An Oxford Economics fertilizer price forecast for 2026 projects that global prices could climb more than 30% this year, with urea rising even faster, as Strait of Hormuz shipping disruptions and geopolitical tension keep supply tight.

The warning extends a theme Fertilizer Daily has tracked through the Hormuz crisis, where the urea-to-corn price ratio hit record highs as nitrogen economics skewed against growers. Oxford Economics said affordability, measured by the grains-to-fertilizer price ratio, sits near historic lows, magnifying the hit to yields and margins.

Nitrogen and phosphate remain most exposed because they depend on global production hubs and shipping lanes. “Half of the sulfur traded in the world comes through the Strait,” said Corey Rosenbusch, president and chief executive of The Fertilizer Institute, noting sulfur is a key input for phosphate fertilizers such as MAP and DAP. He said growers need better transparency into how global supply and demand set the price they pay at home.

Much of the risk is still ahead. Many large buyers locked in 2026 fertilizer costs before the latest spike, so the impact could surface over the next 12 to 18 months, according to Frank Kenney, a vice president at supply-chain software firm Cleo. Smaller retailers and independent growers, with less room to hedge or pre-book, are likely to feel it most. Watch how long the Gulf shipping premium persists and whether those locked-in costs begin to unwind.

Source: CropLife

Anhydrous ammonia safety remains a critical concern for U.S. ag retailers and applicators, where equipment failures during handling and application can cause severe injuries and toxic releases.

Field incidents underline the stakes. In one case a hose burst during set-up, blowing off a Kansas grower’s goggles and causing chemical burns that left him legally blind. In another, a failed O-ring on a metering system released ammonia and burned a worker. A weld failure on an Iowa nurse tank caused a release during filling that killed a worker days later.

Five fundamentals reduce that risk. First, wear proper personal protective equipment for the task, at minimum unvented chemical splash goggles, long sleeves and pants, and chemical-resistant gloves with the cuffs rolled down. Second, keep clean water within reach, with nurse tanks carrying at least five gallons of emergency water. Third, stay upwind and reassess as the wind shifts. Fourth, inspect hoses, valves and fittings before each use and follow the “when in doubt, change it out” rule. Fifth, ensure every handler is trained on hazards, protective equipment and emergency response.

Operators should treat every piece of ammonia equipment as pressurized, since a purged system can repressurize if closed and left unattended. States that strengthened handler-training requirements have reported fewer serious incidents, according to CropLife.

Source: CropLife

A yeast-based biological program reduced grapevine downy mildew severity on grape bunches by up to 74% over two years of field trials in southern Italy, according to researchers at the University of Molise and Italy’s National Research Council. These results suggest a promising new option for winegrowers facing increased restrictions on copper-based and synthetic fungicides.

The researchers tested four biological programs against a conventional fungicide rotation and an untreated control in Fiano vineyards in Italy’s Campania region during the 2022 and 2023 growing seasons. The best-performing program combined a formulation containing the beneficial yeast Papiliotrema terrestris strain PT22AV with protein-chelated copper and a seaweed-derived plant-defense elicitor. It reduced the McKinney disease-severity index on bunches by 68% in 2022 and 74% in 2023, when downy mildew incidence reached 100% in untreated bunches. The yeast increased the program’s effectiveness by a calculated synergistic factor of 1.59 compared with a similar treatment that excluded it.

The conventional chemical rotation remained the most reliable treatment under severe disease pressure. However, researchers suggest PT22AV can be a valuable component in programs that combine biological agents, natural compounds, and reduced copper inputs. Preventive applications before symptoms appear were essential for effectiveness. The yeast’s reported activity against Botrytis cinerea may also offer added benefits during later grape development.

Source: AgroPages

Understanding grapevine downy mildew biocontrol

Rising fertilizer prices, geopolitical disruptions, and narrowing farm margins are forcing growers to rethink how they purchase agricultural inputs. While digital marketplaces have transformed procurement across many industries, agriculture—particularly fertilizer distribution—remains dominated by local retailers, long-established relationships, and complex logistics.

A growing body of academic research suggests that one of agriculture’s biggest challenges is not simply connecting farmers with buyers or suppliers but improving transparency throughout the supply chain. A 2025 study by researchers at Ghent University, published in the journal Agribusiness, found that greater transparency between farmers and buyers is directly associated with stronger farm performance by improving relationship quality, underscoring the value of reducing information asymmetries across agricultural markets.

Rather than replacing that ecosystem, industry experts increasingly believe agriculture marketplaces could evolve into powerful decision-support platforms that help farmers optimize input costs, discover innovative technologies, compare verified suppliers, and make more informed purchasing decisions. In a market where every dollar invested in fertilizer can directly affect profitability, reducing information gaps may be just as valuable as reducing prices.

The fertilizer industry has been under pressure from supply chain disruptions, trade tensions, higher transportation costs, and volatile commodity markets. International markets are no better. Brazil, for example, may see a surge in farm auctions due to rising farm debt and worsening economic conditions. Farmers increasingly find themselves balancing fertilizer affordability with the risk of lower yields, while retailers manage uncertain demand and inventory decisions. Although experts interviewed for this report do not expect agriculture marketplaces to replace existing distribution channels, many believe they could substantially improve transparency and accelerate the adoption of technologies that help growers produce more with fewer inputs.

Fertilizer procurement remains rooted in local relationships

Unlike many industrial products, fertilizers cannot simply be ordered from the lowest-priced online supplier. Their bulk nature, transportation costs, application requirements, financing arrangements, and agronomic support have created a distribution model centered on local retailers.

Hunter Swisher, President and CEO of Phospholutions, said current market conditions have become particularly difficult for phosphate fertilizers.

“We saw demand destruction. A lot of our customers were down 25% to 30% on their phosphate demand last fall,” Swisher said. “Farmers will skip phosphates first when prices become too high. They’re being forced to adapt to some of the worst affordability conditions we’ve ever seen.”

Swisher explained that fertilizer affordability is increasingly measured against grain prices rather than fertilizer prices alone. As margins compress, retailers delay purchases while farmers postpone applications, reduce nutrient rates, switch crops, or, in extreme cases, leave acres unplanted. This pattern wouldn’t change even if the most sophisticated agriculture marketplace were available to all market players.

“Nitrogen can’t really be skipped,” he said. “When nitrogen becomes too expensive, you’ll often see growers shift from corn to soybeans because soy requires significantly less nitrogen.”

These decisions ripple throughout the supply chain, affecting manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and ultimately food production.

