising costs paired with falling commodity prices, leaving farmers with less revenue and higher expenses per acre.

“What we’re seeing is a huge reduction in new purchases of traditional, larger equipment,” he says, noting that tractor sales are down significantly in some regions.

In contrast, drones are emerging as a more accessible alternative. Erickson estimates that a fleet of agricultural drones can cost a fraction of traditional machinery while covering thousands of acres per day.

“Instead of spending $500,000 on a tractor, you could spend $100,000 and still have a fleet,” he says. “So, four or five times cheaper in terms of capital cost and also on the operating cost side.”

That affordability is helping drive adoption even in a tight financial environment. In fact, Erickson describes the current moment as a turning point for farmers who may have been hesitant to embrace new technology.

“This was kind of a big enough shock to actually convince them to try something ‘new’ or untested as drone technology,” he says. “Once they use it, they’re going to realize it is pretty darn effective.”

Eye on the Horizon

Supply chain uncertainty is another factor reshaping decision-making. From COVID-19 disruptions to ongoing geopolitical tensions, farmers are increasingly concerned about access to equipment and replacement parts.

“Half the conversations we have with farmers come up like, ‘Hey, if I do buy your drone, where are your parts coming from?’” Erickson says. “Is it one-day shipping, or is it three months’ shipping for a replacement part?”

That concern is driving interest in domestically produced technology. Erickson notes that Hylio has seen demand increase during past disruptions as farmers sought alternatives to overseas supply chains.

“It’s been one thing after another,” he says, citing COVID-19, the Russia-Ukraine conflict and current tensions involving Iran. “Even the people that normally wouldn’t pay attention are being forced to think about that every day.”

Incentives Serve as a Catalyst

Public funding may also help accelerate adoption. Several states already offer grants for precision agriculture tools, and federal programs tied to the next farm bill could expand access to subsidized loans or direct funding.

“These grants are generally funding precision agriculture tools,” Erickson says, adding that many programs include Buy American requirements that favor domestically manufactured equipment.

For growers navigating today’s volatile environment, those incentives could lower the barrier to entry for technologies that promise both cost savings and efficiency gains.

The implications extend beyond the farm gate. Reduced planting or lower input use could tighten supply and push food prices higher in the coming months.

“There’s going to be a price hike,” Erickson says. “I mean, the number of farmers that literally can’t plant crops this year or they’re severely cutting back on the acreage, there’s a pretty good chance [of] significant price increases.”

While the exact trajectory remains uncertain, the direction is clear: As global pressures reshape agriculture, tools that help farmers maximize every input are moving from optional to essential.

The Scoop Podcast: From Dairy Waste to Organic Gold, The Rise of BenVireo TerraLux

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 19:35:19 GMT

BenVireo TerraLux is a new product that checks just about every box for organic growers says Gina Colfer, sustainable solutions agronomy manager at Wilbur-Ellis.

“Our solutions really are focused on helping the grower be more efficient with their ag inputs,” she says. “So we really are focused in trying to find products that help growers farm more holistically and sustainably and efficiently.”

And The Scoop readers agree that BenVireo TerraLux is an example of that as they recently voted it as runner-up in The Scoop’s 19th annual New Product of the Year contest for 2025. Read more about that here.

As Colfer explains, BenVireo TerraLux gives organic growers looking for high-efficiency nitrogen solutions across a wide range of crops (specialty vegetables, nuts, fruit, and row crops). It’s a novel form of organic nitrogen consisting of 50% ammonium and 50% nitrate, which is biologically derived from a true waste stream—dairy lagoon effluent.

It’s filtered down to 1 micron; neutral pH (~7.0); low salt index, so it can be applied via drip irrigation, micro-sprinklers, foliar applications, and drone applications.

According to Colfer, four factors distinguish this product from traditional organic fertilizers:

Immediate Plant Availability: Unlike most organic nitrogen sources that require time to mineralize in the soil, BenVireo TerraLux provides 100% plant-available nitrogen. It bypasses the “guessing game” of soil mineralization, allowing for precise “spoon-feeding” during peak demand.
No Biofilm or Clogging: With a 0:1 carbon-to-nitrogen ratio, the product contains no carbon to feed microbial biofilm. This prevents the common issue of clogged drip tapes and tanks associated with organic liquids.
Improved Handling & Odor: BenVireo TerraLux has a mild, non-offensive ammonia scent and is significantly easier to handle and is a selling point.
Sustainability Profile: It transforms a problematic waste stream (dairy effluent) into a high-value input. The process also creates a secondary byproduct—a 4-4-2 dry crumble fertilizer—ensuring nearly total utilization of the raw material.

End the Software Shuffle: How Razor Tracking is Driving Retail Efficiency

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 16:45:04 GMT

For ag retailers, time is the most valuable commodity. The recent integration between Razor Tracking and Agvance Dispatch is designed to give that time back by eliminating the “software shuffle.”

The Bottom Line: Efficiency Equals Dollars

In the heat of the season, every minute counts.

“Every bit of efficiency you can build, every time you can turn around anhydrous tank, every time you can get a new tender truck out with fertilizer quicker, that’s dollars to the bottom line,” says Eric Mauch with Razor Tracking.

By merging visibility of accounting, customer records, and fleet tracking into a single interface, retailers can:

Turn assets faster: Get anhydrous tanks and fertilizer trucks back in the field with less downtime.
Reduce “Tab Fatigue": Eliminate the need to jump between different programs to track an order versus a vehicle.

“We’ve had larger customers ask for this and so far the feedback has been fantastic,” Mauch says.

Key Takeaways for Your Team

Customized Views by Role: Your team sees only what they need. An order prepper stays in the Agvance screen, while a safety manager monitors the fleet in Razor Tracking—yet they are both looking at the same synchronized data.
A “Moat” of Alignment: Since 2020, Razor Tracking has moved away from closed systems. By partnering with John Deere, CNH, and now Agvance, they are creating a connected ecosystem rather than a digital silo.
AI-Driven Innovation: Razor Tracking is using AI to assist development times, reduce feature completion times and simplify the direct customer feedback to meet their needs faster.

“As a business we are looking to serve the needs of existing and new customers. One way to do that is give them new reasons and showing a quick evolution in how we can take a customer request to a delivered product,” Mauch says.

The “So What?”

This isn’t just a software update; it’s a strategy for scalability. As software development moves 10x faster, retailers who adopt these integrated platforms will be able to respond to market demands and customer needs far quicker than those stuck using disconnected legacy systems.

Late Labels, Updated Restrictions, New Names: Navigate the 2026 Dicamba Landscape

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 22:03:25 GMT

As waterhemp continues to outsmart traditional chemistry, soybean growers are looking for a win in 2026. For Nate Eitzmann, that win starts with a returning tool in the toolbox: dicamba for over-the-top application.

A Certified Crop Advisor for Asmus Farm Supply, Eitzmann says while waterhemp is farmers’ enemy No. 1 in his geographic area—northern Iowa, southern Minnesota, and eastern South Dakota—he readily acknowledges other problematic weeds take the top spot in other regions. But all farmers are united in needing effective weed control options.

Adding to the farmer’s toolbox for 2026, the EPA has reinstated a label for three products for over-the-top (OTT) application of dicamba in soybeans. The 2024 season was the most recent growing year growers had access to OTT dicamba.

What does this mean for soybean growers?

Check your traits: Ensure your XtendFlex beans are ready for the application.
Review state cutoffs: Remember that federal EPA labels are the baseline, but state-specific dates and temperatures still apply.
Plan for ESA: Be prepared for runoff mitigation and buffer requirements that may be stricter than in 2024.

Eitzmann says dicamba is a great tool for broadleaf weed control, especially waterhemp.

“It’s risk versus reward with dicamba. It’s a tool that is great for us to add to our toolbox for waterhemp control. We just have to do our best to spray it responsibly within the label and keep it where we want it to be so it’s a tool we can continue to utilize in the future,” he says.

Acknowledging the volatility risk with dicamba, the EPA labels put in place measures to minimize the potential for off-target movement. Additionally, many states have instituted cutoff dates for application (based on calendar date and/or growth stage) and temperature maximums. Applicator training is also a requirement, as it has been in years past.

“Over the years of spraying this dicamba on soybeans, and even prior to that, using it in corn, the volatility concerns have been addressed and we’ve gotten better at it,” he says. “In addition, we’ve got the ESA compliance, so there are some runoff mitigation points that are also included in this, and a few different buffer requirements.”

Read more about the labels here.

What’s Different About the Dicamba Herbicides Available?

A trio of products is available for over-the-top dicamba application in soybeans and cotton:

Engenia: Newer salt formulation; binds tighter to acid to reduce volatility.
Stryax: The XtendiMax replacement; uses DGA salt + VaporGrip.
Tavium: DGA salt + VaporGrip + residual partner (pre-mix).

“As far as killing weeds, we haven’t seen any difference, and the label states we have to be at a half-pound of dicamba per application. So, that’s a different rate per acre of Engenia versus Tavium versus Stryax, but the active ingredient you’re getting is equivalent,” Eitzmann says.

How Much Dicamba Will Be Sprayed in 2026?

While the label for 2026 didn’t come as a complete surprise to Eitzmann or the industry in general, its timing was unexpected. The EPA label for dicamba arrived in early February, which was too late to affect trait packages already purchased by many farmers. Per Farm Journal research, most farmers are finished buying seed by February.

For his team at AFS, their dicamba-sprayed acres grew quickly after the initial EPA registrations, but they peaked around 2021/2022 as Enlist E3 acres gained market share.

For 2026, because of the timing of the labels, dicamba volumes aren’t expected to reach the same saturation seen in 2024. However, Eitzmann says some farmers are in a position to make the applications because of their seed planning.

“There are people who purchased XtendFlex soybeans and, going into purchasing season, they intended to have dicamba as an option. They maybe purchased herbicides to fill that gap if the registration didn’t happen, but once it did, they’re looking to make a change and add dicamba to their program for 2026,” he says.

As for having the tool, Eitzmann says his team and their farmer customers recognize it’s worth following the application requirements to maintain access to the herbicide.

“Be responsible with it, use it within the labels, use it where it fits, and don’t push those limits. I think as we go forward, it’s not a crutch that we have to lean on, but it’s an extra tool that we can use when it’s applicable,” he says.

Corteva’s Hybrid Wheat Aims to Close the Yield Gap with Corn and Soybeans

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 18:30:32 GMT

Corteva Agriscience is betting its new hybrid technology will change the trajectory of U.S. wheat yields. The company plans to introduce its first hybrid wheat seed product in 2027 and then expand into additional wheat classes by the end of the decade, according to Dan Wiersma, global product manager for wheat at Corteva.

He notes the company has been working to develop hybrid wheat for over 30 years. “What’s different now is we finally have a system that’s efficient, stable and broad enough in its genetic fit to make sense for farmers,” he says.

Hybrid Wheat, A Difficult Nut To Crack

For years, seed companies and researchers tried to make hybrid wheat work, but most attempts fell short, according to David Bowen, data lead within the digital seeds group in research and development at Corteva. The main challenge was how to produce hybrid seed efficiently and reliably. The biology, genetics, and economics never lined up well enough to make hybrid wheat work at scale in the past.

“There was too much cost and inconsistency,” he reports.

