Huma® Enters Granular Fertilizer Market
Agricultural humic solutions leader Huma has entered the agricultural granular fertilizer market with Gro-Power humic-based fertilizer and soil conditioner products.
Huma purchased the assets of California-based Gro-Power in 2024 after supplying the company with dry humates for many years. Huma has largely focused on the turf and ornamental market with Gro-Power branded products, based on heavy demand, but now is set to bring those products to farms across the United States.
“Using humates as our carbon-based platform, Huma continues to expand our footprint across multiple product applications,” says Fred Nichols, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer for Huma. “The Gro-Power line is an excellent complement to our full line of dry humate products, biostimulants and liquid nutritional products.”
Leading the integration of Gro-Power into the agricultural market is company veteran Michael Gardner, a former Huma regional sales manager who became General Manager for Gro-Power.
“Having spent over 25 years growing agricultural crops, as both a farmer and with Huma, I’ve seen the difference Gro-Power products make firsthand,” explains Gardner. “I’ve been in the farmer’s shoes, and I’m excited to offer new and existing customers additional technology, support and resources to optimize crop and soil health.”
Syngenta Submits HiFlex™ Label Expansion
Syngenta has submitted a proposed HiFlex™ label expansion to the Environmental Protection Agency with the goal of expanding weed management flexibility for corn growers using bicyclopyrone-containing corn herbicides, including Storen®, Acuron®, Acuron Flexi and Acuron GT herbicides. Approval is anticipated for the 2027 growing season.
The proposed HiFlex label expansion would double the maximum rate of bicyclopyrone growers are allowed to use each year to allow expanded options for customized, overlapping residual herbicide programs.
“Growers have told us they want flexible programs that allow them to better position active ingredients throughout the season based on their weed pressures and management practices,” said Syngenta Technical Product Lead Mark Kitt. “Once approved, the HiFlex label expansion would give growers the option to use Storen, Acuron or Acuron Flexi preemergence followed by a postemergence application of Acuron GT, which is not permitted on current labels.”
The proposed HiFlex label expansion would also increase the maximum single application rates of Storen, Acuron Flexi and Acuron GT. Upon registration:
Storen users will have the flexibility to use up to 3.1 qts./A — 29% more than the current max rate of 2.4 qts./A.
Acuron Flexi users will have the flexibility to use up to 3 qts./A — 33% more than the current max rate of 2.25 qts./A.
Acuron GT users will have the flexibility to use up to 4.5 pts./A — 20% more than the current max rate of 3.75 pts./A.
New Crop Protection Company Introduces Herbicide
A new U.S. crop protection company is introducing its first product for residual weed control in corn, soybean, wheat and other labeled crops.
Viriterra Inc., based in North Carolina, introduces Perseus™ SC herbicide, giving agricultural retailers and distributors a new source of pyroxasulfone, which the company producers at commercial scale as a vertically integrated basic manufacturer. It is supported by three manufacturing plants and more than 300 people across those operations.
“Distributors need to know who stands behind a product and who to call when they have a question,” said Jeff Tweedy, president and general manager of Viriterra. “With Perseus SC, they’re working with the manufacturer. We produce pyroxasulfone using a non-infringing process and give distributors direct access to our commercial and technical team. We want to earn their business with dependable supply and people they can reach.”
Perseus SC is a Group 15 herbicide formulated as a liquid suspension concentrate. It provides residual control or suppression of labeled annual grasses, sedges and broadleaf weeds, including Palmer amaranth, waterhemp and foxtail species. Labeled uses include preplant and preemergence applications; rates, timing and weed spectrum vary by crop and use pattern.
Learn more about Viriterra and Perseus™ SC in this interview with Jeff Tweedy.
Interview with Viriterra president Jeff Tweedy 6:56
Syngenta Names Jeff Cecil President, NA Crop Protection
Jeff Cecil at 2024 Syngenta Media Summit
Cecil brings more than three decades of experience with Syngenta and its legacy companies to the role. Most recently, he served as Head of Marketing for U.S. Crop Protection, where he helped shape commercial strategy, portfolio priorities and customer engagement efforts across the business. In that role, he helped align marketing, portfolio and commercial priorities to support business performance and strengthen customer engagement across key crop segments.
Throughout his career, Cecil has held leadership positions across sales, marketing and product management in North America and at Syngenta’s global headquarters in Basel, Switzerland. As Global Head of Product Management for Seedcare, he led global portfolio strategy and worked across regions to advance Seedcare innovation, strengthen customer solutions and support business growth. Earlier in his career, he led U.S. sales teams and played an important role in the integration of the Seeds and Crop Protection businesses.
