2022 Research Farm Book

BRANDT Research and Development Results

We are pleased to release our 2022 research review to you, our customers, for the improvement of your operation through innovative products and practices. The 2022 season brought some changes and challenges, which all became learning experiences to make improvements for the next season.

One of the changes you will see in this annual publication is the expansion of our research partners. Our 300 acre BRANDT Research Farm in Pleasant Plains, Illinois is ground zero for our BRANDT Discovery and Innovation team, but we are expanding our research footprint through third-party cooperators to assist in product development and methods to better serve our farmer customers. We have increased our research staff and in 2023 will begin building a state-of-the-art facility at our BRANDT Research Farm. We continue to invest in people, innovations and infrastructure that will develop the products and practices to increase productivity and profits on your farm.

It wouldn’t be a normal year without our share of challenges. We are not exempt from product shortages and supply chain bottlenecks, and Mother Nature always likes to have the last word. That said, we are a resilient culture that navigates challenges and finds solutions. That is the BRANDT culture: to take challenges head-on in the best interest of our customers.

These research results are the culmination of a season’s hard work to stay on the leading edge of production agriculture. We hope you enjoy them as much as we enjoy taking the risks in our research so that you don’t have to.

We wish you all a safe and prosperous 2023. Please reach out to your BRANDT representative for more information and we invite you all to our research farm in 2023 for an inside look at some of the exciting things we are working on.

Brian Haschemeyer - VP BRANDT Discovery & Innovation

Ed Corrigan – Senior Technical Agronomist, Midwest

Eric Winans - Technical Agronomist, Pleasant Plains

Steve Clement – Technical Systems Advisor

Tom Kimes - Research Farm Operations

BRANDT Corn Production Base Applications

The BRANDT base applications reflect a high yield management recommendation that can be implemented in parts or as a whole to fit within a grower’s current program. Applications for 2022 were:

■ Conventional till in fall, Salford in fall (corn stalks)

■ 15-50-150 suspension in fall with BRANDT® Rezadone™ stalk digester

■ Fall NH3 – 160 units

■ Plant on top of RTK ammonia line

■ Band at plant 14-0-0-30S (2x0)

■ 2.5 gal/ac in-furrow starter + BRANDT® EnzUp® Zn

■ 44,000 population

■ Pre-emergent herbicide at plant with water

■ BRANDT Smart Trio, BRANDT Smart B-Mo with post application

■ Fungicide, insecticide + BRANDT Smart Trio & BRANDT Smart K B + insecticide at R1

Nitrogen Rate pg. 9

We have illustrated the production practices as they relate to application timing. Please note how many important decisions are made before and at planting.

Hybrid Response pg. 11 & 12

Progressive pg. 16

Fungicide + BRANDT Smart K B pg. 14, 15 & 27 Planting Date pg. 13

Variance 18.1 11.5 47.1 33.1 35.1 65.3 66.3 38.7 79.8 41.4 43.6 $$$

47.8 36.1 35.7 31.2 15.1 14.9 12.6 36.4 77.5 1.0 30.8 6.0

6.3 20.3 33.6 9.9 21.9 11.2 37.1 63 24.1 5.9 23.3 $$$

10.7 16.7 10.1 14.1 16.0 24.1 8.3 66.0 34.3 30.0 23.0 0.8

32.5 27.3 40.4 12.3 16.6 7.0 19.5 7.5 22.9 25.4 21.1 4.8

Trio 22.1 34.1 17.5 15.8 6.5 15.1 9.6 33.4 10.1 n/a 18.2 27.8 12

Nitrogen 13.0 15.4 22.9 11.9 20.9 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 16.8 $$$ 13 Row Width 20" vs 30" n/a n/a n/a 10.8 4.1 36.5 36.0 6.8 13.7 4.9 16.1 $$$ 14 Starter (28% Sulfur at Plant) 11.1 13.6 13.6 13.4 6.7 21.3 15.5 18.8 29.1 13.0 15.6 3.6 15 Nitrogen Timing 23 20.5 7.6 16.3 2 21.7 0 30.4 17.1 10.3 14.9 $$$

16 Boron at Tassel n/a 9.3 5.9 6.8 12.4 n/a 8.5 6.3 7.1 9.0 8.2 11.2

17 BRANDT EDTA Zn 9% 4.6 20.7 5.0 1.2 4.1 4.1 5.8 7.4 3.9 4.6 6.1 6.7

The ROI (Return On Investment) listed is calculated using the 2022 fall crop insurance price of $6.86 per bushel, multiplied by the yield response per acre, minus the cost per acre of a practice. For every dollar invested per acre in a practice, the ROI factor is how many dollars you get in return. We use a symbol of $$$ for practices that had no measurable cost per acre, but offer the best ROI.