A turning point came in 2018, after the wheat genome was mapped and then published by the International Wheat Genome Sequencing Consortium (IWGSC), a global collaboration of over 200 researchers from 73 institutions.

Five years later, in 2023, Syngenta was able to launch three hybrid hard red spring wheat products in the U.S. Northern Plains under the AgriPro brand.

HRS wheat is considered the “aristocrat of wheat” used in designer wheat foods such as bagels, artisan health breads, pizza crust and other strong dough applications, according to the U.S. Wheat Associates.

The bulk of HRS wheat is grown in Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Idaho and Washington.

Hard Red Winter Wheat Is Up Next

Corteva’s initial launch, expected in 2027, will be a hard red winter hybrid. The product has been built around what is known as a nuclear male sterility (NMS) system. Unlike the earlier system used, cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS), the sterility gene for NMS is in the nucleus —where most of the DNA is better understood, more controllable and stable – the latter two are especially important in highly variable field conditions.

The advantage of this approach with NMS, Wiersma says, is efficiency and flexibility. The system doesn’t require extra “restorer lines,” which simplifies seed production and reduces cost.

“Where CMS can be limited in the genetics it works with, this system has worked with all the germplasm we’ve applied it to,” he says. “In our testing, we’ve not seen any breakdown of the sterility system. That’s critical. Other systems can be a lot more environmentally sensitive.”

That stability and breadth matter because they allow Corteva to chase greater genetic gain—bringing in a wide range of parent lines, testing broadly and selecting harder and faster for yield, resilience and disease resistance.

Farmers Need Higher Yielding Wheat Products

The most obvious question from growers is simple: what will these hybrids actually deliver in the field?

Wiersma doesn’t hesitate. “The No. 1 benefit is yield and productivity,” he says. “We expect the first product we release to deliver a 10-plus-percent yield advantage over the leading competitive varieties.”

Wiersma says the yield advantage researchers have seen for the company’s wheat hybrid testing grows even more striking under stress. In water-limited environments, where overall yield levels fall for every wheat product, Corteva has seen a valuable advantage for its new technology.

“It’s lower yielding of course, because of the stress, but the yield advantage [over existing wheat products] jumps to 20-plus percent. The crop is just more stable under those stressful conditions,” he says. “That’s the heterosis effect of hybrids—hybrid vigor—which we really haven’t been able to experience in wheat before.”

That hybrid vigor shows up not just in top-end yield but in resilience and standability under tough weather and resource constraints. For wheat growers accustomed to watching corn and soybeans outpace them in genetic progress, the performance is attention-grabbing.

“There’s a real hunger for new technology in wheat,” Wiersma says. “You look at the yields of corn and soybeans, and they’ve gone up pretty steady. Wheat hasn’t quite kept up. With wheat hybrids, we get a step change, plus we get a better rate of genetic gain. It’s not just the normal, everyday gain—it actually goes up at a steeper level.”

Traditional, Conventional Plant Breeding At Work

Just as important for many farmers, Corteva’s hybrids are conventionally bred. There is no gene editing and no genetically modified (GMO) traits.

“We don’t have gene editing, we don’t have GMOs—none of that to worry about. That’s a great advantage,” he says.

That conventional status means growers can focus on agronomics and economics, rather than worrying about trait approval or market acceptance. It also means they don’t have to rethink their fertilizer strategies or field operations to accommodate the new hybrids.

“We treat our hybrid plots and competitor varieties exactly the same,” Wiersma says. “We don’t expect to have to change any management practices to grow hybrid wheat as compared to varietal wheat.”

For millers, bakers and grain buyers, the concern is grain quality. Wiersma is acutely aware that pushing yield harder can sometimes tempt breeders to let quality slip. He insists that Corteva has built quality safeguards into the program from the start.

“People worry that if you crank up yield, grain quality will go down,” he says. “We’ve been testing and have a pretty extensive program around quality, because we know that’s a sensitive area. We have to maintain grain quality that’s good for the end user—the millers and so forth. That’s been a vital part of the program.”

Beyond yield and quality, Wiersma sees hybrids as a powerful tool to accelerate gains in disease resistance and pest tolerance. Because hybrids combine genetics from two parents, breeders can bring together better packages faster than in a straight varietal system.

Corteva is also leaning into the sustainability narrative, which is straightforward: more grain grown on the same land, with the same inputs. In trials, hybrid and varietal plots are given the same fertilizer, the same water and the same management. When the hybrids deliver 10 percent or more yield on that same foundation, they effectively improve output per unit of input.

“If we can grow 10 percent more yield on the same nutrients, the same water, the same inputs—that’s a more sustainable approach,” he says.

More Hybrid Wheat Products Under Development

Looking ahead, Wiersma says the 2026 season will be a build year, not a go-to-market year. Much of the work remains behind the scenes as Corteva refines products, scales seed production and trains internal teams.

The company will introduce its first hybrid in 2027, with an initial, limited commercial launch centered in Kansas.

“Initially, we’re going to market through the Pioneer channel,” Wiersma says. “We’ve got a good distribution of sales reps around the country. We feel that’s the best support the farmer will get, because we have a great agronomy team and a well-trained team of salespeople that can support the product.”

For growers in Kansas and surrounding hard red winter regions, that means the first step in accessing hybrid wheat will be as simple as talking with their local Pioneer representative. As the technology matures, Corteva plans to expand into the soft red wheat market around 2029, followed by hard red spring wheat around 2030, with breeding programs already active in all three classes.

Asked what message he most wants to leave with wheat farmers today, Wiersma comes back to timing and opportunity for the new hybrid technology.

“Be patient,” he says with a smile. “It’s coming.”

Why One California Farmer is Betting Big on Algae for Fertility

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 18:33:48 GMT

Rows of citrus trees stretch across the landscape under the California sun, their canopies forming neat green corridors between irrigation lines and tractor paths. Some trees are newly trimmed, others older and thicker from years of growth. It’s the kind of orchard scene that has long defined agriculture in this part of the state, where permanent crops dominate the landscape and generations of farmers have worked to coax productivity from difficult soils and an increasingly unpredictable water supply.

For fifth-generation farmer Justin Wylie , these groves are more than just another orchard to manage. They represent an opportunity to rethink how soil works on his farm and whether biology — specifically algae — can play a larger role in the future of California agriculture.

Wylie and his family farm roughly 4,000 acres across California’s Central Valley. Some of that land has been in the family for generations, while other acres are leased. Like many farms in the region, the operation produces permanent crops such as pistachios and citrus, commodities that require long-term planning and careful soil management.

“This is a long-term lease with an investment company partner,” Wylie says. “And we just entered into that lease last year. It’s a 15-year lease with a five-year extension.”

One of the ranches he’s currently working to improve came through a recent leasing agreement that gives the family time to invest in the land and experiment with new approaches. That time horizon matters. With permanent crops like oranges, orchard decisions can affect productivity for decades. The trees must be pruned, fertilized and irrigated carefully year after year, and the soil beneath them has to remain functional through increasingly hot and dry growing seasons.

When Wylie’s team first took over the ranch, some improvements were necessary before any new ideas could be tested.

“We were really lucky on this ranch,” Wylie says. “The previous guys, they did let some of the trees get overgrown, so we did have to come in and push a hedge and top and resize those trees.”

While the orchard needed structural work above ground, Wylie says the bigger opportunity lies beneath the surface. The ranch is now part of a broader effort on the farm to transition a portion of the acres toward organic and regenerative systems.

“For the majority of the ranch, as far as fertility, the soils, the condition of the ranch,” he says, “I think the big thing with this ranch is transitioning from a conventional model to an organic regenerative, which is part of our commitment in the lease. It’s part of the model of the lease here — that we transition the ranch from conventional to certified organic and regenerative.”

The transition is happening gradually. Wylie says roughly 25% of the farm’s acres are currently part of that shift, allowing the family to experiment with new soil-building practices without risking the entire operation.

But the push to explore regenerative systems didn’t begin with markets or policy. It started with a deeply personal experience.

A Personal Connection to Soil Health

Wylie says his interest in soil biology and regenerative farming took shape nearly a decade ago, around 2015 or 2016. At the time, his family was dealing with a serious health challenge involving his young son.

The experience pushed him to start researching nutrition, gut health and the human microbiome — topics that would eventually reshape how he thought about farming.

“[My son] was sick as a kid, and so we were doing everything we could to heal him,” Wylie says. “His gut ended up in the hospital a few times with an autism diagnosis.”

Doctors and therapists offered guidance, but the recommendations didn’t sit well with Wylie.

“And then at the time, the doctors and the therapist told us basically, ‘Practice acceptance,’” he says.

Instead, Wylie started searching for more information about gut health and what researchers were learning about the microbiome. Over time, he began seeing parallels between the human digestive system and the biological activity that happens in healthy soils.

“They started figuring out that autistic kids had very weak gut microbiomes,” Wylie says. “And so when you make that connection as a farmer and you start saying, ‘What are all the things I can do at home to not stress that?’”

That question eventually carried over into his work in the field. The farm’s first experiment with regenerative practices was modest.

“We started on 40 acres of pistachios, playing around with it,” he says. “What can we do here growing in a different system?”

At the same time, the regenerative agriculture movement was gaining momentum online, making it easier for farmers to explore new ideas.

“At the time, there were quite a few regenerative agronomists out there releasing podcasts and YouTube videos,” Wylie says. “So the information was there. It was never on my radar before. But once you join that community and industry, it’s pretty interesting.”

Building on What Came Before

Even as Wylie explores new biological tools, he says the farm’s current practices still build heavily on the work done by previous generations.

His father’s generation invested heavily in agronomy research and orchard management strategies, developing systems that helped the farm stay productive in California’s demanding growing environment. From pruning methods to fertilizer programs, many of those lessons still guide how the farm operates today.

Rather than abandoning those systems, Wylie says his goal is to refine them.

“It’s really a tweak,” he says. “In my mind it’s a slight change in the method, not a complete start over.”

The farm continues to rely on the knowledge accumulated through decades of conventional farming, while gradually introducing new practices aimed at improving soil biology.

“We’re just trying to make tweaks to the system that we’re already operating in on the other ranches to see if we can do this a different way,” Wylie says.

One of the biggest challenges in that transition is managing fertility.

California orchards have historically relied on precise fertilizer programs to keep trees productive. But moving toward organic or regenerative inputs can create a different nutrient dynamic, especially during the early years of transition.

Wylie says growers sometimes underestimate how sensitive orchards can be during that shift.

Managing the Transition Carefully

According to Wylie, one of the most common mistakes farmers make when transitioning to regenerative systems is reducing fertilizer too quickly.

He says orchards that have spent decades under conventional management are accustomed to intensive nutrient programs, and abruptly changing that system can cause yields to fall sharply.

On some ranches where regenerative practices have been in place for several years, Wylie says the difference in soil structure is already noticeable.

“There’s other ranches we’ve been farming regenerative for five years,” he says. “You can stick your hand in the soil and get your fingers down right there on the berms next to the trees — it’s chocolate cake.”

But he warns farmers shouldn’t assume that kind of soil health will appear immediately after switching systems.

“Until that day, do not pull back,” Wylie says.

He says the biggest mistake happens when growers assume they can immediately match their old fertility programs using organic inputs.

