A Perfect Match: Humic DG and Air Drill Seeders

One of the hottest topics of conversation between growers and our sales team has been the application of our Humic DG granules through an air seeder.

Many growers are having success with Humic DG granules in both in-furrow or sideband applications.

Why an Air Seeder?
Air seeders (or air drills) have been used in small grain and oil seed production since the early 1980’s, and have been popular with medium and large producers. More recently, they have been modified for use with a wider range of crops, including vegetables and corn silage planting.
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The beauty of an air seeder is in the precision it commands with the placement of nutrients (including humates) and seeds. The more precise the placement of humate in relation to the seed, the greater the opportunity to maximize the benefits of humic acid; benefits that shouldn’t be ignored — improved water retention and nutrient uptake, and greater root development.

These benefits, coupled with the technology and superior handling characteristics Humic DG granules provide, make an “air seeder + Humic DG granules” application the ideal way to ensure that both soil AND seed are receiving the humic acid they need.

What Makes Humic DG Granules Ideal for an Air Seeder?
Let’s agree that the best way to incorporate humates into a planting scheme is with an in-furrow or a sideband application. With that being said, granular humates have historically caused headaches in this regard, as their less than ideal handling characteristics have made them difficult to manage in seeding or fertilizer blending operations.

Enter Humic DG granules. With its engineered, spherical particles, growers tell us that Humic DG granules accentuate all of the major advantages of an air seeder; that the free-flowing homogeneous product allows for the precision placement and maximum uptake of humic acid.

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The DG Advantage
Featuring our patented Dispersing Granule (DG) Technology, Humic DG granules represent a unique, high-tech humic solution; one that’s tailor made for air seeder applications. On contact with soil moisture, each DG granule releases thousands of sub-particles into the immediate vicinity of the seed – taking precision humic acid delivery to the next level.

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Are Cost Savings Involved?
I’ll let the numbers speak for themselves. Air seeders, in both sideband and in-furrow applications of Humic DG granules, allow the grower to maximize humic acid delivery rates at an economical input cost. The majority of the growers we’ve spoken with are utilizing air seeders to apply Humic DG granules at a rate of 5-10 lbs. per acre (in-furrow). At this rate, Humic DG granules are delivering up to 6x the amount of humic acid, compared to one gallon of 12% liquid humic acid, at a similar cost/acre.

Humic DG Resources
Click the buttons below to download Humic DG documents.

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Request Samples
Want to experience Humic DG for yourself? Click the button below to request samples.

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John Pope is a Territory Manager for The Andersons, Inc. Turf & Specialty Group, with a focus on high-tech, high-value solutions for the professional turf, horticulture and agriculture markets. John has been in the Plant Nutrient Industry for 33 years. He can be reached at: john_pope@andersonsinc.com.

Product Overview | Dispersing Granule (DG) Products

This post features a quick review of The Andersons dispersing granule (DG) humic products and their benefits to soil and plant health.

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In addition to our DG products, we also offer a full line of liquid and soluble granule (SG) humic products. A summary of these products were featured in a previous post.

Growers of all types—from large acreage grain producers to athletic field managers—ask us on a regular basis to explain the differences in humic products. The interest in humic products is gaining because many growers are placing an emphasis on managing to maximize soil health.

The 2015 Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll stated that “93% of farmers agree that healthy soil can lead to better crop yields. About 77% claimed that it could also reduce vulnerability to drought conditions.


Before understanding our range of humic acid-based products, it’s important to understand the benefits humic acid provides.

Why Humic Acid?

Humic acid promotes healthy soils, which promote healthy plants.

Healthy soils provide many benefits for plants, including:

    • Physical support
    • Air supply & flow
    • Water
    • Support for cooling, nutrient transport, and photosynthesis (energy production)
    • Temperature moderation
    • Plant root protection
    • Toxin protection
    • Nutrients essential for growth

Humic Acids Promote Healthy Soils

Providing soil carbon
Provides an oxidized carbon source which stimulates the soil microbiology and beneficial organisms.

Providing microbes with a place to live and food to eat
When these microbes are supported, they will promote soil and plant health.

