Agricultural Trends & Economic Impact

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 Potatoes Soil Health

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 Economic Trends Environmental Stewardship Potatoes Soil Health

Soil Fumigation Changes the Game for Potato Seed Farm Economics

In today’s potato growing reality, a calculator is as critical to business success as good field management skills. We conducted a two-year trial comparing potatoes grown in soil where disease was managed with the soil fumigant Strike versus untreated potatoes.

5/13/2024

Spud Smart Strike Chloropicrin Economic Trends Potatoes

Low Dose Chloropicrin – When SweetPotato set is at Stake

In the Summer/Fall of 2022 TriEst Ag Group did a mixture study that focused on Enterolobii in Nash County, NC. The trial evaluated the use of TELONE^TM, C15, and C35 at 6 GPA (22 GPA broadcast) shank applied in-row 14” deep with 10” of stack.

4/3/2024

Telone Triest Ag Chloropicrin Low Dosage SweetPotatoes

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

Triest Ag Chloropicrin Environmental Stewardship

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 Environmental Stewardship Microbial Research Potatoes

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 Potatoes

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 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

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 Potatoes

Why Paul is Guilt-free About Doubling his Yield with Soil Fumigation

Over the last couple articles, I’ve told you about Paul: a highly experienced, sustainability-focused Ontario potato producer who saw yield skyrocket when he started using chloropicrin (the active ingredient in Strike) as a soil fumigant.

10/27/2022

Strike Chloropicrin Potatoes

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 Economic Trends Potatoes

What Patates Dolbec Learned About Soil Fumigation Could Make You Money

Scab steals a costly percentage of the potatoes produced at Patates Dolbec, one of Quebec’s largest farms. Patates Dolbec’s director of quality assurance and agronomy, coordinated a soil fumigation trial last year to see how Strike might impact his soil’s health and productivity.

1/31/2022

Spud Smart Strike Chloropicrin Potatoes

What’s Biting into Your Farm’s Economic and Environmental Sustainability?

Up to 58 per cent of all the food produced in Canada is lost or wasted each year. Think about that: nearly two of every three potatoes you grow get chucked. If you are like most farmers I know – strong and honorable people who are proud to be part of feeding the world – knowing that so much of your effort is wasted is nothing short of offensive.

11/3/2021

Spud Smart Economic Trends Environmental Stewardship Potatoes

Tired Soils Aren’t an Inevitable, Unwinnable Battle

I receive countless from frustrated potato growers who tell me they are throwing costly inputs at their fields, yet not seeing the yields they need. Production costs are increasing while water resources grow tighter. If you’re not satisfied with your yields, it’s time for a change.

9/1/2021

Spud Smart Strike Triest Ag Potatoes

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 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 Potatoes

It’s ‘Harvest Earned, Not Harvest Given’

Agricultural Science Done Right Resolves Social Science Intentions

Soil Fumigation Changes the Game for Potato Seed Farm Economics

Low Dose Chloropicrin – When SweetPotato set is at Stake

Triest Ag Group: Partners in Profitability

The Unintended Limits of Organic Farming

Short-term Thinking Costs Long-term Benefits

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

Potato Farming Realities and Sustainability

Make the first – and biggest – step toward sustainability

Why Paul is Guilt-free About Doubling his Yield with Soil Fumigation

Do You Miss the Money You Could Have Earned?

What Patates Dolbec Learned About Soil Fumigation Could Make You Money

What’s Biting into Your Farm’s Economic and Environmental Sustainability?

Tired Soils Aren’t an Inevitable, Unwinnable Battle

Fumigation reduces soilborne diseases, which helps sustainability

Climate Change, Agriculture, and Chloropicrin Soil Treatment

Agronomy in Action - Soil Fumigated PNW Onions

How to Avoid “What Happened to my Crop?!” Disappointment

Bean Trial 2023

CROP: Potato - Strike Fumigants

Field Trial Data that Inspired our Latest Campaign

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