Agriculture marketplaces face structural barriers

Despite the rapid expansion of digital commerce in other sectors, experts interviewed for this report agree that fertilizer marketplaces face unique structural limitations.

Swisher believes digital platforms may improve visibility but are unlikely to materially reduce fertilizer costs.

“Fertilizer is a bulky material that has to move efficiently through a physical supply chain,” he said. “Those who move it most efficiently will generally offer the best pricing. A digital platform, like an agriculture marketplace, may provide additional price visibility, but it won’t fundamentally change the economics.”

He noted that farmers typically purchase fertilizer through nearby retailers, many of whom also provide application services.

“You’re not going to buy fertilizer from two states away because it’s a few dollars cheaper. Transportation costs quickly eliminate those savings.”

Tom Snipes, CEO of Ostara, shares a similar view.

“When it comes to researching and understanding products, farmers rely heavily on the internet,” Snipes said. “But when it comes to purchasing fertilizer, we really haven’t seen digital platforms achieve meaningful success in the United States.”

According to Snipes, fertilizer purchasing involves much more than simply selecting the lowest price.

“Farmers still value the local retailer because of the service they provide. If there’s a disease outbreak, an insect problem, or a crop management issue, growers need someone nearby who understands their operation.”

Retailers also frequently provide financing, precision agriculture services, agronomic consulting, and application equipment—functions that agriculture marketplaces alone cannot easily replace.

The opportunity extends beyond transactions to cost optimization

Although experts remain cautious about online fertilizer purchasing, they see significant opportunities for digital platforms that help farmers optimize production costs rather than simply execute transactions.

One of agriculture’s biggest inefficiencies is the amount of time required to discover, evaluate, and compare new technologies. As fertilizer prices rise, growers are increasingly willing to consider products that improve nutrient efficiency rather than simply reduce application rates.

“I don’t think switching to organic fertilizers is realistic on a global scale,” Swisher said. “But the willingness for retailers and farmers to adopt technologies that improve efficiency becomes much greater in environments like this.”

Those technologies include precision agriculture, improved nutrient placement, better soil analytics, variable-rate application, and fertilizer-enhancing products designed to increase nutrient uptake.

“The goal is getting more from what we apply,” Swisher said. “You either reduce costs while maintaining yields or improve yields without significantly increasing fertilizer use.”

This is where agricultural marketplaces can create the greatest value. Rather than competing with local retailers, they could make it easier for growers to discover emerging technologies, compare independent performance data, evaluate return on investment, and identify solutions that fit their specific production systems.

Transparency and supplier validation could become the next competitive advantage

Experts also believe the future of agriculture marketplaces depends less on enabling online purchases and more on making trusted information easier to access.

Eran Mizrahi, Founder and CEO of Source86, believes marketplaces can improve procurement by increasing transparency while preserving rigorous supplier qualification.

“This idea could potentially increase transparency and make it easier for buyers and suppliers to connect,” Mizrahi said. “However, produce sourcing is often more complex than simply matching supply with demand.”

According to Mizrahi, buyers continue to evaluate suppliers based on consistency, certifications, food safety standards, logistics capabilities, production capacity, traceability, and long-term reliability.

“A marketplace may help facilitate introductions, but supplier qualification and relationship-building will likely remain important parts of the sourcing process,” he said.

Instead of replacing procurement teams, agriculture marketplaces could dramatically reduce the time required to identify qualified suppliers, compare capabilities, and evaluate new technologies.

“In many cases, buyers spend significant time compiling information on suppliers and comparing their capabilities,” Mizrahi said. “A properly designed marketplace could simplify that process by making supplier information more accessible, although buyers must still verify the accuracy of the information before making purchasing decisions.”

The same principle applies to fertilizer procurement. Farmers may benefit more from finding another supplier offering the same commodity than from discovering verified products and technologies that improve nutrient efficiency, lower application costs, or increase yields.

Building the agriculture marketplace of the future

The interviews suggest that the next generation of agriculture marketplaces will look very different from conventional e-commerce platforms.

Rather than focusing primarily on buying and selling products, successful marketplaces are likely to become trusted ecosystems where growers can discover verified suppliers, compare innovative technologies, evaluate independent performance data, access agronomic recommendations, monitor regional pricing trends, and estimate the economic return of different production strategies.

Trust will remain the industry’s most valuable currency. Fertilizer distribution depends on local logistics, storage infrastructure, financing, application services, and long-standing relationships that cannot easily be replaced by software alone. As both Swisher and Snipes emphasized, local retailers will continue to play a critical role because they provide more than just product delivery—they offer agronomic expertise, credit, application services, and rapid support throughout the growing season.

The greatest opportunity for agriculture marketplaces, therefore, is not disintermediation but optimization. By reducing the time and uncertainty involved in discovering new technologies, validating suppliers, comparing product performance, and evaluating costs, marketplaces could help farmers make better-informed decisions while preserving the trusted relationships that agriculture depends upon.

As farm margins continue to tighten and input costs remain volatile, the ability to optimize every purchasing decision may become one of agriculture’s most valuable competitive advantages. The platforms that succeed are unlikely to be those that simply connect buyers and sellers. Instead, they will be the ones that combine transparency, verified participants, independent data, and trusted expertise into a single ecosystem that helps farmers lower production costs, improve profitability, and confidently adopt the next generation of agricultural innovation.

While nanotechnology has transformed industries such as medicine and electronics, its agricultural applications are only now gaining attention. Nano-Yield aims to address the longstanding challenge of improving crop fertilizer absorption through nanotechnology.

Nano-Yield has developed a nanoparticle-based delivery platform to enhance the uptake of existing fertilizers and crop protection products. The technology uses nanoparticles between 10 and 100 nanometers to transport nutrients into plant cells via endocytosis, complementing traditional absorption pathways. CEO Clark Bell emphasizes the goal is to help growers maximize the value of each nutrient application, not to replace fertilizers.

A new pathway for nutrient uptake

Conventional fertilizers rely on nutrient diffusion and active transport across plant cell membranes. Nano-Yield’s platform adds a new mechanism by loading nutrient ions onto engineered nanoparticles, which are carried into plant cells through endocytosis.

“The goal has never been to replace fertilizer,” Bell said. “We want plants to make better use of the nutrients already being applied.”

The company states its technology can be combined with existing fertilizers, biostimulants, and crop protection products without changes to equipment or practices. Products are compatible with standard in-furrow, foliar, side-dress, and other conventional fertilizer applications, enabling easy integration into current fertility programs.

