Chemical applications, such as herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, and fertilizers, play a significant role in achieving desired crop yields and quality. In 2023, U.S. farmers spent almost $67 billion on fertilizers and pesticides, making these inputs one of the largest expenses in agricultural production.
Farmers face choices between using premixed or tank mixed chemical formulations for crop protection. Premixed products are designed to be applied directly without additional mixing before use. For example, Resicore is a premix herbicide containing acetochlor, clopyralid, and mesotrione in one container that can be added straight to the spray tank.
Tank mixing involves combining two or more products in a spray tank before application. This method allows farmers to customize their chemical combinations according to field conditions and specific goals.
Premixed products offer several advantages: “Convenient handling and storage; less application prep required compared to tank mixes; known crop safety; cost-effectiveness, in some cases, compared to tank mixing or making multiple application passes; resistance management advantages.” However, there are also drawbacks: “Less flexibility to customize rates and products for field conditions; chemical ratios may not be optimized for specific geographies and growing conditions; application timing may not be optimized for individual active ingredients, reducing efficacy compared to separate product applications.”
Tank mixing has its own benefits: “Ability to customize products and rates depending on your field conditions and goals; improved efficacy and more precise application timing depending on products mixed; more efficiency (fewer field passes) when combining multiple product classes, for example, fertilizers and fungicides; may be more cost-effective and efficacious than pre-mixed products.” Limitations include increased handling requirements: “More product handling and storage required; tank mix compatibility issues; concerns over crop safety when mixing chemicals; more time-consuming application prep compared to premixed products.”
The effectiveness of premixes can vary by region due to differences in soil types. For instance, Harness Xtra 5.6L contains 3.1 lbs of acetochlor and 2.5 lbs of atrazine per gallon—a combination suitable for central Iowa but less so where atrazine carryover could affect future soybean rotations. To address this issue in heavier soils with higher risk of carryover, another formulation called Harness Xtra was introduced with different ratios.
Application timing is another consideration when choosing between premix or tank mix strategies. Premixes have fixed ingredient ratios set by manufacturers that dictate timing. Sometimes the optimal timings for individual components differ from what is possible with a premix.
Customizing mixtures through tank mixing allows greater control but requires careful attention to label guidelines for safe use. Improper mixing can reduce effectiveness or damage equipment.
When deciding which approach best suits an operation’s needs—premix or tank mix—farmers must weigh convenience against flexibility and consider their unique environmental conditions.
Farmer’s Business Network (FBN) offers resources such as transparent pricing on agricultural chemicals through its online platform as well as direct-to-farm delivery options aimed at helping producers maximize input value each season.
