In farming, two words you never want to hear are ‘crop failure’. When that happens, it’s usually because of things nobody can control, like drought or hail. Sometimes it’s not even the field, but the market, when prices fall and the return just isn’t there.
Over time, this reality has shaped how I think about our work. You can’t control the weather or the markets, but you can be deliberate about decisions that give a crop a fighting chance.
At the base level, seed choice matters. It only works when the traits and genetics fit the climate and conditions the grower is dealing with. Along with this, the seed coating is an important decision. It supports germination, helps protect against fungus, and when conditions call for it, can add benefits like drought protection.
None of that takes all the risk away, but it gives the crop a better start.
Right now, biologicals are getting a lot of attention. Many of them come with big promises and the potential to replace certain synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides. That potential is real, but potential isn’t enough. The question isn’t whether a product sounds good. It’s whether it actually works in a field.
Validation matters. Before we sell anything, we look at whether it can even be applied through a seed coating and then whether it delivers as promised. We’ve invested in a lab and in people who take that work seriously, and we try to recreate the results we’re shown. At the same time, we’re realistic about the limits of lab testing. When the only way to know is to see it in the field, we offer the product at no cost for the first planting so we can learn from real-world performance.
And quality is important beyond performance in the field.
The product has to hold together from the bag through planting. It can’t break down, and dust-off matters. We continually work on improving all this, because failure at any point undermines success in the field.
Customer service ties it all together.
We listen, we make ordering easy and accurate and we communicate clearly. And if something ever goes wrong, we investigate fully, not to defend ourselves, but to make sure it does not happen again. At the end of the day, all of this only matters if the grower succeeds.