Nano-Yield offers products such as NanoPro, NanoN, and NanoCote Core for row crops and other uses. The company reports its nanoparticle platform is compatible with both soil and foliar applications, enhancing nutrient delivery across methods.

Field trials show consistent yield improvements

Independent field performance is critical for adoption of new crop input technologies. Bell reports Nano-Yield has conducted hundreds of replicated trials across various crops, soil types, and environments.

Company data shows replicated trials have consistently increased yields by 6 to 15 bushels per acre in corn and soybeans, 4 to 7 bushels per acre in wheat, and about 21% in cotton. Bell notes growers often maintained yields with reduced fertilizer rates or achieved higher yields without increasing inputs.

“What gives me confidence isn’t one exceptional field trial,” Bell said. “It’s seeing similar results repeated over multiple years, across different crops, and under very different growing conditions.”

The company’s website provides field trial summaries for various crops and production systems, enabling growers to review performance under different agronomic conditions.

Improving fertilizer economics

As fertilizer prices remain volatile globally, improving nutrient-use efficiency has become an increasingly important strategy for growers seeking to manage production costs.

Bell said even relatively small improvements in nutrient efficiency can produce meaningful economic returns because fertilizer remains one of the largest variable expenses in crop production.

Third-party evaluations include three years of replicated trials with Precision Planting, where adding NanoCote to standard urea applications produced an average return of USD 17.14 per acre in corn. Multi-year Beck’s Proven Farm Research trials reported an average return of USD 28.22 per acre using 19 ounces of NanoCote with 160 units of nitrogen.

Rather than promoting blanket fertilizer reductions, Bell emphasizes that nutrient management should continue to reflect local agronomic conditions.

“We’ve worked with growers who maintained yields while reducing fertilizer rates and others who increased yields without increasing fertilizer inputs,” he said.

Independent validation builds confidence

A major challenge for agricultural technologies is proving consistent performance beyond company-sponsored trials.

Bell said Nano-Yield invested heavily in independent validation through universities and third-party organizations early in the company’s development. He identified Precision Planting and Beck’s Proven Farm Research among the strongest external validation programs evaluating the technology.

Bell reports these independent studies consistently show improved nutrient-use efficiency and crop performance when Nano-Yield products are used in effective fertility programs. He maintains that third-party validation gives growers greater confidence, as results are measured under commercial farming conditions.

Growing beyond North America

Nano-Yield partners with family-owned seed dealers, independent retailers, small cooperatives, distributors, and mid-sized input manufacturers. While North America is its largest market, Bell says the company is expanding in South and Central America, where growers also face rising fertilizer costs and profitability pressures.

The company plans to expand its product portfolio, strengthen partnerships with fertilizer manufacturers and distributors, and continue investing in research to improve nutrient delivery technologies.

“Our focus is helping growers get more from the fertilizer they’re already using while fitting into the farming systems they’ve spent years refining,” Bell said.

As agriculture increasingly focuses on improving nutrient-use efficiency rather than simply increasing fertilizer application rates, technologies that enhance nutrient delivery may become an increasingly important component of precision crop nutrition. Nano-Yield’s approach reflects a broader trend toward maximizing the performance of existing agricultural inputs while helping growers improve both profitability and resource efficiency.

A 400-acre farm in Dalhart, Texas, recorded an estimated 80% decline in rodent activity after introducing a fertility-control bait to protect its subsurface drip irrigation system, according to SenesTech. The fourth-generation farm grows winter wheat and summer corn and had faced recurring leaks after rodents chewed through buried irrigation tape in search of water.

SenesTech deployed its Evolve Rat Birth Control product in agricultural T-Bait Stations designed for row-crop farms, dairies and ranches. The company said visible rodent holes, bait consumption and irrigation-line damage declined during the first several months of the program, reducing leaks, repair work and disruptions to water delivery. Evolve is intended to suppress rodent populations by limiting reproduction rather than causing acute poisoning, and can be used alongside other integrated pest management measures.

The farm plans to continue using the product as part of its long-term rodent-control program. However, SenesTech said the findings were based on observations from one commercial operation and that results at other farms could vary depending on local conditions and implementation.

Australian researchers and agronomists are intensifying efforts to identify alternatives to the herbicide paraquat after the country’s pesticide regulator allowed its continued use under stricter conditions, highlighting the lack of commercially viable replacements for one of agriculture’s most widely used weed-control products.

The recent decision by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) was welcomed by many growers, who describe paraquat as an essential tool for managing glyphosate-resistant weeds in grain and forage crops. However, researchers say the ruling has also exposed Australia’s heavy dependence on imports from China, the world’s largest paraquat producer despite banning the herbicide’s domestic use nearly a decade ago over public health concerns.

Sarah Rogers, an associate professor at the University of Melbourne’s Asia Institute, said the decision should prompt broader discussions about reducing agriculture’s reliance on imported crop protection products. She warned that China’s herbicide industry is consolidating and that future production decisions could threaten Australia’s supply of paraquat, particularly as the country remains one of the few major markets where the product is still permitted.

Agronomists say the new restrictions could create immediate challenges for farmers, especially in the lucerne industry, where paraquat plays a key role in weed management. Scott Hutchings, a senior agronomist with Delta Ag in South Australia, said industry groups are already evaluating alternative strategies, but most new herbicide products are not expected to reach the commercial market for another four years, leaving growers with limited options in the interim.

Researchers also caution that replacing paraquat will not be straightforward. Adelaide University weed scientist Chris Preston said the herbicide has been central to the industry’s “double-knock” strategy, in which glyphosate is followed by paraquat to control herbicide-resistant weeds and delay the spread of glyphosate resistance. While alternatives such as sequential applications of glufosinate have shown promise in field trials, they are more expensive and more difficult to apply effectively than existing programs.

The issue is becoming increasingly important as glyphosate-resistant weed populations continue to expand across Australia’s grain-growing regions. Researchers say future weed management will likely require a combination of new herbicides, integrated farming practices, and non-chemical approaches rather than a direct replacement for paraquat alone.

Source: AgroPages

Dutch agtech startup Aardaia has raised €5 million (about USD 5.9 million) in a seed funding round to accelerate development of the aardaker (Lathyrus tuberosus), a protein-rich, nitrogen-fixing tuber that could reduce agriculture’s reliance on synthetic nitrogen fertilizers and imported protein crops. The investment was led by Point Nine, with participation from Astanor, Grey Silo, returning investor FoodLabs, and a group of angel investors.

