AgroShield’s All-Natural Bacilifol™ is a bacillus amyloliquefaciens (deriving from an aquatic environment) product that promotes plant growth and overall health, as it acts as a natural plant health improvement additive. In 2022, an experiment was conducted at the Eastern Shore Agricultural Research and Extension Center of Virginia Tech to evaluate the effectiveness of Bacilifol on tomato plants. During this trial, Bacilifol was utilized for both soil preparation and a foliar spray.

AgroShield, a leading provider of innovative solutions for aquatic management, was delighted to participate in the Midwest Aquatic Plant Management Society annual meeting, which took place at the Amway Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The event, which attracted just over 300 attendees, focused on a wide range of topics related to aquatic practices, current challenges, emerging invasive species, and new technology.

AgroShield was proud to participate this year with the AQUA DOC University! Staff from the main location were in attendance as well as virtually to the other branches. We presented our current Vodaguard line that is actively in use with this company as well as other possibilities for use in the 2023 season. We included a presentation given previously to the Water Management Association of Ohio on the successful treatments of the Roaming Rock applications. Included in our presentation were products in development as well as our adaptations of biochar to the aquatic environment.

Bacilifol is an all-natural bacillus amyloliquefaciens product that differentiates itself from similar strain products by the fact that it is marine-based wettable powder. AgroShield’s Bacilifol utilizes a beneficial bacterium called Bacillus to combat harmful plant diseases. This bacterium has been widely used in agriculture due to its ability to protect plants from a range of plant diseases while promoting plant growth. AgroShield conducted a trial in partnership with BAAR Scientific on the effectiveness of Bacilifol as a foliar spray to treat botrytis and downy mildew in vignole grapes.

This past fall, AgroShield worked with BAAR Scientific to conduct a trial for our All-Natural Bacilifol product on grape plants. In late August, we interviewed Dr. Chris Becker, President of BAAR Scientific LLC, to discuss Agroshield’s Bacilifol product and how it’s being used as a foliar spray to treat botrytis and downy mildew in vignole grapes. During that interview, the grapes hadn’t experienced veraison and it was too early to discern how Bacilifol had affected the plants. In previous trials, Bacilifol-treated plants exhibited significantly better results than the control group and this trial was no exception. With the trial now completed, we circled back with Dr. Becker to discuss the scope of the trial, the conditions for treatment, and his findings.

Just as each passing year delivers new lessons and changes, so does each coming year present new opportunities and challenges. With 2023 around the corner, we wanted to highlight some of the accomplishments and challenges AgroShield experienced in 2022.

For many in our industry, 2022 proved to be very different from 2021.

AgroShield was proud to sponsor and participate in the 2022 Cornell Institute for Digital Agriculture (CIDA) conference on October 31 and November 1st. The virtual portion of the symposium addressed how Agritech innovation can significantly contribute to climate solutions and a more resilient food system.

AgroShield’s All-Natural Larixifol product can be used on a wide range of crops as a seed treatment or foliar spray. When applied to hemp plants, Larixifol enhances growth processes and photosynthesis.

On June 28, AgroShield participated in the 2022 Vegetable and Strawberry Field Day at Virginia Tech’s Eastern Shore Agricultural Research and Extension Center. The field day, located in Painter, VA, brought together researchers, growers, students, and industry participants with the common goal of “cultivating ideas and sharing the latest technology related to tomato and strawberry cultivation.”

"For decades, the agriculture industry has used fungicidal compounds to combat harmful pathogens and diseases. Although these treatments have historically proven to be highly effective, prolonged usage has led to pathogenic resistance and a loss of potency," says Richard Selby, AgroShield’s Chairman.

In the Northeast US, Golf Courses apply fungicides to combat pathogens called Snow Mold. In this instance, a cocktail of products was applied. These products were Chlorothalonil, Propiconazole, and Iprodione. Studies have shown that the use of Bacilifol in the tank mix enhances the effectiveness of Fungicides as well as extends the residual. One pound of Bacilifol was added to the fungicide tank mix per acre. The application was made by a conventual sprayer to the green surface and the surrounding six (6) feet of collar. On twenty-seven greens, only twenty were treated with Fungicide and Bacilifol. The other seven were treated with fungicide only.

Tomato trial to start soon

Wyoming-based crop protection manufacturer, AgroShield, has launched a new product throughout the USA— Bacilifol. Bacilifol has proven successful as a seed treatment, in in-furrow applications and as a foliar spray for crop, turf, ornamental and greenhouse verticals.

AgroShield conducted an additional study on Soybeans of both Larixifol and Bacilifol with our consultant Dr. Wayne Surles. Both Larixifol and Bacilifol were used only as a foliar spray. When compared to ‘untreated control’ and ‘other products,’ both Larixifol and Bacilifol had increased nodes on the roots and elevated pod counts.

AgroShield will be in trials with Virginia Tech to collect data on our Bacilifol plant amendment for the next growing season. Earlier this year, we were at Lipman farms and also at the VT Research Station with one of our advisors, Greg Lonergan. From that visitation, we will enter trials to demonstrate the value of adding Bacilifol to the irrigation and foliar applications. The Bacilifol plant amendment will improve the quality of the tomato plants grown in Virginia.