Farming

Plant biostimulants have gained significant attention in the world of agriculture and in recent years. But what exactly are they, and how can they benefit your crop? Damian Mason is in the Stoller booth at Farm Progress to find out what exactly a biostimulant is and more importantly, what their role is in getting you to the next yield level.

He is focused on enhancing soil health, boosting microbial activity, and increasing nutrient availability. These improvements reduce the energy needed to transport nutrients to the plants, allowing more energy to be allocated towards growth. He is currently testing a new product from Holganix this season that claims to do all of this.

Johnny Verell talks about the applications he made to his corn crop this season with the goal of packing weight into those kernels.

As the corn plant switches its focus from vegetative to reproductive, Kelly and Connor really like the way this PGR delivers a late season boost.

It is no secret that Iowa has great soil. The challenge is getting those nutrients to move from the soil to the plant. Mike and Kelly talk about how they have been able to tap into that soil bank.

Matt Swanson used to apply fertility at time of planting in furrow. But then he stopped, for various reasons not the least of which was ineffectiveness. Now he’s dabbling back into in-furrow with a 40 acre experiment in conjunction with AgroLiquid.

Kelly, Chad and Mike talk about how they are using PGR's to set a new yield trajectory and filling the gaps in between along the way.

Kelly is running a nitrogen reduction trial on his corn. Well, its more than reduction, he is growing corn without any additional nitrogen on a few acres. Is it working? Why is he doing this? Damian talks about the economics of big decision making on your farm, specifically as it relates to reducing inputs.

Farming is often about managing timing and windows of opportunity. Chad discusses how he uses one particular product to help him manage a field that is difficult to access.