Founded in Wageningen, Aardaia is pursuing an alternative approach to crop development by domesticating wild edible plants rather than modifying existing staple crops. Its flagship crop, the aardaker, was historically consumed across Europe but was never cultivated commercially. Unlike potatoes, the legume-derived tuber naturally fixes atmospheric nitrogen, allowing it to produce protein without synthetic nitrogen fertilizer while offering yields comparable to conventional root crops. The company says this combination could help lower fertilizer use, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and decrease Europe’s dependence on imported plant protein.

Aardaia uses genome sequencing, high-throughput phenotyping, speed breeding, and genomic prediction to accelerate crop domestication, compressing a process that traditionally required centuries into a matter of years. The company is screening about 750,000 unique aardaker genotypes this year and plans to expand that effort to 2 million with the new funding. Because historical records show the crop was consumed in Europe before May 1997, it is not classified as a novel food under European regulations, potentially simplifying commercialization.

The startup has expanded to 14 employees representing 10 nationalities, with half of its team holding doctoral degrees. The new funding will support additional genotype screening and breeding as Aardaia works to move the aardaker from experimental production toward commercial-scale cultivation. The tuber has already attracted interest from the food sector, with the two-Michelin-star restaurant De Nieuwe Winkel purchasing nearly the company’s entire recent harvest.

Source: AgroPages

The global agricultural biologicals market continues to expand despite economic uncertainty, with biofertilizers expected to remain one of the fastest-growing segments, according to Dr. Pam Marrone, founder and chair of the Invasive Species Corporation, speaking at the 2026 Salinas Biological Summit in California.

Citing data from market research firm Dunham-Trimmer, Marrone said biological crop inputs continue to post double-digit compound annual growth rates, including 11.08% for biofertilizers, 10.65% for biocontrols and 9.93% for biostimulants. North America is projected to remain the world’s largest market, reaching USD 5.68 billion by 2027, while Latin America is expected to grow to USD 4.97 billion, driven largely by rapid adoption in Brazil.

Marrone attributed Brazil’s success to growers integrating biological products alongside conventional crop protection programs rather than treating them as direct replacements for chemical inputs. She also noted that Brazil’s relatively young farming population has been more willing to adopt new technologies. Unlike many countries where biologicals are concentrated in specialty crops, Brazil has expanded their use across large-scale row crop production.

Funding shifts toward Europe

Investment in agricultural biologicals slowed over the past year as artificial intelligence attracted a growing share of venture capital in the United States. Marrone said European investors have become increasingly active because they were less affected by the high startup valuations seen during 2021 and 2022.

Most of the recently funded biologicals startups highlighted during the presentation were European companies, while private equity firms continued acquiring profitable or near-profitable biological businesses. Marrone also pointed to the emergence of large independent biologicals companies outside the traditional agrochemical industry, including Spain-based Rovensa Next and Belgium’s BioFirst, demonstrating that startups now have additional exit opportunities beyond acquisitions by major crop protection companies.

Education remains the industry’s biggest challenge

Despite strong market growth, Marrone said both investors and farmers need significantly more education about agricultural biologicals. She argued that many venture capital firms still underestimate the technological sophistication of microbial products because they view only genetically engineered solutions as deep technology.

Among growers, uncertainty over product performance continues to limit adoption. Marrone said farmers often struggle to distinguish scientifically validated products from exaggerated marketing claims, with inconsistent field performance remaining the industry’s biggest credibility challenge. She added that growers need better guidance on evaluating biological products before making purchasing decisions.

Bioherbicides gain momentum

Marrone identified several emerging technologies expected to shape the biologicals market over the next year, including AI-designed pesticidal peptides, microbial metabolites, RNA interference technologies with commercially viable delivery systems, abiotic stress mitigation products, regenerative soil inputs, integrated biological programs, and pesticide-enhancing formulations.

She also highlighted growing interest in bioherbicides, an area that has historically lagged behind biofertilizers and biopesticides. New companies such as Quercus are applying artificial intelligence to peptide discovery for weed control, while Corteva recently committed USD 200 million through a partnership with FMC to develop herbicides targeting resistant weeds. Marrone said her own company is developing metabolite-based bioherbicides that have demonstrated weed control approaching glyphosate performance in early trials, including against glyphosate-resistant species.

Source: AgFunder News

NEXTCHEM has completed its €148.2M Ballestra acquisition, the MAIRE subsidiary said, closing a deal first announced in December and rounding out its fertilizer-technology portfolio across the full nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium spectrum.

The final price came in above the roughly €126.5M estimated when the agreement was signed on December 24, reflecting Ballestra’s adjusted net cash position. MAIRE placed the enterprise value at €108.2M and said the transaction formally closed on June 25.

The purchase gives NEXTCHEM full ownership of Milan-based Ballestra and its Mazzoni brand, Switzerland’s Buss ChemTech, and Ballestra Engineering and Projects in India, integrating roughly 460 process engineers. Ballestra, founded in 1960, operates in more than 120 countries and reported an order backlog of about €270M at the end of March.

For fertilizer producers, the deal extends NEXTCHEM’s licensing reach in phosphate- and potassium-based process technology, complementing its established nitrogen and urea offering from Stamicarbon. NEXTCHEM said it also opens cross-selling opportunities with Tecnimont, MAIRE’s engineering and construction arm, on new plants and revamps.

The move sharpens competition among fertilizer-technology licensors such as Casale, thyssenkrupp Uhde and Haldor Topsoe as producers weigh plant upgrades against elevated input costs.

Source: World Fertilizer

Ostara’s CG P2X, an enhanced efficiency fertilizer derived from struvite, has aligned with U.S. Department of Agriculture conservation practice and enhanced efficiency fertilizer classifications in several states, opening access to federal conservation funding for growers who use it.

The St. Louis-based company said the granular 9-42-0 with 9 Mg product is recognized by the Association of American Plant Food Control Officials and NRCS nutrient management guidance as a slow-release material, extending the case Ostara has built for its efficiency-focused phosphate alternative. The classification can support NRCS Practice Code 590, Nutrient Management, which helps growers improve nutrient use efficiency while cutting environmental losses.

Eligibility varies by state and may fall under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, the Conservation Stewardship Program, or other nutrient management initiatives, Ostara said. The company noted that NRCS guidance references nutrient characteristics and technologies rather than commercial product names.

The recovered-phosphorus fertilizer releases nutrients in response to crop demand rather than dissolving into the soil, which Ostara says allows roughly 40% lower application rates than MAP, DAP or TSP at comparable cost per acre. The company points to 151 field trials showing a consistent yield advantage.

