Spudman March 2023 - 20

The quest for
a definition
By Russell D. Taylor, CCA,
PRESIDENT, HUMIC PRODUCTS
TRADE ASSOCIATION
E
Russell D. Taylor
ach year, farmers hear about new
and exciting published research
on plant biostimulants, but there
seems to be a disconnect when looking
at product labels.
Where are all of the innovative new
agricultural products?
The problem lies in the outdated
pesticide laws from 1958 called the
Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and
Rodenticide Act (FIFRA).
Basically, FIFRA treats all crop-related
products that increase (or retard) plant
growth as a plant regulator, which is
controlled with pesticides under FIFRA.
This pesticide law is overly broad in
scope and captures all products applied
to plants, then excludes those not
known as pesticides, like fertilizers. The
fertilizer exemption from FIFRA seems
logical, as fertilizers provide nutrients
that help plants grow. Unfortunately,
plant biostimulants are a relatively new
crop category and are not explicitly
excluded from the old pesticide law.
The result is plant biostimulant
products are stuck in a gray area, where
no laws exist to regulate them correctly.
DEFINITIONS AND CLAIMS
Understanding what is defined as
Plant biostimulants benefit soil health and
are correlated with improved yields. How do
we get them into the hands of more farmers?
20
Spudman * March 2023
a biostimulant and how they benefit
plants is essential to how they are
regulated. Unlike fertilizers, the benefits
of biostimulants are unrelated to their
nutritional content. When applied to
plants, seeds or soil, plant biostimulants
help the plant achieve its maximum
yield or growth by reducing stress or
improving plant nutrition.

Spudman March 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Spudman March 2023

Spudman March 2023 - 1
Spudman March 2023 - 1A
Spudman March 2023 - 2A
Spudman March 2023 - 2
Spudman March 2023 - 3
Spudman March 2023 - 4
Spudman March 2023 - 5
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Spudman March 2023 - 7
Spudman March 2023 - 8
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Spudman March 2023 - 43
Spudman March 2023 - 44
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