Redox Grows

The Great Basin region features diversity of crops and weather that can change remarkable fast.  Redox Sales Agronomist Brett Reed works with many growers to ensure their crops are performing at their peak.

He said a crucial factor for success among any field is achieving plant charge balance, where the focus is on charge per acre, not pounds of material applied per acre. 

Reed said bio-nutrition, combining carefully-sourced nutrients with biostimulants, provides an incredible synergy that brings out the best in yield and quality.

“That synergy is like a great marriage,” he said. “You can always rely on having that partner help the other one. It’s amazing. A one stop shop.”

Some of his favorite Redox technology  includes RDX-N®, Rootex®, RootRx®, diKaP® and PeneCal®. 

For five generations spanning nearly a century, Pennsylvania’s Pine Valley Farms has been the epitome of two hallmarks in farming- premium quality and maximum yield. 

Grower Kegan Wright and his family devote significant hours on their farm and greenhouses, growing an A-Z list of produce. Their customer base is varied, including three retail outlets.

Prioritizing the most effective nutrition, including a host of Redox technology, has been a big part of their consistently strong yields and premium quality. Their bountiful and beautiful harvests help the family navigate through an all-too common situation of disappointing produce prices. 

“If you’re not valuing healthy, fertile soil, strong roots and strong plants, you might as well give up in this environment,” Wright said.

Accurate data about meaningful technology is vitally important to productive farm fields.

The Redox Research Farm is not only comprised of two PhD’s, but significant work is also carried out by the balance of the farm team. 

The group works cohesively to maintain the crops on the Research Farm, as well as collect data that helps prove out the breakthrough technology provided by Redox. 

“In order for farming to survive, we have to change the way we’re doing things,” said Faith Talley, who in three years has risen from intern to significantly more responsibility in the field. “I feel that Redox is a perfect example of that. They’re always trying to change the future, and not only help farmers grow where they’re at, but also provide solutions for them.”

California grows 90 percent of the nation’s strawberries, and many people are devoted to ensuring continued success for this $3 billion industry.

The Cal Poly Strawberry Center has been a model for practical research, with continued innovations in pest and disease fighting, as well as technology advancements.

One of the more visually captivating new technologies is a robotic harvester. After years of trial and error, there’s renewed optimism it will one day be a commercial reality.

“There’s a possibility that within 10 years, 50 to 60 percent at least, if not more, of the strawberries picked will be done by robots,” said Alex Gutierrez, Founder and CEO of L5 Automation.

The Strawberry Center has made steady strides in providing practical, grower-focused solutions.

“It gives me a lot of satisfaction to work in this industry because we see the things we are doing actually come to fruition” remarked Center Director Gerald Holmes.

Providing growers with effective plant nutrition is a balancing act alongside regulation and consumer demands.

Independent Ag Retailers, including AG RX along California’s Central Coast, play a pivotal role.

AG RX CEO Brian Lish said their expertise and product flexibility help them provide the best solutions to growers.

“At times I eat at McDonalds and it’s going to be the same just about everywhere you go,” he said. “I don’t believe in a McDonalds approach to ag retail. Our 21 pest control advisors  know their customer’s intimately. While we have over 2,000 skus that we carry in inventory, they have the ability to identify the products that work best for their grower in any condition. That’s critical for us.”

Products from Redox Bio-Nutrients have been part of the AG RX inventory for about 20 years.

Aptly known as America’s breadbasket, the U.S. Midwest is a powerhouse for corn and soybean production. 

Growers with generations invested in the land often seek ways to stay competitive during frequently volatile times. 

The Redox Midwest team has generated growing interested in our bio-nutrition technology, combining highly efficient, impeccably sourced plant nutrition with synergistic biostimulants.

A key tool to help showcase Redox technology is the XPRT Farm in Missouri Valley, Iowa, featuring hundreds of acres of corn and soybeans.

“We start with a systematic approach to set a good foundation based upon science and agronomy and work from there,” said Redox agronomist Zach Carlson. “Let’s look at what the microbes are telling us. Let’s look at what the soil is telling us, because the relationship between soil and the plant is the one thing that is the most important.”

