Country Selector
Please enter a valid location
Relationships key to evaluating new products
New crop protection products are always coming to market. Advancements in solutions, including new herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, biologicals and more, are necessary to push for higher yields, cleaner fields and healthier crops. But Joe Bolte, a market development specialist with Corteva Agriscience, said the volume of information for new product introductions can be challenging to navigate.
“There are a lot of different products out there,” Bolte said. “If you consider how much literature, data and advertising retailers and farmers see, it probably feels pretty overwhelming.”
To help simplify the process, Bolte said field trials are crucial in the early stages of a solution’s availability. Plots done at the local level with retail partners, universities and more over can instill confidence in sales teams and crop protection representatives. These trials, Bolte said, make it easier for them to advocate for and place products because they’re able to develop a deeper understanding of the agronomics and get a firsthand look at performance. While there is no how-to book to help navigate the latest innovations, Bolte said relationships are the key to evaluating new products.
For retailers, Bolte recommended they foster and maintain strong relationships with their local crop protection representative from reputable companies. This relationship is key to gaining more knowledge about new solutions, especially as products become available.
“Working with their crop protection rep during a product launch gives retailers an opportunity to put on their own trials or receive samples during a lower volume year,” Bolte said. “That way, retailers gain some experience with the new solution that allows them to get more comfortable talking about it. Likewise, their customers can see the product being put to the test before deciding to spray it on their own acres.”
Crop protection representatives also can help retailers better understand product launches by providing additional resources such as mixing and handling guides. Bolte emphasized it’s important for retailers to work with their representative to identify where a product would fit into their customers’ tank mixes.
“It’s important for retailers to consider sitting down with that local crop protection rep to talk about where a new solution goes in the tank-mix order,” Bolte said. “They should be prepared before they load the product and understand the dos and don’ts to have the most success.”
Similarly, Bolte suggested that farmers should have trusted advisers such as their local retailers to help them evaluate new products. The farmer-retailer relationship enables farmers to make educated management decisions that support their goals. Because retailers can provide agronomic insights for new products, farmers should tap into them as a reliable resource.
“Having a trusted adviser, such as an ag retailer, is indispensable to an effective crop protection program,” Bolte said. “Farmers should rely on that adviser when considering using a new herbicide, fungicide, insecticide or other crop protection solution. If the retailer is able to explain the agronomics, that provides merit to the product and reassures the farmer that they’re working with the right person.”
Bolte also recommended farmers do their research when it comes to new products. Farmers should thoroughly examine the active ingredients and formulations of a solution before making any decisions. Additionally, they must consider other aspects such as formulation quality and tank mixing issues.
If retailers or farmers want to know more about new products and what to look for, they can contact their local Corteva Agriscience representative or visit Corteva.us.
The More You Grow
Find expert insights on agronomics, crop protection, farm operations and more.