    • Make nutrients available to plants in the organic form
    • Promote soil structure
    • Produce plant growth hormones
    • Protect plant from pathogens

Modifying soil structure
Humic acids modify the soil structure to improve:

    • Aggregate stability
    • Water infiltration and holding capacity
    • Aeration
    • Soil tilth

Adding cation exchangeable material to the soil
Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC): the amount of exchangeable cations (nutrients) a soil can sustain.

    • High CEC = high nutrient retention and fertility
    • Activates key soil chemistry

Why Humic Products from The Andersons?

Our range of humic products contain a highly available, soil-active carbon source that is delivered using the latest humic acid granule technology. We offer a complete line of technologically-advanced, easy-to-handle products superior to others on the market today.

Our humic offering includes products that can be used in granular or liquid application throughout the growing season.

Dispersing Granule (DG) Products

    • Humic DG
    • Black Gypsum DG

Soluble Granule (SG) Products

    • K-Mate SG

Liquid Products

    • UltraMate LQ

Humic DG

Humic DG is a unique combination of two sources of humic substances that provide fulvic, humic acid, humin and humic acid precursor. Humic DG has a 70% humic acid content. The patented dispersible granule (DG) technology delivers the humic substance to the soil, where each granule disperses into thousands of sub-particles that self incorporate into your soil.

The humic substances found in Humic DG will provide a food source (C) to the soil microbes, causing them to flourish. As a result, essential macro and micro nutrients held in the soil will become more available and additional fertility will be utilized more efficiently.

Humic DG will also improve water efficiency, soil productivity, and root system development. Humic DG has a greater surface area than conventional, screened humate products which enables greater availability to the plant and soil system.

Humic DG blends will all fertilizers, including urea, and is easy to apply through all types of granular application equipment.

Black Gypsum DG

Featuring the same dual carbon sources that make Humic DG unique, Black Gypsum DG is a unique bio-amendment that combines natural gypsum and humic substances in one, homogenous dispersing granule. Our patented Dispersing Granule (DG) technology results in a dust-free, spherical, ultra-dry granule that rapidly disperses into thousands of microparticles upon contact with moisture.

Our gypsum source is calcium sulfate dehydrate (CaSO₄•2H₂O), which, with two extra water molecules, is more water soluble than the anhydrite form (CaSO₄). These extra molecules make calcium and sulfur more quickly available to the plant – as soon as Black Gypsum DG enters the soil solution.

While a plant receiving the anhydrite form of calcium would be forced to wait days or weeks to take advantage of the applied nutrients, a plant receiving a Black Gypsum DG application begins to utilize the nutrients in hours, thanks to the dihydrate calcium and our dispersing granule technology. Black Gypsum DG will increase the calcium and sulfur content of the soil without changing the soil’s pH.

Black Gypsum DG delivers 10% humic acid in every application. This humate is quick acting, and provides further chelation of applied and existing nutrients, increasing their availability to the plant.

Black Gypsum DG can be blended with all fertilizer, including urea, and is easy to spread through all types of granular application equipment.


More Information

For more information on our entire humic acid-based product offering, check out our products page or contact us

Reference
Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/article/new-farm-poll-examines-farmers%E2%80%99-perspective-their-land-0

Product Overview | Liquid and Soluble Granule Products

This post features a quick review of The Andersons’ liquid and soluble granule (SG) humic products and compares them to other liquid potassium humates generally found in the marketplace.

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In addition to our liquid and SG products, we also offer a full line of granular humic products. A summary of our granular humic products will be featured in an upcoming post.

Growers of all types—from large acreage grain producers to athletic field managers—ask us on a regular basis to explain the differences in humic products. The interest in humic products is gaining because many growers are placing an emphasis on managing to maximize soil health.

The 2015 Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll stated that “93% of farmers agree that healthy soil can lead to better crop yields. About 77% claimed that it could also reduce vulnerability to drought conditions.

Why Humic Products from The Andersons?

