Soil Health & Sustainability

One Easy Change Can Double Soil’s “Good Guys”

We’ve always known Strike works. Season after season, growers tell us what they see in their fields: healthier plants, better root systems, and stronger yields. What’s happening beneath the surface? Not just in terms of pest control, but in the living biology of the soil itself?

6/17/2025

Canada Dr. Chad Hutchinson Potatoes Soil Fumigation Soil Health

Tackling Tillage: Why Strip-Till Soil Fumigation Matters

TriEst Ag Group’s latest blog post by Agronomist Josh Mays explores a key question facing growers today: Can you reduce tillage without sacrificing the effectiveness of fumigation? After three years of field collaboration and equipment development TriEst Ag Group has answers. R

6/5/2025

Ag News: TriEst Ag Group Triest Ag Group Josh Mays Soil Fumigation Soil Health

Innovation, Collaboration, and Growth: A Recap of TriCal, Inc.’s Coastal Meeting

The success of TriCal, Inc.’s Fifth Coastal Meeting reflects the continued commitment to innovation and partnership across the industry. The highlight was the opportunity to hear from leading experts in the scientific community, the Strawberry Commission.

4/14/2025

Ag News: Trical Inc. TriCal Inc. Ag Industry California Sponsorships Strawberries

Functional Sustainability: How Using TELONE™ Can Lower Water and Fertilizer Inputs

In modern agriculture, the efficient use of resources is paramount. Growers seek ways to optimize water and fertilizers while maintaining or enhancing crop yields. By applying TELONE™ before planting roots can develop without the hindrance of pests.

2/26/2025

Teleos Ag Solutions Dr. Randy Huckaba Environmental Stewardship Nematodes Sustainability Telone

The Role of Soil Fumigation in Boosting Crop Growth

Soil fumigation is a pre-planting practice that involves injecting fumigants into the soil to target harmful soil-borne pests and pathogens. This process works by penetrating throughout the soil to target nematodes, fungi, bacteria, and insects, which can hinder plant development.

2/4/2025

Deep Roots: A BLOG Soil Fumigation Soil Health

How to Grow More with Less

Chad Hutchinson writes in Spudsmart that the potato industry embraces regenerative agriculture, sustainability is becoming more than just a goal: it’s an expectation. Processors and buyers are setting ambitious targets for fertilizer reduction, water use efficiency and soil health improvement.

2/4/2025

Spud Smart Strike Chloropicrin Dr. Chad Hutchinson Potatoes

Agronomy Q&A: The Role of Soil Fumigation In Boosting Crop Growth

Soil fumigation is a pre-planting practice that works by penetrating throughout the soil profile to address threats like nematodes, fungi, bacteria, and insects, creating a pathogen-free root zone, soil fumigation lays the foundation for a healthier growing environment.

1/15/2025

Ag News: Trical Inc. TriCal Inc. Soil Fumigation Soil Health

Trident Ag Products: Enhancing Soil Health with Chloropicrin Fumigants

Chloropicrin has been a trusted soil fumigation solution for over 60 years, helping specialty crop growers around the world maximize yields and maintain healthy soils. But what makes it such a powerful tool? Here’s a closer look at some of its benefits:

12/9/2024

Strike Trident Ag Products Chloropicrin Dr. Maxwell Handiseni Nematodes Pest Control Soil Fumigation

Strike out Soil Disease in Onions

Strike soil fumigants provide a barrier of protection from soil borne disease in the first 6 to 8 weeks, buying time for the onions to yield a healthy and vigorous root. Soil health studies prove that Strike suppresses disease while also supporting biological diversity and soil health overall.

11/8/2024

Strike The Dirt: A Blog Chloropicrin Dr. Chad Hutchinson Onions Soil Fumigation

Soil Fumigant: Application Flexibility Puts You In Control

For growers, managing soil pests like nematodes, fungi, and organisms can mean the difference between a robust harvest and significant losses. TELONE™ soil fumigant comes into play, offering a solution for controlling a broad spectrum of nematodes and soil-borne pests..

