New Biological Supports Soil Health, Improves Crop Residue Breakdown
Strong corn stalks are a bit like the proverbial double-edge sword. On one hand, they perform a critical job that supports farmers’ high-yield efforts. On the other, stalks often shred equipment tires post-harvest and can be a challenge for Mother Nature to break down before the next year’s crop.
Today, Direct Enterprises, Inc. (DEI) announced the launch of a new biological product, Reclaim, that it expects to make the challenges associated with corn-stalk management a thing of the past.
Farmers will benefit from using Reclaim for a number of reasons, according to Quentin Keeran, director of marketing for the company.
“One is the crop residue decomposition, breaking down the stalks,” Keeran told Farm Journal. “Second, Reclaim helps farmers capture all the nutrients built up inside that crop residue. All those corn stalks or soybean fodder have a lot of nutrition bound up in them that can be released back into the soil, so there’s a big soil-health benefit.”
A High Concentration Of Microbes
To facilitate the breakdown of crop residue, Reclaim is tailor-made with the highest concentration of key microbes best suited for fast and efficient residue breakdown available on the market, according to a news release the company distributed.
By reducing crop residue in the spring, Reclaim enables soils to warm up faster resulting in more uniform seed emergence and better plant stands. Less crop residue also means improved planter performance, saving growers time and money.
“Progressive growers are hyper-focused on making the right seed selection for their farm type and then pairing that decision with the appropriate seed treatment–many of our customers have even invested in equipment to bring seed treating in-house,” says Dennis Tauchen, DEI co-owner, in the company’s news release.
“Now, why would you take that carefully planned seed and put it in ill-prepared soil? It just doesn’t make sense," Tauchen adds. "Reclaim is all about preparing the seedbed to protect that seed investment and ensure it has the optimal environment in which to thrive.”
Keeran adds that farmers have the flexibility to go with either a spring or fall application of Reclaim, depending on the benefits they want.
“In the spring, what you’re doing is timing the nutrient release and capturing soil health benefits,” he says. “If you chase the combine right after harvest, you’re going to see more residue breakdown occur through the winter. And then, by the time spring arrives, those microbes will have been reactivated and will really munch down on that residue.”
Easy To Use And Store
The application rate for Reclaim is 12.8 ounces per acre. “It’s a liquid product. One gallon is 128 ounces, so it will do 10 acres, and it’s really simple for farmers to mix,” Keeran says.
Along with ease of use, Keeran says Reclaim doesn’t require refrigeration and has a two-year shelf life, making it easy to store.
The MSRP on Reclaim is $16 an acre. “There are several products in that $18 to $20 and up to $25 an acre, so at $16 Reclaim is really competitively priced and gives farmers a real advantage,” he says.
Reclaim is available for purchase now through DEI and some select retailers. Keeran says farmers can learn more about Reclaim online at directenterprises.com.