Our Humic Products help promote soil and plant health in many ways, including increased:

    • water soluble carbon
    • microbial population
    • nutrient and micronutrient efficiency
    • root mass

When you are evaluating humic acid products and choosing which one is best for you, there are a few things that we recommend keeping in mind:

    • Humic acid products should be evaluated by
        • quality and quantity of humic acid (HA)
        • source of humates
        • application rate
        • ease of handling in the field, including tank mix compatibility
    • A typical 3-12% humic acid liquid product on the market is a potassium humate product. These potassium humates do not have all three humic fractions (humic acid, fulvic acid and humin). Some potassium humates are OMRI-listed, some are not.

The Sulfonation Advantage

UltraMate SG and UltraMate LQ are both sulfonated potassium humates. The advantage of sulfonation for both products allows compatibility over a pH range of 2.0 to 12.0, in both soil and tank mixes.  Traditional liquid potassium humates do not mix well in tank mixes below pH 5.8.

Sulfonation allows the user to apply this humic acid directly into tank mix, drip and overhead irrigation, and into low salt or low pH starter fertilizers. Mixing potassium humates that are not sulfonated can be risky for conventional humic acid products, especially with low salt or low pH fertilizers. UltraMate SG and UltraMate LQ provide maximum use flexibility. UltraMate SG and UltraMate LQ are not OMRI-listed.

UltraMate SG

UltraMate SG is a soluble granule that has a 70% humic acid content, compared to other liquids on the market that contain 12% humic acid or less.

This completely soluble granule is designed to be hydrated at the dealer or on the farm—mixed in a tank or in a fertilizer blend. The Soluble Granule process reduces freight and handling cost. It also provides flexibility in storage, inventory control, handling and rate of use. The grower only needs to mix as much of the UltraMate SG that is needed to make enough liquid for a single use.

UltraMate SG is applied at 1-3 pounds per acre (solubilized) per application, with up to 11 pounds applied annually. Corn, soybeans, wheat and specialty crops respond well to UltraMate SG. There are a wide variety of application timings and methods for UltraMate SG, including in-furrow with starter at planting and as a foliar post emergence. UltraMate SG is compatible with liquid fertilizers, micronutrients, and most pesticides. UltraMate SG may be applied through a wide range of equipment including drip and overhead irrigation, in-furrow, and 2×2.

For additional UltraMate SG application information, click here.

UltraMate LQ

UltraMate LQ is similar to a traditional liquid potassium humate. The advantage of UltraMate LQ over the traditional liquid potassium humate is increased tank mix compatibility when used at the same rate as traditional products. UltraMate LQ is designed for the grower that is more comfortable handling finished liquid products or likes the convenience of finished liquid products.

It is delivered to the grower in bulk, totes, or jugs, as a 12% sulfonated potassium humate liquid product.

UltraMate LQ is applied at 1-3 gallons per acre per application, with up to 10 gallons applied annually. These rates are comparable to competitive potassium humate liquids. UltraMate LQ is a great addition to nitrogen and starter fertilizer applications on a wide variety of crops. It is also ideal for foliar applications with fungicides, herbicides, and fertilizers. UltraMate LQ may be applied through a wide range of equipment including drip and overhead irrigation, in-furrow, and 2×2.

For additional UltraMate LQ application information, click here.

K-Mate SG

K-Mate SG is an OMRI-listed soluble granule with a 99% humic acid content.  This completely soluble granule is designed to be hydrated at the dealer or on farm location, then mixed in tank or fertilizer blend.

K-Mate SG has the characteristics of a liquid potassium humate but has a much better price position.  The Soluble Granule process reduces freight and handling cost. It also provides flexibility in storage, inventory control, handling and rate of use. The grower only needs to mix as much of the K-Mate SG that is needed to make enough liquid for a single use.

Corn, soybeans, wheat and a wide range of annual and perennial specialty crops respond well to K-Mate SG at the rate of 1-3 pounds per application, with up to 7-9 pounds applied annually. K-Mate SG was designed to be applied through a wide range of equipment including drip and overhead irrigation, in-furrow, and 2×2.

Also available through The Andersons is a high speed, low startup cost mixing unit for solutionizing K-Mate SG. For more information, contact us today.

For additional K-Mate SG application information, click here.


