Corn and soybean growers today are increasingly using biologicals to raise yield levels. A key factor in successfully integrating biologicals into current management practice is to work with technologies backed by research. One such technology is YieldON^®, a biostimulant created by Valagro. Valagro, part of Syngenta^® Biologicals, brings science-based innovation to offer more choices and flexibility for growers. YieldON^® is designed to be applied with fungicides to stimulate late-season nitrogen, sugar, and micronutrient transport, resulting in increased yield. To learn more about how growers across the Midwest are discovering and exploring the benefits of biologicals and how to incorporate them into specific farming conditions, we spoke with an Illinois grower about his experience with YieldON^®.

Photo submitted by Valagro USA

In 1962, Earl Boyer started Boyer Farms in Middletown – New Holland, Illinois. What began as a small farm is now a diversified operation with a few thousand acres of row crops and livestock. Today, Boyer Farms is managed by Rick and Mike Boyer, sons of Earl and business partner Bryson Scheurer. Their farm operation of corn, soybeans, and a few acres of alfalfa and wheat for cattle, continues to grow the family’s generational legacy.

In 2018, after spending 32 years as an area agronomist consulting growers on best agronomic practices and innovative solutions, Rick Boyer stopped consulting and dedicated all his time and expertise to farming the Boyer land. He considers himself an innovator and early adopter, always looking into new opportunities to challenge historical yields at the farm by incorporating new and cutting-edge technology and management strategies. With this mindset and ambition, Boyer was introduced to YieldON^® in 2018. Boyer initially partnered with Valagro’s research team in 2018 to test YieldON^® for his operation. He observed more beans per pod and pods per plant on soybeans and more kernels per row on ears of corn. After seeing positive yield results in the first season, Boyer continued working with YieldON^®, focusing on incorporating it into their high-yield management system.

Boyer Farms follows an intense management strategy, always learning and adjusting from the current season yield data and past year production trends. Boyer states, “We strive to raise our yields yearly while improving our input efficiency and soil health. We have adjusted our soil nutrient levels in years past with soil sampling and intense fertility management, eliminating most yield-inhibiting soil issues. In recent years, we have worked with our high-yield system, which utilizes different rates of different in-furrow starters by soil type, fungicides, micronutrients, and their perspective application timings, and simultaneous planting of corn and soybeans in 20-inch and 15-inch row widths respectively.”

Boyer is excited about Valagro science and the possibilities it creates for future partnerships. “YieldON^® has proven itself since 2018 and has become an every-acre practice on our operation. We use it with fungicides on corn and soybeans during the later season applications to add additional bushels and plant efficiency. As a result, we consistently raise our top end with YieldON by 5 – 7 bushels per acre in corn and 3 – 5 bushels per acre in soybeans. YieldON^® provides yield increase and additional profit.” shares Boyer.

“Valagro has earned our trust as a partner with YieldON^®, and we are excited to work with additional advanced Valagro products for new innovative solutions. We trust Valagro technology will lead us to new levels.”

For more information, contact your local Valagro USA representative and visit http://www.valagrousa.com