Innovative InnerSoy Project Launched by GROWMARK and InnerPlant

Dec 01, 2023

GROWMARK Inc. is embarking on a groundbreaking journey with InnerPlant to pilot InnerSoy, the world’s first soybean fungal sensor. This cutting-edge technology enables soybeans to send optical signals when under stress, such as from fungal attacks or nutritional shortages. These signals can be detected using specialized tools like drones or satellites, offering farmers an early warning system to protect their crops.

In 2024, GROWMARK will establish small InnerSoy plots in the Midwest. Over the next three years, these plots will expand and serve as early indicators of fungal infestation in soybeans. The data from these plots will feed into InnerPlant’s machine-learning algorithms, improving agronomic insights to enhance crop performance and protection.

GROWMARK COO, Wade Mittelstadt, emphasizes the high risks farmers face annually. This pilot project grants GROWMARK and its FS cooperatives early access to InnerPlant’s innovative technology, aimed at better managing crop health risks. Dr. Jeff Bunting, VP of crop protection at GROWMARK, is eager to delve deeper into how InnerPlant’s technology can provide vital information for early disease mitigation.

Serving nearly 400,000 customers in North America, GROWMARK specializes in a variety of services, including agronomy, energy, facility engineering, construction, logistics, grain marketing, and risk management.

Based in Bloomington, Illinois, the cooperative is known for owning the FS trademark used by its member cooperatives. GROWMARK’s initiative with InnerSoy marks a significant step forward in agricultural technology and service provision.

Video: Dicamba Returns for Georgia Farmers: What the New EPA Ruling Means for Cotton Growers

After being unavailable in 2024 due to registration issues, dicamba products are returning for Georgia farmers this growing season — but under strict new conditions.

In this report from Tifton, Extension Weed Specialist Stanley Culpepper explains the updated EPA ruling, including new application limits, mandatory training requirements, and the need for a restricted use pesticide license. Among the key changes: a cap of two ½-pound applications per year and the required use of an approved volatility reduction agent with every application.

For Georgia cotton producers, the ruling is significant. According to Taylor Sills with the Georgia Cotton Commission, the vast majority of cotton planted in the state carries the dicamba-tolerant trait — meaning farmers had been paying for technology they couldn’t use.

While environmental groups have expressed concerns over spray drift, Georgia growers have reduced off-target pesticide movement by more than 91% over the past decade. Still, this two-year registration period will come with increased scrutiny, making stewardship and compliance more important than ever.