Product Range Overview

The Andersons’ range of humic products contain a highly available, soil-active carbon source that is delivered using the latest humic acid granule technology. We offer a complete line of technologically-advanced, easy-to-handle products superior to others on the market today.

Our humic offering includes products that can be used in granular or liquid application throughout the growing season.

Dispersing Granule (DG) Products

    • Humic DG
    • Black Gypsum DG

Soluble Granule (SG) Products

    • UltraMate SG
    • K-Mate SG

Liquid Products

    • UltraMate LQ

More Information

For more information on our entire humic acid-based product offering, check out our products page or contact us

Reference
Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/article/new-farm-poll-examines-farmers%E2%80%99-perspective-their-land-0

Black Gypsum DG Now Available In Canada

The Andersons Plant Nutrient Group is proud to announce that our Black Gypsum DG™ product is now registered [as Black Gypsum] as a supplement with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). This Canadian regulatory certification complies with the requirements and standards of the CFIA fertilizer and supplement laws, making Black Gypsum DG available to the Canadian market.

Black Gypsum DG also carries an OMRI listing and California Organic Material certification for organic use in the United States.

Black Gypsum DG is a calcium sulfate dihydrate and humic acid based soil-applied supplement, designed to enhance soil microbial activity and increase the uptake of applied nutrients. Black Gypsum DG addresses soil issues like soil salinity and high bicarbonates levels.

Black Gypsum DG’s combination of mined gypsum and humate in one, homogenous prill provides sources of available calcium, sulfur and humic acid. This product is especially helpful with annual crops that have a high calcium requirement or an immediate need for calcium due to a soil deficit.

Patented Dispersing Granule (DG) Technology provides dry, spherical, easy to apply granules that dissolve quickly on soil surface into thousands of micro particles upon contact with soil moisture or irrigation. This technology allows for reduced application rates, as compared to other agricultural-grade gypsum products, making Black Gypsum DG a very economical soil amendment.

Black Gypsum DG can be applied through a wide range of application methods: variable rate technology (VRT) equipment, in-furrow, bedding, broadcast and strip tillage.

Black Gypsum DG can be blended in all fertilizer materials, including urea. It can also be blended with nursery and greenhouse soil mixes.

Black Gypsum DG has a wide range of applications, including: fruit and vegetables, row crop agriculture, greenhouse, fine turf, and ornamental uses.

For more information on Black Gypsum DG and the rest of our complete range of humic solutions, visit our products page.

Introducing UltraMate LQ®

We are happy to announce the expansion of our humic product line to include UltraMate LQ — a sulfonated potassium humate liquid.

UltraMateLQ_ProductShotZoomWebUltraMate LQ completely mixes when added directly to liquid fertilizer, micronutrient or pesticide formulations over a wide range of pH values. The compatibility of UltraMate LQ allows the user to apply this humate using application methods which are unacceptable for conventional products—directly into tank mixes, drip irrigation and onto acid soils.

UltraMate LQ allows plants to utilize applied N, P, and micronutrients more efficiently, reducing leaching and improving soil structure.

UltraMate LQ provides the following benefits:

    • Wide range of pH compatibility: 2-12
    • Compatible with liquid fertilizer, micronutrient or pesticide formulations
    • Wide range of application methods: foliar spray, soil application, drip irrigation, water run or hydroponically
    • Up-front availability of humic and fulvic acids
    • Increases seed germination and nutrient availability

Application Information
UltraMate LQ can be used in both soil and foliar applications, at 1-3 gal/acre. For more detailed application information, click here.

The Andersons Humic Solutions
Our complete range of humic products now includes a number of solutions, each with varying degrees of humic substances (or fractions):

Product Humic Substances (Fractions)
UltraMate LQ Fulvic Acid, Humic Acid
UltraMate SG Fulvic Acid, Humic Acid
K-Mate SG Fulvic Acid, Humic Acid
Humic DG Fulvic Acid, Humic Acid, Humin
Black Gypsum DG Fulvic Acid, Humic Acid, Humin

All of our humic products offer the grower who uses (or wants to start using) humic acids the opportunity to easily incorporate humic acid in to most production schemes, whether blended in fertilizer or direct applied.