11/5/2024

Strike Teleos Ag Solutions Chloropicrin Dr. Randy Huckaba Soil Health Telone

Increased Yields Equals More “Servings”

Whether you side with organic or conventional, soil fumigation or in-crop disease management, no-till, cover crops or part of the sustainability discussion; what matters is that sustainability’s definition prioritizes both environmental and economic longevity is to be be functional.

10/8/2024

Spud Smart Ag Industry Dr. Chad Hutchinson Organic Farming

It’s ‘Harvest Earned, Not Harvest Given’

Our goal is to help you reach your growing potential. This is your livelihood, and you put in a lot of work. We see our role as being partners in farmers’ efforts. We can’t put in the hours in the tractor, but we can support soil health and effectively suppressing soil-borne pathogens.

10/1/2024

Spud Smart Strike Chloropicrin Dr. Chad Hutchinson Potatoes Soil Health Sustainability

Agricultural Science Done Right Resolves Social Science Intentions

Farmers are hungry for tangible ways to increase their sustainable efforts while maintaining economically viable yields. A lot of voices are calling for farming reform. However, feel good soundbites don’t feed the world. Potato producers are keen for real solutions.

9/10/2024

Spud Smart Ag Industry Dr. Chad Hutchinson Economic Trends Environmental Stewardship Potatoes Soil Fumigation Soil Health

Do You Know (And Appreciate) the Hidden Heroes Beneath Our Feet?

One gram of soil can hold more than 50,000 species of microbes, all living, breathing, interacting and impacting our soil, land, and air. Swiss researcher Mark Anthony recently calculated that soil is home to 59% of Earth’s total life, the most biodiverse habitat on Earth!

8/15/2024

Spud Smart Strike The Dirt: A Blog Dr. Chad Hutchinson Environmental Stewardship Microbial Research Potatoes Soil Health

Breaking Down the Details on Chloropicrin

Chloropicrin has been used as an agricultural product for soil-borne pest suppression in specialty crops throughout the world for over 60 years. It is a bio-nutritional soil fumigant that breaks down into elements that are naturally utilized by plants: carbon, chlorine, nitrogen, and oxygen.

8/9/2024

Ag News: TriEst Ag Group Chloropicrin Environmental Stewardship Soil Fumigation Soil Health

Are you a Potato Seed Farmer?

We conducted a two-year trial comparing potatoes grown in soil where disease was managed with Strike (chloropicrin). Based on what we observed in the field regarding tuber set increase, we developed a model that incorporated the benefit of set increase from Strike in a seed production system.

6/22/2024

Strike The Dirt: A Blog Chloropicrin Dr. Chad Hutchinson Potatoes Soil Fumigation

Could A Soil Fumigant Be Used as a Bio-Stimulant?

A group of scientists at the University of Florida have been investigating the impact of soil fumigation on microbial communities and recently published some of their findings. They found that fumigant treatments with greater than 60% chloropicrin consistently increased tomato yield

5/16/2024

Ag News: TriEst Ag Group Chloropicrin Florida Microbial Research Soil Fumigation Soil Health Tomatoes

TELONE™ Application & the Endangered Species Act

Navigating the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and responsible pesticide management exemplify our commitment to fostering a world where humans and wildlife thrive in harmony, embodying the shared vision of growers, conservationists, policymakers, and communities alike.

4/29/2024

Environmental Stewardship Telone

Triest Ag Group: Partners in Profitability

There is a lot of talk about sustainability and regeneration in agriculture these days. But what do those terms really mean? If you ask five people, you might get five different definitions. But for Josh Mays, Director of Agronomy for TriEst Ag Group, it all starts with profitability.

4/3/2024

Ag News: TriEst Ag Group Triest Ag Group Chloropicrin Environmental Stewardship Soil Fumigation

The Unintended Limits of Organic Farming

“Organic has its place, but it’s really important to define what organic is — and what it isn’t — especially in the context of sustainable ag. Organic has rules and limits, but it doesn’t necessarily always translate to maximum actual regenerative impact.”