Corn Planting Date Trials

The yield trajectory was what we have experienced in past years with the early planting dates, with ATS, being the highest.

■ Planting dates: April 26, May 9, May 23, June 4

■ Planting population: 44,000 plants per acre

■ 10 gal/ac Ammonium Thiosulfate (ATS) applied at planting 2x0 band

■ 2.5 gal/acre BRANDT 5-12-0-4S plus BRANDT EnzUp Zn, BRANDT Sequestar Mn in-furrow

■ Nutrition: 195 N – 75 P – 150 K with BRANDT Rezadone in fall

■ Foliar fungicide/insecticide plus BRANDT Smart Trio and BRANDT Smart K B at R1

2022 ATS

2022 No ATS 280.7 268.2

Observations:

■ Plants emerged evenly and maintained a dark green color until harvest.

■ Plant height was taller the later we planted, and yields were reduced.

■ Response to sulfur application was positive and plants were darker green.

Yield by Year (April 3 - 26)

2021 Trial 2020 Trial 2018 Trial 2016 Trial 2017 Trial 2019 Trial 284.7 270.4

271.4 222.5

264.2 235.4

BRANDT Smart K B Timing Trial

Application of BRANDT Smart K B at V8 or R1 increased yield by 9+ bu/ac compared to fungicide alone.

■ Potassium aids in the movement of sugars and N in the plant, increases N utilization by the crop, and maintains cell hydration.

■ Boron is vital to pollen development and survivability and helps mobilize sugars during grain fill.

■ By aiding the plant in mitigating stresses, pairing BRANDT Smart K B with a fungicide application can have a synergistic effect on overall plant health and yield. Treatments:

Notes:

Previous crop: soybean; Planting date: 5/10/2022; Hybrid: DKC67-94RIB; Plant population: 44,000 plants/acre, Fall Fertility: 25-75-150 suspension; Nitrogen: 160 lbs fall NH3; Starter: 10 gal ATS 2x0” and 2.5 gal 5-12-0-4S, BRANDT EnzUp Zn, and BRANDT Sequestar Mn in-furrow; Foliar: separate fungicide and insecticide application made at R1 across entire trial space.

Yield Response to Fungicide & BRANDT Smart K B

Observations: ■ Plants emerged evenly and maintained a dark green color until harvest.

Evolution of Management Practices

A mild and near record dry fall and winter preceded gentle rains in Feb & March that recharged soils for planting. Excellent soil planting conditions and near perfect emergence set the stage for top yields.

Wet conditions began on Halloween 2018 which impeded harvest, tillage and fertilizer applications. Wet conditions continued through the winter to spring. This made for unprecedented late and unfavorable planting conditions.

Soybean stubble was dry enough to apply NH3 early Nov 2019. Corn stalk ground was damp which limited tillage & fall ammonia. It was late March before soils began to dry out enough for tillage or spring ammonia. The soil temperature at 4” remained near 50º from early April to mid May.

Fall NH3 and tillage was achieved on soybean ground. Corn ground held off until spring due to damp conditions under residue. The soil temperature at 4” remained near 50° from early April to mid May. Excessive rains through June/July.

Soybean stubble was dry enough to apply NH3 by early November 2021. Corn stalk ground was damp which limited tillage and fall ammonia. It was late April before soils began to dry out enough for tillage or spring ammonia. The soil temperature at 4" remained near 50° from early April to mid May.

• Plant early for the best yields

• Yellow corn from sulfur deficiency was the talk of the state! Must apply sulfur at planting

• Strobilurin and boron improved yields by reducing disease and stress on corn and soybeans

• At plant applications of nutrients were the most efficient due to the dry June to August weather

• The coldest April on record pushed record yields in conventional tilled fields

• Must apply sulfur “at plant” in a sulfate form. Early and late application timing failed due to rainfall

• Strobilurin and boron improved yields by reducing disease and stress on corn and bean

• At plant applications of nutrients were the most efficient due to a wet spring followed by a dry June

• Foliar applications of micronutrients, hormones, and fungicides drove yields

• Planting early April into the 50° soils. Soils were mellow with only some fields dry enough to plant

• It was imperative to “prime” the soil with nutrients to feed the young plants and the microbial population using enzymes

• Applications of N, P, and S at planting time assisted the mineralization process until soil temps elevated to the 70º

• Corn plants improved with early stress reducing applications of foliar nutrients and fungicides

• The carbon penalty of corn on corn immobilized high amounts of N and S. Sidedressing N and S improved yields