For more information on our complete line of products, visit our products page.


Amy Schroeder is the Research Agronomist for The Andersons, Inc. Plant Nutrient Group, with a focus on high-tech, high-value solutions for the professional turf, horticulture and agriculture markets.

Questions for Amy? Click here.

Is Your Soil Ready for the 2016 Growing Season?

Are you ready for the 2016 growing season? More importantly, is your soil ready?

We spend a lot of time thinking about our nutrient inputs for the growing season, but often fail to consider the health of our soil. Many of our soil management practices decrease soil carbon, as compared to what it was when the ground was a native prairie or forest.

If you think of soil being the engine of your agricultural system, carbon is the fuel that keeps the engine running smoothly.

Carbon is the keystone of all soil physical, chemical, and biological properties and processes. Decreased carbon levels mean your soil ‘engine’ isn’t ‘firing on all cylinders’ and cannot support healthy plants.

A healthy soil provides numerous benefits to plants, including:

  • physical support
  • water
  • nutrients for growth
  • temperature moderation
  • air supply/flow
  • protection from toxins

A healthy soil will also provide a suitable environment for a robust network of soil microbes. Soil microbes make nutrients available to plants, promote soil structure, produce plant growth hormones and protect the plant against toxins.

There are more microbes in a teaspoon of healthy soil than there are people on the Earth. If you feed those microbes with organic carbon, they will go to work for you and help you have healthy soils and, in turn, healthy plants.

Humic acids help promote soil and plant health in many ways, including:

  • providing an oxidized carbon source to stimulate soil microbes
  • enhancing nutrient efficiency
  • chelating soil micronutrients
  • increasing cation exchangeable material
  • increasing root mass and functionality
  • increasing soil water holding capacity

The Andersons range of humic products contain a highly available, soil-active carbon source that is delivered using the latest humic acid granule technology. We offer a complete line of technologically-advanced, easy-to-handle products superior to others on the market today. Our humic offering includes products that can be used in granular or liquid application throughout the growing season.

Do your soils have the carbon they need to thrive this season?

Healthy plants grow in healthy soils! As world renowned soil scientist, Dr. Will Brinton, says, “it’s not just about N-P-K, it’s about C-N-P-K.” To learn more about the role of carbon in the soils from Dr. Brinton, check out his video, below:

For More Information

To learn what The Andersons Humic Products can do for your soil and plant health, visit our Products page.

Contact us with any questions, or to request samples of our products.


Amy Schroeder is the Research Agronomist for The Andersons, Inc. Plant Nutrient Group, with a focus on high-tech, high-value solutions for the professional turf, horticulture and agriculture markets.

Questions for Amy? Click here.

Humic DG & Black Gypsum DG Certified as Organic Input Material in California

CDFA-seal-7cm-4col-spacingWe are proud to announce that our Humic DG™ and Black Gypsum DG™ products are now certified as an Organic Input Material (OIM) in the state of California. This California regulatory certification complies with the requirements of the National Organic Program standards.

Both Humic DG and Black Gypsum DG also carry OMRI listings for organic use.

Humic DG and Black Gypsum DG are humic acid based, soil-applied amendment solutions designed to enhance soil microbial activity and increase the uptake of applied nutrients. Patented Dispersing Granule (DG) Technology provides dry, spherical, and easy to apply granules that dissolve quickly into thousands of micro particles upon contact with water.

Humic DG and Black Gypsum DG can be applied through variable rate technology (VRT) equipment, or direct applied in the in-furrow, bedding, broadcast or strip tillage methods. Humic DG and Black Gypsum DG can also be blended in all fertilizers materials, including urea.

Humic DG and Black Gypsum DG can be used in a wide range of applications including blending with fertilizer for fruit and vegetables, row crop agriculture, greenhouse, fine turf, and ornamental uses.

For more information on Humic DG, Black Gypsum DG and the rest of our complete range of humic solutions, visit our products page.

