With so many options on the market for inoculants, all at different price points, what are the most important considerations in choosing the right one? And is a biological necessary?
In this episode of RealAgriculture’s Pulse School, Anique Josuttes, technical marketing specialist for seed treatments and inoculants with BASF, says that when it comes to deciding on an inoculant, there are three questions that a grower needs to ask. The first is focused on choosing the best formulation of inoculant. Choosing a peat, liquid, or solid-core granular formulation is primarily going to depend on what equipment is available, Josuttes says. This is also one area that price is going to come into play.
Second, growers should look at the rhizobium strain included in the inoculant. Third, they need to consider whether a biological is included and what additional benefit it offers the crop.
Josuttes compares this to choosing vitamins after a doctor has said that a person is lacking in vitamin D. At that point the patient needs to make the choice to buy a multi-vitamin, or one that only has what they are lacking. “That’s the kind of the difference between crop specific versus crop generalist [product],” she says.
When choosing to an inoculant and whether to add a biological, Josuttes recommends taking a walk in the field and having a conversation about the efficacy of these products with representatives. Because these products are regulated by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, efficacy data isn’t required in the same way that a grower would find with pesticides and insecticides.
Check out more Pulse School episodes, here!
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