• Using a strip freshener bar before planting provided a better planting environment. Planting began in early April into the 50° soils. Soils were mellow with only some fields dry enough to plant

• It was imperative to “prime” the soil with nutrients to feed the young plants and the microbial population using enzymes, sulfur, iron, zinc and starter fertilizer

• Small corn & soybean plants with limited soil mineralization improved with early stress reducing applications of foliar nutrients containing zinc, manganese, sulfur

• The carbon penalty of corn on corn immobilized small amounts of nitrogen & sulfur. Sidedressing nitrogen & sulfur in April & May improved yields due to the wet July

• Stalk residue in no till soybeans reduced early plant growth, which increased the risk of weed outbreaks

• Planting began the last week of April due to cold damp soil conditions. Planting 3-4 weeks later than usual set the stage for a later harvest and lower yields

• With the cold soil conditions it was imperative to "prime" the soil with nutrients to feed the young plants and the microbial population using enzymes, sulfur, iron, zinc and starter fertilizer

• Small corn & soybean plants with abundant soil mineralization from the fall and winter grew quickly once temperatures increased the third week of May

• The carbon penalty of corn on corn was non-existent this year due to the fall weather pattern of early harvest coupled with a dry and cold winter. High mineralization followed by a dry May, June and July resulted in low responses to late applications of nitrogen

• Stalk residue reduced soil temperatures in no-till fields and slowed the vegetative growth of corn and soybeans

• Near perfect corn emergence

• Band nitrogen at plant

• Terminate cover crops early

• Protect early planted soybeans with foliar insecticides and seed treatments

• Sulfur at plant continues to improve yields and starts early season mineralization

• Multiple post foliar applications of nutrients turns poverty peas into prairie pearls

• Plant soybeans first

• Band nitrogen at plant

• Protect early planted soybean with foliar insecticides and seed treatments

• Wet soils at planting respond to fungicide seed treatments

• Sulfur at plant continues to improve yields and starts early season mineralization

• Multiple post foliar applications of nutrients turns poverty peas into prairie pearls

• Prime soil with enzymes

• Band N & S at plant

• Foliar insecticides on soybeans

• Soybean seed treatments containing Methylotrophs improve rooting & nodules

• Cold soils respond to fungicide seed treatments

• Sulfur at plant continues to improve yields and starts early season mineralization

• Multiple post foliar applications of nutrients turns poverty peas into prairie pearls

• Help eliminate early stress with fungicide & BRANDT Smart B-Mo

• Prime soil with enzymes

• Nitrogen/sulfur, zinc at planting

• Freshen the strip

• Soybean seed treatments containing Methylotrophs improve rooting & nodules

• Sulfur at plant continues to improve yields and starts early season mineralization

• Multiple post foliar applications of nutrients turns poverty peas into prairie pearls

• Help eliminate early stress with fungicide & BRANDT Smart Trio

• Prime the soil with enzymes

• Nitrogen/sulfur, zinc at plant

• Freshen the strip

• Soybean seed Talc treatments containing zinc, molybdenum, and biologicals

• Sulfur at plant continues to improve yields and improves early season mineralization and nitrogen metabolization

• Manganese was very responsive in corn & soybean foliar

• Multiple post foliar applications of nutrients turn poverty peas into prairie pearls

• Help eliminate early stress with fungicide & BRANDT Smart Trio

BRANDT Production Base Applications

The BRANDT omission trial design is based on providing all the treatments and then removing one to see what value each practice has on yield of that phenotype. This creates an environment where the yield responses reflect the total high management system rather than a limited response due to some or all parts of the system.

■ 15-50-150 suspension in fall

■ 120,000 population

■ 10 gal/ac ATS at plant (2x0)

■ 2.5 gal/ac in-furrow starter + BRANDT EnzUp Zn

■ BRANDT Battleground® seed treatment

■ Conventional tillage on fall corn stalks

■ Spring applied pre-emergent herbicide prior to plant

■ Post applied herbicide tank mixes + BRANDT Smart Trio + BRANDT Smart B-Mo at third trifoliate

■ Foliar insecticide + 1 qt/ac BRANDT Smart Trio + 1 qt/ac BRANDT Smart K B at R1

■ Foliar fungicide, insecticide, 1 qt/ac BRANDT Smart Trio + 1 qt/ac BRANDT Smart K B at R3

Variety Trials pg. 21 In-Furrow pg. 23 Stress Mitigation pg. 24

Fungicide + Smart pg. 25

Planting Date pg. 22

BRANDT Seed Applied Solutions pg. 28 & 29

BRANDT Smart System pg. 30

The ROI (Return On Investment) listed is calculated using the 2022 fall crop insurance price of $13.81 per bushel, multiplied by the yield response per acre, minus the cost per acre of a practice. For every dollar invested per acre in a practice, the ROI factor is how many dollars you get in return. We use a symbol of $$$ for practices that had no measurable cost per acre, but offer the best ROI.

