Bridging the Gap: Education Key As Adjuvants Move Into the Spotlight

For a long time, adjuvants were viewed by many in agriculture as optional. But this changed in 2024, when the EPA began introducing new regulations tied to the Endangered Species Act (ESA). According to Landon Bunderson, Chief Science Officer at Nano-Yield, this altered how adjuvants are viewed.

2026 ESA Technical Guide to Mitigation Options
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“It quietly became the strongest regulatory drivers in adjuvant innovation and use,” says Bunderson. “When label changes reflect lower use rates and decreased frequency, the industry must do more with less. What that ultimately means for the grower is: ‘I better make damn sure that I’m hitting my target with the most potency possible.’”

Joe Vaillancourt, Strategic Marketing Manager, Adjuvants, at WinField United, agrees.

“Rather than burdening growers with trying to find entirely new solutions, the ESA framework often incorporates tools that are already familiar to them, such as adjuvants,” says Vaillancourt. “Drift reduction adjuvants are considered best practice across all acres, not just those impacted by ESA, meaning their value extends well beyond compliance.”

Market Economics in the Way

Despite this growing need for adjuvants, however, some of the percentages don’t show widespread usage just yet for the category. In fact, according to Johnnie Roberts, Director of Adjuvant Chemistry at CPDA, only 15% to 25% of treated acres during the 2025 growing season incorporated a deposition or drift reduction agent (DRA) into their application mixes. The reasons for this were threefold, he says.

“There might have been spray mix and compatibility issues or operators were under the assumption that the nozzles they were using could maximize spray deposition without the need for adjuvants,” says Roberts. “Or it could have been the additional cost and perceived lack of value when it comes to ‘killing more weeds and bugs.’”

This last reason, cost, could also play a role in how well (or poorly) the adjuvants category performs during the 2026 growing season. Coming off a less-than-stellar economic year during 2025, U.S. growers are again facing another season of reduced commodity prices and increased crop input/fuel/equipment costs. According to USDA numbers, net farm income dropped from $179.8 billion in 2024 to $154.6 billion in 2025. Some recovery is forecast for 2026, but only a 1% to 3% improvement based upon early estimates.

Given these facts, says WinField United’s Vaillancourt, adjuvant use might suffer during the 2026 growing season regardless of ESA requirements.

“One of the primary challenges facing the adjuvants marketplace is the broader economic environment,” he says. “Farmers are operating under tighter margins, and while adjuvants provide clear value — especially for drift reduction and oil-based systems — they are not always viewed as foundational inputs. That can make them more vulnerable to cost-cutting decisions.”

Nano-Yield’s Bunderson agrees.

“Adjuvants are value-added products that are sometimes viewed as unimportant or not carrying the same weight as the chemistry in the tank,” he says. “Therefore, they are usually the first to be reduced or eliminated from the mix.”

Factors to Increase Use

While general agricultural economics may work against adjuvant use during 2026, there are other emerging factors that should work in the category’s favor to increase demand. According to WinField United’s Vaillancourt, a major development in today’s crop protection products marketplace is the rise of post-patent chemistries. As more suppliers offer similar active ingredients, variability when using these products can increase. This is where the right adjuvant system can play a critical role in delivering consistent performance to users, he says.

“Growers now have access to more suppliers and product options than ever before,” says Vaillancourt. “This creates a need for consistency, and that’s where high-quality adjuvant systems come in. When using actives from different suppliers, the right adjuvant helps ensure consistent performance and maximizes the effectiveness of crop protection products. Importantly, the best solution isn’t always the cheapest. It’s the one that delivers the strongest agronomic results and helps overcome environmental and application challenges.”

Nano-Yield’s Bunderson adds that the agricultural industry’s rapid move to adopt and incorporate new ag technologies such as drones and precision systems into application is also expected to have a positive impact on adjuvant use going forward.

“The agricultural adjuvants market is being shaped by a mix of technology shifts, regulatory pressure, and grower economics,” he says. “It seems that the industry is moving from ‘optional tank additives’ to performance critical tools for increased efficiency. With that also comes a shift from historically commoditized products such as surfactants and oils to differentiated chemistry.”

Naturally, this means that the adjuvants industry needs to continue with its efforts to educate ag retailers and growers about the benefits these products bring to the table. According to Justin Greer, National Marketing Manager at Innvictis Crop Care, it’s for this reason that his company has actively been working on education.

“Adjuvants have moved into a ‘must-have’ role in spray programs, and as sellers, we’re doing more now to inform and educate farmers on how to use them,” says Greer. “Innvictis offers an Adjuvants 101 online training as well as an online module about our line of adjuvants.”

Ag retailers also are playing a role in this educational initiative on adjuvant use.

“Retailers close the gap of the ‘how and why’ adjuvants are being used,” says Jeff Bunting, Vice President of Crop Protection at GROWMARK. “Now with the current herbicide strategies, the role of a certified crop advisor will be even more important as we being to use products that provide the necessary mitigation points.”

Austin Anderson, Adjuvants Brand Manager at Helena Agri-Enterprises, says his company also emphasizes education.

“We typically conduct one-on-one education with our growers through our retail branches,” says Anderson. “This way, we are making sure no one we work with gets caught off guard by the ESA requirements.”

Overall, says WinField United’s Vaillancourt, the future for increased adjuvant use across agriculture looks very bright indeed.

“As products and application methods evolve, the need for effective adjuvant systems will only increase,” he says. “The goal is to give growers confidence that their inputs are working effectively.”

Innvictis’ Greer couldn’t agree more.

“Adjuvants and DRAs are now essential components of modern, compliant, efficient cropping systems,” he says. “Thanks to adjuvant technology today, farmers have new options to help them navigate their challenges and can even help them get a little bit more out of their other inputs as they focus on producing strong, healthy crops.”