2/29/2024

Spud Smart Strike The Dirt: A Blog Dr. Chad Hutchinson Environmental Stewardship Microbial Research Organic Farming Potatoes

Chloropicrin-Based Fumigants Give Hope In Hops

The Pacific Northwest is known for producing hops that can be devastated by pathogens such as Rhizoctonia solani, Verticillium, Fusarium, and Alternaria. These pathogens can result in stunted growth, wilting and root decay which drastically impact plant growth and consequently hop yield and quality.

2/21/2024

Trident Ag Products Dr. Maxwell Handiseni Hops Microbial Research Soil Fumigation Washington State

A High-tech Look Inside Soil’s Microbiome

Chad Hutchinson is pleased to discuss soil microbes and sustainability with Joy Youwakim, an agroecology scientist at Biome Makers, an independent, third-party genomics company that specializes in DNA sequencing of agricultural soil samples.

1/30/2024

Biome Makers Inc. Spud Smart Strike The Dirt: A Blog Chloropicrin Dr. Chad Hutchinson Environmental Stewardship Microbial Research Soil Fumigation Soil Health

Pushing for Sustainability Is Good, But Only If We Know What We’re Aiming For

You’d be hard pressed to look anywhere in agriculture today without running into the word ‘sustainability’. The whole industry is pressing forward on sustainability…but what does sustainability really mean? How do we define sustainability’s goals?

12/19/2023

Spud Smart Strike Chloropicrin Dr. Chad Hutchinson Environmental Stewardship Sustainability

Short-term Thinking Costs Long-term Benefits

I convinced the director of agronomy for a large company that grows chipping potatoes to try soil fumigation with chloropicrin (sold as Strike). He appreciated the soil health and yield gains he achieved in year one, but he hasn’t been seeing the longer-term soil health gains.

10/17/2023

Spud Smart Strike Chloropicrin Dr. Chad Hutchinson Potatoes Soil Fumigation

Ensuring Safe Agriculture: The Important Role of Product Stewardship

In the dynamic landscape of modern agriculture, the responsible use of chemicals has become paramount to ensure robust crop yields and the well-being of ecosystems, farmers, and consumers. This is where the concept of product stewardship takes center stage.

10/12/2023

Teleos Ag Solutions Environmental Stewardship Telone

Educational Outreach: Agknowledge Program in Salinas, California

The Agknowledge Program in Salinas, California, organized by the Grower-Shipper Association Foundation, is an initiative that brings together the Monterey County community to educate them on issues and public policies affecting the local agricultural industry.

9/22/2023

Ag News: Trical Inc. TriCal Inc. Dr. Kristi Sanchez Food Safety

Managing the Good and the Bad of Soil Microorganisms

If you’ve farmed for several decades, you’ve seen firsthand the shift from broad spectrum to targeted pest management. Partially, the change has occurred because today’s available technologies are so vastly more precise than what our parents and grandparents used.

8/5/2023

Spud Smart Strike Chloropicrin Dr. Chad Hutchinson Microbial Research Potatoes Soil Health

The Badger Common’tater: An Interview with Josh Mays of Triest Ag Group

The July issue of the Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association’s The Badger Common’Tater features a wonderful, in-depth interview with our own Corporate Agronomist, Josh Mays!

7/31/2023

Triest Ag Group Josh Mays Potatoes Vegetables

Incremental Yield Improvement Is Good, But It’s Not Where the Money Is

Soil health is the basis of the entire crop. Healthy soil is the most important step towards your crop’s yield potential. Plant into unhealthy soil and, no matter how much effort and investment you shovel into those acres, your crop won’t reach its potential.

7/10/2023

Spud Smart Strike Chloropicrin Dr. Chad Hutchinson Potatoes

Potato Farming Realities and Sustainability

It seems everyone is talking sustainability today. But, what does sustainability really mean in the context of today’s farming realities, and how do we achieve it in practical, real-world application?

6/27/2023

Spud Smart Strike Chloropicrin Dr. Chad Hutchinson Sustainability

Does Soil Fumigation Have a Place in Regenerative Agriculture?

