4 Essential Characteristics of Successful Climate-Smart Growers

What does agriculture need so it can adapt and thrive in challenging conditions? Cutting-edge technology, new breeding techniques, and precise data are all vital tools. But the most important factor is often overlooked: the human touch.

I have the opportunity to work with growers and retailers across the Southern United States as an agronomist with ICL Growing Solutions. As I have gotten to know farmers who are raising crops in a wide range of conditions and climates, I’m amazed at the ingenuity they demonstrate – from dealing with drought in West Texas to hurricanes on the Gulf Coast.

As the industry looks to the future to develop climate-smart agriculture solutions, developing people with the proper mindset will be more valuable than the latest technology. Every climate-smart manager I’ve met has had four essential characteristics.

Purpose-Driven

Being climate-smart means having a purpose for your operation. I firmly believe in setting farm goals each year, then determining the steps needed to achieve those goals. Purpose-driven agriculture involves understanding the current situation and factors, identifying potential risks, and planning for long-term viability. Any farm or agriculture system must be profitable to be sustainable. We understand this at ICL because our research analyzes more than fertilizer rates and application methods. We also study the economic aspects to make sure our fertilizer delivers value.

Life-Long Learners

After setting goals, purpose-driven managers invest time learning about the tools available to help accomplish their objectives. Even when we are short on time, life-long learning and adjustments along the way are essential to survival. Just because a system has been working for many years does not mean it will continue to be effective. Climate-smart managers continue to learn about new ideas and new technologies. They understand the value of soil health and work to improve it. With the right information and training, a grower can decipher what’s happening in the environment and decide the best course of action for their operation. ICL’s Knowledge Hub and team of experts empower growers and retailers to understand fertilizer technology and help them set and achieve their goals.

• Innovative

The world’s population is expected to grow by 2 billion people in the next 25 years. Can we produce enough food in a changing climate to meet this need? Throughout history, we have always met the challenge by developing new technologies. But we cannot use the same tools and techniques we used 30 years ago to meet new challenges. ICL continually innovates to bring new fertilizer technology to market to address specific challenges. One such example is Polysulphate®, which delivers multiple nutrients through slow, sustained release for many different crops and applications. In pastures, where the quality of forages is so important for animal performance, Polysulphate® has consistently improved forage quality and increased protein by 2% to 5%. That difference is significant as we look at sustainably producing food for a growing population. Innovative growers can thrive even in extreme weather, with irrigation proven to be one of the most effective tools to overcome adverse climates. As the drought in West Texas stretches into its third year, dryland farmers are suffering, but we have seen those who irrigate their fields have been able to harvest more often than not, with above average yields in these conditions. Our Nova PeKacid and Agrolution® pHLow products help enable growers to use high pH and high alkaline water for irrigation, allowing them to make limited resources reach further.

• Sustainability-Focused

Climate-smart growers focus on sustainability by producing more with fewer resources. That doesn’t always mean increasing only yield; it could mean using new approaches to reduce the time or resources required to raise a crop, or improving quality. Controlled release fertilizers, for instance, are applied at planting, then provide nutrients throughout the season. This saves the time and fuel required for another trip through the field for side dressing. Being sustainable also means being creative. In the Pacific Northwest, I worked with growers who raised specialty crops that require expensive, specialized equipment. These farmers also understood the value of crop rotation, so they worked cooperatively with neighboring farmers to rotate growing crops in each other’s fields. This arrangement enables them to reap the value of crop rotation without investing in new equipment.

The most exciting part of my work is meeting farmers and retailers, learning about the different challenges they face, and how they go about solving those challenges. I am confident that with the right mindset, we can support climate-smart growers and develop practices to help others meet the demands of the future.