- Fumigants are injected as liquids into the soil to control harmful insects, nematodes, weeds, bacteria, fungi, and diseases that have invaded a field.
- The fumigant volatizes into gas diffusing through the soil air space, radiating out from the points of injection.
- The treatment significantly reduces the harmful pathogens and rebalances the native beneficial soil microbe population, conditioning it for planting.
- The fumigant decomposes rapidly in the soil; and some fumigants, like Chloropicrin, actually biodegrade into plant nutrients.
- Crop planting takes place in the newly conditioned soil.
- Healthy plants are able to maximize their water and nutrient use and grow to full yield potential with no uptake of fumigant into the plant root or residue on the plant.
DPR Report Confirms Vital Role of Chloropicrin
The California Council on Science and Technology (CCST), commissioned a report by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation underscoring chloropicrin in modern agriculture. No alternative can replace this soil fumigant, and its role in managing soil-borne pests in high-value crops.
Pic-Plus: Tackling Apple Replant Disease
Soil Fumigation plays a crucial role in managing challenges like Apple Replant Disease. For this orchard, the process involved removing the existing plants, performing the soil fumigation, and allowing the soil to settle before replanting the apple trees.
Future New Zealand Strawberries
This field is the future home of some beautiful, tasty, New Zealand strawberries. It was treated with Pic-Plus Soil Fumigation to manage soil-borne pathogens and allow for beneficial soil microbes thrive for a healthy soil environment for strong strawberry plants.
Can a soil fumigant be used as a biostimulant in agriculture?
Can a soil fumigant be used as a biostimulant in agriculture? At TriEst Ag Group we're trying to find those answers. Josh Mays, our agronomist, and Josh Freeman, our Regional Sales Manager, go into further depth on this topic and our findings.
Stronger Soil, Thriving Strawberries
A year ago, this strawberry field underwent soil fumigation with TriCal NZ. The results speak for themselves. Healthy, vigorous plants and strong yields show the long-term benefits of creating a clean growing environment. Fumigation sets up crops for success season after season.
Bruce Jacobs visits Washington D.C. to talk Onions.
Teleos' Sales Manager Bruce Jacobs was recently in Washington D.C. as part of the National Onion Association's annual delegation to the capitol. The group was there to share the NOA's mission and discuss important topics relating to trade, crop protection, labor, and more.
Sweetpotato Soil Fumigation is the Right Plan
Triest Ag Group is spreading the word about implementing Chloropicrin into your sweetpotato soil fumigation plan you can maximize your tuber set and quality by reducing soil borne pathogens to create space for beneficial microbes to thrive for better soil health.
TriCal is Up Early and Ready to Work
Long before the sun rises, TriCal's technicians are already in the field, ensuring your soil fumigation begins with precision and care. TriCal's experienced fumigation teams understands that high-quality soil treatments starts with doing the job right from the very beginning.
Stronger Plants, Better Yields, Fewer Resources
Stronger plants, better yields, fewer resources - and a lower carbon footprint. Potato growers face big sustainability goals, but with the right tools, we can get there—without sacrificing productivity. One tool that’s helping make this possible is Strike, driven by the chloropicrin.
North Island Watermelons Ripe with Flavor
Check out these vibrant watermelons growing strong in Levin, North Island! With the help of soil fumigation, this New Zealand soil was prepared to give these watermelon plants the best possible start—reducing soil-borne pests and diseases for a healthier, more productive season.
TriEst Ag offers solutions for Tomato Growers
Spring is coming and Tomatoes are big business. TriEst Ag Group is promoting their solutions for tomato growers, offering soil health treatments, plastic mulch, irrigation products, and Tri-Hishtil grafted tomatoes.
Pacific Northwest Onion Growers Getting Ready for Planting
Onion growers are planning for Strike™ to significantly improve soil health and biodiversity and provide exceptional benefits for growers by increasing marketable yields and enhancing onion size.
Apple Orchards in New Zealand are Looking Fantastic
This apple orchard in New Zealand is looking fantastic and soon it will be ready for harvest. Last season, Pic Plus soil fumigation was used to create a clean, healthy growing environment—helping these trees produce high-quality fruit and ensuring stronger, more productive trees.
