Farmers across the Midwest are taking a closer look at bio stimulants, a fast-growing tool in modern agriculture that promises stronger crops, better stress tolerance, and improved yields. But experts say these products work best when growers understand how and when to use them.
As more biostimulant products hit the market, agronomists warn that not all products are the same—and neither are the results. That’s why education is becoming just as important as application.
Drew Harmon, Technical Agronomist with Valent Biosciences, says there a few things all growers should know.
“Number one would be how to have success with the biostimulant. Using the right bio stimulant for one. But then there’s also an optimized window. Just like anything else in the industry. There’s a right place, right time, right products. So you need to use the right product to solve the problem. You need to use the appropriate rate. And then most importantly, you need to use the appropriate timing to get the best bang or the most use out of that product. We call that the optimization window. It’s a window of time within a plant’s life cycle that will provide you with the greatest impact or the greatest result.”
Harmon says that working with trusted experts ensures that farmers choose products with proven science behind them, instead of chasing labels or buzzwords. And with tighter margins, unpredictable weather, and rising input costs, farmers don’t have room for uncertainty.
“One of the key things I think our most growers do to understand is that not every biostimulant is created equal, and there are some really good resources out there that they can use to help navigate and quiet the noise. Some of the great ones would be the Fertilizer Institute is a good third-party vetting tool to help figure out which companies can be trusted partners. And then from an educational standpoint, the Biological Products Industry Alliance, BPIA, is a wonderful wealth of knowledge. And Valent Biosciences as well. There’s a wealth of knowledge at ValentBiosciences.com is where growers as well as growers’ advisors can educate themselves.”
In today’s competitive environment, knowledge is power. And for farmers considering biostimulants, the right education may be the difference between a product that’s just applied… and one that truly performs.