“That’s the mistake that growers make,” he says. “They think I’m going organic regenerative, I can match dollar for dollar, I can do the same thing I was doing conventionally.”

Instead, Wylie says the transition often produces what he calls a “J-curve.”

“You’re going to see that J-curve,” he says. “I mean, it’s going to tank.”

To avoid that, his farm relies heavily on testing.

“We pull a lot of sap samples, multiple tissues and soils per year,” Wylie says. “Kind of watching our fertility and making sure these trees are fed.”

He says growers must remember trees grown in conventional systems are used to consistent nutrient availability.

“The soil has been farmed a certain way,” he says. “These trees are used to being fed intensively in that conventional system.”

And organic fertilizers don’t always behave the same way.

“The organic fertilizers just don’t work as well,” Wylie says. “So you have to be careful.”

Introducing Algae Into the System

As Wylie searched for ways to accelerate soil improvement, one newer tool caught his attention: microalgae.

The technology comes from soil health company MyLand, which produces living algae on farms and distributes it through irrigation systems.

“We’re probably in our fourth or fifth season,” Wylie says.

The idea behind the system is relatively simple. Rather than applying microbes directly to the soil, the system produces algae that help stimulate microbial activity already present in the soil ecosystem.

Jeff Tuel says the technology centers around specialized tanks designed to grow algae on the farm itself.

“We call these APVs, algae producing vessels,” Tuel says. “And essentially, the sole purpose is to grow algae here.”

Water from the farm is stored inside the vessels, where conditions are controlled to encourage rapid algae growth.

“So for all intents and purposes, this is kind of like the algae producing container,” Tuel says.

From there, the algae are delivered through irrigation systems already used on the farm.

“And we try to keep that holding tank to a level where if the irrigator is irrigating a 12-hour set, 24, 36,” Tuel says. “Our main objective is for them to never run dry of algae.”

Production is adjusted to match the grower’s irrigation schedule.

“We harvest according to the grower’s irrigation schedule,” he says.

Another important step happens before the system is even installed. MyLand scientists collect algae samples from the farm itself, identifying native strains that are already adapted to the environment.

“The reason native is important is because it’s used to the pH, it’s used to the droughts, the floods, everything Mother Nature’s thrown at it,” Tuel says.

Because those organisms already exist in the local ecosystem, they are more likely to survive once applied to the soil.

“Its odds of surviving and actually making an impact in that ecosystem are far greater,” he says.

Microalgae also sits at the base of the soil’s microbial food web.

“Microalgae is actually the base of the microbial food chain,” Tuel says. “All the bugs and beneficials in the soil are feeding off of it.”

Rather than introducing microbes, the strategy is to stimulate the microbes already present.

“I like to say instead of a bug-and-a-jug approach, we are ringing the dinner bell for the microbes,” Tuel says. “It’s kind of an all-you-can-eat buffet for microbes to get them moving and active.”

Tackling Difficult Soils

For Wylie, improving soil biology could help solve one of the Central Valley’s most persistent challenges: poor soil structure.

Many orchard soils in the region contain very low levels of organic matter, which limits their ability to hold water and maintain structure through the growing season.

“We have about 0.5% soil organic matter,” Wylie says. “Our water holding capacity is very low.”

That lack of organic matter can cause irrigation problems later in the summer.

“A lot of times these soils as we’re irrigating during the season will lock up,” he says.

Early in the season, irrigation water infiltrates the soil fairly easily.

“You start with very good water infiltration in April, May, June,” Wylie says.

But conditions change as the summer progresses.

“By the time you get to July, August, when you really need it, it’s very difficult to push water down in the soil,” he says.

For farmers trying to manage water carefully in California’s dry climate, that creates a major challenge.

“These soils are not very functional for us as farmers,” Wylie says.

Tuel says stimulating microbial activity can gradually improve those conditions.

“When you get those microbes to start moving and firing, you’re going to start to build soil aggregate,” he says.

Better aggregation can help water move through the soil while also improving nutrient availability.

“If it’s a high-salt ground, we can start to leach out some of those salts,” Tuel says.

Algae may also influence soil chemistry.

“Algae is also going to help regulate the pH in the soil so we can start to free up some locked-up nutrients,” he says.

Thinking Long-Term

While installing an on-farm algae system requires investment, Wylie says he sees it as part of a long-term strategy for improving soil performance.

“In a biological system like MyLand, it’s about the same cost as a soil amendment program out here, depending on how much acreage you’re using,” Wylie says.

The difference is the system focuses on building biological activity rather than simply adding nutrients.

“But it’s a long-term solution,” he says. “It’s not going to work overnight.”

Instead, the goal is to strengthen the soil’s microbiome so it can better buffer environmental stresses.

“It’s actually creating a buffer by just supercharging the microbiome that’s in the soil,” Wylie says.

That biological activity may help address several common soil issues in California orchards.

“Everything feeds on it,” he says. “It’s overcoming high salt, high chlorides.”

Even trace mineral challenges may improve over time.

“In some cases in California, we have very high boron in some areas,” Wylie says.

He believes increased biological activity may help mitigate those problems faster than traditional soil-building methods alone.

“Microalgae being put into the system can actually overcome those salts that might take 10 or 15 years of compost and cover crops,” he says. “You can accomplish in a few years by using MyLand.”

The Pressure on California Farmers

The search for new tools is happening at a time when farming in California is becoming increasingly expensive.

Data from USDA shows the state continues to rank as the most expensive place in the country to grow crops, driven by high labor, energy and input costs.

Those economic pressures are compounded by growing regulatory expectations.

Wylie believes California farmers are already facing some of the strictest scrutiny in global agriculture.

“I think the state’s already looking at it very closely,” he says. “I think they’re going to put more pressure on farmers in California.”

Compared with other agricultural regions, he says California producers are operating under unique constraints.

“Other than the European Union, there is no one in the world that’s under as much pressure as a California farmer to change the way we do things,” Wylie says.

Because of that, he believes farmers must take the lead in finding workable solutions.

“We need to figure this out,” he says. “And I want to figure it out before the government gets involved and tries to tell me how to do it.”

Government incentive programs exist, but Wylie believes the real challenge is making soil health practices economically viable.

“They can offer me some incentives,” he says. “We have healthy soils out here. They give you a little compost and cover crop seed.”

Ultimately, though, growers need systems that work on their own.

“We need to figure this out and we need to make it economical and profitable before the state comes in,” Wylie says.

Because once regulations remove certain tools, farmers may have little room to adapt.

“Now you’re forced to figure it out with your back against the wall,” he says. “We don’t want that.”

For Wylie, the answer may lie beneath the soil surface where billions of microbes, fueled by algae, could quietly reshape how California farms grow their crops. And by doing so now, Wylie hopes he’s able to find ways to continue to grow productive crops in California, despite increased regulations.

Next-Gen Herbicides Target Tough Weeds In Corn And Soybeans

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 18:51:42 GMT

Several companies have announced new weed-control tools for row-crop growers’ use in the upcoming season. Here is a brief summary of the technologies:

Helena Agri-Enterprises plans to give corn and soybean growers more weed-control options this season with the launch of Testament. The new herbicide provides early-season weed control and strong crop establishment in pre-plant and pre-emergence applications, according to Michael Cox, Helena products group brand manager.

The herbicide combines three active ingredients—saflufenacil, pyroxasulfone, and dimethenamid-p—to create a powerful defense against tough weeds. In trials conducted across diverse regions, including the Dakotas, the Texas Panhandle, and the Mid-South, Testament proved effective against Palmer amaranth, waterhemp, marestail, morningglory and annual grasses.

“Testament fills a gap by providing great weed control in areas where crop rotation sensitivity is a concern,” Cox says in company news release. “Its broad application rate allows you to customize it based on your specific soil type and how long you need the protection to last.”

Timing and Resistance Management

Cox notes one of the standout features of Testament is its versatility. It can be used during fall burndown, pre-plant, or pre-emergence windows. Because it offers generous plant-back restrictions, growers have more flexibility when dealing with unpredictable weather or changing planting schedules. Additionally, by using multiple modes of action, Testament helps farmers manage the growing challenge of herbicide resistance.

In addition to Testament, Helena announced the EPA registration of Sinister Nexus, a three-way soybean herbicide. While Sinister Nexus will have limited availability starting in 2026 (pending state approvals), Cox says it represents Helena’s ongoing commitment to expanding its portfolio of weed control solutions.

Growers interested in learning more about Testament or Sinister Nexus can visit www.helenaagri.com for availability in their state.

The Future Of 2,4-D From Nufarm

Nufarm announces its 2,4-D-based product Weed Master XHL is available for use in 2026. The product features Nufarm’s patented Dual Salt Technology and lower-volatility DGA dicamba.

Four key features of WeedMaster XHL:

controls 90+ annual and perennial broadleaf weeds
provides reduced volatility and is a low odor formulation
offers improved handling and tank-mix compatibility
delivers superior cold storage performance

BASF Introduces Engenia and Zidua Plus

BASF announces it has received notice from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of federal registration for Engeniaherbicide for over the top (OTT) applications on dicamba-tolerant soybeans and cotton.

The new registration gives U.S. soybean and cotton farmers an additional tool to battle 200-plus weed species, including Palmer amaranth, waterhemp, kochia, morningglory and ragweed.

Stewardship is a critical component of any pesticide registration, and BASF says it continues to work with the EPA and state agencies to create national and state-specific training materials. The company will offer a suite of training options to ensure farmers and applicators understand the new Engenia herbicide label requirements.

On the horizon — potentially coming to U.S. farmers in 2026 — is new Zidua Plus herbicide. BASF says, upon registration, the herbicide will bring application flexibility, comprehensive weed control and residual endurance to soybeans with two modes of action. The product will be available for application from pre-plant through post-emergence.

First Dual Mode-Of-Action Classification

While not a new herbicide, FMC’s rimisoxafen has been classified by the Herbicide Resistance Action Committee (HRAC) as a dual mode of action herbicide, designated under HRAC Groups 12 and 32.

This is the first dual mode-of-action classification in HRAC’s history. The unprecedented classification recognizes rimisoxafen’s unique ability to simultaneously inhibit both phytoene desaturase (PDS) and solanesyl diphosphate synthase (SDPS), two critical biochemical pathways in weeds. The dual mode of action makes it far more difficult for weeds to survive and adapt, providing a critical new tool in the fight against herbicide resistance.

“HRAC’s historic classification of rimisoxafen validates the breakthrough nature of this technology,” said Seva Rostovtsev, executive vice president and chief technology officer, in a press release. “Studies show this molecule delivers control of palmer amaranth and waterhemp, giving farmers an effective solution against weeds that have become resistant to multiple herbicide classes. This is the kind of innovation growers need to protect their crops and their livelihoods.”

Rimisoxafen’s dual mode of action creates a significantly higher barrier to resistance development compared to single mode of action herbicides. Rimisoxafen is designed primarily for use in broadacre crops such as corn, soybean, cereals, pulses and sunflower, and will provide effective control of troublesome and resistant broadleaf weeds.

New Product of the Year 2025 Runner-Up: BenVireo TerraLux From Wilbur-Ellis

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 18:37:04 GMT

There’s a new twist for a common conventional product now available for the organic market. As Gina Colfer, sustainable solutions agronomy manager for Wilbur-Ellis, explains, BenVireo TerraLux (10-0-0 liquid organic nitrogen (N) fertilizer) is something organic growers may not have dreamed they’d have access to 30 years ago.

