PODCAST: Farmers are seeking fertilizer alternatives
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Mick Messman has spent a career working with some of the largest names in agriculture chemicals, including Dupont-Pioneer, the forerunner of Indianapolis-based Corteva Agriscience (NYSE: CTVA). He now heads DPH Biologicals, an Indiana company that develops fertilizer products based on nature and not on synthetic ingredients.
He told Agbioscience host and AgriNovus Indiana CEO Mitch Frazier exceedingly high fertilizer prices this year caused some farmers to look at other options.
“Not only the prices, but availability led a lot of farmers to consider alternatives. And one of those alternatives are biofertilizers,” said Messman, president and chief executive officer of DPH Biologicals. “We didn’t have the challenges that come with some of the other products.”
Those other products rely on natural gas and other materials that suffered from the global supply meltdown and the invasion of Ukraine.
Messman says there is also growing interest in farming sustainably among producers growing traditional Midwestern crops
“We’re working to expand beyond the organic growing segment, which it’s been performing very well for many years into that conventional growing area, westward across the Corn Belt,” said Messman.
While their products are used to boost yields and improve crop vigor, Messman says the biological line of products are also key in improving soil health.
“It breaks down crop residue…it enables better plant stability for the farmer. There are benefits to having a healthier soil that go well beyond just the plant stand,” Messman said.
Looking ahead, Messman says consumers are driving change in how food is grown. He says a growing number of food companies are making sustainability pledges, and DPH is responding.
“W saw it first on the coastal markets where the fresh produce has grown. That trend is not going away, and they’re continuing to demand cleaner food, cleaner water,” said Messman. “There’s an opportunity there to help bridge the gap between the pledge at the corporate level, and then what that producer is having to do in the real world.”
To list to the full podcast when it’s published Monday morning, click here. You can also access the full lineup of Inside INdiana Business podcasts hosted by Gerry Dick by clicking here.