Decrease stress, increase yields in early-season planting with Novonesis

Many products on the market do not attempt the high hurdles required for EPA registration, but Novonesis has taken the extra steps to document the plant growth regulator effects of their products to ensure transparency and effectiveness.

Novonesis products NodPro^®, Optimize^® FXC DS, Torque^® IF and Ratchet^® are all EPA-registered, a rarity in the biological product space.

NodPro, Torque, Ratchet, and Optimize FXC DS can help producers manage a variety of crop stress factors, like drought, cold soils, herbicide drift, or nutrient deficiency.

Yield success starts before a single seed is planted. As harvesters are put away for the season, it’s time to look ahead to the 2025 planting season. Reducing crop stress, especially early in the growing season, is crucial for healthy roots and plants.

When plants are less stressed, there is more potential for higher yields because the energy it takes to overcome stress is redirected into profitable grain production.

Novonesis has a long history of producing high-quality, biologically based products that can help producers overcome environmental stressors, boost yields and optimize ROI. Novonesis offers four biologicals that can help producers have healthier plants and boost their bottom line.

NodPro^®

Soybean producers can increase yields by up to 1.3 bushels per acre with NodPro, an EPA-registered soybean seed treatment and plant growth regulator that helps mitigate stress during planting by enhancing soil conditions and sending the signal to promote nitrogen fixation.

With a cost of about $2 per acre and soybeans averaging $10 per bushel, this results in an impressive ROI of $13 return for a $2 investment.

NodPro uses natural processes to send out a signal to rhizobium in the soil that the plant is ready for nodulation. It helps the plant turn on certain functions that help it deal better with stresses of the seedling. If the soil is cold or if its drought stressed, it helps the seedling germinate better, more quickly, and more robustly.

NodPro can be used with or without a rhizobia inoculant, allowing producers the flexibility to use the best fit for their operation.

″NodPro is a non-living biological soybean seed treatment. It’s an EPA-registered plant growth regulator that signals the plant to initiate the nodulation process. NodPro aids in mycorrhization and stimulates plant growth,″ said Jon Treloar, senior technical agronomist with Novonesis. ″The result is increased nodulation and improved yield performance.″

The multi-year shelf life and convenient packaging options make it a great choice for retailers to keep on hand.

Torque^®

Ideal for corn and approved for use on a wide variety of row crops, Torque is an EPA-registered plant growth regulator that signals the crop to increase mycorrhizal associations leading to healthier plants, higher yields and a strong ROI.

When used in corn, Torque delivers a 3- to 4-bushel yield increase with a cost of $4 per acre. With corn prices at $4 per bushel, this results in a 4:1 ROI when Torque is applied in-furrow at planting. Torque can be applied in-furrow at planting or soil applied as a side-dress. 

″Torque enables crops to come closer to achieving full genetic potential by enhancing nutritional capabilities that drive natural growth processes, maximizing plant health, and crop performance,″ said Adam Kayser, global product technical manager at Novonesis.

The high concentration, low use formula of 1 fluid ounce per acre allows for easy application. Torque has a long shelf life and is compatible with a multitude of liquid nutritional products, fungicides and insecticides.

Ratchet^®

Ratchet is a post-emergence solution that can be mixed with herbicides, insecticides, or fungicides and is effective in both corn and soybeans. It works within the plant to signal increased photosynthesis and sugar production, leading to healthier plants and higher yields.

When applied as a foliar spray in corn, Ratchet can produce a 5 bushel-per-acre yield gain. In soybeans, it can lead to a 2-bushel increase, offering a strong 4:1 ROI at a cost of $5 per acre.

″Ratchet is an EPA-registered plant growth regulator for foliar application to crops. It is compatible with most post-emerge products, making it a convenient and compelling product supporting the growth and yield potential of corn and soybeans,″ said Jon Treloar, senior technical agronomist with Novonesis.

Ratchet is approved for use on a wide variety of row crops and specialty crops and has an application rate of 2 to 4 fluid ounces per acre.

Optimize^® FXC DS

For better soybean crop resilience and performance across a wide range of soil and environmental conditions, soybean producers should consider Optimize FXC DS.

Optimize FXC DS supports earlier and stronger root growth, plant vigor, nodule formation, mycorrhizal associations and nitrogen fixation potential.

Optimize FXC DS has significantly higher concentration of Lipo-Chitooligosaccharides (LCO) to support even better mycorrhizal spore germination and association.

″LCO is a proven plant signaling molecule that is a key part of the plant’s natural development process. when applied to soybeans, Optimize FXC DS supports earlier nodule formation and nitrogen fixation potential, leading to increased nodulation, improved accessibility to soil nutrients and water absorption leading to increased vigor and more consistent yield delivery, said Adam Kayser,″ Novonesis Global Product Technical Manager.

″Optimize FXC DS performs in a wide range of growing conditions. It contains significantly higher concentrations of LCO than the previous version supporting earlier nodule formation and mycorrhizal associations. The result is noticeably improved root development and higher more consistent yield expectation,″ Kayser said.

Optimize FXC DS is highly compatible with on-seed chemistries and has an extra concentrated use rate of 1.5 fluid ounces per 100 pounds of seed.

NodPro, Torque, Ratchet, and Optimize FXC DS can help producers manage a variety of crop stress factors, like drought, cold soils, herbicide drift, or nutrient deficiency.

Less stress means better yields.