Raspberry Soil Fumigation Project in Santa Maria
TriCal Inc. recently completed a soil fumigation project for a raspberry crop in the Santa Maria area. Trical Inc. help growers create a healthy root system, control disease, and improved crop yields. Soil fumigation solutions can maximize your yield and protect your soil health.
Preparing For Spring Telone™ Applications
As spring approaches, it’s essential to prepare fields for planting by effectively managing soil-borne pests, particularly nematodes. This blog post outlines steps to ensure successful fumigation, including soil sampling, using pre-application checklists, and monitoring soil moisture levels.
TELONE™ Dual-Application in Hastings, Florida
Potato Growers love seeing dual-application fumigation in process, and this view from above is even better. Check out this dual-application of TELONE™ (to combat nematodes) and chloropicrin (to target soil-borne diseases) on potatoes in Hastings, Florida.
Tri-Form Fumigation on Baby Spinach
Take a look at this BB Spinach crop as it progresses through its growth stage! This block was previously fumigated with Tri-Form 60, ensuring the soil is free from harmful pathogens and pests. A well-prepared foundation leads to stronger, healthier plants and a more bountiful harvest.
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.
Strawberries Ready to Thrive in New Zealand!
Trical New Zealand prepared a strawberry crop using our comprehensive approach: bed forming, poly laying, drip irrigation tape installation, and soil fumigation with Pic-Plus. This creates optimal growing conditions, manages diseases and ensures a healthy and productive strawberry crop.
NC State Extension released its Strategic Plan for Strawberry
NC State Extension recently released its Pest Management Strategic Plan for Strawberries in the Southeast including Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, giving detailed information on common pests, weeds, pathogens, and best practices.
"California Grown" Strawberries Heading to Market
Keep an eye out for "California Grown" strawberries on your next shopping trip your grocery store. Trical believes great strawberries begin with healthy soil with soil fumigation solutions designed to support vigorous plant growth and produce berries with exceptional size and quality.
Fumigation for Healthier Carrot Crops!
TriCal New Zealand recently completed a soil fumigation project for a carrot block, focusing on managing soilborne diseases and pests that can threaten crop health and yields. Soil fumigation is a vital step in creating clean, healthy soil conditions, giving crops the best chance to thrive from the very start.
Potato Trial in Oregon focused on Tackling Pathogens
Trident Ag Products and Dr. Maxwell Handiseni are conducting a potato trial in Boardman, Oregon, focused on tackling pathogens like verticillium wilt and black dot in potatoes using chloropicrin, the active ingredient in Strike™ Soil Fumigant.
Soil Fumigation Faces the Challenges of Apple Replant
Trical New Zealand is showing off this apple orchard which is growing strong and thriving thanks to a soil fumigation treatment completed by TriCal New Zealand using our Pic-Plus product and a careful and precise approach to create the environment for apple trees to flourish.
Triest Ag Talks Watermelons
Triest Ag is having a great morning here at the Illiana Watermelon Convention in French Lick, Indiana. Attendees can be sure to stop by our table to talk with Tony about your 2025 watermelon crop plans.
Trident Ag Managing Verticillium Wilt in Leaf Mint in Oregon
In Madras, Oregon, Trident is initiating a trial to explore solutions for managing verticillium wilt in leaf mint. This study integrates a chloropicrin soil fumigant with a biological fungicide containing Bacillus spp. to suppress pathogens and enhance crop health.
Sunrise over Raspberry Fields in California
Trical added another raspberry field added to thier growing portfolio—there’s nothing quite like starting the day early and witnessing a stunning sunrise over the fields. Moments like this remind us why we’re passionate about what we do.
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.
"Early Die" Potato Field trial at Rupert, Idaho
Trident Ag conducting a potato field trial at Rupert, Idaho to address the challenges of "early die" in potatoes. This trial focuses on utilizing Chloropicrin, the active ingredient in Strike™ Soil Fumigant, to effectively manage pathogens and promote healthier, more resilient crops.
Soil treatment and Set the Foundation for a New Year
The start of a new year is the ideal time to plan soil treatment and set the foundation for a successful growing season. Healthy soil is essential for producing high-quality crops, especially when managing the demands of a long growing cycle. Proper soil preparation before planting not only promotes resilient crop growth but also supports consistent yield success.
