Agricultural Trends & Economic Impact

Innovation, Collaboration, and Growth: A Recap of TriCal, Inc.’s Coastal Meeting

The success of TriCal, Inc.’s Fifth Coastal Meeting reflects the continued commitment to innovation and partnership across the industry. The highlight was the opportunity to hear from leading experts in the scientific community, the Strawberry Commission.

4/14/2025

Ag News: Trical Inc. TriCal Inc. Ag Industry California Sponsorships Strawberries

DPR Report Confirms Vital Role of Chloropicrin

The California Council on Science and Technology (CCST), commissioned a report by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation underscoring chloropicrin in modern agriculture. No alternative can replace this soil fumigant, and its role in managing soil-borne pests in high-value crops.

3/24/2025

Deep Roots: A BLOG Strike Ag Industry California Chloropicrin Soil Fumigation

What Global Lessons Have we Learned About the Suppression of Black Dot?

One of the most underestimated culprits f crop loss Colletotrichum coccodes, or black dot, this pathogen thrives in stressed plants and plays a key role in the early die complex. But despite its impact, it’s often confused with or overshadowed by more familiar threats like verticillium wilt.

3/17/2025

Douglas Ag Products Spud Smart Trical Australia Ag Industry Argentina Australia Dr. Chad Hutchinson Potatoes

Functional Sustainability: How Using TELONE™ Can Lower Water and Fertilizer Inputs

In modern agriculture, the efficient use of resources is paramount. Growers seek ways to optimize water and fertilizers while maintaining or enhancing crop yields. By applying TELONE™ before planting roots can develop without the hindrance of pests.

2/26/2025

Teleos Ag Solutions Dr. Randy Huckaba Environmental Stewardship Nematodes Sustainability Telone

How to Grow More with Less

Chad Hutchinson writes in Spudsmart that the potato industry embraces regenerative agriculture, sustainability is becoming more than just a goal: it’s an expectation. Processors and buyers are setting ambitious targets for fertilizer reduction, water use efficiency and soil health improvement.

2/4/2025

Spud Smart Strike Chloropicrin Dr. Chad Hutchinson Potatoes

Enjoy California’s Bounty: Grown with Pride

With its rich soils, diverse climates, and innovative farming techniques, California has cultivated an impressive array of more than 400 commodities. Remarkably, the state is the sole producer of key crops such as almonds, artichokes, celery, garlic, kiwifruit, and walnuts

12/23/2024

Peaches TriCal Inc. Ag Industry Almonds Broccoli California Carrots Citrus Grapes & Berries Peppers Strawberries Tomato

Increased Yields Equals More “Servings”

Whether you side with organic or conventional, soil fumigation or in-crop disease management, no-till, cover crops or part of the sustainability discussion; what matters is that sustainability’s definition prioritizes both environmental and economic longevity is to be be functional.

10/8/2024

Spud Smart Ag Industry Dr. Chad Hutchinson

It’s ‘Harvest Earned, Not Harvest Given’

Our goal is to help you reach your growing potential. This is your livelihood, and you put in a lot of work. We see our role as being partners in farmers’ efforts. We can’t put in the hours in the tractor, but we can support soil health and effectively suppressing soil-borne pathogens.

10/1/2024

Spud Smart Strike Chloropicrin Dr. Chad Hutchinson Potatoes Soil Health Sustainability

Agricultural Science Done Right Resolves Social Science Intentions

Farmers are hungry for tangible ways to increase their sustainable efforts while maintaining economically viable yields. A lot of voices are calling for farming reform. However, feel good soundbites don’t feed the world. Potato producers are keen for real solutions.

9/10/2024

Spud Smart Ag Industry Dr. Chad Hutchinson Economic Trends Environmental Stewardship Potatoes Soil Fumigation Soil Health

Soil Fumigation Changes the Game for Potato Seed Farm Economics

In today’s potato growing reality, a calculator is as critical to business success as good field management skills. We conducted a two-year trial comparing potatoes grown in soil where disease was managed with the soil fumigant Strike versus untreated potatoes.

5/13/2024

Spud Smart Strike Chloropicrin Dr. Chad Hutchinson Economic Trends Potatoes

Low Dose Chloropicrin – When SweetPotato set is at Stake

In the Summer/Fall of 2022 TriEst Ag Group did a mixture study that focused on Enterolobii in Nash County, NC. The trial evaluated the use of TELONE^TM, C15, and C35 at 6 GPA (22 GPA broadcast) shank applied in-row 14” deep with 10” of stack.

4/3/2024

Ag News: TriEst Ag Group Triest Ag Group Chloropicrin Low Dosage North Carolina Soil Fumigation SweetPotatoes Telone

Triest Ag Group: Partners in Profitability

There is a lot of talk about sustainability and regeneration in agriculture these days. But what do those terms really mean? If you ask five people, you might get five different definitions. But for Josh Mays, Director of Agronomy for TriEst Ag Group, it all starts with profitability.

4/3/2024

Ag News: TriEst Ag Group Triest Ag Group Chloropicrin Environmental Stewardship Soil Fumigation

The Unintended Limits of Organic Farming

“Organic has its place, but it’s really important to define what organic is — and what it isn’t — especially in the context of sustainable ag. Organic has rules and limits, but it doesn’t necessarily always translate to maximum actual regenerative impact.”

2/29/2024

Spud Smart Strike The Dirt: A Blog Dr. Chad Hutchinson Environmental Stewardship Microbial Research Potatoes

Short-term Thinking Costs Long-term Benefits

I convinced the director of agronomy for a large company that grows chipping potatoes to try soil fumigation with chloropicrin (sold as Strike). He appreciated the soil health and yield gains he achieved in year one, but he hasn’t been seeing the longer-term soil health gains.

