Suppliers: Micronutrients Ready to Have a Macro Impact in 2023 Growing Season
February 28, 2023 Demand is up and along with that the hopes and expectations of micronutrient manufacturers. The challenges posed by weather, COVID, war in Eastern Europe, supply disruptions, rising prices, among others left those providers concerned headed into last year. Despite that most said it was a good year. And their expectations for this year are considerably higher.
A Look Back at 2022
“AgroLiquid was cautiously optimistic going into 2022 but satisfied in the end,” says Galynn Beer, National Strategy & Product Management Lead. “Caution was triggered by shortages of primary nutrients that caused the cost of those nutrients to escalate beyond market value, especially in nitrogen. At the end of the year, micronutrients seemed to avoid the grower’s scalpel.”
One reason for increased demand is simply a better understanding of their importance by end users.
“During the past few years, we have seen a steady increase in the demand for micronutrients,” says Barrett Smith, US Sales Manager, Bio Huma Netics. “Farmers have become more informed about the massive role micronutrients play in improving soil and growing healthier crops. Many farmers are applying micronutrients not only to their soil but are also mixing them with pesticide applications to maximize the benefits to their plants — they are willing to break free from traditional farming practices and are more open to trying new ways and techniques.”
BRANDT has also seen growing interest.
“With the high cost of basic fertilizer, growers continue to focus their spend on the right product at the right rate at the right time — oftentimes, the right product is a micronutrient,” the company’s Vice President of Discovery & Innovation, Brian Haschemeyer, tells Croplife® magazine.
“2022 was a great year as the adoption of micronutrients into fertility programs keeps increasing,” says Tim Laatsch, Director of North American Agronomy with Koch Agronomic Services. “Retailers continue to look for better alternatives and more efficient technologies in micronutrient products to offer their growers.”
According to Bryan Wattie, Business Development Lead, Lucent Bio, there seem to be two reactions to the use of micronutrients during challenging times.
“2022 followed a drought year for many regions in 2021,” Wattie says. “Along with rising input prices, many growers felt the pinch and tightened the purse strings.
“Growers who didn’t already use micronutrients as a part of their crop nutrition program were not necessarily looking for another line item on the crop budget,” Wattie continues. “Growers using micronutrients might have seen some of the additional benefits that micronutrients can provide in these conditions, including water use efficiency and environmental stress resilience.”
Expectations for 2023
An agronomist consults with a farmer following soil test analysis. Photo Credit: AgroLiquid
“Strong commodity prices provided better than expected profits in 2022,” AgroLiquid’s Beer says. “Profitability encourages risk-taking by growers. I expect we’ll see producers push the yield envelope on more acres across the farm. Micronutrients have really taken center stage in pursuit of higher yields so the outlook is bright. Looking at soil tests along with in-season tissue testing has created a wider window for micronutrient purchases. Growers are seeing increased utilization of primary nutrients by adding a wider spectrum of micronutrients. Heck, even a few micros that have been viewed as outliers, or unproven, such as molybdenum and nickel, are being utilized.”
Despite the positive signs, it’s understandable manufacturers temper some of that enthusiasm.
“There are multiple challenges for us to overcome,” says Bio Huma Netic’s Smith. “The industry is on edge watching the train strike situation, supply issues, transportation costs, inflation, and uncertainties surrounding the global economy. We all are impacted to various degrees — some of us are facing shortages, and many are witnessing price increases due to the surging prices of raw materials. The entire industry, including dealers and farmers, is preparing to overcome the existing challenges while planning ahead and getting their ducks in a row in case of more shortages or price fluctuations.”
Another factor experienced by much of the ag industry could also play an important role in the next several years.
Zinc deficiency in corn. Photo Credit: Mosaic Co.
“We are seeing the micronutrient industry in North America mature as manufacturers continue to consolidate, new products are introduced, use of micronutrients increases and there is more market competition,” says Tim Fry, Director of Performance Products, The Mosaic Co. “Demand for micronutrients remains strong, but farmers and retailers are placing more emphasis on ease of use when choosing products.”
“The micronutrient industry is constantly evolving and advancing as new research is conducted and new products are developed,” BRANDT’s Haschemeyer says. “In general, micronutrient products are becoming increasingly specialized and targeted to meet the specific needs of different crops and soil types. As demand for sustainable and efficient agriculture practices continues to grow, the use of micronutrients is expected to become more prevalent as farmers look to optimize crop yields while minimizing environmental impact.”
Retailers play a key role in the surge in micronutrient use.
“While it continues to increase at a steady pace, the micronutrient industry keeps learning more about the offerings in the market,” Koch’s Laatsch tells CropLife. “We are also seeing how growers and retailers are comparing more options to find the micronutrient alternatives that best fit their operation.”
What’s New
SGW corn seed trial. Photo credit: Scott G. Williams
“The interesting part of the industry is in product development,” explains Fernando Muñoz, General Manager, Scott G. Williams. “Optimal yields and demonstrable benefits will expand the market. For example, calcium is a large input in ag. However, for many years, land plaster and crushed rocks have been used to add calcium. Newer engineered products such as Primary Secondaries (for dry bulk blending) and 9-in-1 Liquid Chelated Calcium (for liquid applications) will improve the calcium aspect in plants. The result is an effective treatment against blossom-end rot, healthier plants, and better looking and tasting fruits and vegetables.”
WinField United takes thousands of tissue samples every year on a variety of crops. According to Jon Zuk, Crop Protection Product Manager, there have been some changes to the approach growers are taking.