Readers also voted BenVireo TerraLux as runner-up in The Scoop’s 19th annual New Product of the Year contest for 2025.

“This is a really new, unique, novel form of organic nitrogen. It’s not new so much on the conventional side, because it is ammonium nitrate, but it is new on the organic side, because it is organic and it is biologically derived from dairy lagoon effluent,” she says. “So, it is a true waste stream that we are taking and making a really needed product for organic growers.”

From its repurposed supply source to its novel crop nutrition for the organic market, this new product got the attention of The Scoop’s audience as they voted it to be the 2025 New Product of the Year runner-up.

“It is a 100% plant-available nitrogen in the form of ammonium nitrate. This is a straight shot, so you don’t have to go through that mineralization process in the soil. And really, nitrogen is one of the limiting factors for organic growers, so this helps the organic grower place their nitrogen when they need it, when their plants need it,” Colfer says.

In addition to flexible application options, one other benefit is low odor.

Colfer says this is a new tool that many organic growers never expected to have access to.

“It is so new that [we’re] helping them understand how to place it in their system and when and how to apply it,” she says. “The product is filtered down to 1 micron, so it can go through any type of irrigation system, even microsprinklers, microdrip, foliar applications through the drone. It has a 0:1 carbon-to-nitrogen ratio, so there is no carbon in it to grow biofilm in any of the drip tapes or tanks that you store it in.”

Its ease of use is something she says is really sticking out with growers who have been part of early trials.

“We’ve done foliar application trials on spinach, where we’ve gone in at 2 gal. per acre and 60 gal. of water in warm weather in the desert, looking for phytotoxicity, because that is a big issue; you look at spinach sideways and it burns,” she says. “We wanted to really be confident, because we feel this is a great leafy greens application. And at that application rate, later in the growing season when the spinach is really running out of gas, we showed no phytotoxicity.”

Other crops with positive trials reported are blueberries, strawberries, broccoli and corn.

Your next read: New Product of the Year 2025 — Biotrinsic Nemora FP From Indigo Ag

New EPA-registered “Defense Activator” Targets Nematode Pressure

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 19:29:47 GMT

With EPA approval in hand, PI AgSciences introduces PHC68949, peptide-based novel approach to control plant-parasitic nematodes. Designed with short chains of amino acids, it’s technically a biological crop protection product, but its scientists say it provides next-level nematode suppression.

“It is a defense activator that helps the plant defend against plant-parasitic nematodes. Where a nematicide has activity on the nematode, this product gets the plant ready to defend itself and activates the pathways in the plant–thickening cell walls and roots,” says Wes Hays, North America commercial lead at PI AgSciences.

A biological that handles like a synthetic

Hays says this is an extra tool in the farmer’s toolbox with its new mode of action.

“It’s totally different than most products farmers use today. And its performance is extremely compelling. It’s very similar to most synthetic chemistries in the market for nematodes today–providing the consistency, shelf life and compatibility of a synthetic, but it’s a natural product.”

Approved for use on row crops and specialty crops, Hays says the use rate is low—1 to 2 ounces per acre, subject to state registrations and final product labels.

“There’s flexibility with application—in row crops, you can use it as a seed treatment or a foliar. For example, you can put this into your first post herbicide pass. And for specialties, it’s almost predominantly a foliar application, which opens up flexibility beyond drip irrigation or drench applications.”

Where and when to find this new product

With EPA approval, PI AgSciences is now working on state level label requirements. Limited quantities of the product will be available for 2026, with full commercial launch coming in 2027.

This is the company’s third active ingredient for the agricultural market. For commercialization of its products, PI AgScience partners with distributors in the industry including Wilbur Ellis, Helena and Brandt.

PI AgSciences is the agricultural division of India-based PI Industries, a global life sciences company that custom manufactures active ingredients and intermediates. And the recent product introductions are one result since the August 2024 acquisition of Plant Health Care, headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri.

Biotrinsic Nemora FP Selected as New Product of the Year 2025

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 14:26:43 GMT

We asked, you answered. With the votes tabulated, Indigo Ag’s Biotrinsic Nemora FP has officially been named the winner of The Scoop’s 19th annual New Product of the Year contest.

Why Biologicals Are Making Waves

Applied as a seed treatment for soybeans, Biotrinsic Nemora FP is Indigo Ag’s second-generation, EPA-registered biological nematicide containing the proprietary active Pseudomonas oryzihabitans strain SYM23945.

PJ Smith, senior global product manager, says in building the brand, the goal is, “When people hear Nemora, they immediately think, ‘no more nematodes.’”

Nemora uses the power of endophytic crop protection to multiply rapidly, providing full-season protection for soybean cyst nematode. According to Indigo research, Nemora reduces SCN egg hatch rate by up to 68% and primes the plant’s defenses for healthier, more resilient crop growth.

“Within one soybean growing season, there might be anywhere from four to six life cycles for nematodes. So, when you think about an up to 70% reduction each time, we’re having a pretty dramatic life cycle on those nematodes living in the soil,” Smith says.

Unique when compared to SCN traits, Nemora is a broad-spectrum nematicide and not race specific. Nemora also recruits a diverse and specialized community of plant-growth-promoting bacteria in the soil, which can improve soil health while setting up plants for success.

“What makes this product unique is that when Nemora starts on seed, it starts at about 10,000 organisms per seed, and only one month after planting, we’re seeing over 10 million organisms per plant,” he says.

In U.S. small-plot trials between 2021 and 2023, Nemora outperformed untreated checks under nematode pressure. It delivered an average yield increase of 2.2 bu. per acre and won 77% of the time in high-pressure fields. This is comparable to the yield potential of chemical nematicides, without causing phytotoxicity or reduced plant emergence.

Indigo’s sales representatives work directly with ag retailers and cooperatives to bring the Biotrinsic product portfolio to market.

Indigo has recognized biologicals as a core competency for its business. Smith says the company has strategically built its product portfolio with specific agronomic performance packages.

“It’s a more targeted approach, and one that we’ve embraced in our Biotrinsic portfolio; it’s not about having a bigger portfolio of products but designing each one to be a specific tool,” he says. “Not every solution is the right fit for every grower. Nematode pressure, for example, is heightened in an area, so we’re able to position that product for them so that it can fit their needs.”

The FP in Biotrinsic Nemora FP stands for flowable powder, a dry formulation designed to be a planter box treatment or applied via Indigo’s CLIPS delivery system for seed boxes. In partnership with companies like Growmark and Integrated Seed Solutions, Indigo has seen scaled adoption of CLIPS to simplify seed treatment and provide on-demand application at time of planting.

“From Indigo’s perspective, seed-applied solutions are really our bread and butter and our wheelhouse,” Smith says. “We’ve learned in our almost 10 years working directly with retail is ease of use and flexibility are just as important as the actual active or what pest is on that label.”

That’s where Smith thinks some of the biggest advances toward more biological category adoption have been made: in how product is stored, handled and applied.

“So when you look at Indigo’s portfolio, one thing that we’re really proud of, regardless of the active ingredient, is all of our products today have a minimum of an 18-month shelf life, and most of them have a two-year shelf life,” he says. “When that retailer orders our product, they know that it can be stable, actually over two growing seasons, and there’s more ease when it comes to managing that inventory, and some of the uncertainties with ordering in a given season.”

Pending EPA approval for spring 2027, Indigo plans to expand Nemora formulation to include a wettable powder, giving formulation flexibility for ag retailers who prefer to integrate into their seed treatment equipment.

Your next read: New Product of the Year Runner-Up — BenVireo TerraLux From Wilbur-Ellis

Helping Soybean Farmers Win Against Southern Disease Pressure

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 20:33:21 GMT

In any given season, Southern soybean farmers will likely face intense disease pressure and environmental stress that can quickly erode yield potential. Warm temperatures and consistent moisture create ideal conditions for aggressive diseases like Cercospora leaf blight, Frogeye leaf spot and Septoria brown spot to take hold.

“Southern soybean farmers face significant disease pressure,” says Kim Tutor, Technical Marketing Manager for Row Crop Fungicides with BASF. “They have to manage through unpredictable weather conditions and growing fungicide resistance.”

With the continued spread of resistance to FRAC Group 11 and FRAC Group 1 fungicides, retailers face a growing challenge: helping farmers protect yield in an increasingly unforgiving disease environment. That’s where Revylok^® fungicide comes in.

Powerful Performance Against Disease

Revylok fungicide combines two proven active ingredients, Revysol^® (FRAC Group 3) and Xemium^® (FRAC Group 7), in a formulation designed for rapid plant uptake paired with powerful residual.

“Revylok fungicide meets a critical need in the South by delivering strong, long-lasting disease control that holds up under hot, humid and unpredictable conditions,” says Tutor. “Its residual strength helps protect yield through the season.”

With activity across a broad spectrum of fungal pathogens, Revylok fungicide delivers consistent control of diseases that have developed resistance to FRAC Group 11 and FRAC Group 1 chemistries. Revylok fungicide provides both preventative and curative activity to help limit disease development and control existing infections.

Lock in ROI

Yield and return on investment drive every fungicide decision. Across multiple years , Revylok fungicide has delivered consistent performance on both fronts.

“Revylok has shown an 8.2 bu/A yield advantage over the untreated check¹and outperformed other fungicide brands by 2.4 bu/A,²” Tutor says.

That performance stems from agronomic strengths that make a difference in Southern production systems:

Rapid uptake for fast-acting protection
Strong rainfastness for reliable performance under variable rainfall
Excellent residual activity during critical reproductive stages

2024 BASF sponsored replicated field trials Portageville, MO. Application rates were as follows: Revylok Fungicide 5.5 fl oz/A, Miravis Top 13.7 fl oz/a, Lucento 5.5 fl oz/a, Delaro Complete 8 fl oz/a. All treatments applied with NIS 0.25% v/v at R2 – R3 soybean growth stage. R2 soybean growth stage application occurred on July 12th, 2024, and the R3 soybean growth stage application occurred on July 19th, 2023. Cercospora leaf blight (CLB) severity was rated 42 days after treatment at R2 and 35 days after treatment at R3 on August 23^rd.

(Photo credit: BASF)

Plant Performance

Disease control is only part of the equation. Revylok fungicide also supports soybean plant performance when applied at R2–R3 soybean growth stages. Applications during this window have been shown to enhance root growth and architecture, improving water access and heat tolerance.

“Stronger root systems help soybeans maintain productivity under environmental stress,” Tutor says. “That’s especially important when heat and moisture variability can challenge yield potential.”

A Reliable Tool for Retailers and Growers

As disease pressure intensifies and resistance continues to spread, dependable fungicide options are essential. Revylok fungicide delivers the disease control, plant performance and yield protection Southern soybean farmers demand — and the confidence retailers need when making recommendations.

Real Results Yield Challenge

The Real Results Yield Challenge helps retailers and farmers evaluate fungicide performance through on-farm, side-by-side comparisons. Farmers apply a BASF performance-driven fungicide, like Revylok fungicide, alongside an untreated or competitive treatment, then share in-season photos and harvest yield data.

“Whether you’ve used BASF products for years or are just considering them, the Real Results Yield Challenge invites growers to put performance to the test on their own acres,” says Tutor.