Soybean Planting Date Trial

■ The planting date trial was delayed compared to previous years due to wet soil conditions. It is important that the conditions be optimal for even emergence.

■ The April planting date yielded the highest for the 7th consecutive year. ■ Added nutrition, such as ATS, at planting added additional yield.

BRANDT EnzUp Zn and BRANDT Sequestar 9% EDTA Zn

Zinc and Enzyme Interaction

Most enzymes need a co-factor for activation. For Lipase, zinc is that co-factor. The zinc ignites enzyme activity, which allows the enzymes to perform their chemical reactions faster and more effectively. The boost in enzyme activity increases total water and nutrient uptake.

2022 BRANDT Research Farm Soybean In-Furrow Trial

■ Variety: Asgrow 35XF1

■ Population: 100,000 seeds/ac

■ Plant Date: May 12

■ Harvest Date: October 3

■ Treatments applied in-furrow

Agronomics

In-furrow placement of chelated zinc is a highly effective application method for soybeans, especially when planting early into cool soils.

The high concentration of enzymes delivered through BRANDT EnzUp Zn break down root exudates and organic residue in the soil allowing for increased root uptake of water and mineral nutrients.

Stress Mitigation Using BRANDT Foliar Treatment

Adding BRANDT® Smart System® products to a herbicide application assists the plant in metabolizing the herbicide. Not only does the addition of the BRANDT treatment mitigate the negative impact of the herbicide, it also supplements nutrition and increases yield.

■ Post applied herbicides must be metabolized by the soybean plant and BRANDT foliar products assist this process.

■ BRANDT foliar products increased soybean yield even in the Check. The products improve flower and pod set to increase yields.

■ Manganese is important for photosynthesis and metabolism of herbicides

■ Zinc is important for auxin production and nitrogen utilization by assisting in the conversion of amino acids to proteins

■ The application BRANDT Smart B-Mo at R1 with either BRANDT® Smart Quatro® Plus or BRANDT Smart Trio improved yield by 2.7-2.9 bu/ac compared to the untreated control.

■

Smart Quatro Plus +2.2 bu/ac +4.6 bu/ac

BRANDT Smart Quatro Plus + BRANDT Smart B-Mo

100 78.3 81.2 81.0 BRANDT Smart Quatro Plus BRANDT Smart Quatro Plus + BRANDT Smart B-Mo

2. Fungicide and Insecticide at R3 60

and Insecticide at R3

3. Fungicide, Insecticide, BRANDT Smart Trio (1 qt/ac), and BRANDT Smart K B (1 qt/ac) at R3 Soybean Response to BRANDT Smart System at R1 80

+2.7 bu/ac +2.9 bu/ac +1.3 bu/ac 79.6

BRANDT Smart Trio + BRANDT Smart B-Mo Untreated

Notes: Planting date: 4/29/2022; Variety: AG35XF1; Seeding rate: 100,000 plants/acre

Insecticide, BRANDT Smart Trio and BRANDT Smart K B at R3

As a new feature for the 2022 BRANDT Research Book and future editions, we have expanded our trial research book to encompass trial data over a broader geography. While it may be impossible to run trials in every farmer’s backyard, BRANDT certainly understands this sentiment and recognizes there are significant regional differences and practices. To address this, BRANDT has made a substantial investment to establish and build relationships with independent research partners in key agronomic geographies to properly evaluate agronomic products and practices through replicated trials. It is critically important for BRANDT to collect and share results for existing products as well as new technologies with BRANDT’s customer base. While BRANDT spends significant efforts improving products, this is also in conjunction with trialing and understanding key timings and practices to maximize return on investments for growers. BRANDT appreciates your confidence in our products, and we look forward to continuing to work with the distributors, retailers and growers using our products.

Corn Yield Response to BRANDT Smart K B

University of Illinois High-Yield Corn Trial

Date: 2022 Growing Season

Location: Champaign, IL

Application of BRANDT Smart K B during late vegetative stages or after pollination boosted yield by an average of 5 bu/ac compared to fungicide alone.

■ Strong yields were achieved in both the Standard and Progressive management systems despite Champaign, IL experiencing drought conditions through the months of June and July in 2022.

■ The most consistent response to BRANDT Smart K B was at the 1qt rate applied at V12.

■ Fungicide, K, and B played a large role in stress mitigation and late-season plant health during the dry conditions experienced in eastern Illinois in 2022.

