Talc and graphite are usually treated as a necessary cost in the planting process—a basic fluency agent you buy every year to keep seed flowing, prevent bridging and skips and protect singulation. But what if that same line item could work harder for you—supporting early plant health and yield instead of just smooth meter performance? That’s the door talc replacement products are starting to open, according to Beck’s Practical Farm Research (PFR).
On a recent episode of Beck’s The Dig podcast, hosts Collin Scherer and Tyler Schindler, walked through why this seemingly small decision at the planter matters.
They contend that value‑added planter box additives are designed to do what your standard talc or graphite does for seed flow—and then layers agronomic benefits on top.
“Most growers already use a fluency agent. So what if that same line item could give you a yield bump?” Scherer said.
Over multiple years of testing, Beck’s researchers have looked at four talc/graphite replacement products that maintain seed flow but also carry biologicals and micronutrients to the furrow. The data, Scherer and Schindler say, shows positive financial returns.
“Stride Bio is now PFR-approved, with the three-year average ROI of $9.04 on corn and 13.99 on soybeans,” Scherer reported.
Other products — including GroPak AI, EnzUp SeedFlow Zn and BioWake — have also tested well.
“They’re not quite PFR-proven yet, but they’re close,” Schindler said.
The advantage goes beyond the spreadsheet. These products still do the basic job corn and soybean growers expect from a fluency agent and more.
Scherer said that the “more” often shows up as better early vigor, improved nutrient availability in cool soils, and a stronger start for both corn and soybeans.
For farmers already feeling like their planting process is overcomplicated, there’s also a practicality angle. Many of the same early-season benefits growers chase with in‑furrow systems can be captured at the seed level, Schindler noted.
“If you’re looking to simplify your planter setup, these options can deliver similar early-season benefits to intro applications without the plumbing,” he said.
The broader message from Beck’s is that in a year when cutting inputs is tempting, you can’t afford to cut the wrong ones—or leave easy ROI on the table.
“Cutting inputs shouldn’t mean cutting corners. These strategies give you a path to higher ROIs without adding costs,” Scherer said. During the podcast, He and Schindler discussed two additional ways farmers might be able to reduce input costs this season. You can hear their ideas and recommendations here.