Talk with your BASF representative to learn how Revylokfungicide can strengthen your soybean disease management programs this season, and to learn more about the Real Results Yield Challenge .

Sources Cited:
1 2022-2024 BASF-sponsored small-plot replicated trials (n=16). Revylok® fungicide (5.5 fl oz/A) applied with 0.25% v/v NIS at the R2.5 - R3 soybean growth stage. Trials conducted in AR, GA, KY, TN, LA, MO, MS, NC, and AL.

2 2020–2023 RevX Fields on-farm demos and BASF-sponsored university and consultant-led small-plot, replicated research trials. Revylok fungicide applied at 5.5 fl oz/A. All other fungicides applied at labeled rates. Applications to R2–R4 soybeans.

Always read and follow label directions. Revylok, Revysol and Xemium are registered trademarks of BASF. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners and use of any such trademark does not imply any affiliation with or endorsement by its owner. ©2026 BASF Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

Zidua® Brand Herbicides: Long-Lasting Performance for Your Soybeans

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 14:32:37 GMT

Every year you face countless variables: commodity prices, resistant weeds, volatile growing conditions and disease pressures to name a few. In most industries, that much unpredictability would be devastating. For soybean farmers like you, it’s another day in the life.

While so much can change, some things stay the same in your fields.

“One constant threat, season after season, is weed pressure. Soybean farmers need flexibility, with options that help them to adapt to different growing conditions,” says Matt Inman, Technical Marketing Manager at BASF.

Enter Zidua^® brand herbicides to help you stay ahead of your 2026 challenges.

Zidua Brand Herbicides

Zidua brand herbicides make your choice of herbicide an easy one — especially because they set the standard for long-lasting weed control before it was the expectation.

“With the Zidua brand herbicide portfolio, you have options that can lead the charge against tough weeds in soybeans,” says Inman.

The portfolio’s three products meet the season’s evolving needs with lasting solutions for your soybean acres and powerful residual protection against resistant weeds like Palmer amaranth, waterhemp and Italian ryegrass.

Looking for a Clean Start?

Zidua^® PRO herbicide gives soybeans a strong foundation and long-lasting pre-emergence residual control. Three modes of action provide comprehensive protection against early-season weeds, plus rapid burndown activity that gives you a stronger start for even stronger finishes.

“Zidua PRO herbicide is comprehensive,” says Inman. “It provides long-lasting residual activity and powerful burndown in one complete solution.”

Comparisons of Sonic herbicide applied at 5 oz wt/A, Tendovo herbicide applied at 48 fl oz/A and Zidua PRO herbicide applied at 6 fl oz/A in Seymour, IL pre-emergence on May 18, 2023. Photo taken June 23, 2023. Primary weeds: Palmer amaranth, waterhemp, crabgrass, barnyard grass and purslane.

(Photo credit: BASF)

No More Tradeoffs

Zidua^® PLUS herbicide — launching in 2026* — will bring application flexibility, comprehensive weed control and residual endurance to soybeans with two modes of action. Zidua PLUS will be able to be applied from pre-plant through post-emergence, so you can take control back of your acres.

“When Zidua PLUS herbicide is registered, it will provide the long-lasting residual benefits of Zidua PRO herbicide with flexibility of pre- or post-emergence application. That’s because Zidua PRO herbicide can’t be applied once soybeans emerge,” says Inman.

Need a Follow-Up that Follows Through?

Zidua^® SC herbicide is your trusted, go-to solo Group 15 herbicide follow-up for extended post-emergent control in a single mode of action. When combined in tank mixes with other post-emergence knockdowns like Liberty® ULTRA herbicide, Zidua SC herbicide provides the residual control of a post-emergence application well into the season.

“We’re looking to overlap residuals to keep weeds from germinating, using Zidua SC herbicide as a straightforward, effective option to provide the residual control of weeds that have not emerged in post-emergence applications,” says Inman.

Make the Lasting Choice

No matter the challenges you face this season, one constant remains: weed competition. The Zidua brand herbicide portfolio delivers consistent, long-lasting weed control with the adaptability you need to face uncertain conditions.

As you prepare for the season, make the lasting choice with Zidua brand herbicides.

Explore more about Zidua brand herbicides or talk to your local BASF representative to bring long-lasting residual control to your fields this season.
* Zidua PLUS is not registered and is not available for sale. Any sale of this product after registration is obtained shall be based solely on the EPA approved product label, and any claims regarding product safety and efficacy shall be addressed solely by the label.

Always read and follow label directions. Zidua and Liberty are registered trademarks of BASF. Sonic is a registered trademark of Corteva Agriscience and its affiliated companies. Tendovo is a registered trademark of a Syngenta Group Company. ©2026 BASF Agricultural Solutions US LLC. All Rights Reserved. The <diamond> symbol is a registered trademark of Kumiai Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.

How A New Tool Will Redefine the Battle Against Soybean Cyst Nematode

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 14:11:58 GMT

Beneath healthy-looking soybean fields across the U.S., a microscopic thief quietly steals bushels—and billions of dollars—without farmers ever knowing it’s there. Soybean cyst nematode (SCN) has become the nation’s most destructive soybean pest, inflicting an estimated $1.5 billion in yield losses annually while typically leaving no obvious signs of distress above ground.

That was Michael and Dennis Gallagher’s experience with SCN on their west-central Iowa farm some years ago, after getting their first yield monitor in 1998. During harvest, Dennis saw soybean yields registering 55 to 60 bushels across the field on the monitor. Then, in one area of the same field, yield suddenly dropped into the mid‑30s — with no visible difference in the crop.

“Dad wasn’t surprised to see a few drops here and there, but not a 20-bushel one,” Michael recalls.

The unexplained drop pushed Dennis to pull soil samples. The test came back showing very high SCN egg counts — a " huge number,” Mike recalls, confirming soybean cyst nematode as the cause of the hidden loss.

“That was our aha moment,” Michael recalls. “I was only 7 years old at the time, but that made a big impression on me.”

A Fundamental Shift in SCN Management

Since that SCN discovery, the Gallaghers have incorporated the use of native traits — PI 88788 and Peking — in their soybean crops to counter the pest, along with rotating to corn.

Michael adds that they look forward to using a new solution for SCN on the way from BASF Agricultural Solutions, Nemasphere. It is the first-ever biotech trait designed specifically to address SCN and prevent soybean yield loss.

Nemasphere represents a fundamental industry shift in the battle against SCN, unlike traditional native resistance found in PI 88788 and Peking. Nemasphere is based on a transgenic trait—a Cry14 protein engineered directly into the soybean, says Hugo Borsari, BASF vice president of business management for seeds in North America.

The protein targets SCN the moment the pest feeds on developing roots, delivering up to a 60% reduction in SCN populations. The transgenic trait helps farmers capture significantly higher soybean yields compared to traditional varieties relying solely on native traits.

“We’re not just adding yield; we’re giving farmers access to the yield potential SCN has taken away,” says Borsari.

Yield Protection as a Game Changer

SCN often skims up to 30% of the soybean yield potential in infected fields. When considering what that loss represents in dollars, the impact is staggering, reports Greg Tylka, Iowa State University nematologist and professor.

“You want to make the most return on investment from your input costs, and then you got this microscopic, some people think imaginary, little critter that lives in the soil that’s kind of holding back your yield,” he says. “So the better you can manage SCN, the more you’re going to get out of your seed, your fertilizer, your herbicides, and so forth.”

Importantly, Nemasphere controls SCN before egg development. Female SCN remove roughly 30 times more nutrients from the plant than males due to the energy required for egg production. Blocking that production provides a direct hit on future SCN populations and an immediate protection of plant resources.

Because the new trait is expressed by the plant itself, the protection follows the roots as they grow, rather than staying confined to the seed zone.

“You’ll get season-long control all the way out to the growing tips of the root, which is extremely important, because we know SCN always wants to infest the growing parts of the root system,” says Mike McCarville, trait technology lead for BASF.

Do You Have SCN In Your Soybean Fields?

For farmers who don’t know whether they have SCN, Tylka recommends soil testing for them.

Another option to consider, he adds, is to think about whether your soybean yields are not increasing while your corn yields are.

“If you’re seeing your corn yields go steadily up while your soybeans are not, that’s often a key sign you have SCN,” Tylka notes.

More Than a Nematicide: A Comprehensive Package

While stopping SCN is the primary focus, Nemasphere is being developed as part of a broader yield protection package. The trait will be stacked with the Enlist E3 herbicide system and adds tolerance to mesotrione (HPPD chemistry), providing a residual pre-emergence herbicide option in soybeans.

McCarville sees the package as a way to tackle multiple yield-limiting factors simultaneously. “All of this is driving at growers being able to harvest more of the yield potential that our breeders deliver every year and get out of that stagnating yield position in soybeans,” he says.

USDA estimates the genetic gain in soybean varieties is roughly 1 bushel per acre per year, but SCN and other environmental stresses mean farmers often only see a fraction of that progress in their bins. “What’s actually harvested is somewhere between a quarter and a half of that potential that the breeders are delivering,” McCarville notes.

Along with helping farmers “recapture” existing soybean yield potential, the new trait helps shut down additional disease issues that can develop from the damage SCN causes. McCarville estimates that roughly a third of all soybean disease losses are tied to SCN in some way. Issues like seedling blights, Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS), and brown stem rot can all become more frequent or more severe when SCN is present.

“SCN doesn’t just cause harm by itself,” he says. “It’s like the instigator at a party, encouraging everybody else to misbehave and cause problems. Both the incidence and severity of these other diseases are increased by SCN.”

Looking Ahead To 2028

With Nemasphere slated for a 2028 commercial release, the industry is looking toward a future where SCN is finally held in check.

McCarville says farmers interested in giving the new technology a hard look will have the opportunity in extensive field plots this year and will be testing the product in 2027.

For more information on the technology and where to see it at work, reach out to your local BASF representative or retailer.

Ostara’s Crystal Green Relaunches as CG P2X, Emphasizing Efficiency

Fri, 06 Feb 2026 17:13:03 GMT

Ostara is emphasizing that its fertilizer—previously marketed as Crystal Green—delivers more than double the plant-available phosphorus of other phosphate fertilizers and will now be known as CG P2X.

“CG P2X more than doubles plant-available phosphorus and nitrogen, far outperforming any traditional ammonium phosphate fertilizers,” Ron Restum, Ostara’s chief commercial officer, said in a news release. “CG P2X offers an innovative replacement for traditional ammonium phosphate fertilizers, giving growers the most efficient, sustainable and economical phosphate fertilizer on the market.”

After 15 years of development, the company says CG P2X can reduce the amount of product applied per acre while increasing yields, with no additional cost per acre.

“Traditional phosphate fertilizers only offer 10% to 30% availability,” Restum said. “These losses typically occur due to soil tie-up, runoff and leaching. CG P2X is not water soluble; nutrients are only available in the presence of organic acids naturally released by plant roots. Because CG P2X only feeds the plant—not the soil—it’s extremely efficient for your crop, healthier for your soil, and better for the environment.”

The new naming structure also signals additional products expected from Ostara’s pipeline.

“We already offer farmers the most advanced phosphate fertilizer,” Restum said. “Our goal is to find new, innovative solutions while meeting the demand for sustainable and efficient fertilizer products that dramatically reduce the amount of nitrogen and phosphorus released into the environment.”

