A Natural Progression for Commodity Growers
By Douglas J. Guth
Biologicals are a booming business for farmers seeking to increase yield while meeting the growing call for sustainable agriculture. However, commodity producers, in particular, face obstacles when incorporating these naturally derived products into their crop strategy.
Unlike specialty growers, who often utilize multiple applications over the course of a season, commodity farmers are accustomed to a simpler approach for their characteristically large acreage, says Ron Geis, Market Development Specialist with Corteva Agriscience.
“Row crop farmers have always been good with fewer applications, and doing the same thing across every single acre,” says Geis. “They are more skeptical to new ideas, and it’s not their nature to jump on something new just because it’s out there. But biological options can open up corn and soybean growers to an expanded mindset in how they customize their approach.”
A mindset change is a start for row crop farmers tackling the challenges of resistance management, land preservation and enhanced ROI, Geis adds. Conferring with a trusted partner — one that harnesses solid science in bringing products to market — is the next step in integrating biologicals into seasonal crop management.
“Show me the data — it’s easy to make bold claims, but make sure (your partner) is backing that up with documentation and not just a streak of luck,” says Geis. “At Corteva, we do extensive research and testing, as do our biological partners in the business.”
Biostimulants and biocontrol are two fast-growing sectors within the biological crop protection and plant health marketplace. Biostimulants, which include amino acids, seaweed-based products, and humic and fulvic acids, are designed to enhance nutrient use while increasing tolerance to stressors such as drought and temperature extremes.
Biocontrols encompass plant extracts, insect pheromones, predatory insects, and microbial products. Although biologicals may never completely replace chemically synthesized innovations, farmers are under pressure from regulators and consumers alike to shift toward lower chemical intensity production.
“Start with products that fulfill your most urgent needs, then expand to the next important need,” Geis says. “Focusing on too many things at once may bring success, but you won’t isolate the part that’s bringing the best bang for the buck.”
One Step at a Time
As the market for biologicals is still developing, commodity producers do not need to dive into the space headfirst, Geis says. Natural inputs are often used early in the growing season to break down crop residue, improve soil health and ramp up nutrient cycles. Biologicals also come in different forms, including mixes, seed treatments, and a variety of stand-alone products.
A soil analysis will greatly narrow what Mullins calls the “biological bottleneck.”
“That will help you understand deficiencies, like having to bring in products with bacillus strains to move potassium or phosphorus,” says Mullins.
Some biologicals make specific nutrients more available to the growing crop, while others support a wide range of nutrients, says Meri Mullins, Client Solutions Manager at Biome Makers, which partners with biological manufacturers to validate product performance.
With drought and attendant water issues impacting yield, row crop producers can alleviate these stresses by turning to biologicals, she says. Beneficial microbes, for example, attract nutrients from atmospheric or soil-borne sources. Biostimulants, meanwhile, can provide a direct energy source for microbes when applied to soil.
“Biologicals are easy to apply using the equipment we have, and operationally they’re straightforward,” Mullins says. “The biggest challenge is knowing how they work, and where exactly they can help us move the needle.”
Understanding individual offerings requires digging through marketing, although farmers can study labels to determine how an input will fit into their system. Many biologicals are applied as a seed treatment or in-furrow during planting. Some non-living biological agents are employed season-long for a more instantaneous impact.
“That will help you understand deficiencies, like having to bring in products with bacillus strains to move potassium or phosphorus,” says Mullins. “You can address that low-hanging fruit. For example, unblocking a biological zinc pathway to ward off pathogens. That’s something that can be addressed early on.”
Making Room for Biologicals
While specialty crop farmers with higher margins are often early adopters of new agricultural technologies, all producers can benefit from biological inputs, notes Will Griffin, Row Crop Segment Manager at Valent U.S.A.
“Find a trustworthy third-party information source, whether it’s a university or even another farmer,” says Griffin. “From a handling perspective, some of the living organisms like spores have a shelf life, so make sure you’re getting the right products and using them in the right method.”
“Registration is becoming more streamlined and rigorous,” says Griffin. “That brings more value to the producer and puts more rigor on some of the processes we have to go through.
Biologicals are a relatively inexpensive crop management option, even as advances in formulation technology address stability problems common to complex molecules. Rapid sector growth has also come with more regulatory scrutiny, an environment that will only tighten in the coming years, Griffin says.
“Registration is becoming more streamlined and rigorous,” says Griffin. “That brings more value to the producer and puts more rigor on some of the processes we have to go through. We didn’t have these types of biologicals 20 years ago. The longer we work at it, the better the result will be.”
Demand drivers like the evolution of organic agriculture will continue to favor natural input use, says Corteva official Geis. Soybeans and other row crops are responding well to the extra nitrogen provided by some biologicals, reflecting the delicate balance between robust production and public perception of how these products affect the environment.
Geis does not expect chemical production to stop completely, but fertilizer and insecticide makers must make room for organic practices as well, he says.
“Over the past 50 years, we have looked to chemicals as the solution to our problems,” Geis says. “They’ve done a great job of increasing food production, but I see that next step forward in the biological era. [Over] the next 50 years, these solutions will provide what farmers want and what the non-farming public wants to see.”
Douglas J. Guth, a freelance writer based in Cleveland, OH, is a frequent contributor to CropLife.
