Biologicals have a place in production agriculture, not instead of synthetic products, but in concert with them, said speakers at the opening session of the 36^th annual Texas Plant Protection Conference in Bryan, Texas. 

Two industry representatives and a soil fertility specialist said advisors and growers should be aware of the potential biologicals offer but also understand the limitations and how the different modes of action might affect use. 

Rick Melnick, CEO and partner at DunhamTrimmer, a global biological and natural products company, said the biologicals market has come far in the past two decades. “They are being introduced into integrated crop management systems,” Melnick said. “At some point, this is the way it (agriculture) is going.” 

Growth before 2000 was slow, he said, but has grown significantly in recent years with a growth rate of 12% per year. 

Science is the key 

He said the growth in biologicals stems from two factors: “science and everything else. If not for the science, the other stuff would not be possible,” he said.  

That science includes improved formulations, genetics, sprayer technology, and imaging. 

The “everything else” includes consumer demand, Melnick said. “Consumers have changed,” he explained. “They want more information about products. They want to be involved, and they want to have a voice. With social media, they have that voice. They also want quality, and they are willing to pay for it.” 

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He said environmental concerns also influence the growth of the biologicals market. 

Manage expectations 

Melnick cautioned advisors and growers not to expect increased yields from biological products, which he divides into bio-controls and bio-stimulants, which include fertilizers. 

“Biologicals will help retain yield, not increase it,” he said. He explained that biologicals work in the presence of crop stress. “Without stress, they do not work, so it is important to identify stress events.” 

The return for growers, he added, comes from several factors, “They can improve crop vigor, quality, and yield. They also improve crop tolerance to abiotic stress, enhance the development of soil microbes, stimulate root growth and water use efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and reduce waste. 

Melnick said, based on recent conversations with folks in the agriculture industry, including consultants, industry representatives, and some growers, he came to several conclusions about potential adoption of biological products. 

“Younger farmers are more likely to integrate biologicals into their operations. It is hard to change some producers’ way of thinking. Folks are interested in how the products work and the mode of action. Many want more information.” 

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He said the biologicals market includes a lot of products and a lot of opportunities. 

“Predictive modeling programs can be a big advantage.” 

Many products 

Matthew Pye, FMC Corporation biologicals subject matter expert, said the product array can be overwhelming. We see hundreds of companies and thousands of products. 

Matthew Pye, FMC Corporation biologicals subject matter expert (Photo by Shelley E. Huguley)

“We focus on row crops,” he said. “Biologicals can help offset abiotic stress (weather and salinity issues), nutrient uptake, and biotic stress (insects and pathogens).” 

Pye said biologicals will be important as agriculture loses products on which they have relied. He added that biologicals have some advantages in getting into the market. “It takes 10 to 12 years to register a synthetic product,” he said. “Biologicals are cheaper and quicker to get into the market.” 
He offers a caveat. “There is no shortcut to understanding the products and what they are doing. Testing and data are essential.  

“Some biological products in the market have a high rate of efficacy. They are user friendly and at a relatively low cost,” he said. 

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He said Bt products have been in the market for a long time, but a lot have been “under-appreciated or overlooked.” 

Incorporate into a system 

Pye said integrating biologicals into a row crop system should follow the same principles of any other new product. “Choose the right tool,” he cautioned. “We’re not necessarily replacing tools but incorporating biologicals into the system with synthetics.” 

Field knowledge is essential, he said. “Be aware of the future planting intentions, the expectations of the product, and look for complementary products. 

“Be proactive and integrate biologicals with resistant varieties, rotation, and other efficient systems. Also, know what to expect. With biologicals, growers will not always see dead bugs. The mode of action is different. The end goal is grower profit.”  

Pye advised growers to use biologicals in a system and recommended adding them early so they can take over when synthetics play out. He said seed treatment products are good examples. 

Inconsistent 

Brian Arnall, Oklahoma State University, precision nutrient management, said the most relevant fact he has discovered about biologicals in fertility is that they “are consistently inconsistent.” 

He said benefits are sometimes apparent but not always. “I have had numerous things that make me think something is happening. I have seen trends that without question show a product did something. I had a product that did something in 2022. I know it did something, not statistically, but seeing through the eyes of an agronomist, it did something. But in ‘23 and ’24, I could not replicate what happened in ’22,” he said.  

“I don't care if a product doesn't work 60% of the time; if it works 30% of the time and I know when it works, that is a value. I'm going to use it those 30% times, and I'm going to push it in those environments where I know it is going to work.” 

Arnall wants to see more consistency. 

“I would like to see a pattern of win or lose, a database of what’s happening in the field.” 

He said a key focus would be to standardize products. “We need to better understand the MOA of biologicals. I have no doubts about the value of biologicals, but I need to know when and how they work. I need to see the results.”