10/17/2023

Spud Smart Strike Chloropicrin Dr. Chad Hutchinson Potatoes Soil Fumigation

Incremental Yield Improvement Is Good, But It’s Not Where the Money Is

Soil health is the basis of the entire crop. Healthy soil is the most important step towards your crop’s yield potential. Plant into unhealthy soil and, no matter how much effort and investment you shovel into those acres, your crop won’t reach its potential.

7/10/2023

Spud Smart Strike Chloropicrin Dr. Chad Hutchinson Potatoes

Potato Farming Realities and Sustainability

It seems everyone is talking sustainability today. But, what does sustainability really mean in the context of today’s farming realities, and how do we achieve it in practical, real-world application?

6/27/2023

Spud Smart Strike Chloropicrin Dr. Chad Hutchinson Sustainability

Make the first – and biggest – step toward sustainability

Potato farmers today are pushing hard for sustainability. Regenerative, soil-health promoting practices like reduced tillage, cover cropping, and planting into more residue to reduce erosion are all increasingly mainstream.

1/1/2023

Strike Chloropicrin Dr. Chad Hutchinson Potatoes Sustainability

Why Paul is Guilt-free About Doubling his Yield with Soil Fumigation

Over the last couple articles, I’ve told you about Paul: a highly experienced, sustainability-focused Ontario potato producer who saw yield skyrocket when he started using chloropicrin (the active ingredient in Strike) as a soil fumigant.

10/27/2022

Strike The Dirt: A Blog Chloropicrin Dr. Chad Hutchinson Potatoes

Do You Miss the Money You Could Have Earned?

For a variety of agronomic, environmental, and management reasons, some potato producers choose not to apply soil fumigants to manage disease. The industry standard fumigant doesn’t allow for a winter cover crop to protect your soil and requires a great deal of management.

6/6/2022

Spud Smart Strike Dr. Chad Hutchinson Economic Trends Potatoes

What Patates Dolbec Learned About Soil Fumigation Could Make You Money

Scab steals a costly percentage of the potatoes produced at Patates Dolbec, one of Quebec’s largest farms. Patates Dolbec’s director of quality assurance and agronomy, coordinated a soil fumigation trial last year to see how Strike might impact his soil’s health and productivity.

1/31/2022

Spud Smart Strike Chloropicrin Dr. Chad Hutchinson Potatoes

What’s Biting into Your Farm’s Economic and Environmental Sustainability?

Up to 58 per cent of all the food produced in Canada is lost or wasted each year. Think about that: nearly two of every three potatoes you grow get chucked. If you are like most farmers I know – strong and honorable people who are proud to be part of feeding the world – knowing that so much of your effort is wasted is nothing short of offensive.

11/3/2021

Spud Smart Canada Dr. Chad Hutchinson Economic Trends Environmental Stewardship Potatoes Sustainability

Tired Soils Aren’t an Inevitable, Unwinnable Battle

I receive countless from frustrated potato growers who tell me they are throwing costly inputs at their fields, yet not seeing the yields they need. Production costs are increasing while water resources grow tighter. If you’re not satisfied with your yields, it’s time for a change.

9/1/2021

Spud Smart Strike Triest Ag Group Dr. Chad Hutchinson Potatoes

Fumigation reduces soilborne diseases, which helps sustainability

Improving sustainable potato production is a goal for the potato industry. The basic concept of sustainable crop production is to produce an economically viable crop while maintaining or improving soil health and reducing the potential environmental impacts.

2/1/2021

Strike Dr. Chad Hutchinson Potatoes Sustainability

Climate Change, Agriculture, and Chloropicrin Soil Treatment

Climate change is a politically divisive topic. It is advisable for those with a stake in agriculture to explore the ramifications of potential weather changes on business. As weather instabilities or weather extremes become more common, farming will need to change.

2/19/2020

Chloropicrin Dr. Chad Hutchinson Potatoes

Innovation, Collaboration, and Growth: A Recap of TriCal, Inc.’s Coastal Meeting

DPR Report Confirms Vital Role of Chloropicrin

What Global Lessons Have we Learned About the Suppression of Black Dot?

Functional Sustainability: How Using TELONE™ Can Lower Water and Fertilizer Inputs

How to Grow More with Less

Enjoy California’s Bounty: Grown with Pride

Increased Yields Equals More “Servings”

It’s ‘Harvest Earned, Not Harvest Given’

Agricultural Science Done Right Resolves Social Science Intentions

Soil Fumigation Changes the Game for Potato Seed Farm Economics

Low Dose Chloropicrin – When SweetPotato set is at Stake

Triest Ag Group: Partners in Profitability

The Unintended Limits of Organic Farming

Short-term Thinking Costs Long-term Benefits

Incremental Yield Improvement Is Good, But It’s Not Where the Money Is

Potato Farming Realities and Sustainability

Make the first – and biggest – step toward sustainability

Why Paul is Guilt-free About Doubling his Yield with Soil Fumigation

Do You Miss the Money You Could Have Earned?

What Patates Dolbec Learned About Soil Fumigation Could Make You Money

What’s Biting into Your Farm’s Economic and Environmental Sustainability?

Tired Soils Aren’t an Inevitable, Unwinnable Battle

Fumigation reduces soilborne diseases, which helps sustainability

Climate Change, Agriculture, and Chloropicrin Soil Treatment

Agronomy in Action - Soil Fumigated PNW Onions

How to Avoid “What Happened to my Crop?!” Disappointment

Bean Trial 2023

CROP: Potato - Strike Fumigants

Field Trial Data that Inspired our Latest Campaign

AGRONOMY HUB

Tools and resources for functional sustainability.

ARTICLES

PODCASTS

TRIALS