- Welcome to AgChimp™
Conventional Fertilizers Overview
When it comes to conventional fertilizers, not much has changed since the early 1940's. In fact, the vast majority of fertilizer blending facilities across the United States are aging drastically. At AgChimp, we proudly partner with a network of fertilizer blending facilties to bring forward the highest quality fertilizer blends possible. This network coupled with our team overseeing that formulas ensures that you get the quality product you want and pay for!'
"Making a granular fertilizer blend is just like making cookies. It''s X amount of this, X amount of that all measured and blended together. Ensuring the ingredients and amounts are correct is paramount. Just a little too much baking powder, and boy those cookies are bitter. " - Brian Buchanan, President & CEO
It's 2024! There are more innovative ways to deliver nutrition to the crops!
While AgChimp is certainly believes that conventional granular fertilizer has a fit for all agronomic programs, There are certainly better ways now to deliver the required nutrients to the plant. Techonolgy has evolved alot over the last 63+ years. At AgChimp, we constantly evaulating new technolgies coupled with science when it comes to fertilizers. Learn More
Watch for the gimmicks!
These days, with rising costs both with raw materials and freight, more pricing games are being played than ever. Below are a few "games" to watch for.
"Look & Run" Blends
So what is a "Look & Run" blend? This would be a blend where the guaranteed analysis looks exactly like the blend you ordered. But in fact it was run differently.
The most three common methods of making a "Look & Run" blend are:
- Swapping Urea for Ammonium Sulfate
- Swapping Muriate of Potash for Sulfate of Potash
- Utilizing "scraps" or "previous overuns" as the filler in the bag. This is called re-processed material (RPM)
Granular Filler
By and far, "filler" or calcium-carbonate is the least expensive ingredient that goes into a fertilizer blend. Filler is used to equate each fertilizer blend into ton units. What's more, filler has virtually no benefit to crop that you are applying the fertilzer too. Filler is used to bring down the ton price of the fertilizer blend. Understand the amount of filler that is contained within the blend so that you can maximize the nutrient value of the blend.
The end-result is significantly impacted by the care taken in the application process. Formulators must take great care in ensuring that the appropriate drying agents are added to the mix to create a uniform "dust-free" product.
Avoid Off-The-Shelf Mixes
Never buy an "in-stock" fertilizer mix. Almost never, will an off the shelf blend meet the needs of your crop. The blend of fertilizer applied should be determined based on the seasonality and/or the soil test for the farm. Use the data! And build what you need.
Insecticides
Bifenthrin
Bifenthrin has become an industry standard over the last 25 years – it has stood the test of time with a broad label and dependable efficacy. Bifenthrin insecticide achieves control of over 75 pests, including ants,armyworms and other surface feeding insects. Most bifenthrin formulations are water based, so it's non-irritating and contains no odorous or plant-damaging solvents. It leaves no unsightly residues and causes no phytotoxicity
Chlorantraniliprole
Acelepryn is a class of active ingredient found to have a lower toxicity and environmental impact than that of organophosphates, neonicotinoids and synthetic pyrethroids used for the same purpose. Recognized by the EPA as a reduced risk pesticide, Acelepryn will control both surface and sub-surface feeding insects by attacking the muscles of the target pest resulting in paralysis and death. When applied early in the season, Acelepryn will outlast imidacloprid applications made at the same time.
Imidicloprid
Imidicloprid is an insecticide that provides the longest-lasting grub control at exceptionally low use rates. Imidiacloprid gives outstanding residual control of numerous turfgrass pests by interfering with nerve impulses and disrupts insect behavior. Pests stop feeding, stop reproducing and eventually die. Imidacloprid is a great insecticide for the prevention of white grubs on sod farms!
