The AgriThority® team attended the National Alliance of Independent Crop Consultants annual meeting Jan. 23-27 in Nashville, Tenn., and four trends emerged from conversations and presentations during the event.
- The biostimulants market was $3.08 billion in 2022, according to a presentation by Patrick Stephenson, Patrick Stephenson Limited, Pickering, North Yorkshire, UK, and it’s expected to grow to $5.69 billion by 2026. The leader in market share at 34.7% are humic substances, followed by vitamins and amino acids, microbial amendments and seaweed extracts. When it comes to understanding and assessing the efficacy of biological based products for improved plant, soil health and pest management, it’s important to test the programs in geographies and fields with non-optimal soil and environmental conditions and with reduced fertilizer inputs. Information was presented by experts from the National Institute of Agriculture Botany (NIAB), Cambridge UK, NC State University and Impact Agronomic.
- NC State University presented on the current state of our soil biology. Tillage and certain chemicals have reduced the number of beneficial bacteria, endomycorrhiza fungi, protozoa and beneficial nematodes. Lack of organic molecules and biomass limits food sources for soil biology. The loss of soil structure limits air and water infiltration, which makes it difficult for soil biology to recover. Potential solutions include inoculating the soils with biostimulants that contain bacteria and fungi to improve nutrient and water uptake. Use of humic or fulvic compounds in conjunction with biology or nutrients can improve nutrient uptake in certain situations.
- The market is ripe for new crop protection solutions with reliable independent data that show consistent results. An herbicide with a new mode of action hasn’t been discovered for the past 26 years, or since 1995 and various forms of herbicide resistance have developed in weed plants such as pigweed, water hemp, and Kochia which caused a major threat to the sustainable production of soybean, cotton, and many other crops. Using cultural or mechanical weed management can improve the activity of herbicides and reduce selection pressure leading to herbicide-resistant weed populations. Mix multiple herbicide groups over rotating herbicide groups to have better weed control. Follow the cultural and mechanical practices, which reduce deposits to the weed seed bank, according to Sarah Lancaster from Kansas State University. 95% control of weeds is not enough. A single, “Trophy” Palmer amaranth escape produces 600,000+ seeds. In cotton, the same pesticides have been used for the past 15 years. Additionally, when looking at specific regions across several seasons, fungicides have had little effect on corn yield.
- According to a survey of attendees, 65 percent of independent crop consultants and CROs are not currently recommending biological products because of the lack of independent third-party data to support their use. In addition, 33 percent find inconsistent results. AgriThority® provides clients with the third-party data needed to prove performance of innovations that also drive the creation of Best Management Practices that will help farmers implement new technology into their cropping systems.
Forward-thinking agriculture experts with deep scientific experience are the core of AgriThority®. As an independent agricultural authority for innovation development, we focus on exploring potential, expanding market access and evolving production for greater food security and sustainability. When your Research is ready for Development, turn to AgriThority® for scientific business, market and product expertise. Reach out to AgriThority® today to discuss opportunities for your agricultural innovations.