For the 2023 growing season, AMVAC introduced BioWake, a seed lubricant delivering a biological with three benefits:
- Plant health
- Soil health
- Worker safety
“This is a replacement for talc or graphite,” says Ted Walter, U.S. GreenSolutions marketing manager. “It’s a soy-based seed lubricant that provides the same singulation. It’s in the soil for 30 days after application, and then dissolves into the soil. And it’s not as abrasive to the seed as talc or graphite.”
In the soy-based carrier is a microbe, which colonizes once it’s delivered in the soil. BioWake is a dry product and is stable on the seed for 180 days. Application rate is ½ ounce per unit of seed for both corn and soybeans.
Walter says for retailers, he recognizes this product as additive—it provides a new market—an incremental new sale--to sell into rather than replace an existing product.
“The cost to the farmer is about $5 to $5.50/acre,” Walter says. “Since we are replacing the talc and graphite and providing the biological benefits, we are seeing ROI of 5 to 1 in corn and 10 to 1 in soybeans. The win rates in corn and soybeans are over 80% and 5.3 bu. and 4.4 bu., respectively.”
Walter eyes doubling acres next year.
BioWake is formulated to improve nutrient uptake—particularly, iron as well as manganese.
“Typically with colonizers they can take some energy from the plant, whereas BioWake does not,” Walter says. “This is able to provide season-long nutrient availability. It secretes molecules in the soil to then improve nutrient availability. BioWake can enhance the root growth, make nutrients more available, and helps battle abiotic stress.”
Walter says AMVAC, in conjunction with their partnership with NewLeaf Symbiotics, is working on formulations for peanuts, cotton and other crops.
Additionally, using the technology platform for on-seed application, he sees future product development for nitrogen fixation, corn rootworm control and other biocontrols.