Over the past handful of months, I’ve attended a whole pile of potato seminars, expos, forums and conferences around the world. Regenerative agriculture and sustainability are almost always top of the agenda.

6/6/2023

Spud Smart Strike The Dirt: A Blog Chloropicrin Dr. Chad Hutchinson Soil Fumigation

Fumigation Proves Worth for Bundaberg Chillies

TriCal Australia has worked closely with a Bundaberg, Queensland, farming business to help improve soil health. The soil on the farm suffers from fungal infections that severely damage chili plants in and around the fruiting set. In some seasons, fruit losses can be as high as 70%.

5/8/2023

Trical Australia Australia Peppers Telone

Why Healthy Roots Matter for Agriculture

We will explore why healthy roots are essential for crop growth and productivity. A plant’s roots serve as the main pathway through which water and nutrients are absorbed from the soil, and without a vigorous root system, plants cannot absorb enough nutrients to support their growth.

4/28/2023

Teleos Ag Solutions Dr. Randy Huckaba Telone

The Importance of Irrigation in Pecan Production

Pecan trees have high water requirements, as much as 350 gallons per tree per day for mature trees. They have been shown to take most of the water they require from the upper 32 inches of the soil profile for normal seasonal growth. The deeper the trees have to reach for water the more energy they use.

3/27/2023

Triest Ag Group Nuts

What Is Soil Fumigation—And Why Does It Matter?

The presence of many common organisms, parasites, and pests can mean the difference between a healthy yield or an off year. Soil fumigation can give plants the best chance possible to grow up and develop, while controlling pests safely and effectively—with lasting results.

3/21/2023

Teleos Ag Solutions Chloropicrin Dr. Randy Huckaba Telone

Introduction To Sustainable Agriculture

The term sustainability has become more engrained in everyday use, but the term is difficult to define. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines sustainability as “of, relating to, or being a method of harvesting or using a resource so that the resource is not depleted or permanently damaged.”

3/21/2023

Teleos Ag Solutions Dr. Randy Huckaba Sustainability Telone

Soil Health: An Overview For Growers

Healthy soil is the foundation for successful agricultural production. One factor that can inhibit soil health is plant parasitic nematodes. Ee will discuss the importance of soil health, how nutrient cycling affects soil health, and the importance of soil fumigation in controlling nematodes.

3/15/2023

Teleos Ag Solutions Dr. Randy Huckaba Soil Health Telone

Potato School Snapshot - Can Fumigation and Sustainability Align?

As an agronomist and potato scientist, I’m always fascinated to hear the latest research from potato experts around the world. That’s why the TriCal Group’s Potato School with its focus on grower education is one of my favorite events.

1/3/2023

Spud Smart Strike Chloropicrin Dr. Chad Hutchinson Potatoes Sustainability

Make the first – and biggest – step toward sustainability

Potato farmers today are pushing hard for sustainability. Regenerative, soil-health promoting practices like reduced tillage, cover cropping, and planting into more residue to reduce erosion are all increasingly mainstream.

1/1/2023

Strike Chloropicrin Dr. Chad Hutchinson Potatoes Sustainability

When Size Matters

When a plant is unfumigated they have a smaller root system which means that water and nutrient uptake is poor. As a result, more water and fertiliser have to be applied to the soil for the stunted root systems to extract both. This increases wastage and input costs.

10/18/2022

Strike Strawberries

Ontario Potato Farmer Notches 100% Yield Increase

Four years ago at a farm show, I happened to cross paths with a long-time, forward-thinking potato grower from Ontario named Paul. He had the walk of a guy who wasn’t planning to stop. But four words on our signage literally caught him mid-stride: Strike supports soil health.

9/22/2022

Spud Smart Strike The Dirt: A Blog Chloropicrin Dr. Chad Hutchinson Potatoes

Fertigation in Substrate: Doing it Right? for Berries

Change occurs slowly in a traditional soil production system. This allows berry growers to make fertigation mistakes that are not completely detrimental. Soil deficiencies are more difficult to correct. When fertigating in a substrate system, growers can change pH almost daily.