“It seems as if a lot of these trends are somewhat guided by weather patterns but they almost certainly have a yield component to them,” he says. “What we are finding is that if we can properly identify a potential deficiencies in a higher producing crop regions, we are more likely to get yield responses. Likewise, a different set of recommendations may be needed for areas that were not as fortunate from Mother Nature on that particular year. This may be due to tightening of input management at the producer level and/or the increase in the interest of optimizing yield regardless of environment, among many other things.”
Precision technology has infiltrated so many areas of the ag industry. Micronutrients are no exception.
“Precision application and applicator technology continues to improve, allowing growers to apply multiple products at once and in one pass across the field,” says Chuck Anderson, VP and GM Specialty Liquids, The Andersons. “We are also seeing growth of dry micronutrient products with multiple ions and blended with humic acids.”
Bio Huma Netic’s Smith has seen growth with humic and fulvic acids as well.
“Humic and fulvic acids are starting to get their dues, they have become more of a staple, especially where micronutrients are concerned,” Smith says. “Those carbon chains are proving to be crucial in aiding uptake and improved bioavailability of micronutrients and macronutrients all across the board. Many are seeing those benefits seep into their soil as well.”
The innovations will continue to come.
“For us, the need for simplicity continues to drive the industry,” BRANDT’S Haschemeyer says. “Farmers want to do more with less — and do it easier. That’s why we’re introducing a line of seed treatments combined with micronutrients this year.”
Growth Drivers
“There are opportunities in expanding the scope of micronutrients applied,” says AgroLiquid’s Beer says. “The typical soil test reports zinc, manganese, iron, copper, and boron. The market for those has expanded because the soil test reflects the inventory of those micros in the soil. What will come next will be outlier micros like molybdenum, nickel and cobalt. Growers are seeing some benefits, but they aren’t generally tested for on soil tests, which results in guessing when and where the benefit will be. Guessing isn’t a great way to provide value, but I think we’ll eventually get better at determining the correct use of these nutrients.”
A change in how micronutrients are viewed among growers is one of the strongest growth factors.
“I think farmers are realizing they can’t cut out their micronutrient needs when prices are too high and commodity prices are down,” Bio Huma Netic’s Smith says. “Micronutrients are now considered as a necessity rather than an option when times are favorable. When farmers see the improvement in their soil and plants because of using micronutrients, they become even more convinced. This conviction is what drives the industry and encourages us to manufacture quality products that make a difference.
“If we take our vitamins, eat nutritious food, and adapt to an improved lifestyle, we can be generally healthy without having to rely (as much) on pharmaceuticals,” Smith continues. “Plants are very similar to us in that regard, they need their nutrients too. When more farmers understand this concept and realize they can do that by adding micronutrients, it would automatically drive the industry to continue to do better.”
“The three main factors driving the micronutrient industry are soil degradation, climate change and innovations,” Haschemeyer says.
Soil degradation: Many agricultural soils have come depleted of essential micronutrients, which has led to a need for micronutrient fertilizers to replenish these nutrients back into the soil/crop.
Climate change: climate change is causing shifts in weather patterns and increasing the frequency and severity of drought, which can stress crops and reduce yields. Soil mobility uptake decreases in dry soils and micronutrients can help improve crop resilience and overall yield.
Innovation in technology: There has been a significant amount of research and development in the micronutrient industry, leading to the development of new products and formulations that can better meet the needs of different crops and soil types.
“We have seen a few key factors driving the micronutrients side of the industry – soil testing, yield response, and ROI,” says Lucent Bio’s Wattie. “Increased attention to these methods of evaluation, performance and measurement have driven growers to understanding the positive impacts of micronutrients in their fertility plans.”
Opportunities, Challenges
Manufacturers, retailers, and growers can cut through any remaining confusion over the proper micronutrient usage.
“Better information is needed that helps retailers and farmers sort through the compelling but often contradictory claims of new products,” Mosaic’s Fry says. “Proper product placement according to soils and cropping systems to deliver consistent return on investment is one of the biggest challenges.”
“Instead of focusing on single nutrients, companies (including Nachurs) are moving toward promoting micronutrient blends, which offer improved crop growth efficiencies,” says Tommy Roach, Vice President Development & Technical Services, Nachurs Alpine Solutions. “For instance, if you only use zinc (Zn) it partners only with phosphorus (P), boron (B), and molybdenum (Mo) in the plant. Conversely, if one used a micro blend of Zn, Mn (manganese), Fe (iron), Cu (copper), B, and Mo it will interact with all nutrients in the plant (except sulfur).”
A more targeted approach to use is key to success, according to WinField’s Zuk.
“The biggest challenge is showing consistent agronomic results in a very inconsistent environment,” he says. “In other words, what worked in your crop(s) last year will not always work this coming year and maybe didn’t work the year before. There is a higher level of patience and management and attention to detail that is needed in order to develop consistent results in micronutrient applications. Producers that have a good feel for the weather and how that could impact their current fertility strategy and overall crop needs have the highest likelihood of seeing the best results year over year. One way to overcome these challenges and make these results more manageable is creating a plan with a trusted advisor and allowing it to be flexible as the season progresses.”
Of course, old habits are hard to overcome.
“If NPK prices go up, people tend to pull back on micronutrient purchases,” Scott G. Williams’ Muñoz says. “Cheap products from imports and poorly granulated materials will continue to depress the market.”
At The Andersons additional benefits will be realized as the technology continues to advance.
“Continued research and testing is an area of opportunity,” Anderson, says. “As companies and products are vetted, growers and retailers want to see multiple-year research and testing that supports and proves a product’s efficacy and return on investment.”
Subscribe Today For
