ExcavatorAMS with CycleStrikeLR and BioFlex from Meristem Crop Performance® is a valuable tool for Dustin Hofer and his family on their South Dakota row-crop farm.
“Excavator AMS is the tip of the spear for us ahead of planting season,” Hofer said. “It’s been a real Swiss Army knife for our farm.”
Excavator AMS is an all-in-one blend of a water conditioning agent (ammonium sulfate) and surfactants for residue breakdown and nutrient release. CycleStrike LR is a blend of microbes designed to accelerate the release of nutrients in the soil and break down crop residue in the field, powered by liquid-ready Bio-Capsule™ Technology, which keeps biologicals separate and alive until the point of application. BioFlex water pre-treatment converts chlorine into the safer chloride form, which is an essential plant nutrient and no longer harmful to beneficial microbes.
The accelerated nutrient release from the residue — typically equivalent to 100 pounds of 10-30-30 per acre for corn fodder according to multiple third-party trials — for the following crop is a cost-saving, yield-boosting advantage for the farm.
“I’m applying the Excavator AMS either in the fall or in the spring with herbicide, depending upon when I’m trying to time my nutrient release, so I’m not adding an extra pass to do it,” Hofer said. “We’ve tried similar competitive products, and the Excavator AMS is always 10 to 15 bushels better. We’ve also noticed changes in the soil’s capability to mineralize and move nutrients through the profile.”
Excavator AMS with CycleStrike LR has been a great fit in the high-yield, high residue, conservation tillage situation for the operation.
“With the way it’s formulated, Excavator AMS does a lot of little things to help on our farm. Planting ease is probably the number one thing,” Hofer said. “With all the residue we have, we can metabolize that material to get our colder ground to warm up a little bit faster and we get through the trash a little bit easier. If I go through a wet spot, I’m not getting the residue buildup on the gauge wheel. The trash is falling apart and getting out of the way.”
By managing the residue, Hofer has also seen insect and disease control benefits.
“Our white mold issues have really backed off since we’ve been using the Excavator AMS. Insects and white mold spores overwinter in the pith of the plants that [now] gets broken down and we are seeing fewer issues,” Hofer said. “It’s been a lifesaver in a lot of instances for our operation.”
Hofer says this is just another tool in the Meristem toolbox that helps the operation get the best bang for the buck.
“It really seems like Meristem is the only company that’s going to bat for the farmer,” Hofer said. “For us, Meristem has just been a pivotal portion of what we’re doing on our farm to really go to the next level.”
The advantages of Excavator AMS with CycleStrike lead the way for success with the Meristem system on the farm.
“It really is a system approach with Meristem — and that system starts with Excavator AMS with CycleStrike LR and BioFlex,” said Mitch Eviston, Meristem founder and CEO. “The residue breakdown ahead of planting and well-timed nutrient release set up the growing season for taking cost out and producing more bushels for less.”