8/8/2022

Triest Ag Group Grapes Greenhouse Raspberries Substrate

Growing Long-cane Raspberries in the Southeast

NC State University started an on-farm research project with Lewis Nursery and Farms to investigate the feasibility of long-cane raspberry production in the state. Commercial production of this high value crop has been limited to the western part of the state where the temperatures are cooler.

7/18/2022

Greenhouse Raspberries Substrate

New Technology Provides First-Ever Snapshot of Fumigants’ Impact on Soil Health

Soil fumigation is highly effective at managing soil pests that cause crop disease. However, it is regularly accused of doing more harm than good to overall soil biology. Advances in genetic sequencing technology can now show how fumigation actually changes bacterial and fungal populations in agricultural soil, and the close-up look is surprising.

6/10/2022

Teleos Ag Solutions Chloropicrin Dr. John Washington Microbial Research Soil Fumigation Sustainability Telone

Do You Miss the Money You Could Have Earned?

For a variety of agronomic, environmental, and management reasons, some potato producers choose not to apply soil fumigants to manage disease. The industry standard fumigant doesn’t allow for a winter cover crop to protect your soil and requires a great deal of management.

6/6/2022

Spud Smart Strike Dr. Chad Hutchinson Economic Trends Potatoes

Disease Management vs. Sustainability — Does it Have to be a Choice?

The push for sustainability in agriculture: cover crops, reduced tillage, planting into more residue to reduce erosion, and choosing more sustainable chemical inputs are priorities for our whole industry. Is there a way to do that while controlling disease and staying profitable too?

5/18/2022

Spud Smart Strike Chloropicrin Dr. Chad Hutchinson Potatoes Sustainability

La Nina Heralds More Than Flooding Rain

Soil health dramatically decreases after a flooding rain event due to waterlogging and introduced pests and diseases from other land areas. The most effective solution is to fumigate the soil to control these pathogens and rebalance the native beneficial soil microbe population, conditioning it ready for planting.

11/18/2021

Trical Australia Australia Strawberries

Sustainability = Environmental Stewardship, But Economic Success Too

Sustainability is one of the more commonly misunderstood concepts in agriculture today. At times agricultural success, especially higher productivity, is put at odds with ‘sustainability’. This is not necessary, and here’s why.

7/13/2021

Spud Smart Strike Dr. Chad Hutchinson Environmental Stewardship Sustainability

Spudman announces potato industry Dream Team 2021

As the global director of potato research and market support for TriCal Group, Hutchinson is a master of soil health and disease suppression. He is the industry’s leaders in research and isn't shy. He is often a speaker at potato-related educational opportunities, like Potato Expo.

2/8/2021

Chloropicrin Dr. Chad Hutchinson Environmental Stewardship

Fumigation reduces soilborne diseases, which helps sustainability

Improving sustainable potato production is a goal for the potato industry. The basic concept of sustainable crop production is to produce an economically viable crop while maintaining or improving soil health and reducing the potential environmental impacts.

2/1/2021

Strike Dr. Chad Hutchinson Potatoes Sustainability

A Crisp Autumn Morning

Picture a crisp, autumn morning. The sun is starting to rise above the tree line that edges up close to the field that stretches before you. The air is still but sweet with the smell of season’s end. You step into the taller grass that grows just beyond the end of the field. The grass is wet with dew. In a heartbeat of time, all that has happened to get to this point passes before you.

11/17/2020

Dr. Chad Hutchinson Potatoes

Climate Change, Agriculture, and Chloropicrin Soil Treatment

Climate change is a politically divisive topic. It is advisable for those with a stake in agriculture to explore the ramifications of potential weather changes on business. As weather instabilities or weather extremes become more common, farming will need to change.

2/19/2020

Chloropicrin Dr. Chad Hutchinson Potatoes

AGRONOMY HUB

Tools and resources for functional sustainability.

RESEARCH PAPERS

Shifts in Microbial Communities following application of Chloropicrin and 1,3-Dichloropropene in Pineapple

ARTICLES