Excavator

EXCAVATOR™, a new biological designed to break down tough crop residue and clear the way for today’s high-speed planters, was announced here today by Meristem Crop Performance. A unique collection of bacteria and amino acids, EXCAVATOR stimulates natural biological activity that speeds residue decay and releases nutrients faster.

“EXCAVATOR springs from our effort to test, refine and make available new biologicals at a price point that can improve every farmer’s ROI (return on investment),” says Mitch Eviston, founder and CEO of Meristem. “Our alliance with Larry Fiene and Planet Earth Agronomy is already paying out with more ways to serve farmers and break down barriers to in-field application of this beneficial technology.”

EXCAVATOR is geared to solving consequences of better genetics, faster planters, and higher yields. Since 1991, average corn yields in America have increased from 108.6 bushel per acre (BPA) in 1991 to 172 BPA in 2020 according to USDA. To grow and fill out heavier ears, corn stalks got stronger. To gain yield, plant populations went up, creating more residue. Meanwhile, planter speeds have doubled in recent years and 10-mph is now common. All these issues converge into a big challenge for high-yield growers: How do I get the crop in the ground quickly, while avoiding skips and gaining the consistent stand crucial to high yields?1