EPA Expands New Leaf’s TS201 Label For At-plant Bioinsecticide Use in Corn, Soybeans, Cotton and Rice

Fri, 06 Feb 2026 15:35:48 GMT

As farmers focus on yield-robbing insects, new tools are being added to the toolbox. For the 2026 crop year, the EPA has registered NewLeaf Symbiotic’s TS201 bioinsecticide for use on corn, soybeans, cotton and rice. This product is applied at the time of planting in the planter box.

“TS201 uses a mode of action called induced systemic resistance (ISR) to deliver added defenses in-season,” Aaron Kelley, chief commercial officer for NewLeaf Symbiotics said in a press release. “ISR primes the plant’s natural defenses against a number of pests, making it quicker to react to known threats in season. You’re not waiting on your scout to start to fight against the threat, your plant is the first line of defense.”

NewLeaf lists TS201 for use in the following crops with protection against the following pests:

• Corn: Corn Rootworm, Root Knot Nematode, Wireworm, Fall Armyworm

• Soybeans: Stink Bugs, Root Knot Nematode, Soybean Looper

• Cotton: Root Knot Nematode, Thrips

• Rice: Rice Water Weevil

NewLeaf’s biological product portfolio builds on its development using Pink-Pigmented Facultative Methylotrophs (PPFMs). First launched in 2024, TS201 was registered as a corn bioinsecticide to repel corn rootworm larvae.

In company-reported results, NewLeaf says using TS201 with its Terrasym 450 biostimulant produced a corn yield gain of 8.7 bu./acre in 10+ acre field trials conducted across 91 locations from 2023–2025.

Are Plant Growth Regulators Worth the Investment?

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Plant growth regulators (PGRs) have been getting more attention from the agricultural community in recent years, but you may be wondering if they live up to the hype. Placing a biological product in-furrow at planting has benefits, including healthy root growth, faster and more consistent emergence, and improved water and nutrient uptake.

When paired with a starter fertilizer, in-furrow biologicals have been shown to increase yields significantly. For example, up to 7.5 bushel-per-acre-yield advantage in corn¹when using Ascend²® PGR . If you haven’t added a PGR to your crop nutrition program, now may be the time to start.

What Do PGRs Do?

PGRs are hormones that regulate the growth and development of plants. Jon Zuk, crop protection product manager for WinField United explains, “There are five basic classes of plant growth regulators, each with a different effect on plants, ranging from stimulating plant growth to dictating seed germination. Plant responses may vary depending on PGR type, rate and application timing.”

Auxin: Key regulator of plant growth and development that causes biological responses, such as flower formation, fruit set and growth, and root and stem growth.
Gibberellins: Regulator of key processes in the plant to stimulate cell division and elongation, break dormancy and speed up seed germination.
Cytokinins: Plant hormones that stimulate cell division.
Ethylene: Plant hormone that induces ripening, causing leaves to droop and drop(often a result of stress).
Abscisic acid: Plant-growth inhibitor that induces dormancy, prevents seed germination and causes stomata to close.

Zuk notes, “The Ascend PGR lineup by WinField United includes products that can be applied as a seed treatment, in-furrow or a foliar application for season-long plant health benefits. Each Ascend PGR is formulated with an optimal blend of auxin, cytokinin and gibberellic acid to boost plant health and enhance stress tolerance.”

Ascend^2® PGR is an auxin-dominant formulation that promotes vigorous emergence and root development in corn. When combined with a starter fertilizer, Ascend² PGR offers a simple, convenient way to enhance early season crop growth and stress tolerance. Based on multiple years of WinField United Answer Plot^® trials, corn treated with Ascend² PGR in-furrow along with a starter fertilizer had a 7.5 bu/A yield advantage compared to crops that only received a starter fertilizer.¹

The plant hormones in Ascend2 PGR regulate plant growth and development, leading to significant benefits, including larger corn root masses with more root hairs. They can also help promote vigorous emergence, wider leaves and thicker stalks.

(Photo credit: WinField® United)

Packed with the same trio of powerful plant growth regulators, auxin, gibberellic acid and cytokinin, Ascend® ST3™ PGR is the latest innovation, crafted specifically as a seed treatment. For growers seeking an alternative application method without sacrificing performance, Ascend ST3 delivers all the proven benefits of Ascend in a convenient, seed-applied format.

When Should You Apply a PGR?

“PGRs can be applied throughout the growing season,” Zuk says. “To promote vigorous root growth and early emergence, PGRs may be utilized as a seed treatment or in-furrow at planting. The benefit of using a PGR before emergence is seeds get an extra boost and a strong start when soil and environmental conditions might not be favorable.”

“Applying a foliar PGR before corn tasseling can help stimulate plant growth and development to harness more energy for grain fill,” explains Zuk, “An application at V4 to V6 in corn makes sense because you’ll have a better idea of your crop’s yield potential and can focus PGRs where you’ll get the best potential return on investment.”

Aren’t All PGRs the Same?

Well, not quite. Zuk explains, “PGR is a broad term for any product that uses plant hormones to generate a plant response. PGRs can initiate many plant responses, from more vigorous root growth and stem elongation to plant senescence; therefore, not all products provide the same results. Before you invest in a PGR, be sure you know what the active ingredients are and what the expected plant response is.”

It is important to remember more active ingredient does not always mean a better plant response when applying PGRs. Always ask for firm data to back up any product claims. The Answer Plot research program has generated solid data supporting the benefits of applying PGRsas treated seed, in-furrow at planting or later in the season as a foliar application.

¹Based on more than 60 trials across Answer Plot locations in 15 states from 2017-2021.

Double Take On Biologicals: How A Yield Champ Found An Application That Redeemed A Product Category

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 20:15:02 GMT

Indiana farmer Kevin Kalb leans into learning opportunities.

For 20 years, he’s entered high yield corn contests, and he actively uses those contest acres to apply to the rest of his production. In 2025, Kalb won a non-irrigated class for NCGA with 425 bu./acre.

“We’ve been in this high-yield game for a long time,” he says. “One year, we made 30+ trips in our contest field—but we find out a lot of products don’t work—it’s just a sales gimmick.”
Before the 2025 growing season, he says he’s tried more than 30 biological products. And he had all but written off the entire product category.

“It started five years ago. We had people coming up to ask us to try all these new biologicals, and we’d test strips every year, and we’d never see a benefit,” he says.

Unbeknownst to him, that was going to change after he gave the category one last shot.

“Then, NewLeaf called me and they went through what it does, and that did intrigue me. So, we took out a strip down in one of our contest fields with some of the best ground that we’ve got, and lo and behold.”

Lessons Learned, Lessons Applied

Where four out of five years Kalb is used to tackling tar spot a new disease has emerged as a yield robber—southern rust.

In 2016, he had his first run in with southern rust. In the most severe cases across his farm, yield was docked 100 bu.

“That hit us extremely hard. At the time, our program was one aerial application of fungicide, and we thought we were good,” he says. “This year, those farmers in Iowa had their first experience with Southern Rust. And it’s ugly.”

With the influx of southern rust in 2025, the new tool in his toolbox for this past growing season was a sample of NewLeaf’s TS601 biofungicide and Terrasym 450, which he applied in-furrow at the time of planting.

“Around the 4th of July, we really didn’t see much rust yet. But already in the season what we saw from the 601 was great big stalks–probably a quarter the size bigger than what our other ones were,” Kalb says.

That was his first evidence in how his perception of biologicals may be turning around. However, what came next flipped him 180 degrees.

“Then, southern rust came in. Compared to our normal fungicide application protocol, the biofungicide and biostimulant showed a 6 bu. increase,” Kalb says. “But the kicker is, it would have saved us almost $70 an acre. That was eye-opening, the input cost was so much cheaper with that product—it preserved yield and cut inputs.”

Kalb is convinced. So much so he’s planning to put TS601 and Terrasym 450 across all his acres.

“Normally, we test everything 3 years before we move it over into all of our production acres,” he says. “These are the first products that we’ve ever used that we switched to 100% of our acres for next year.”

What Does He Credit The Transformation In His Experience?

“I think everybody should have 10, 20, 30 acres on their farm where they sit there and play with different rates and this and that,” Kalb says. “And you can’t do it just one year. You’ve got to have several years.”

That’s how he’s translated high yield lessons to the rest of his production.

Kalb credits his focus on soil health, specifically soil microbes, that took his yield plateau from 350 bu. to bumping above 425 bu.

“We started cutting back on synthetic fertilizers and building out a low-salt crop fertility program,” he says.

He says his below-ground balance of bacteria and fungi populations may have actually hindered the performance of some previous biologicals he’s tried. But for TS601 and Terrasym 450, which colonizes around the roots and grows as the plant grows, it was a match.

“Like anything else, I think biologicals have had the benefit of improving with time—they’ve come a long way. I see now how they can not only bring yields up, but cut inputs down. The biggest question is the same question there’s been—finding the ones that work,” Kalb says.

Faster Tillage, Smarter Spraying: John Deere Expands Its Machinery Lineup

Thu, 22 Jan 2026 14:01:39 GMT

Farmers looking to conquer heavy residue and tight tillage windows have new ways to tackle both challenges with John Deere’s expanded High-Speed Disk (HSD) lineup. For 2027, the company is offering four new HSD two-section models, which build on initial introductions in 2025. The latest models will be available in 15’, 19’, 22’ and 25’ widths.

As Michael Porter explains, the disks are purpose-built for the slowest, most time-consuming job on row-crop farms: deep ripping.

The high-speed tillage tools combine multiple operations into a single pass — residue sizing, burial, compaction removal and field leveling — delivering both agronomic and economic benefits, especially when paired with autonomous operation, explains Porter, John Deere marketing manager for large tractors and tillage.

Autonomy Creates New Efficiencies

For 2026, autonomy ready capability is available on the 2730 combination ripper and the 64’ and 69’ 2230 field cultivator models, giving farmers more options to integrate autonomous tillage into their operations. Porter says the autonomy factor could create a whole new level of efficiency for row crop growers short on time and manpower.

“Think about having an operator sit in that machine for 12 hours a day and maybe only getting one or two fields done. Now they can go haul grain … and when they get done, there’s a good chance 60%, 70%, 80% of their fields have already been ripped, and they just need to finish up the last few,” Porter says.

The company’s so-called “combination ripper” is equipped with lights, cameras and a StarFire receiver mast to enable safe, precise autonomous operation. “With autonomy, we need to know where this tool is at all times,” Porter notes.

Farmers with 2016 or newer 2730 combination rippers can update to autonomy-ready through a John Deere Precision Upgrade kit. The kits provide a cost-effective way to enhance existing machines delivering greater flexibility, Deere reports. Combination ripper upgrade kits will be available for order starting in summer 2026, while field cultivator kits are available today.

(Rhonda Brooks)

Sixteen cameras provide 360-degree perception, essentially replacing the operator’s eyes. In autonomous mode, the system detects obstacles, evaluates whether it can proceed, and either continues on its own or alerts the operator through Operations Center mobile with customizable, high-priority notifications.

When it comes to ROI, the payoff comes from both direct labor savings and the ability to reallocate time during harvest.