“With farming margins tight, potential conservation funding could further support farm profitability while helping growers advance nutrient management goals,” said Austin Omer, Ostara’s director of sustainability, partnerships and policy.

Source: World Fertilizer

What to know about CG P2X and conservation funding

Global agricultural production is becoming increasingly polarized as extreme weather reshapes crop prospects across major producing regions, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s July World Agricultural Production report. While drought and record-breaking heat have sharply reduced corn production forecasts across parts of Europe and East Africa, favorable weather has boosted harvest expectations in Argentina, South Africa, Russia, and Canada, underscoring widening regional differences in crop performance.

The report illustrates how weather remains the dominant driver of global grain production, but also shows that farmers’ planting decisions are increasingly influenced by fertilizer prices, fuel costs, and changing crop economics. Higher production costs are prompting growers in several countries to reduce planted acreage or shift toward crops requiring lower input investments, adding another layer of uncertainty to global agricultural markets.

France suffers historic corn losses

Among the most significant revisions in the report is France’s corn crop, which USDA now forecasts at just 10 million metric tons for the 2026/27 marketing year. The estimate is 24% lower than last month’s forecast, 26% below last year’s harvest, and represents the country’s smallest corn crop since the 1990/91 season. Harvested area is expected to fall to its lowest level since 1969/70.

USDA attributes the decline primarily to an extended period of drought and record temperatures across Western Europe. Corn, which requires significant moisture during pollination, suffered severe stress during silking and tasseling, critical growth stages that coincided with prolonged heat exceeding 35 degrees Celsius. Unlike wheat and rapeseed, which had largely completed their reproductive development before the heat intensified, corn experienced irreversible yield losses. Satellite vegetation monitoring also confirmed deteriorating crop conditions across much of France.

Weather was not the only factor. Newly released data from France’s Agriculture Ministry prompted USDA to reduce harvested area by 190,000 hectares. Farmers curtailed corn planting because of elevated fertilizer and fuel costs, while some marginal land was left fallow or redirected toward silage production, which is excluded from USDA’s grain estimates.

The reduction has broader implications for European grain supplies. France normally accounts for roughly 22% of EU corn production, and drought has also reduced production prospects in Hungary and Slovakia. Although Romania and Bulgaria are expected to post improved harvests thanks to better rainfall than last year, overall EU corn production is projected to remain about 11% below its five-year average.

South America delivers another production boost

In contrast, South America continues to reinforce its position as one of the world’s most reliable grain suppliers.

Argentina is expected to harvest a record 63 million metric tons of corn in the 2025/26 season, following a record planted area of 8.2 million hectares. USDA said favorable weather throughout most of the growing season and a shift back toward earlier planting after the devastating chicharrita insect outbreak supported both yields and production. Dry weather later in the season had only limited impact because much of the crop had already passed its critical yield development stages.

Brazil also received upward revisions, although for different crops. USDA raised sorghum production to 6.2 million metric tons as expanding planted area offset slightly lower yields. Farmers increasingly selected sorghum because it offers lower production costs and greater drought tolerance than second-crop corn, making it more attractive amid elevated agricultural input prices.

Brazil’s cotton outlook also improved. Despite lower planted area than last year’s record season, exceptionally favorable growing conditions in Mato Grosso and Bahia are expected to produce record yields, allowing national cotton production to remain well above its five-year average.

Africa presents a mixed picture

African production forecasts reflect sharp contrasts between regions experiencing abundant rainfall and those suffering from drought.

South Africa is on track for a record 18 million metric ton corn harvest after strong La Niña rains produced excellent growing conditions throughout the season. Above-average soil moisture during grain filling and expanded harvested area contributed to one of the country’s largest yields on record.

Kenya faces the opposite situation. USDA lowered its 2026/27 corn forecast by one-third following an extended dry spell during June that caused widespread crop failures across key producing regions. The report also noted that elevated fertilizer prices reduced application rates, further weighing on production potential. If emerging El Niño conditions continue, additional losses remain possible before harvest.

The report illustrates how weather extremes and fertilizer affordability increasingly interact to determine crop outcomes, particularly in developing agricultural regions where growers have fewer options to offset adverse conditions.

Russia strengthens grain and oilseed production

Russia’s crop outlook remains relatively favorable despite reductions in spring grain acreage.

USDA increased its wheat forecast slightly to 88.5 million metric tons, supported by record winter wheat yields after abundant rainfall and moderate temperatures across major producing regions. Strong winter wheat performance has largely offset declines in spring wheat acreage caused by delayed planting.

The agency also expects Russia to harvest a record 20.7 million metric tons of sunflowerseed. Delays in planting spring grains encouraged growers to switch additional acreage into sunflower, which offers stronger profitability and a slightly later planting window. Harvested area is forecast to reach a record 12 million hectares.

The combination of strong wheat and oilseed production reinforces Russia’s position as one of the world’s largest agricultural exporters despite continuing weather-related variability across parts of the country.

Canada shifts acreage toward higher-value crops

Canadian farmers are also responding to changing market incentives.

USDA lowered its wheat production forecast to 34 million metric tons after official surveys showed growers planted less wheat than previously expected, replacing part of the acreage with canola and barley. Although planted area declined, improving moisture conditions across much of the Prairie provinces have supported favorable crop development.

At the same time, Canada is expected to maintain record rapeseed production as harvested area reaches an all-time high of 9.4 million hectares. USDA said expanding biofuel demand, growing domestic crushing capacity, and improved profitability encouraged farmers to plant more canola despite lower expected yields than last season.

Input costs continue influencing planting decisions

Beyond weather, USDA repeatedly identifies production costs as an increasingly important factor shaping global cropping patterns.

In France, high fertilizer and fuel prices contributed directly to lower corn acreage. In Kenya, expensive fertilizer reduced nutrient applications, worsening drought-related losses. Brazilian farmers expanded sorghum because it requires fewer inputs than corn, while Canadian producers shifted acreage toward more profitable oilseeds supported by expanding biofuel markets.

These developments suggest fertilizer economics are becoming an increasingly important determinant of global production alongside weather conditions.

Outlook for agricultural markets

USDA’s July assessment paints a picture of a global agricultural sector that remains highly resilient but increasingly uneven. Record production in several exporting countries is helping offset severe crop losses elsewhere, limiting larger declines in global grain output. At the same time, the report highlights growing regional disparities driven by climate extremes, changing planting economics, and persistent input cost pressures.

