There is growing concern regarding high salinity on the flat plains of northeast Colorado in the South Platte River Basin. This is one of many reasons Upshift C dry concentrate starter fertilizer from Meristem Crop Performance® has been an important tool for the area.
“Upshift C has been a real advantage for us,” said Rusty Triplette, a Meristem dealer and owner of RST Enterprises, Inc. in Holyoke, Colo. “First, most farms are just tired of their conventional fertilizer program costing so much. And we know we’re doing damage out there with the salt.
“Every time we put 10-34-0 out there, we’re putting quite a bit of salt out, which ties up everything else in the soils. I think it’s also probably damaged our ability to make some herbicides work because soil conditions are getting so out of whack with salinity. With 2.5 pounds of Upshift C, we’re putting out much less salt. And, cost wise, we’re coming in 15%, 20%, or 30% less cost per acre on the starter program.”
Building on the advantages of less salt and lower cost, Upshift C also consistently improves yield.
“Last year, one of my growers did some side-by-side comparisons with a higher fertilizer program using 10-34-0 compared to Upshift C,” Triplette said. “With the Upshift C, we were 2, 7, and 9 bushels better on three yield checks at over $20 an acre less cost. That adds up in terms of profitability for the farm, especially right now when fertility costs are high.”
New for 2026, Upshift C Plus has a salt index of 4.1 compared to a salt index around 20 for 10-34-0. Upshift C Plus is a user-friendly, 12-58-0 formulation with active, EDTA chelated zinc for better enzyme metabolic reaction and added phenolic acid compounds to assist with early season abiotic stress. Ether™ Enzyme Technology in Upshift C Plus serves as a catalyst to unlock the full potential of the soil’s nutrient and water resources.
“We’ve got an overabundance of phosphorus in many fields from years of over application, so using the enzymes in Upshift C to break down what’s out there and make it available has been a big plus,” Triplette said. “Most of the planters are already set up for in-furrow, so it’s easy to convert them over and go to a lower volume, low salt product.”
With these benefits, Upshift C Plus will continue be an important tool for farmers in the South Platte River Basin and is part of the broader Meristem system designed to boost farm profitability.
“Meristem products have just been outstanding and we’ve seen great results,” Triplette said. “The spray adjuvants are working really well, and we are seeing better control of weeds. The Aquadraft® C concentrated surfactant has really helped there and, of course, then the Hopper Throttle® pails are a big hit at the planter. Without a doubt, we are seeing many more bushels and less expense with Meristem.”
Cutting costs, boosting yields and streamlining the supply chain are all key parts of the Meristem system.
“One of the biggest wastes in U.S. agriculture is transporting water. With these concentrates, it allows farmers to take cost out by adding the water on the farm,” said Mitch Eviston, Meristem founder and CEO. “That is just one of many ways Meristem helps farmers take cost out and produce more bushels for less.”
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