Adding Adjuvants to the Mix: How Advanced Solutions Can Help Get the Most From Your Applications
At the start of every growing season (actually months prior) growers have a variety of decisions to make. They must select the crops they’ll grow, the seeds, along with the traits they’ll plant, and myriad other issues before anything makes it into the ground. Included in those decisions are adjuvants, a sometimes overlooked (or neglected) product that can enhance success.
To get a deeper understanding of the role of adjuvants and learn how providers and retailers can work together to deliver their grower-customers the best chance for success, CropLife® interviewed Joe Vaillancourt, Adjuvants Marketing Manager, WinField United.
Joe Vaillancourt, Adjuvants Marketing Manager, Winfield United
CropLife: How would you characterize the use of adjuvants in the U.S.?
Joe Vaillancourt: Adjuvants have evolved significantly from simple tank additives that enhance the sticking and spreading of applied materials to sophisticated, science-backed solutions that help applicators tackle challenges before, during, and after spraying. While some adjuvants, like crop oils, have been in use since the 1960s, new inert technologies are continuously being developed, making this an exciting and innovative field within our industry.
CL: How have the regulations around adjuvants changed during the past few years?
JV: Historically adjuvants faced less regulation compared to chemicals and fertilizers due to their inert nature. However, recent regulations have brought change. In 2018, dicamba regulations highlighted the importance of drift reduction adjuvant systems. The new EPA Herbicide Strategy regulations under the Endangered Species Act have also introduced proactive mitigation measures that include drift reduction technologies. While the U.S. has not taken significant action, there is considerable pressure on nonylphenol ethoxylates, a widely used class of surfactants. State regulations vary greatly; for instance, California has a multi-year registration process for adjuvants, whereas some states have minimal or no registration procedures.
CL: How have growers’ attitudes or use changed over the past few years when it comes to adjuvants?
JV: Our market research shows interest and usage of spray adjuvants continues to grow. The validation of consistent performance of adjuvant solutions has been paramount to their growth over the years. Today, it feels like there are more farmers who “won’t spray without them” than the skeptics.
CL: How has the science behind adjuvants changed over the past few years?
JV: The field of adjuvants has seen significant changes in the development of new product solutions and the tools used for validation. Innovative scientists, like those at WinField United, are exploring ways to integrate adjuvant systems with plant health recommendations or optimize for drone applications. Advanced validation methods also allow us to study the impact of adjuvants on spray applications within the plant at the Winfield United Innovation Center phenotyping lab. Finally, artificial intelligence is rapidly enabling real-time capture and analysis of spray data.
CL: What role do retailers play when it comes to adjuvant use?
JV: Retailers play a critical role because of the trust they have with farmers, applicators, and manufacturers. Farmers trust their retailers to get the best out of their applications, and retailers trust Winfield United to deliver solutions they can stand behind.
While ground rig and aerial applications have been around for decades, equipment manufacturers are exploring autonomous systems like drones and unmanned ground applicators. Photo courtesy: WinField United
CL: How have applications methods changed?
JV: While ground rig and aerial applications have been around for decades, equipment manufacturers are exploring autonomous systems like drones and unmanned ground applicators. These markets are rapidly developing, and we believe there will be a fit for many types of applications in the future.
CL: What else do we need to know?
JV: Including adjuvants in your tank mix is more important now than ever. The right adjuvant system helps get the most out of chemistry applications, whether it’s the “latest and greatest” or a generic offering.
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