For fertilizer markets, the outlook remains mixed. Lower planted acreage and reduced fertilizer use in drought-affected regions could soften demand locally, while expanding oilseed production and record harvests in countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Russia, Canada, and South Africa are likely to sustain robust nutrient consumption in more favorable production areas. Together, these trends reinforce how weather and fertilizer economics are becoming increasingly intertwined in shaping global agricultural production.

US retail fertilizer prices were mostly lower for the third consecutive week, DTN said July 8, with urea leading four nutrients to declines of 5% or more, even as the broader eight-fertilizer complex remains well above year-ago levels.

Urea fell 12% to an average of $718 a ton, the steepest drop among the eight fertilizers DTN tracks. UAN32 slipped 9% to $533 a ton, anhydrous ammonia dropped 7% to $1,036 a ton, and UAN28 declined 6% to $504 a ton. MAP and 10-34-0 posted smaller declines, averaging $953 and $725 a ton, respectively. DAP and potash bucked the trend, edging up to $910 and $494 a ton.

On a nitrogen-cost basis, urea averaged $0.78 a pound of nitrogen, anhydrous $0.63, UAN28 $0.90 and UAN32 $0.83. DTN said mostly lower prices have now persisted for a full month.

The pullback comes as the USDA rolled out a $500 million Fertilizer Investment and Expansion for Long-Term Domestic Supply plan aimed at growing domestic production capacity. “We want fertilizer produced in America, and we want fertilizer delivered in America to American farmers,” USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins said. Despite the recent declines, all eight fertilizers remain higher than a year ago, with anhydrous up 35%, UAN28 up 20% and MAP up 13%.

Source: DTN Progressive Farmer

U.S. agricultural exports to Vietnam reached USD 4.7 billion in 2025, making the United States Vietnam’s second-largest agricultural supplier. Vietnam’s expanding economy and growing middle class continue to drive demand for imported food and agricultural products, according to a new U.S. agricultural trade report.

Vietnam’s economy grew 8% in 2025 to USD 514.4 billion, and its food processing industry expanded 11% to USD 88 billion. Increased consumer spending, tourism, and industrial manufacturing have raised demand for higher-value imported products, including fresh fruit, dairy, poultry, animal feed, cotton, ethanol, seafood, and forestry products. Modern retail channels are expanding quickly, with supermarket sales up 13% and food e-commerce growing 29% in 2025, creating more opportunities for branded U.S. products.

The report identifies several sectors with strong export potential. U.S. soybean exports to Vietnam rose 20% year over year to USD 581 million, and corn shipments increased to USD 394 million as Vietnam expanded its feed and livestock industries. Cotton became the largest U.S. agricultural export to Vietnam at USD 1.3 billion, more than doubling from 2024 due to growth in the textile sector. Dairy exports rose 18% to USD 149.2 million, poultry exports reached USD 113 million, and fresh fruit shipments totaled USD 91.1 million. Recent approvals for U.S. mandarins, peaches, and nectarines are expected to create further export opportunities.

The report also notes improving trade relations between the two countries. In 2025, Vietnam signed agreements totaling USD 3 billion to purchase U.S. agricultural and timber products. Both governments are negotiating a reciprocal trade framework that could eliminate tariffs on nearly all goods, including agricultural products. Although the United States is the only major agricultural trading partner without a free trade agreement with Vietnam, recent regulatory reforms and ongoing negotiations are expected to improve market access for U.S. exporters.

Precision specialists at 24-store John Deere dealer Stotz Equipment are combining DJI spray drones with an emerging live-algae biostimulant system to adapt precision agriculture tools to Arizona’s extreme desert growing conditions, according to a July 8 dealer profile.

Jake Nordenberg, a precision ag specialist covering hay, cotton and wheat growers around Buckeye, Arizona, said standard Deere technology built for corn and soybean row crops often needs reworking for the region’s hay-dominant operations and rocky, low-rainfall soils, where some fields receive under an inch of rain a year. “See & Spray doesn’t work for hay, right? But we can take this DJI drone, fly it, do a target application map, find out where the weeds are and then send it to the ground rig,” Nordenberg said.

During a farm visit, the dealer’s team also spotted a MyLand system in use, four large tanks that cultivate live algae and other microbial biomass on-site before adding it to a farm’s irrigation water to support crop growth, an approach growers are increasingly pairing with drone-based targeted spraying. Stotz Equipment’s three-person data analytics team separately helps growers cut idle time and rightsize horsepower using John Deere Operations Center data, part of a broader push to translate precision tools into savings for desert operations with year-round harvest cycles.

Source: Precision Farming Dealer

The U.S. Department of Commerce has opened an eight-month period during which Moroccan phosphate fertilizer may enter the United States without countervailing duties, following the emergency declaration issued on June 29 to strengthen fertilizer supplies for American farmers. The measure took effect on July 8 with its publication in the Federal Register.

According to the notice, exporters and importers may request duty-free treatment for Moroccan phosphate fertilizer shipments covered by the current countervailing duty order under Section 318(a) of the Tariff Act of 1930. Commerce stated the exemption is necessary “to ensure that United States farmers have a sufficient and timely supply of fertilizers during the planting and growing season,” and noted that Moroccan producers, led by OCP Group, can meet U.S. demand. Approved shipments must enter the U.S. within 60 days of authorization or will again be subject to standard countervailing duties.

This decision temporarily reopens the U.S. market to Moroccan phosphate fertilizer imports, which have been restricted since the 2021 countervailing duty order prompted by a petition from Mosaic. The exemption follows reduced domestic phosphate availability, following Mosaic’s announcement of further production curtailments at facilities in Florida, Louisiana, and Brazil due to sulfur supply disruptions related to tensions near the Strait of Hormuz. StoneX Vice President of Fertilizers Josh Linville expressed “mixed feelings” about the suspension, noting it may ease short-term supply constraints for U.S. buyers but could introduce new competitive challenges for domestic producers.

Source: Federal Register

What you need to know about Morocco’s duty-free phosphate window

Four competing approaches are emerging in the race to bring autonomous machinery to row-crop farming, with equipment manufacturers and startups pursuing different strategies to reduce labor requirements and improve farm productivity, according to an industry analysis published July 6 by agtech consultant Chris Hunsaker of Acuitus Ag.

Hunsaker identifies four distinct development paths. The first is integrated autonomy, in which original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) develop fully autonomous tractors from the ground up. He notes that early efforts, including an autonomous tractor concept unveiled by CNH about a decade ago, highlighted the challenges of relying on third-party autonomy software rather than proprietary systems. The second approach, retrofit autonomy, is currently seeing the greatest commercial momentum, with John Deere preparing a second-generation retrofit kit and AGCO introducing its PTx Outrun autonomous grain cart. The third strategy focuses on purpose-built autonomous machines designed for specific agricultural tasks, such as the GUSS orchard sprayer, a technology that Deere strengthened through its acquisition of GUSS in late 2025. The fourth, and most speculative, path involves humanoid robots capable of operating existing farm equipment without requiring implements to be redesigned.