Hurricane Hits Hard
Hurricane Isaias damage at ZimmComm HQ in Pensacola
We have lived in Florida most of our lives, except for 20 years in Missouri, and this was definitely the most intense hurricane we have ever experienced. Sally in 2020 did hit us pretty hard – and we did lose our bridge to the beach for eight months – but this storm was different. The winds were more like a tornado than a hurricane and the damage is widespread, mostly trees, signs, and fences. Really not as much roof and home damage as you might expect.
The tree on our roof punched a small hole right on the edge of the attic and took down the gutter. The tree was a huge oak and was completely uprooted, as were many trees in the area. The soft woods, like southern pines and crepe myrtles, fared better than the hard woods like the oaks and magnolias. Every single road in the entire county has downed trees piled on the sides.
We did lose power for three days, which was a day and a half less than with Sally, but there are many in our neighborhood still in the dark. Fortunately, we did have a generator and plenty of propane to cook with and heat water.
Crop damage is being assessed in both Florida and Alabama. The Alabama Cooperative Extension System is working with local farm organizations and state and federal government agencies to document agricultural damages made to crops, livestock, buildings, and equipment. Most common losses are fences, timber, and cotton crops still in the field.
As to the name of this storm, Isaias, the Spanish form of the name Isaiah and pronounced (ee-sah-EE-ahs), we are with Governor DeSantis. “I don’t know how to pronounce this, because it’s not normal,” DeSantis said. “I’m calling it Isaiah. You guys can call it what you want. I know that’s not how you pronounce this, it’s something else but it’s weird and I’m just going to keep butchering it…so I’m calling it Isaiah.”
Mainly we are just calling it “the hurricane” – which is sad because we like to be on a first name basis with our storms here in Florida. Still, we are safe and sound and that is what matters. Thanks to all of you who were thinking of us and praying for us.
Deltapine® Announces Committed to Cotton Communities Recipients
Deltapine® celebrated World Cotton Day this month by announcing the recipients of its 2026 Committed to Cotton Communities program, a grower-nominated initiative designed to support local nonprofit organizations making a meaningful impact in cotton-growing communities. The program was launched earlier this year to give cotton growers the opportunity to nominate qualifying 501(c)(3) organizations that are helping strengthen rural America.
Over 40 non-profit organizations in 12 cotton-producing states were chosen to receive a donation from Deltapine at the recommendation of cotton growers in those states. “At Deltapine, our commitment to cotton extends beyond the field,” said Eric Best, Deltapine Cotton Product Manager. “Through Committed to Cotton Communities, growers identified organizations that are making a real difference in the places they call home. On World Cotton Day, we’re proud to recognize these organizations and celebrate the positive impact they have on families, youth, agriculture, and rural communities.”
The program reflects Deltapine’s ongoing commitment to supporting cotton growers and the communities that sustain the cotton industry. Growers nominated organizations focused on a variety of causes, including education, youth development, agriculture, community well-being, and local outreach efforts. The selected recipients were chosen based on their demonstrated impact and alignment with the program’s mission of strengthening rural communities.
See the list of all the organizations chosen the producers who nominated them.
Industry Ag News 10/12
Corbet Scientific Launches IRRAMAX Irrigation Technology
On opening day of the CAPCA Conference in Anaheim, California on Sunday, Corbet Scientific announced IRRAMAX, a polymer-based irrigation enhancer designed to improve water distribution and moisture retention in the crop root zone.
From August 2023 through May 2026, Corbet Scientific evaluated IRRAMAX in five paired-plot field trials conducted in collaboration with agriMeasures, LLC. The trials included strawberries and citrus in Florida, cotton in Texas, and corn in Nebraska. Each trial compared IRRAMAX-treated plots with grower standard practice (GSP) check plots. Soil moisture was measured using Sentek capacitance probes across all sites.
IRRAMAX-treated plots recorded higher volumetric soil moisture than GSP check plots in all five trials. In an 83-day Texas cotton trial, the longest of the five studies, soil moisture in the top 12 inches of the treated plot was more than three times that of the GSP plot. In an eight-day Nebraska corn trial, soil moisture readings in treated plots averaged approximately 17% higher than GSP, with a more uniform moisture profile at depths of 4 to 12 inches.
Salinity was also monitored at the Florida citrus and Texas cotton sites. At both sites, IRRAMAX-treated plots recorded lower and more stable salinity readings than GSP check plots.
Learn more about IRRAMAX at the CAPCA Conference by visiting booth 516 to review the trial data and discuss product placement, crop suitability and field results with Corbet Scientific’s technical team.
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Animal Ag News 10/9