■ Because of the high demand for K and B prior to pollination, a foliar application can help overcome periods of transient deficiency and assist grain fill.

Treatments:

1. Control - Fungicide only

2. 1 qt BRANDT Smart K B applied at V12

3. 2 qt BRANDT Smart K B applied at V12

4. 1 qt BRANDT Smart K B applied at R2

All treatments received fungicide applications at V12 and R2 and were tested across both Standard and Progressive management systems.

Standard management: 160 lbs N/acre preplant and 34,000 plants/ac in 30” rows.

Progressive management: 23N-80P-60K-20S-2Zn banded pre-plant, 160 lbs N/ac pre-plant + 60 lbs/ac sidedress @ V6, and 42,000 plants/ac in 20” rows.

Notes:

6 replications; Tillage: conventional; Previous crop: soybean; Hybrid: DKC63-57RIB; Planting date: 5/20/2022; V12 foliar application date: 7/11/2022; R2 foliar application date: 8/10/2022

by Dr. Fred Below

TALC USA Planter Box

TALC USA 80/20 is a premium talc-graphite seed flow lubricant that can be supplemented with micronutrients, inoculants, enzymes, and protectants for easy application to the seed in the planter box.

MicroSURGE® Soybean Inoculant contains Bradyrhizobium bacteria which develop the symbiotic relationship with soybeans that is responsible for nodule formation and N2 fixation.

Encompass® contains multiple Azospirillium and Pseudomonas bacteria that colonize on the roots and collectively fixate N from the atmosphere and increase the bioavailability of immobile nutrients in the soil.

Third Party Replicate Trials

■ Tested across 15 locations during the 2022 growing season

■ TALC 80/20 + MicroSURGE increased average soybean yield by 3.4 bu/ac

■ TALC 80/20 + Encompass increased average soybean yield by 2.2 bu/ac

■ Both MicroSURGE and Encompass increased average soybean nodulation score by 10%

Soybean Yield Response to

■ The application of BRANDT Smart Quatro Plus or BRANDT Smart Sulfur Plus at V4 increased average yield by 2.7 or 1.8 bu/ac, respectively, with a combined 88% win rate.

■ At R3, the application of BRANDT Smart Trio with BRANDT Smart B-Mo or BRANDT Smart K B increased average yield by 2.3 or 2.1 bu/ac, respectively, with a combined win rate of 87%.

■ BRANDT Smart System products are designed for superior compatibility with crop protection products and maximum foliar uptake.

■ Application of Zn, Mn, B, and Mo during early vegetative stages can assist with nodule formation, nitrogen utilization, herbicide metabolism, and photosynthesis.

■ Pairing BRANDT Smart K B or BRANDT Smart B-Mo with a fungicide application improves plant health and photosynthesis, maximizes nodule production and plant utilization of N, and assists pod fill.

Summary

There is a lot of information to absorb and value to be extracted from this year’s research results book. We have a dedicated team of agronomists and support staff that can answer any questions you may have regarding the data provided. As the BRANDT business continues to expand we have grown our resources and knowledge base to share insights that benefit our customers in central Illinois and around the world.

We invite you to visit our research farm to learn more about the products and practices we are assessing to improve production and profits for our customers. We also invite you to visit key locations on our website with valuable data and information that support the discovery work we are doing - brandt.co/info-to-grow and brandt.co/harvest.

We wish you a successful, prosperous and healthy 2023 season.

Team BRANDT BRANDT Discovery and Innovation Team

Brad Bergefurd - Technical Agronomist, Eastern Corn Belt

Brad Walker - Technical Agronomist, Great Plains

Brian Haschemeyer - VP BRANDT Discovery & Innovation

Ed Corrigan - Senior Technical Agronomist, Midwest

Eric Winans, Ph.D. - Technical Agronomist, Pleasant Plains

Freddy Rosas - Research Associate, West Coast

Greg Jackson - Technical Agronomist , East Coast and Delta

Gordon Kauffman III, Ph.D. - Technical Manager, T.O., North America

John Weber - Technical Agronomist, Pacific Northwest

Natalie Starich - Technical Data Specialist

Randy Dodds - Organic Product Manager

Steve Clement - Technical Systems Advisor

Tom Kimes - Research Farm Operations

The marks BRANDT, BRANDT Smart Trio, Battleground, EnzUp, Sequestar and Smart System are registered trademarks of BRANDT Consolidated, Inc. All other trademarks, product names and company names that appear on this document are the property of their respective owners or licensees, who may or may not be affiliated with, connected to, or sponsored by BRANDT Consolidated, Inc.

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