About the Organic Input Material (OIM) Program
The Organic Input Material (OIM) Program registers fertilizing materials to be used in organic crop and food production. The program is mandated by the Legislature and supported by the industry. Products claiming to be appropriate for use in organic production are verified to comply with the California Fertilizing Materials Law and Regulations and USDA National Organic Program Standards. Effective January 2012, OIM’s distributed in California shall be registered with the FMIP.

About The Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI)
The Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) supports organic integrity by providing organic certifiers, growers, manufacturers, and suppliers an independent review of products intended for use in certified organic production, handling, and processing. OMRI is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization founded in 1997. When companies apply, OMRI reviews their products against the organic standards. Acceptable products are OMRI Listed® and appear on the OMRI Products List© or OMRI Canada Products List©. OMRI also provides technical support and training for professionals in the organic industry. For more information, visit www.omri.org.

Introducing K-Mate SG – Featuring Soluble Granule Technology

Following the 2014 launch of Humic DGTM, Black Gypsum DGTM and UltraMate SGTM, we are happy to announce the further expansion of our humic product line to include K-Mate SGTM – a super concentrated soluble granule formulation of potassium humate.

Featured in K-Mate SG and UltraMate SG, Soluble Granule (SG) Technology is part of The Andersons “tool box” of humic solutions aimed at improving both handling and performance. SG Technology is a unique method of concentrating humic acids and other nutrients in a water soluble formula.

Products featuring SG Technology make “hard to handle” nutrients easy to use and quick to dissolve, when combined with water or liquid fertilizers.

The advantages of soluble granules include:

  • Easy to mix and rapidly solubilize
  • Highly concentrated, reducing shipping and storage costs, compared to liquid formulations
  • Can be applied through a variety of liquid application equipment

The latest addition to the SG family of products is K-Mate SG – a value-added product that is complementary to UltraMate SG.

K-Mate SG is a 99% humic acid product from potassium humate, in a soluble granule (SG) form. These granules can be mixed in water to create a liquid potassium humate product, similar to liquid humic acids in the marketplace. K-Mate SG granules dissolve rapidly in solutions ranging from 6-12 pH, and store well over time in solution.

By comparison, 1.0 pound of K-Mate SG in one gallon of water is equivalent to one gallon of 12% liquid humic acid.

K-Mate SG uses include:

  • Drip irrigation
  • Fertigation
  • 2×2 application
  • Spray application
  • Hydro seeding
  • Root injection

Our complete range of humic products now includes a number of solutions, each with varying degrees of humic substances (or fractions):

Product Humic Substances (Fractions)
UltraMate SG Fulvic Acid, Humic Acid
K-Mate SG Fulvic Acid, Humic Acid
Humic DG Fulvic Acid, Humic Acid, Humin
Black Gypsum DG Fulvic Acid, Humic Acid, Humin

All of our humic products offer the grower who uses (or wants to start using) humic acids the opportunity to easily incorporate humic acid in to most production schemes, whether blended in fertilizer or direct applied.

For more information on our complete line of products, visit our products page.


John Pope is a Territory Manager for The Andersons, Inc. Turf & Specialty Group, with a focus on high-tech, high-value solutions for the professional turf, horticulture and agriculture markets. John has been in the Plant Nutrient Industry for 33 years. He can be reached at: john_pope@andersonsinc.com.

Humic DG – Now Available in Canada

The Andersons, Inc. Turf & Specialty Group is pleased to announce that Humic DG is now available to customers in the Canadian turf, agriculture and horticulture markets.

HumicDGLogoWithDGListed as a Registered Supplement by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Humic DG is a dispersing granule humic acid product that provides a full complement of humic substances including fulvic, humic and humin acids.

Humic acid is a natural soil conditioner that acts as an organic chelator and microbial stimulator. It has a unique carbon matrix which includes a high concentration of trace minerals and organic acids. As a result of these properties, humic acid enhances the plant’s ability to take in essential nutrients and improve soil structure.

“The Andersons dispersing granule technology enhances the efficiency of Humic DG by four-times versus conventional dry humates,” says Chuck Anderson, Director of Professional Products, Turf & Specialty Group. “The Andersons dust free, spherical, ultra-dry granules are easy to handle and apply, and can be blended with a variety of dry fertilizers including urea.”