Products that have garnered attention in the Midwest include RDX-N®, groundbreaking nitrogen optimization technology that came from a decade of research and development. 

Midwest growers should mark their calendars for the August 20 XPRT Farm Field Day. Register now to attend. 

The dairy industry is not only a massive part of agriculture, but also a critical part of the U.S. economy and our nation’s food security.

The University of Idaho’s CAFE Project will provide a major boost, as the nation’s largest research dairy is on track to be up and running next spring. This high-tech facility will comprehensively cover major facets of the dairy industry, to help quantify and ensure healthy, productive herds. 

“From an environmental perspective, this facility is going to be critical,” remarked Rick Naerebout, CEO of the Idaho Dairymen’s Association. “This will demonstrate to the public that what we do in the U.S. and Idaho dairies industries is protective of the environment, and that we are good stewards of the land, air and water.”

The research dairy will also look at cow nutrition as well as analyzing and working with manure to make it more of a marketable crop input. 

Mireille Chahine of the University of Idaho said research dairy will provide an incredible amount of data, with health and nutrition key focal points. 
 

“This is where the fit bit or smart watch type of technology will be used in this facility,” she said. “Here, the cow will wear a kind of a smart watch to know how many steps she’s taking a day, whether she’s in heat, whether we need to inseminate her, whether she’s getting sick. We would have the capability of knowing that that cow will have symptoms in three to four days in the future, which is amazing because we can separate her, call the veterinarian, look at her ration, ensure she is well taken care of, because animal welfare is a priority for us.”

“We like to eat well and dairy is a big part of that,” said Redox CEO, Darin Moon. “We don’t want it to reduce or go away. We want it to become more efficient and more visible, so that people can actually see what a great and incredible industry this is.”

Redox is among a host of private and governmental organizations that have provided significant contributions to make the research dairy a reality.

Strong relationships and providing excellent service are hallmarks to successful business. They have been keys to success for Alan Tarp of Integrated Crop in the Salinas Valley.

Tarp has worked with growers on crop nutrition for nearly 50 years, and he’s a big believer in Redox technology. 

“Redox has become very integral in what I do,” Tarp said. “What Redox brings to the table are solutions that work.”

Tarp said some of his favorite Redox products include H-85™,  Rootex™ and RootRx™. He added RDX-N® is showing promise in trial work in celery fields. 

Tarp recently traveled 800 miles from Salinas to Idaho, including a stop to visit with his close friends at Redox. 

“You can’t enjoy life unless you have good relationships with people,” he said. “You can walk around by yourself, but if you have people that you can count on, can call, associate with and learn from, those are the things that make life worth living.”

The average U.S. grower is over 58 years of age. The number of family farms in America is shrinking. For health and the well-being of our country, we need a strong contribution from the next generation. Fortunately, there’s a growing number of talented younger people getting involved.

Allisen Carmichael, Director of Operations with Sierra Pacific Farms in Ventura County in Southern California oversees day to day operations of their management of citrus and avocado orchards.

She said they take a regenerative approach to farming, with an emphasis on healthy soil.

“The best thing we can do to combat Mother Nature is to be prepared for it,” she remarked. “If we have healthy trees, then we are put in a better position to avoid as much crop loss as possible.”

Carmichael said Redox products are part of their crop nutrition, adding “they are high quality and help us enhance our plant’s ability to uptake nutrients.” 

Sunny, warm conditions are key to crop development, but how can growers protect their crops when the inevitable heatwave hits?

Fortunately, Redox provides great technology to keep plants strong. diKaP® includes a powerful biostimulant along with excellent phosphorus and potassium nutrition to maintain plant respiration during stress events. The end result often leads to more favorable yield and quality during harvest.

Redox Chief Agronomic Officer Jared Sannar said other key mid-season nutrition options include H-85®, Mainstay® Si and Supreme®.

He said it’s very satisfying to help reduce stress in crops and for growers, who have such a large investment at stake.

“Hitting the yield, hitting the quality at a budget is so important, and that’s one part that we can help with,” he remarked.