As harvest progresses across the Upper Midwest, many decisions for 2025 are being finalized based on observations made from the combine cab, from hybrid quality, herbicide performance, fertility adjustments, and more.
But when do you make decisions about Naturals products?
I’D ARGUE FOR THE SAME TIME!
Many of you have trials in your fields, and data collected from those trials will inform how you will spend your money in the coming crop year, including Naturals.
The rapid expansion of the talc additive market indicates there will be no letup in growth for the coming year.
If you’ve not been following this trend, the core driver of growth in this market is there has been a drastic reduction of in-furrow systems on planters since the early 2010s. Today, only an estimated 35% of corn planters have the capabilities for in-furrow applications. As a result, many companies have invested in other ways to incorporate biology and micronutrients into the planter pass without relying on an in-furrow system.
That’s where talc comes into play. Nearly every corn grower has to add talc and graphite to their planter boxes for seed fluidity through their planter system, making it a great carrier mechanism for adding biology and micronutrients. Meanwhile, many growers are pushing for greater efficiencies and flexibility in adding Naturals products into their high-speed planter passes. The talc additive market offers many simple and convenient solutions. Whether you’re interested in simply adding micronutrients or a full kitchen sink of biology and micronutrients to your planter, you have no shortage of options – and we continue to see growth in the use of these products. In 2024, an estimated 20 million acres were treated with talc additive products, and the market is expected to continue to expand even further in 2025. As you evaluate your options, here are some of our best recommendations.
MAXX NS AND NUTRI-SHIELD ARE THE LEADING HEFTY NATURALS OPTIONS FOR THE PLANTER BOX MARKET IN 2025.
MAXX NS combines Nutri-Cycle and Heat Shield, which are found standard on all Hefty Brand Corn, as well as on soybeans treated with Hefty Complete. In addition to these biological components, MAXX NS combines zinc, carbon, manganese, and iron, all mixed into a bio-capsule system ready to use with your planter boxes.
NUTRI-SHIELD combines the biology of Nutri-Cycle and Heat Shield into talc and graphite. Either system represents an excellent option to meet the needs of growers all across the country.
Early 2024 trials for these products are starting to come in and are already showing an excellent return on investment. For example, our corn trials from southern Georgia are showing a 9-bushel gain with Maxx NS and 6-bushel gain with Nutri-Shield. With $4 cash corn, both products provide a return greater than 2 to 1.
BIOWAKE PRIME
Another talc additive for corn is AMVAC’s BIOWAKE PRIME, an EPA-registered bio-insecticide for control of corn rootworm. Launched in 2024, BioWake Prime is a rootworm protection option for use on acres with low to moderate rootworm pressure. BioWake Prime is a living biological product that establishes a relationship with the root system, growing a protective layer around roots that aids in defending against the negative impacts of rootworm feeding. In treated roots, the living biology sends signals to the root system, acting as a growth promoter to help the stimulate regrowth of injured roots. This new product has shown great results in root digs across the Midwest, so we’re looking forward to seeing its performance in many of our 2024 yield trials, and we expect it to be an excellent option to consider for your operation in 2025 and beyond.
Our research team has put a tremendous amount of dedication toward finding the answers to which products will best fit your farm. As you finish up harvest and continue making decisions for 2025, keep these talc additive options in mind. We are seeing rapid growth in these products, and for good reason – these tools provide a great return on investment and can help you produce more bushels and more profit on your farm.