“In general, we see some customers who have run 5,000, 7,000 acres in a year, at a $40,000 to $50,000 cost to them, and this pays off. Those growers are saying, ‘Hey, I would have had to pay someone X amount of dollars for all those hours sitting in the cab,’” Porter says.

See & Spray Upgrades

Farmers staring down ugly weed pressure and weak commodity prices are demanding more from every input dollar. With that in mind, John Deere is betting its model year 2027 upgrades will prove See & Spray is not just cool tech. Instead, the company is positioning it as a fundamental tool designed to deliver better weed control, increased flexibility and a faster payback for farmers across a broader range of crops.

Historically, See & Spray was a tool for use in corn, soybeans and cotton. For 2027, John Deere is moving into the small grains market.

“We are jumping headfirst into wheat, canola, barley and a handful of other crops,” Ladd says, noting peanuts and sugar beets are also joining the list.

Last year, See & Spray covered over 5 million U.S. acres and delivered nearly a 50% reduction in non-residual herbicide use. For farmers on the fence about investing in the technology, the value proposition is moving away from saving dollars and toward improving the bottom line. For many growers, the company says, a two- to three-year ROI is available with the technology.

“We understand the increasing pressures farmers are facing, driving them to find solutions that allow them more flexibility and the opportunity to do more with less,” says Josh Ladd, marketing manager for application equipment at John Deere. “That is why we have updated See & Spray to directly address those challenges by helping farmers apply exactly what’s needed, where it’s needed, and across more acres and more crops.”

Computing Power Gets Updated

On a recent walk-around of a 2027 machine at the company’s Austin, Texas, R&D center, Ladd starts with what you can’t see from the outside: the machine’s computing backbone. Earlier generations of See & Spray relied on as many as 10 processors. The new models consolidate that power into just three vision processing units (VPUs) mounted on the center frame.

“We’re able to do that and not make any sacrifices on overall computing power, and there is less weight involved,” Ladd says. “We can only put so much stuff on this machine’s boom before we start to worry about boom durability, compaction and consistency of performance.”

Nozzle technology is also becoming more cost-effective. While the ExactApply (30Hz pulsing) remains the standard for dual-product systems, John Deere is introducing Individual Nozzle Control Pro as a factory option for 2027 single-tank machines.

“For customers who want 15Hz pulsing instead of 30Hz, or are comfortable with a five-nozzle turret, it’s a more accessible option,” Ladd explains. This gives farmers and customer applicators another entry point into row-by-row nozzle control from the factory, he added.

Additional Enhancements

New center-frame camera placement, on the front of the sprayer, to reduce dust interference and enhance detection accuracy for more-consistent application quality. For operators with MY18 to MY26, these cameras will be available through a Precision Upgrade kit.
Higher operating speeds in targeted modes — up to 16 mph depending on crop and configuration, allowing more acres to be covered when application windows are tight.
Optional full boom lighting enables targeted fallow application at night to extend productive hours.

The expanded See & Spray capabilities will be available on MY27 John Deere 408R, 410R, 412R, 612R and 616R sprayers. In addition, all Hagie sprayers – STS12, STS16, and STS20 – will now feature See & Spray Premium as a factory-installed option.

Alongside the expanded See & Spray capabilities, John Deere is introducing several MY27 sprayer enhancements designed to improve overall productivity, operator awareness and in-field efficiency across a wider range of applications.

Updated Name for DA Series Applicators

To better align their applicator portfolio with the broader tillage portfolio, John Deere is updating the naming of its DA Series Applicators, formerly known as the 2510H. While the name might be new, farmers can continue relying on the same proven performance they are used to across multiple seasons.

“With the MY27 updates, we continue to deliver proven durability, increased flexibility and technology-ready solutions that help farmers maximize productivity,” Porter says.

To learn more about the updates to the John Deere application portfolio, visit JohnDeere.com or contact your local John Deere dealer.

Turning locked-up nutrients into yield, helping growers get more from every pound of phosphorus

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 14:03:00 GMT

Phosphorus is one of the most essential nutrients in crop production. Every season, growers invest heavily in phosphorus to drive early root development, stand establishment and yield potential. Yet despite its importance, research shows that a significant portion of applied phosphorus becomes unavailable to plants locked up by calcium, iron, aluminum or bound in organic matter. That means a valuable nutrient is not readily available to the crop when it matters most.

This inefficiency poses a serious challenge. With market pressure climbing, growers are asking retailers how to maximize returns from every input.

Instead of relying on additional fertilizer or biological products that may have variable performance, enzymes offer a different approach. Enzyme technologies, like PHOSFORCE™ nutrient enhancer, can help unlock organic phosphorus already present in the soil, making it more available for plant uptake.

Why enzymes?

Retailers and growers alike have seen the promises of live microbial biological products fall short when soil conditions are not perfect. Microbes depend on ideal temperature, moisture and pH to survive, colonize and eventually secrete beneficial enzymes.

Enzymes, by contrast, are not alive. They are biochemical tools engineered to work independently of environmental swings. Once in contact with soil moisture, they get to work immediately, delivering consistency and predictability that your growers can count on.

An example of this technology is PHOSFORCE™ nutrient enhancer, a new enzyme technology from Koch Agronomic Services, which contains a concentrated enzyme that breaks apart organic phosphorus in the soil, turning it into a form that crops can easily absorb and use. Rather than waiting on microbial populations to produce enzymes in the right conditions, PHOSFORCE delivers a direct, fast-acting solution to phosphorus tie-up.

PHOSFORCE is designed for versatility across application methods. Whether in-furrow with a starter, broadcast with UAN and herbicide, split-applied or delivered through fertigation, the goal is the same: get the enzyme into the root zone where it can free up phosphorus for the plant.

Backed by research, proven in the field

PHOSFORCE has been rigorously tested in 15 crops, with proven performance across a broad range of environmental conditions, crop types and application methods.

CORN: In 154 corn yield trials across the country, PHOSFORCE increased corn yields by an average of 5.2 bushels per acre.
SOYBEANS: Across field trials in ten states, PHOSFORCE delivered an average +3 bu/A increase in soybean yields.
POTATOES: In field trials across six states, PHOSFORCE increased potato yields by an average 31.4 hundredweight per acre.
COTTON: Across field trials in seven states, PHOSFORCE increased yields by an average of 57 pounds per acre.

These results are replicated, validated, field-tested and backed by rigorous agronomic research.

Meeting today’s challenges head-on

With input costs rising and commodity prices under pressure, growers are looking for ways to optimize every acre. Many are even cutting back on traditional phosphorus applications. As their retailer, you are challenged to bring forward solutions that both control costs and protect yield potential.

PHOSFORCE addresses both sides of the equation:

For Retailers: A reliable, easy-to-implement product that helps growers maximize existing phosphorus. PHOSFORCE can be applied independently of P fertilizer, which offers flexibility and fit for a wide range of operations and retailer programs, bringing value as an efficiency tool rather than an added complication.
For Growers: This product unlocks phosphorus that is already in the field. It offers growers a great way to reclaim value from existing investments, ensuring that phosphorus already in the soil contributes to early crop growth and yield potential.

A smarter path forward

Enzyme-driven phosphorus efficiency represents more than a product. It is a shift in how the industry can think about nutrient management. Rather than applying more, PHOSFORCE enables growers and retailers to use what is already in the field more effectively.

For your growers, that means confidence that phosphorus applications and existing soil reserves are contributing to crop performance. For retailers, it is an opportunity to bring forward a versatile, science-backed solution that enables more efficient use of one of the most vital crop nutrients.

Learn more about enzymes and see the PHOSFORCE trial results for yourself at UnlockMorePhos.com .

^{PHOSFORCE and the PHOSFORCE logo are trademarks of Koch Agronomic Services, LLC. Koch and the Koch logo are trademarks of Koch IP Holdings, LLC. ©2025 Koch Agronomic Services, LLC. All rights reserved.}

Growmark Expands St. Louis Manufacturing With Biologicals Production Plant

Wed, 17 Dec 2025 20:38:59 GMT

After acquiring AgraForm in 2024, Growmark continues to expand the St. Louis site with the construction of a biological crop input manufacturing plant. This announcement was made on Dec. 17.

“The scientific advancements in agricultural biologicals have introduced innovative methods for farmers to safeguard their plants and improve soil health with more sustainable options,” said Rod Wells, Growmark’s Senior Vice President of Strategy and Logistics. “It’s beneficial for both farmers and consumers when we enable farmers to grow healthier and stronger crops using these sustainable practices.”

Expected to be operational for production in 2027, the manufacturing facility will produce biostimulants, biopesticides, and biofertilizers. The company says it’s also building capacity to manufacture animal biological and waste treatment products.

Growmark says the demand for biological products, and therefore manufacturing of those products, has outpaced what companies are able to produce.

“As demand for biological products continues to grow across the ag industry, the construction of the new manufacturing plant will allow Growmark to provide high-quality biological products, made in the United States, to stakeholders throughout North America,” said Growmark Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Brad Drake. “It also allows Growmark to influence another critical point in the ag value chain to better serve its members and customers.”

How Does Autonomous Machinery Stack Up Against Labor Costs on Midwest Row Crop Farms?

Mon, 15 Dec 2025 19:32:13 GMT

A first-of-its-kind academic analysis looks at labor rates and current autonomous solutions to spur a discussion on the tipping point for when the technology pays. Published by Chad Feichter, ag economist at Purdue, and PhD student Josh Strine, the recently released study looks at large-scale autonomous farming equipment and a Midwestern 50-50 corn/soybean farm.

“We were puzzled by what could potentially be the returns to these large autonomous machines because it seems that’s at least the trend of where we’re going,” Feichter says. “Also the idea there’s a labor shortage seems to be what’s motivating the conversation.”

The economists started with an economic farm-planning model originally developed at Purdue 60 years ago, updated it and plugged in a series of factors:

Labor rates
Production costs
Field size
Machinery/subscription costs
Equipment efficiency

The takeaway: Comparatively, autonomy is still an expensive alternative to average farm labor rates. Per the analysis, autonomy pays off when the labor rate is greater than $44 per hour.

“Currently, with where labor rates are, the autonomy solution across the board isn’t probably what we need in the immediate term, based on what we understand about how autonomy works and the productivity of autonomy,” Feichter says. “But if there’s a farmer who cannot find labor, autonomous machines will allow those acres to be farmed.”

Feichter says the current technology platforms installed on large-scale machines aren’t a one-for-one substitute for a human operator for a few reasons.

Profitability of autonomy hinges on three things:

the cost of autonomy subscriptions
the field efficiency of the machines
how much human supervision they still require

Co-author Strine says the ROI of autonomy is operation-specific to how the efficiencies of autonomy are realized. Their analysis included wide ranges in the variables to explore likely scenarios with today’s technology so as efficiencies improve there can be a comparison.

“Right now, the efficiency of the autonomy isn’t an advantage versus humans,” Strine says. “Maybe they will quickly get to 100% human efficiency, and it’s possible that it will surpass just having somebody driving that tractor. However, right now, oversight hours are required and the on-road transport is required.”

Where could autonomy pay off the soonest—Fiechter says it’s where high value tasks, in field efficiency and tightness in labor intersect.

“There are really high-value tasks, where you could potentially alleviate the labor challenge in the short run,” Fiechter says. “Maybe harvest is one of those where we would really see a benefit of having autonomous machines, whereas in planting time, it may not be quite as important.”