With nine patents in its dispersing granule portfolio, The Andersons continues to invest in technology that provides solutions for its customers in the U.S. and internationally.

The Andersons dispersible products are designed to deliver nutrients and pest control chemicals directly into the soil. Upon contact with water each granule disperses into thousands of micro particles that move directly into the root zone. The dispersible granule is designed to reduce problems with run-off and mechanical pick up, which increases efficiency.

Dispersing granule technology is marketed under the brands of Contec DG®, Nutri DG®, DGLite®, and Humic DG™.

For more information on Humic DG and The Andersons’ complete line of humic products, click here.

 

 

Air Seeders: The Ideal Humic Acid Delivery Tool

One of the hottest topics of conversation this Spring between growers and our sales team has been the application of our Humic DG through an air seeder. Many growers are having success with Humic DG in both in-furrow or sideband applications.

But why keep all of this knowledge to ourselves? I wanted to take a few moments to share some of the thoughts behind air seeder applications of Humic DG on small grain, soybean and oil seed production.

Why an Air Seeder?
Air seeders (or air drills) have been used in small grain and oil seed production since the early 1980’s, and have been popular with medium and large producers. More recently, they have been modified for use with a wider range of crops, including vegetables and corn silage planting.

The beauty of an air seeder is in the precision it commands with the placement of nutrients (including humates) and seeds. The more precise the placement of humate in relation to the seed, the greater the opportunity to maximize the benefits of humic acid; benefits that shouldn’t be ignored — improved water retention and nutrient uptake, and greater root development.

These benefits, coupled with the technology and superior handling characteristics Humic DG provides, make an “air seeder + Humic DG” application the ideal way to ensure that both soil AND seed are receiving the humic acid they need.

What Makes Humic DG Ideal for an Air Seeder?
Let’s agree that the best way to incorporate humates into a planting scheme is with an in-furrow or a sideband application. With that being said, granular humates have historically caused headaches in this regard, as their less than ideal handling characteristics have made them difficult to manage in seeding or fertilizer blending operations.

Enter Humic DG. With its engineered, spherical particles, growers tell us that Humic DG accentuates all of the major advantages of an air seeder; that the free-flowing homogeneous product allows for the precision placement and maximum uptake of humic acid.

The DG Advantage
Featuring our patented Dispersing Granule (DG) Technology, Humic DG represents a unique, high-tech humic solution; one that’s taylor made for air seeder applications. On contact with soil moisture, each DG granule releases thousands of sub-particles into the immediate vicinity of the seed – taking precision humic acid delivery to the next level. Also found in Black Gypsum DG (humic acid + natural gyspum), DG technology is the most efficient way to make all three humic substances (fulvic acids, humic acids and humins) quickly available to both soil and seed.

Are There Cost Savings Involved?
I’ll let the numbers speak for themselves. Air seeders, in both sideband and in-furrow applications of Humic DG, allow the grower to maximize humic acid delivery rates at an economical input cost. The majority of the growers we’ve spoken with are utilizing air seeders to apply Humic DG at a rate of 5-10 lbs. per acre (in-furrow). At this rate, Humic DG is delivering up to 6x the amount of humic acid, compared to one gallon of 12% liquid humic acid, at a similar cost/acre.

Is There Still Time in 2014?
If you’re already utilizing air seeder technology in your operation, consider Humic DG and Black Gypsum DG as your humic acid sources. The precision of an air seeder + the efficiency of DG technology means big advantages for you AND your plants.

While yes, the year is almost halfway through, there is still time to capture the benefits of Humic DG & Black Gypsum DG with applications in 2014. Double crop soybeans and small grain plantings will benefit from a late summer or a fall application, as both products can be applied directly, or blended with a granular, starter fertilizer.


John Pope is a Territory Manager for The Andersons, Inc. Turf & Specialty Group, with a focus on high-tech, high-value solutions for the professional turf, horticulture and agriculture markets. John has been in the Plant Nutrient Industry for 33 years. He can be reached at: john_pope@andersonsinc.com.