Soybean biologicals remain a good investment

May 25, 2023

An agronomist says soybean seed inoculants remain a good investment for farmers.

Kurt Seevers with Verdesian says the rhizobia in the treatment helps provide adequate nitrogen for crops without having to add as much fertilizer. “If you find something that’s going to give you a return on investment, it doesn’t matter how big that return is, as long as it’s a return, then you’re making money.”

Seevers says many farmers believe having rhizobia in the soil means they don’t need to add more, but he says when the soybean plant deteriorates in the fall, the rhizobia leave the nodules and compete for resources in the soil making them less effective.

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Video: Independent Seed, National Impact | On The Brink: Episode 9

A survey of 200 independent seed businesses reveals what Canada's seed sector actually contributes — and what it stands to lose.

On the Brink, Justin Funk, a third-generation agri-marketer, shares the findings of a national survey conducted in early 2026. The numbers reframe the conversation: independent seed companies in Canada represent upwards of $1.7 billion in dedicated seed infrastructure, approximately 3,000 full-time equivalent jobs in rural communities, and an estimated $20 million in annual community contributions. And roughly 90% of Canada's cereals, pulses, and other small pollinated crops flow through them.

The survey also asked how dependent these businesses are on public plant breeding to survive. The answer was unambiguous. For policymakers evaluating the future of publicly funded breeding programs, Funk argues the economic case for this sector and the case for public plant breeding are the same argument.

On the Brink is a cross-country video series exploring the future of plant breeding in Canada. Each episode features voices from across the industry in an open, ongoing conversation about innovation and long-term investment in Canadian agriculture.