Raspberry Soil Fumigation on the Coastal California
Trical Inc. just completed a raspberry soil fumigation project along Coastal California, helping a local farmer ensure a thriving harvest season. Booking a consultation with a Trical Inc PCA can help farmers learn how to support the success of a farmer's planting season.
Teleos Ag Posts "Managing Replant Problem & Nematodes" PDF
With the year coming to a close, now's the time to start thinking about your orchard replant! Before you get started, be sure to check out our "Managing Replant Problem & Nematodes" PDF, available for download on the link below
Strike Targets Seed Growers with Focus on Black Dot
Black dot has historically been overlooked in potato seed production. Recent research shows that black dot, caused by the fungus Colletotrichum coccodes, working synergistically with Verticillium dahliae and root-lesion nematodes to weaken plants and reduce yields.
Trical Inc. fumigating Strawberry Fields fighting Nemotodes
Despite the overcast skies in Santa Maria, California, dedicated technicians are hard at work treating the strawberry fields to mitigate soil-borne diseases like nematodes. This proactive farmer is ensuring that the upcoming planting season will be both smooth and successful.
Trical New Zealand on Tackling Apple Replant Disease
Trical New Zealand shows off incredible differences between Pic-Plus and non-treated rows of Apple Trees in Napier, New Zealand. The job involved broadacre tarped soil fumigation. TriCal NZ is committed to excellence in every job, ensuring healthy fields and healthy yields.
Dawn breaks as Trical Inc. is Already on the Job
Trical Inc. is at work in the field before dawn breaks. Trical Inc.'s team of experts is committed to delivering high-quality soil treatments customized to meet your unique requirements by being an ally that respects your time and investment. Soil Fumigation is a solid start is essential for long-term success.
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:
New Fumigation for Hop Soil Treatment
Trident Ag completed a hop soil treatment in the Pacific Northwest using Pic-Clor 35 at a rate of 20.5 gallons per acre to effectively suppress nematodes and disease. It’s truly impressive to see the driver moves with precision of our operator navigating close to the poles with the packer.
NZ Trial Update - Clubroot in a Broccoli
Trical New Zealand conducted a trial on another block of an important customer in Levin, North Island. This time, we targeted Clubroot in a broccoli crop. This block has a high disease pressure, making it a challenging task. Trical NZ fumigated with Pic-Plus and left an untreated section for control.
Fumigation Gearing up in Pacific Northwest
Growers in the Northwest are gearing up for potato planting season, partnering with Trident Ag for soil treatment with Strike™ to effectively manage common scabs and ensure a strong start to the season.
Trical NZ completes Watermelon Fumigation
Trical New Zealand recently completed a commercial fumigation job on the watermelon blocks for a valued customer in Levin, North Island. Fumigation targeted Fusarium sp, but they tackled other pests too. Thanks to perfect moisture and temperature conditions, the TriCal NZ team did an outstanding job using Pic-Plus.
Growers in South Carolina are prepping their Peach Orchards now
Growers in South Carolina are prepping their peach orchards now, ahead of spring plantings in April. While growers do have nematode-resistant rootstock options, Root-Knot nematodes are still a huge threat for peaches in South Carolina.
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.
The 5 Most Common Plant-Parasitic Nematodes and How TELONE™ Can Help Protect Your Crops
Plant-parasitic nematodes are some of the most destructive pests in agriculture. With over 4,000 species of plant-parasitic nematodes worldwide, identifying and managing the right ones in your fields is crucial.
Sweetpotato harvesting in Eureka, North Carolina
Our Director of R&D Dr. Randy (RM) Huckaba was in Eureka, NC harvesting a sweetpotato experiment. The test treatments included TELONE™ II as well as TELONE™/Chloropicrin combinations. The results showed TELONE™ provided very good control of the devastating guava root-knot nematode.
Trical visits with California Legislators Advocating for Soil Fumigation
Colleagues Courtney Ross-Tait and Kara KeziosKara Kezios were in sunny Sacramento educating legislators and advocating for the benefits of soil fumigation. Soil fumigation leads to soil health by creating healthy root systems. TriCal, Inc. has been in business for over 60 years improving crop yield and quality for farmers and growers in California and all over the world.
