Variable Rate At-Plant Inputs: Industry Update

Since 2020, the team at AMVAC has been pioneering at-plant applied variable rate crop protection. To date, tens of thousands of acres have been planted with SIMPAS-Applied Solutions (SaS) through the SIMPAS application system. 

“Our retail agronomist partners expect this market to grow by 50 percent in the next three to five years,” says Jim Lappin, director of the SIMPAS portfolio at AMVAC. “Growers already think about variable rate opportunities with macro fertilizer. And the variable rate seeding rate adoption is high. Right now, variable rate inputs at plant are in the low double digits for adoption. Overall, the industry is moving away from any flat rates across a field.” 

Lappin adds the retention rate for growers after using the system after one season is very high. Also, the shift in planter refurbishment—now equal for the number of farmers upgrading existing planter toolbars as buying new every year—opens the opportunity for more SIMPAS installations. 

“Whereas before only 17% to 20% of planters were traded out new every year, farmers are taking existing planters and upgrading at a much higher frequency,” Lappin says. 
The product portfolio for SIMPAS has also grown to include micronutrients along with crop protection products. 

Lappin says the highlights of the current product portfolio are corn rootworm control, nematode control and micronutrients. Biostimulants are also being added including Envita and iNvigorate. 

“We aim for growers to use products they’ve known and already use, but to think about them differently,” he says. “Generally speaking, we have growers aligning their inputs with their opportunities—where there are areas in the field that are higher producing. In the more productive areas, what are the inputs where I can optimize my yields?” 

AMVAC partners with Trimble dealers for sales and service of the systems. Retail agronomists who are part of the SIMPAS network provide the prescriptions for the variable rate inputs. 

“The grower has intuitive knowledge. This builds on how to deliver because it’s about understanding what’s going on in the field, and what I want to do differently in this zone vs. another. There’s a lot of interest in adopting sustainable/regenerative practices, but I think of it as responsible and profitable,” Lappin says. 

As AMVAC continues to grow its SIMPAS footprint and product portfolio, the team is also eager to report on the return on investment. 

“Functionality is part of the discussion, and which product is giving a reliable return for their dollar. Growers want products that are convenient and perform,” he says. 

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