Let the meetings begin.

It’s that time of year when farmers close their tool chests for a few hours and attend various area meetings to hear their local agronomists, extension agents and industry professionals talk about the upcoming growing season.

One of the topics likely to be discussed this year is the use of biologicals.

Biologicals are becoming more and more popular with growers—but what exactly are they?

The Basics

We can split biologicals into two major categories:

Biostimulants: Also called “bioenhancers,” these products do exactly what they say they do—stimulate. Usually in the form of microbes or microbe products, biostimulants enhance plant growth, health and productivity, all of which can improve your ROI.

Biopesticides: Sometimes referred to as “biocontrols,” these products use living organisms or derivatives of living organisms to mitigate the negative impacts of insect pests, weeds and pathogens.

Biologicals are often applied in the form of seed treatments, in-furrow applications or foliar sprays. There are a wide variety of products for a wide variety of crops, so for corn and soybean farmers, the biologicals industry has become increasingly prevalent.

Biologicals for Corn and Soybean Growers

The biologicals space is booming, and for good reason—many growers are seeing positive results.

But before you dive right into the biologicals space, it’s essential to understand you should not use these products as a substitute for every crop management strategy already in your tool belt. However, they can be a specialty tool for specific jobs.

According to Connor Sible, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, "I always start with standard crop management because we have to build a strong base. We have to make sure we select the right genetics to give our farm the best potential, and then you have to manage those genetics."

Genetics. That’s where LG Seeds comes in: providing you the choices you need, without the distractions. Let’s highlight a few of the uses for biological products and how you can pair them with superior LG Seeds genetics.

Nutrient availability:

This is a big one. Many biologicals use microorganisms to fix nitrogen, solubilize phosphorus and make nutrients more available to plants. Pairing a nitrogen-fixing biological with highly competitive hybrids like LG52C42, LG67C07 and LG44C27 could be a great way to maximize your crop’s genetic potential. 

Nutrient uptake:

Optimal nutrient uptake starts with strong roots, and some biologicals work to extend root systems to maximize nutrient absorption. When this type of biological is applied to high-performing, adaptable soybean varieties like LGS3216E3 and C4845RX, you can take full advantage of your crop’s prospective performance.

Drought tolerance:

Water is always an issue in western states, but that problem is beginning to expand eastward. Starting with superior, drought-tolerance genetics in hybrids like LG63C82 and LG5618, some biologicals can stimulate plant growth and provide additional nutrients. This combo can make these corn plants even more drought-tolerant. 

Custom Recommendations Built for How You Grow

As a farmer, you know you have a lot of options for products to maximize your crops’ genetic potential. Biologicals may not be for every acre or every farm. But for many growers, these products are a valuable tool to enhance profits and ROI.