Manufacturers Report No Humans Have Been Displaced by Autonomous Tractors

Craig Rupp founded Sabanto, which sells autonomy systems to be outfitted on mid-range hp tractors.

“I had an epiphany after 50 systems,” Rupp says. “I’m not solving the labor problem. Farmers may buy as if we’re replacing labor, but they keep the labor, and it’s about quality of life. It’s about not spending 12 to 16 hours a day when they get behind or have to work weekends. And they are using autonomy to scale their operation—they are taking on more acres.”

Earlier this year Sabanto published a case study looking at seeding 10,000 acres with a traditional 4WD high-horsepower set up versus running three Sabanto outfitted tractors. The company’s analysis did not include labor costs, but evaluating the investment and operational costs, Sabanto says a traditional setup costs $18.88/acre the three Sabanto equipped machines cost $6.27/acre. You can read the whole report here.

His company has sold more than 200 systems in the past two years.

“We’ve put no people out of work,” Rupp says. “Farmers will adopt autonomy for labor when it’s the last choice they have.”

Michael Porter, large tractor marketing manager at John Deere, shares an anecdote from a customer over the Thanksgiving weekend.

“A great example this year is we had two machines running on Thanksgiving, and they literally ran while the farmers had their Thanksgiving dinner,” Porter says. “And the next day, when they got back out there, they had a couple hundreds acres already tilled so they can continue moving on with that fall field work.”

The quality of life autonomy adds to as well as the agronomic value of timely field work are added values manufacturers point to for being benefits of adopting these systems.

“That’s something that’s hard to quantify, football games on Friday nights, dinner with the family, all those things that’s a big part of it. Those quality of life things, they’re really hard to quantify, but people experience them, and once they experience them, they don’t want to go back,” Porter says.

John Deere autonomous systems cost between $40,000 and $45,000 for the kit, plus dealership install and yearly subscription fee, which is $10,000 for unlimited acres for tillage, for example.

Dinen Subramaniam, product launch manager for Outrun at PTx Trimble, has lead their team to deploy autonomous grain cart systems and tillage systems in Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois and Georgia.

He shares a story from a customer in Nebraska who it’s a father-son farming duo, and the OutRun grain cart allows the father to truck grain while the son harvests supported by the autonomous grain cart. That 3,500 acre farm has been able to finish harvest in 20% to 25% less time.

“It’s really about the flexibility of the deployment of labor that autonomy gives you,” Subramaniam says. “Like having a grain truck driver rather than a grain cart driver, or having someone who can take a five hour break during tillage and let the autonomous system run.”

AGCO’s PTx OutRun tillage solution is $44,000 for hardware plus a $9,000 annual cost. OutRun’s modular model also includes autonomous grain cart operations, with additional tasks in development. A combined tillage/grain cart setup costs $55,000 for hardware and $15,000 annually.

Subramaniam also highlights agronomic benefits for fall field work getting done timelier when autonomous systems are used.

“Instead of straining into December with harvest trying to get that crop off the ground, autonomy can help reduce late harvest yield loss, which can be a 3% to 5% reduction,” he says. “We talk about an ideal harvest season, but the reality is there are always weather delays, mechanical delays, and more.”

There’s a trickle down effect of timely harvest, fall tillage and fall application.

“From a tillage point of view, we’ve also learned that there’s other benefits as well from better incorporation of crop residue, getting to tillage sooner so that that crop residue can break down,” he says.

The Purdue economists agree this is a space to watch as what’s possible with technology and the escalating labor issues intersect.

Living Sensors Turn Soybeans into Fungal Disease Detectives

Mon, 08 Dec 2025 21:07:29 GMT

For Aidan Kleinschmit, trying to get the upper hand over white mold disease in soybeans used to involve a frustrating amount of guesswork.

White mold can lurk in soybean fields undetected for weeks, causing significant damage before any visible symptoms appear. Kleinschmit says his annual struggle with the disease turned a corner this past season when he decided to trial the use of CropVoice from InnerPlant.

“I remember they sent out an alert on a Saturday night about white mold being detected, and by Monday we had decided we were going to treat,” recounts Kleinschmit, who farms in northeast Nebraska with his dad and brother.

“That put us way ahead of the white mold, because by the time you see it some damage is done,” Kleinschmit adds. “You might get disease suppression from a fungicide at that point, but you’re going to have some yield loss.”

Early Detection: A Game-Changer For Disease Control
The proactive treatment Kleinschmit made included whole-field fungicide applications as well as some targeted spot spraying with a drone over 500-plus acres. The payoff was evident in yield results Kleinschmit saw at harvest.

“We sprayed one entire field in our bottom ground, and it made about 86 bushels per acre,” he says. “That was well over, probably 25 bushels better, than what some of the other fields in our bottom ground yielded.”

Gary Schaefer, chief commercial officer at InnerPlant, says the big takeaway with CropVoice is the tool gives farmers real-time disease detection, informing decisions on whether to spray a fungicide. This directly addresses the ambiguity that farmers like Kleinschmit have long faced with disease management decisions.

“CropVoice is designed to deliver ROI by either saving costs in years when spraying isn’t necessary, or by enabling timely, effective action during heavy disease pressure, significantly improving the efficacy and financial return of fungicide applications,” Schaefer says.

While Schaefer doesn’t say what the return-on-investment for using CropVoice is, he contends that for every dollar a farmer spends on technology or an input “they should get at least $3 back,” a number Kleinschmit affirms as being on par for his expectations.

A ‘Cell Phone Tower’ for Soybean Fields
CropVoice is the first product InnerPlant has designed for farmers. How the technology works hinges on a seed biotech trait the company has developed that turns soybeans into living sensors that detect disease at the molecular level. The soybeans emit a fluorescent optical signal within 48 hours of a fungal infection – before any visible symptoms appear.

The company is placing its soybeans in sentinel plots that act like an early alert system in a defined geography. CropVoice analyzes the data coming from the plots 24/7. If a foliar disease moves into the plots, farmers and retailers working with InnerPlant are alerted that the disease is in their area.

Schaefer says to think of the sentinel plots as working like a network of cell towers for farmers whose fields are the cell phones.
“What you’re subscribing to is the network of cell towers that gives coverage for a broad area,” he explains.

For 2026, InnerPlant is placing 100 sentinel plots in fields across Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska and South Dakota to achieve the cell tower network effect for farmers in those states. Each plot will range in size from one-eighth acre to one-fourth of an acre.

Cultural Practices Play An Important Role
The soybeans grown in the sentinel plots mimic the cultural practices representative of soybean growers in each state. The strategy ensures highly relevant data for farms that are enrolled in InnerPlant’s program, which is implemented through strategic partnerships with retailers, Schaefer reports.

Farmers enroll their soybean acres in the InnerPlant network for a fee ($6 per acre for 2026). Retailers facilitate the process, mapping fields into the company’s program for retailers’ continuous monitoring throughout the growing season.

Participating farmers get weekly scouting reports, which include a disease score indicating risk levels in their area along with a detailed map showing any disease progression in their area. In addition, the company provides real-time disease alerts that are pushed directly to farmers via text anytime CropVoice detects a disease in the sentinel plots in thearea.

“The plants will turn on to any fungal pathogen,” Schaefer reports. He says end-of-year scouting reports from 2025 in Nebraska and Illinois revealed the detection of between five and seven different fungal pathogens in the company’s plots.

Kleinschmit says the proximity of the sentinel plots to his soybean fields and the early text alerts are two of the factors that sold him on enrolling a portion of his acres in the program.

“We’re only going to spray acres that we think are going to be affected by white mold at this point. I thought the technology really gave us a good benefit there,” says Kleinschmit.

“There are so many variables and moving parts in farming, so if there’s a way to help minimize the guesswork to help us make a good decision, I’m going to look into it and try it,” he adds.

Other technologies are also being explored by researchers for early soybean disease detection, such as hyperspectral imaging for charcoal rot and the Sporecaster smartphone app from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. The latter predicts white mold risk based on weather data and field conditions.

Expanding the Network: Coverage for 2026 and Beyond
InnerPlant expects to scale up to more than 500,000 soybean acres across Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska and South Dakota in 2026 and plans to expand beyond those states over time.

To learn more about the technology, farmers can connect with participating ag retailers or reach out directly to InnerPlant.
Schaefer says the companyis hosting demos this winter, offering a firsthand look at this real-time, plant-based technology that could redefine how farmers address key diseases in the future.

He adds that InnerPlant will start field testing a corn fungal sensor in 2026, aiming to expand the plant-based disease detection technology to even more farmers and geographies in the coming years.

InnerPlant is partnering with local ag retailers to introduce CropVoice. The 2026 retailer network includes:

Illinois
Sun Ag

Iowa
Agriland
FSC
NEW
Nutrien

Nebraska
Aurora Cooperative
CHS
Hwy 75-Chem
Norder Supply
Nutrien
Rawhide Fertilizer, LLC

South Dakota
CHS
Nutrien

New Insect Control Tool Now Available for Use In Corn, Cotton & Cereals

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 21:04:08 GMT

A new insect control tool from Syngenta, Plinazolin, is now registered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for use in a variety of broad-acre and specialty crops including corn, cotton, cereals, vegetables and tree fruit.

Plinazolin is the trademark name for the active ingredient isocycloseram, a member of the  Insecticide Resistance Action Committee’s Group 30 .

This group of insecticides is known as GABA receptor antagonists. Plinazolin is formulated to control insect pests by contact and ingestion to quickly stop feeding.

The company spent 12 years researching and developing the product, as well as testing it in more than 3,000 U.S. trials, according to Elijah Meck, Syngenta technical product lead.

For the 2026 season, growers can purchase the product – which Syngenta reports will power five separate insecticide products – as a seed treatment, soil-applied insecticide or foliar-applied insecticide. The product is available for use subject to state approvals.

The five individual products and some of the key pests each one controls, include:

Opello : This soil-applied insecticide provides revolutionary control of corn rootworm, consistently helping corn yield up to 27 bu/A more than untreated¹, while its highly tank-mix compatible formulation allows growers to leave equipment clogs and slowdowns in the past.
Equento : This insecticide seed treatment offers a flexible and compatible option to terminate wireworms and suppress other below-ground pests, ultimately improving plant stand and helping a grower’s bottom line.
Vertento : One of the toughest insect pest fighters in its class, this foliar-applied insecticide for cotton, peanuts and onions delivers a fast-acting, knockout punch to insect pests including plant bugs, thrips and mites.
Incipio : With impressive residual strength to take the guesswork out of insect control, this foliar-applied insecticide for brassica, leafy, fruiting vegetable and cucurbit crops delivers a heavy-duty takedown of tough insect pests.
Zivalgo : This foliar-applied insecticide can lead the way for potato and tree fruit insect pest management with unmatched, broad-spectrum control of Colorado potato beetles, codling moth, citrus thrips, spider mites and more.

Syngenta notes in a statement that each formulation has been specifically designed to maximize performance based on crop needs, pest pressure and application method.

More information on the products is available at Syngenta-US.com/social .

Reference:
¹n = 8 trials with location of IA(3), WI, IL, KS, SD, MN, average injury of 1.51 and Internal and University Cooperator Field Trials 2022-2024.