Why CFE Prioritizes Local Agronomy Research.
What sets CFE Agronomy apart from other agronomy teams? Research and the years to back it. At CFE, we spend a lot of time talking with our members about what works on their acres. But behind the scenes, a lot happens long before a product ever reaches a warehouse or a word of recommendation. That work takes place with the CFE agronomy research program, where new ideas and products are tested and older assumptions are challenged.
According to CFE Agronomy Technology Specialist, Jeff Blauwet, the goal is simple. Before CFE ever promotes a new idea, product or approach, we want to understand the science behind it and prove it works for our growers.
“We have always tried to look at new things that are not normal or mainstream,” Jeff says. “Before we promote something, we want to prove it first. That gives us confidence in what we recommend, and it protects our growers.”
The Differentiator is the Location
While many retailers rely on national data or on the word of manufacturers, CFE relies on our own experience, our own fields and our own environment. Many product companies show up with data. The challenge is that their data often comes from environments nothing like ours. What works in Missouri may not work in the upper Midwest. What shines on high pH soils may underperform in neutral soils. Even differences within the CFE territory can shift the outcome.
Every product or concept that CFE evaluates is measured with the same criteria. Does it work in our environment? Does it consistently return value? And does it work with the real systems our growers use, not with the perfect conditions that show up in trial sheets?
There is no magic product in today’s agronomy, and no guarantees. What we can guarantee is the amount of diligence, testing and local insight CFE brings to every recommendation.
Earning Trust
So what does it take before CFE puts its support behind a product or concept? Jeff says the answer depends on how new the concept is and how familiar it is within our area.
If it is something local farmers are already experimenting with and we test it and see results, the agronomy team may start discussing it with growers after one season. If it is something entirely new, the bar is higher. Jeff prefers to see a second year of high performance before the team considers promoting it.
“Before we promote something, I want to see at least double the return on investment the first year,” Jeff said. “If it shows that, I am willing to test again. But for something totally new, I usually want at least two years of data before we get behind it.”
Because CFE serves a wide range of soil types, from the drier conditions on the west side of the territory to the glacial soils around Lake Park and the Okoboji area, a single year or a single location often does not tell the whole story. A product that looks strong in one county may fall short 40 miles away. That is why new products need to be tested at multiple sites and in multiple conditions.
This is especially true for soil-applied biologicals. These products are highly influenced by chemistry, structure and moisture. Soil can help a biological thrive or prevent it from ever doing what it claims. Because of that, CFE tests biologicals carefully and locally.
Foliar products are simpler. If a plant is growing and not under stress, and a foliar product delivers nutrients through the leaf, soil is not a factor. But products that interact with soil biology or nutrient tie-up behave differently from one field to the next.
“We like to have information on our own soils before we promote things,” Jeff says. “Some areas respond differently. Even within our own membership, a product may work well in one zone and not in another.”
Determining Factors
Biologicals are everywhere. Every company and start-up seems to offer one; some are reputable, and some are not. And, many make big claims with small proof. Jeff believes biologicals will play a bigger role in crop production over time, but he also sees the importance of understanding how they work and what they intend to do.
“If someone cannot explain how something works, that is usually a red flag,” Jeff explains. “I want to understand the science behind it. I want to know when it will work and when it will not. That helps us set realistic expectations in our testing.”
CFE receives many requests each year from companies wanting their products tested. Jeff uses two simple filters before agreeing to test anything. First, can the company explain the science clearly and convincingly?
If not, the product is not tested. Second, is the company willing to support CFE and our sales team? A company that wants a quick yes from leadership and does not want to engage with our agronomists and sellers will likely provide little support if a grower ever has an issue. Jeff wants to see a company take time with CFE, answer questions and show they care about our members. Those two filters screen out a surprising number of products. The ones that pass usually become strong partners.
Drones Impact in Research
One of the biggest changes in the last few years has been the addition of drone applications. Drones allow CFE to test products on 10- to 20-acre field blocks at a time. That gives us the ability to see how a concept performs across an entire field environment instead of in a small strip.
Large-scale testing is especially valuable for biologicals and stress-related products. Certain responses are easier to see across acres than across a few hundred feet. And because large equipment is often tied up in seasonal application work, drones give the agronomy team freedom to work when they need to.
“It is one of the biggest advancements we have made in research,” Jeff says. “Drones let us test more acres, more conditions and more ideas.”
The 2025 Season
Once again, some of the CFE area was hit with catastrophic weather this season, taking out several test sites and reducing the amount of new information we were able to gather. However, even with lost plots, we were able to revalidate some of our long-standing research. Several programs we have supported for multiple years again showed strong performance. That reinforces our confidence in the systems many growers are using today.
One example is the Ascend® and BOSS® B4 combination. Ascend® is a PGR (plant growth regulator) that aids in early root and plant development by adding or tweaking natural plant hormones. B4 is a biological when taken up by the seedling, it grows and exists on the root surface and when the root comes in contact with soil, it helps to better extract phosphorus, zinc, and iron throughout the season.
Those are the kinds of products CFE is comfortable promoting: products with long-term proof, reflecting the science with positive local results.
Tomorrow’s Agronomy
Our members trust us to bring them the tools that work. New concepts, biologicals and technologies are entering the market every day. The role of CFE’s agronomy research is to approach those ideas with curiosity and caution at the same time. That is why we test first, promote later and always keep our results grounded in local fields.
At the end of the day, CFE’s goal is the same as our members’: healthier fields and strong yields backed with real data. Our research program is one of the ways we live out that commitment year after year.
If you would like to learn more about CFE research and the 2025 agronomy research results or talk with an agronomist about your operation, reach out to your local CFE agronomist. We are always ready to help you find what works in your fields. <<
