Farmers Business Network announced on Apr. 2 new guidance to help farmers address common problems with herbicide effectiveness, focusing on the use of adjuvants in spray applications.
The organization said that issues such as hard water, plant surface barriers, and spray drift can reduce the impact of herbicides, costing farmers both time and money. These challenges are important because they affect crop yields and operational efficiency for growers across the country.
According to Farmers Business Network (FBN), four main failure points in spray applications include mineral antagonism from hard water, high surface tension causing droplets to bounce off leaves, thick waxy cuticles developed by weeds during heat or drought, and evaporation or drift preventing chemicals from reaching target plants. The company recommends specific adjuvants for each issue: water conditioners like ammonium sulfate for hard water; non-ionic surfactants to improve leaf coverage; oil-based activators such as crop oil concentrates or methylated seed oils for tough weed surfaces; and drift reduction agents to minimize loss due to wind or evaporation.
FBN highlighted several products designed to address these problems. For example, Farmers First Even L Pro is described as an optimized premix containing drift management agents and surfactants aimed at improving pesticide performance in hard water conditions. Other products include FieldGrip DRA—a deposition aid—and IN-Plant crop oil concentrate.
The network also provides educational resources such as webinars featuring agronomists who explain how adjuvants can maximize crop protection results. FBN’s approach includes direct-to-farm delivery using its fulfillment centers according to the official website. The organization has received financial backing from investors including GV and Temasek and has provided nearly $3 billion in financing to growers according to the official website.
With more than 120,000 farmer members managing over 185 million acres according to the official website, FBN aims to empower family farmers through data sharing and direct access to manufacturers according to the official website. The group supports long-term sustainability initiatives—including mental health resources—and affiliates with entities like FBN Inputs LLC for product distribution according to the official website.
Farmer’s Business Network describes itself as an agriculture technology entity promoting transparency by providing tools such as crop inputs, financial support, grain marketing resources, and advocating sustainable practices within its large farming network according to the official website.