Shifts in Microbial Communities following application of Chloropicrin and 1,3-Dichloropropene in Pineapple
Trical Group's John Washington released a paper on fumigation using Chloropicrin and 1,3-dichloropropene (1,3-D) and its impact on microbiological communities and 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.
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.
A top read Spud Smart article on Verticillium Wilt Management
The farmers are dealing with verticillium. The table of farmers started by laying out the stark reality: “Verticillium is trouncing our crops.” The agronomists and plant pathologists present spent the discussion recommending: “Try cover crops”, “Try manure”, “Try compost”.
Up to 68% of Potato Seed Could be Infected with Verticillium
68% of all seed potatoes sold in the Pacific Northwest are infected with verticillium. If you are a potato farmer who doesn't currently battle verticillium and you’re buying seed potatoes, you have a more than two in three chance that you’ll bring verticillium in.
Bean Trial 2023
In 2023, Trident Agricultural Products conducted field trials in Idaho, focusing on kidney beans for seed production. The trials aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of PIC 100 (Chloropicrin) at low dosage rates of 2.5 GPA and 5 GPA at maximizing yield and income gain in comparison to non-fumigated checks.
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.
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
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 TELONETM, C15, and C35 at 6 GPA (22 GPA broadcast) shank applied in-row 14” deep with 10” of stack.
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.
TELONE™ USA R&D – Potato Field Trials 2024
Nematodes are a common pest in potato-growing areas, particularly in the Pacific Northwest. This blog post will cover common nematodes affecting potatoes in the Pacific Northwest, and recap a potato field trial that was done to demonstrate TELONE™ efficacy.
TELONE™ Japan R&D – Watermelon Field Trials
Watermelons are a popular crop in Japan. Unfortunately, they are also highly susceptible to destructive root-knot nematodes which negatively impact overall yields and fruit quality. Japanese growers know that nothing is more effective against nematodes than TELONE™!
Pistachio Field Trials: Decreased Nematode Densities
This past Fall we established 2 multi-year field trials in California. Our main objective is to examine the benefits of TELONE™ and Chloropicrin providing early rootstock establishment, promoting early growth, and stronger root systems as we have documented in other crop markets.
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.
Finally: A New (Desperately Needed) Solution for Potato Wart?
Potato wart strikes fear in the bravest among us and at every level of the potato value chain. 36 fields have been identified as infected in three counties since 2000, leading to major trade disruptions, the destruction of hundreds of millions of kilograms of potatoes.
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.
2023 Trial: Impacts of Soil Fumigation of Tobacco
TriEst wanted to look at finding application and timing solutions to better meet nematode and disease pressures. The 2023 trial focused on sampling depths to map location of pests, dual depth applications to place the correct product in the right place, and proof out these concepts.
CROP: Potato - Strike Fumigants
No current practice in potato production provides more benefits than soil fumigation. Soil fumigation with Strike allows plant roots to develop in an environment where nematodes and other soil borne diseases are managed.
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.
Pink Root: A Menace to Onion Production
Pink root of onion caused by Phoma (Pyrenochaeta) terrestris is a devastating soilborne pathogen of onion worldwide. Infected roots are noticeable by a pink to red color at early stages of the disease and eventually dark in color and death of the plant. The pathogen has a wide host range.
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.
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.
Basic Application Methods
Tarped ShankThis method injects the fumigant into the ground. Commonly done with narrow, knife-type shanks with tubes attached to deliver the fumigant and is immediately covered after application with film or plastic to trap the fumigant for efficacy and safety.
Non-tarped ShankThis method is similar to Tarped with the fumigant injected into the ground with narrow, knife-type shanks. Instead of plastic tarping, the soil is sealed after application with the proper equipment to compact the top of the soil, trapping the fumigant for efficacy and safety.
Drip IrrigationDrip method utilizes the drip irrigation system to deliver the fumigant with irrigation water providing distribution in the soil.
Links
Trical Inc. - How Soil Fumigation WorksTrident Ag. - How Soil Fumigation Works
Triest Ag Group. - How Soil Fumigation Works