According to Hunsaker, the long-term competitive advantage will belong to companies that successfully automate farm implements rather than tractors alone, since removing operators from the cab delivers labor savings, around-the-clock operation and continuous machine-learning improvements. He also argues that rapidly declining AI perception costs are reshaping the competitive landscape, with inexpensive camera-based systems increasingly replacing costly LiDAR hardware. The shift is lowering barriers to entry for startups including Carbon Robotics, Sabanto and Aigen Robotics, allowing them to compete more directly with established manufacturers such as Deere, AGCO and Case IH.

Source: Precision Farming Dealer

Scientists at the John Innes Center discovered that the orientation of cell division in inner stem tissues plays the dominant role in determining stem thickness. Published in Current Biology, these findings overturn a long-standing assumption in plant biology and may offer plant breeders a new strategy for developing crops with stronger stems and improved architecture.

Imaging techniques revealed that cells in the inner cortex and pith contribute most to radial stem growth. Changing the orientation of cell division in these tissues significantly affected stem thickness, even when outer layer growth remained unchanged. These results indicate that inner tissues establish the structural framework guiding stem development as plants mature.

This discovery has practical implications for agriculture. Breeding or gene-editing programs targeting genes that control cell division in inner stem tissues may help produce cereal crops with thicker, more lodging-resistant stalks and improve stem uniformity in horticultural crops to support mechanical harvesting and reduce post-harvest losses. The researchers will next identify the genes regulating cell division orientation in these tissues before applying the findings to commercial breeding programs.

Source: Phys.org

Q&A: The plant stem thickness study

On the moorlands of Wales, Dr Peter Jones, a scientist nicknamed “The Bogfather,” has spent 30 years on peatland restoration, reviving bogs and fens that rank among the most concentrated carbon stores in the country.

Peatlands hold 30% of Wales’ land-based carbon while covering only 4% of its surface, according to the National Peatland Action Programme. Yet about 90% are degraded, which means they now leak greenhouse gases instead of storing them.

That matters well beyond conservation. Restoring peat offers a nature-based route to cut emissions, slow flooding and create natural firebreaks, and it intersects directly with agriculture, since draining bogs for farming drove much of the damage in the first place.

Why peatland restoration matters for carbon and water

Healthy peatland slows the flow of water, helping prevent flooding, and can act as a firebreak during wildfires, both of which are expected to become more frequent as the climate warms. The engine of a functioning bog is sphagnum moss, which can hold 20 times its own weight in water and steadily builds new peat. Where peat is damaged it becomes far more prone to erosion, leaving bare “peat cliffs” scoured down toward bedrock.

How draining for agriculture degraded Welsh bogs

The scale of degradation is rooted in land use. Because peatland was long seen as having little value, trees were planted on it and farmers were encouraged to drain it for agriculture, while rural communities cut peat as fuel. The farming link cuts both ways today: rewetting drained land is central to restoration, and the wider push to protect peat is also reshaping horticulture, where growers are shifting toward peat-free growing media to reduce the extraction that damages these habitats.

A 1,800-hectare-a-year restoration target

There are more than 100 ways to restore peatland, from blocking drains and ditches to re-establishing bog vegetation. The process is slow: healthy peat accumulates only about 1 millimeter a year, so 1 meter (3.3 feet) can take up to 1,000 years to form. Wales has committed to restoring around 1,800 hectares a year by the end of 2030-31, part of a wider effort that earned Jones, a Cardiff University plant scientist, an MBE in 2024 for services to Welsh peatlands.

The window to protect these carbon stores is narrowing. Jones warned that the task will get harder as the climate changes because “there’ll be less rainfall in the summer,” drying out the very ground that restoration depends on. Research is also testing dual uses for recovered land, including solar arrays on rewetted peatlands that could pair clean power with biodiversity gains.

Source: BBC

Kuwait’s state-owned Kuwait Petroleum Corp has set its July sulphur price at $950 a tonne fob Kuwait, up $145 from June’s $805, a record level that underscores how tightly the Gulf sulfur market remains squeezed by the Strait of Hormuz conflict.

The new Kuwait Sulphur Price is $460 a tonne above the previous record of $490 fob set in June 2022. Freight rates as of July 2 stood at $108-116 a tonne for a 30,000-35,000 tonne shipment to Chinese ports, implying a delivered cost of $1,058-1,066 a tonne cfr before insurance premiums tied to the conflict.

The increase mirrors moves by other Gulf sulphur sellers. Abu Dhabi’s Adnoc raised its July official selling price for the Indian subcontinent by $140 to $1,000 a tonne fob Ruwais, also a record, while QatarEnergy lifted its July price by $85 to $890 a tonne fob Ras Laffan and Mesaieed.

The persistently high prices reflect a market still short of material despite a partial recovery in Hormuz vessel traffic in June, when more than 800,000 tonnes of previously loaded Middle East sulphur crossed the strait, mostly under earlier contracts. Spot availability remains limited to just two or three Middle East cargoes in trader hands. Phosphate producers reliant on Gulf sulphur, including Mosaic, have already curtailed output as feedstock costs climb.

Source: Argus Media

A debate at the Groundswell event highlighted divisions among U.K. farmers regarding precision breeding. Researchers emphasized the potential of gene-edited wheat to reduce fertilizer use, while critics cautioned that patent protections could restrict farmer access to new varieties. This discussion coincides with England’s implementation of the Precision Breeding Act 2023, which regulates gene-edited crops differently from genetically modified organisms if the changes could have occurred naturally.

Dr. Elizabeth Stockdale of NIAB, who chaired the panel, explained that precision breeding accelerates natural genetic changes without introducing foreign DNA. Prof. Cristóbal Uauy, director of the John Innes Centre, presented research on gene-edited wheat that forms stronger relationships with mycorrhizal fungi, allowing plants to absorb nutrients and water more efficiently. He noted that enhancing these soil partnerships could improve nutrient uptake, reduce fertilizer needs, and restore beneficial traits lost through modern wheat breeding.

Despite the technology’s promise, concerns about intellectual property dominated the discussion. Lincolnshire farmer Peter Lundgren argued that patenting naturally occurring traits could prevent farmers from saving seed and limit independent breeding, echoing earlier concerns about genetically modified crops. Pat Thomas, director of Beyond GM, called for mandatory transparency and labeling to help farmers and consumers make informed decisions.

