Biologicals in U.S. Row Crops: Building Towards a Brighter Future
Experts expect big things for biologicals in row crops — once the product choices are perfected.
For several years now, there has been an ever-growing interest in biologicals, writes Eric Sfiligoj at CropLife. Numerous growers across the U.S. have experimented with and sometimes implemented using these kinds of pest controls/plant stimulants into their operations.
“Like everybody else, we have been looking at biologicals for our business,” says Brent Wallner, Vice President of Dealer Support at BRANDT Consolidated, Springfield, IL. “We are actively trying to put some marketing and research into those.”
“Some farmers are constantly looking for something on the cutting edge,” observes Ron Geis, Market Development Specialist at Corteva Agriscience, about the desire to utilize biologicals. Primarily, adds Geis, these growers have tended to do business within the fruit/nut tree and specialty crop sectors of agriculture, however.
But in the row crop category, the penetration of biologicals has been a bit slower. In fact, according to a 2023 survey of ag retailers by CropLife® magazine, biofertilizers have increased their market share among row crop growers from 30% in 2018 to 50% in 2023. Likewise, biostimulants usage has grown from 60% to 73% over this same timeframe. However, for biopesticides, the usage rates have dropped, from 31% in 2018 to just 19% in 2023.
Why has this been the case with row crop growers? According to Geis, part of the reason likely ties back to the expectations growers have regarding crop protection products.
“We as an industry have grown up in a world of chemistry,” he says. “An acceptable level of control for traditional chemicals has been between 90% and 95%. Sometimes, we’ve even had 100% control in some weed cases. Biopesticides have not achieved that level of performance. For these, acceptable control rates are between the 70% and 80% level. Many growers aren’t willing to accept that level.”
Ag retailers echo this view. “We have multiple vendors coming through the door that claim their biopesticide products will perform in a consistent manner,” says Harlan Asmus, Co-Owner of Asmus Farm Supply, Rake, IA. “We haven’t found many biopesticide products that will perform in a consistent manner year-over-year.”
Read more at CropLife.
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