While biologicals aren’t new to the ag industry, there is still trepidation about them. Farmers wonder if they work and what they actually do—all of which impacts their likelihood of trying these products.
According to a recent Farm Journal Pulse, 41% of farmers say they need to know more about biologicals before they’ll use them. However, 35% of farmers think there is potential for biologicals in row crops.
See the picture above for detailed Pulse results.
Biologicals poised for growth
“The largest market for biopesticides is conventional crops,” says Keith Jones, executive director of the Biological Products Industry Alliance (BPIA), in previous interview. He estimates more than 400 companies are interested in biostimulants and at least 200 already have biostimulant products.
Types of biologicals
There are two general categories of biological products: biopesticides and biostimulants.“Biopesticides are reduced risk pesticides that are naturally derived or synthetic equivalents of natural materials such as animals, plants, bacteria, fungi and certain minerals,” Jones says. BPIA says biopesticides:
- Allow organic producers to control pests while maintaining certified organic status.
- Provide greater flexibility at harvest due to minimal re-entry or preharvest intervals.
- Require fewer pieces of personal protective equipment for ag workers.
- Act as effective resistance management tools because of their alternate, and often multiple, modes of action.
- Can be used as a residue management tool.
“Biostimulant is a substance or substances and/or microorganism whose function when applied to seeds, plants or the rhizosphere is to stimulate natural processes to benefit nutrient uptake, efficiency, tolerance to abiotic stress and crop quality or yield,” Jones explains.
Biostimulants:
- Enhance plant growth and development.
- Improve efficiency of nutrients through better uptake or reduced losses.
- Work as soil amendments to improve soil structure, function or performance to enhance plant response.
Each of these two categories has different regulatory requirements; funding from the farm bill will help ensure they’re accurately defined and tested before product launch.
