As farmers try to maximize crop yields, address pest resistance, manage input costs, as well as find ways to make more sustainable choices, one segment has been growing as part of the solution: biologicals. We talked to Colin Hudson, P&H Western Canadian Sales Manager, to shed some light on this segment and what it might mean for P&H customers.

What qualifies as a biological?

In agriculture, biologicals is a term used for products that are living or natural materials used in the production of crops a farmer grows. Biologicals derive from living organisms like bacteria, fungi, and other natural materials to protect crops and improve the flow of fertility.

Biologicals are starting to be implemented in different levels of production through the impregnation of fertilizers, soil additives, or plant-applied products. They include:

• Biopesticides
  These control a wide variety of agricultural pests and potentially help fight off disease.

• Biostimulants
  Typically, natural extracts are used to improve plant health and are applied while the plant is still growing. They work similarly to vaccines—controlling aspects that could impede the maximum yield potential of a plant when it’s growing (e.g. boosting disease resistance, naturally fixing nitrogen, and addressing plant micronutrient deficiencies).
  There are also bacterial products added to the soil for plant health, which help the natural organisms in the soil reproduce and grow at a higher level, which helps with fertilizer availability, nutrient management, and overall health.

• Biofertilizers
  These products have been developed to help maximize (not necessarily reduce) use efficiency of nutrients such as phosphate and nitrogen. They can also help create less environmental losses and overall help with sustainable uses of fertilizer.

Biologicals gained traction in the market for use on a wide variety of crops, in a vastly different growing conditions around the world. At P&H, our agrologists monitor the biological space as new products are launched for field crops in Canada.

How do biologicals enhance sustainability efforts?

The integration of smart farming practises, and particularly the use of biologicals, is transforming agriculture by enhancing crop health and promoting environmental sustainability. Smart farming practises complement the use of biologicals, enabling their targeted applications through technologies like subfield level, prescription maps, and trial analytics.

The combination of biologicals and precision farming leads to more efficient resource use, reduced environmental impact, and better crop yields, making a significant step towards sustainable and productive agriculture.

Biologicals work alongside conventional products in a harmonious relationship to improve yields and economics while being fully conscious of the sustainability efforts in agriculture.

Adding biologicals to your crop input plan

Choosing a biological product to use is a thorough process. Not every farm requires the same type of biological, as they’re unique in how they can improve plant soil and health. It’s critical to undergo a process to determine what the best fit is for your farm.

P&H offers crop planning services, and we work with farms to assess biological options that would work specifically for your farm. We are always working to gain a better understanding of the value these biologicals may play on your farm.

Rootella by Groundwork BioAg is a biological product we offer at P&H. It’s applied to the soil, which helps fungi and bacterial growth, improving nutrient use efficiency and water management. It can also help the soil capture and retain more carbon, creating a unique opportunity to help us work with growers on a carbon capture program. Farmers get a return on investment in plant health. It also qualifies as a sustainability practise, and we can show a dollar return per acre on the crop you’re producing.

Rootella can be applied to any plant that P&H customers grow except for canola, which does not respond to the microbes that develop in the soil.

Find out how biologicals can work for you

Your local P&H can work with you to see how biologicals can be integrated into your crop input plan. Start a discussion today.