Use Biostimulants to Help Your Planted Crops Take Important Next Steps

Wade Givens, Ph.D.

May 28, 2020

Whether we’re talking about corn, beans, cotton or any other crop you might have put out this year, plants are designed to grow. They innately know how to take in water, nutrients and sunlight and take the next steps to reproduce. 

But if you’re spending money on inputs to help your crops reach their yield potential, don’t you want to make sure you are getting the most out of everything you put down? 

You also want to minimize the impact of stressors—such as drought, flooding or pest pressure—the best ways you can.

It’s for these reasons that biostimulants can be such an appealing addition to your input lineup.

What are biostimulants?

Agricultural biostimulants are biological substances or microorganisms that stimulate a plant’s natural systems to improve its overall health and productivity. This can translate to improvements to nutrient uptake and use efficiency, stress tolerance or overall crop yield.

They can be applied to seeds, plants or to soil in the root zone, so that the plant has easy access to the biologicals and microorganisms it craves. They stimulate the plant’s growth and development processes and, in some cases, its natural defense systems. 

Biostimulants are not pesticides and differ from traditional fertilizers. They simply help the plant do what it already knows how to do more efficiently.

Biostimulants fall into a variety of categories, including: 

  • Biochemical materials 

  • Bacterial/ microbial inoculants

  • Biopolymers

  • Humic and fulvic acids

  • Inorganic compounds

  • Protein hydrolysates

  • Seaweed and plant extracts

The EPA does not currently regulate biostimulants. But as this segment of the ag industry continues to grow, there’s a good chance this will change.

Product Spotlight: ATARRUS™ 8-0-0

FBN members can take advantage of exclusive access to deals on ATARRUS™ 8-0-0, a biostimulant classified as a protein hydrolysate and derived completely from plant-based materials. 

As a liquid fertilizer, ATARRUS can be used for soil or foliar application and uses peptides and signalling promoters that help crops withstand weather, nutritional, environmental and chemical-related stress factors.   

ATARRUS is designed to enhance established crop nutrition programs, formulated for rapid absorption to improve nutrient uptake and reduce the effect of a variety of stressors. The polypeptides in ATARRUS have the potential to positively affect plant vigor and health, yield and crop quality.1

In on-farm trials, ATARRUS has produced a positive net return 75 percent of the time for corn (+$17.00 average net revenue per acre) and soybeans (+$26.50 average net revenue per acre).2

Find the right inputs for your operation with FBN Direct®

You can double down on savings and convenience when you shop for biostimulants—in addition to fertilizers and all your crop protection needs — on FBN Direct. Simply buy the products you need online and get them shipped directly to your farm. It’s just one of many different ways we’re making farming better for farmers.


Sources:  

1. Biostimulant Action of Protein Hydrolysates: Unraveling Their Effects on Plant Physiology and Microbiome

2. FBN trial data

ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW LABEL DIRECTIONS. It is a violation of federal and state/provincial law to use any pesticide product other than in accordance with its label. The distribution, sale and use of an unregistered pesticide is a violation of federal and/or state law and is strictly prohibited. We do not guarantee the accuracy of any information provided on this page or which is provided by us in any form. It is your responsibility to confirm prior to purchase and use that a product is labeled for your specific purposes, including, but not limited to, your target crop or pest and its compatibility with other products in a tank mix.

Copyright © 2014 - 2020 Farmer's Business Network, Inc. All rights reserved. The sprout logo, "FBN" and "Farmers Business Network" are registered service marks of Farmer's Business Network, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. FBN Direct Services are offered by FBN Inputs, LLC and are available only in states where FBN Inputs, LLC is licensed. FBN Direct is a service mark of Farmer's Business Network, Inc. Herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, adjuvants, and biostimulants can be ordered online and via mobile app. Please contact an FBN Sales representative for fertilizer and seed orders.

Wade Givens, Ph.D.

May 28, 2020