Oxfordshire farmer and British On-Farm Innovation Network director Tom Allen-Stevens advocated for broader commercial field trials so growers can assess the crops in real farming conditions. With Defra-funded trials underway and labeling rules still in development, questions about ownership, transparency, and farmer access remain unresolved, even as gene-edited wheat may reduce fertilizer demand through improved nutrient efficiency. See our earlier coverage of the first gene-edited crop trial under the U.K.’s precision breeding law.

Source: Farmers Weekly

Bangladeshi state-owned firm BCIC issued a buy tender on July 6 for 15,000 tonnes of crushed lump sulphur, as the country’s fertilizer sector works to secure feedstock amid a global sulphur squeeze tied to the Strait of Hormuz conflict.

The tender closes September 7, with delivery to the port of Chattogram required within 30 days of the letter of credit being opened. BCIC previously issued a tender for the same 15,000-tonne quantity in April, but no award was made at that time, a sign of how difficult it has become for buyers to secure Gulf sulphur on workable terms.

Bangladesh’s renewed tender comes as Gulf sulphur suppliers push prices to record levels. Kuwait’s KPC set its July price at a record $950 a tonne fob, up $145 from June, while Abu Dhabi’s Adnoc and QatarEnergy have both raised their own official selling prices in recent weeks. South Africa has separately reported a 68% drop in first-half sulphur imports as Middle East cargoes remain scarce.

Sulphur is a critical input for the sulphuric acid used in phosphate fertilizer production, and Bangladesh’s state phosphate plants depend on imported supply. A failed or delayed award could add further strain to the country’s domestic DAP and TSP output heading into the next planting cycle.

Source: Argus Media

Q&A: Bangladesh’s sulphur tender

The United States and Iran declared their June interim deal effectively dead on July 8 after overnight military exchanges in the Mideast Gulf, reviving the threat of a full closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a route that carries the bulk of the sulfur feeding global phosphate production.

“As far as I’m concerned, it’s over,” President Donald Trump said of the memorandum of understanding he signed with Iran on June 18, speaking on the sidelines of a NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey. Trump said he would order the Pentagon to carry out another round of strikes against Iran and that he may reimpose a naval blockade on Iranian trade.

Iranian state media said Tehran will fully close navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and respond strongly to further U.S. attacks. The U.S. military struck Iranian defense targets late on July 7 following Iranian attacks on vessels in the strait’s southern corridor, and Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said it retaliated with drone and missile strikes on U.S. installations in Bahrain and Kuwait.

The June 18 deal had called for a 60-day ceasefire and a gradual reopening of the strait to commercial shipping, with limited sanctions relief for Iran. The U.S. on July 7 also revoked its authorization for purchases of Iranian crude, refined products and petrochemicals. The renewed conflict sent crude prices sharply higher, with August Nymex WTI up about 7% to $75.30 a barrel.

The Gulf normally supplies roughly half of global seaborne sulfur, the key feedstock for phosphoric acid and DAP production. Mosaic has already flagged the Hormuz disruption as a driver of higher sulfur and ammonia costs, and renewed hostilities threaten to extend the supply squeeze that has already pushed Kuwaiti and Qatari sulfur prices to record levels.

Source: Argus Media

Five questions on the Strait of Hormuz crisis and fertilizer supply

Mosaic said on July 8 it will further reduce phosphate operations at four North American plants and multiple Brazilian facilities, as sulfur supply from the Gulf remains disrupted by the Strait of Hormuz conflict.

The producer will deepen output cuts at its Bartow, Florida, and Faustina, Louisiana, plants, which already had reduced operating rates earlier this year, and will now also reduce production at its Riverview, Florida, and Uncle Sam, Louisiana, facilities. Mosaic did not disclose the scale of the pullback at any single site, though multiple customers told Argus they expect Faustina to halt entirely, having already been idled once this year.

“These actions are a temporary response to extraordinary market conditions and do not change the company’s long-term strategy or commitment to global agriculture,” Mosaic said in a statement.

In Brazil, Mosaic is temporarily suspending blending operations at its Candeias and Catalao units, which have combined capacity of 2.5 million tonnes a year, while reducing output at its Palmeirante and Sorriso plants. A gradual mothballing of its 1 million tonne per year Uberaba plant is planned starting in September. The company said restrictions will stay in place until sulfur supply and prices stabilize and Gulf shipping routes return to normal.

The curtailments follow Mosaic’s May decision to withdraw its 2026 phosphate production guidance of at least 7 million tonnes. They also come roughly a week after the U.S. government paused countervailing duties on Moroccan phosphate imports for eight months, opening the door for more OCP tonnes to enter the U.S. market even as domestic supply tightens. Mosaic detailed its exposure to Gulf sulfur costs in a June credit-facility refinancing disclosure, when it guided second-quarter DAP prices to $760-$780 a tonne.

Source: Argus Media

DJI Agriculture on July 6 launched the Agras T55 and the Agras T100 Dual Battery Spraying System, two new agricultural drones the company says extend field coverage and cut downtime for spray operators, as its worldwide fleet passes 600,000 units.

The Agras T55 carries 50 liters for spraying at a 50 liter-per-minute flow rate, or 55 kilograms for spreading at 400 kilograms per minute, and adds a lifting mode rated for 40 kilograms. A new millimeter-wave radar delivers up to 250,000 obstacle-detection points per second, while a quad-vision camera system gives operators views in front, behind, left, right and below the aircraft, with reliable operation claimed in rain and fog.

The Agras T100 Dual Battery Spraying System is aimed at large-scale operations. Dual intelligent batteries extend hover time by 50% at equal payload, and a 90-liter tank with dual-atomized centrifugal sprinklers is designed for faster flight speeds and wider coverage; a single-battery configuration raises spreading capacity to 150 liters. An optional mist-sprinkler set is built for orchard canopies.

“DJI Agriculture continues to push the boundaries of precision farming, empowering farmers with our advanced drone technology to feed their communities while reducing the environmental costs to our planet,” said Yuan Zhang, head of global sales at DJI Agriculture. The company said it now supports more than 3,500 service and repair centers and 7,000 certified instructors worldwide, treating 300 crop types in over 100 countries. The launch comes as U.S. spray-drone operators continue pressing regulators to reconsider an FCC ban on new foreign-made drones that could restrict access to DJI’s Agras line domestically.

Source: Precision Farming Dealer