With a focus to offer science-based technology that performs in the field, Helena has launched two new products to address environmental challenges and management resource consumption.
Enertia is an enzyme-based soybean seed treatment to works to improve soil quality. Productive roots rely on enzymes to move nutrients from the soil to the plant, and as a seed treatment Enertia works to improve nutrient availability in the soil as roots develop.
“Helena has been researching and developing biological products for decades,” says Mike Powell, Sr. Brand Manager of Crop Production and BioScience products for Helena. “It’s given our customers ways to make important changes on their farms such as the reduction of nitrogen rates and implementation of plant-based inputs. Now, with protected enzyme technology, we’re targeting the needs of our soil to take a natural approach to raising productivity.”
Helena says its Enertia seed treatment stabilizes its enzymes with VersaShield Formulation Technology for longer-lasting activity in the soil and more compatibility with other soybean seed treatments. In its trials across the Midwest and southern geographies, Enertia produced a 14% increase in root weight by mass, a 3% increase in plant population, and a 2.4 bushel per acre yield advantage over the standard fungicide and insecticide seed treatment alone.
Resgenix is water use management tool that can be applied via irrigation or spray methods. This tool works to improve aggregation in all soil types–strengthening water holding capacity and mitigating erosion, run-off and soil moisture evaporation loss.
“Water impacts everything we do on the farm,” says Austin Anderson, Brand Manager of Adjuvants and Water Management Products for Helena. “If we don’t utilize the water we have effectively, we could lose productivity in the field, and the efficacy of our spray applications could suffer.”
The development of Resgenix was further prioritized by worsening drought conditions and growing populations causing an increased demand for fresh water, leading to more water restrictions and higher water costs for agricultural producers.
Resgenix uses a revitalized polyacrylamide formulation to improve water use efficiency with greater ease. For example, its liquid formulation is convenient and compatible with most crop management products and requires no special equipment for application. In field trials, even with a 20% reduction in irrigation water, adding Resgenix maintained soil moisture content and exceeded yield compared to water alone.
The company says these new products balance crop production needs with environmental stewardship to increase yields responsibly and efficiently.
