California is a powerhouse for strawberry production, growing about 85 percent of the U.S. crop. Berries are susceptible to insect and disease pressure, and that’s where the Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Strawberry Center comes into play.

“Pathology, entomology, and innovation – those are the three areas of emphasis for us,” said Gerald Holmes, who has served as center director since its inception in 2014.

The Strawberry Center is a partnership between Cal Poly and the California Strawberry Commission, with the goal of increasing the sustainability of the industry through research and education.

The Center’s annual field day will be held August 8, when hundreds will gather to get the latest on research projects, including the battle against harmful insects and soil-borne pathogens.

You can find more information on the center at strawberry.calpoly.edu.

Redox Grows - Episode 71 - Cal Poly Strawberry Center plays key role in Industry Success

From humble beginnings on a Georgia farm, Donnie Cochran has soared to heights few have experienced.

Cochran broke historic barriers as the first African American pilot in the U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels, as well as the first African-Americana Commanding Officer and Squadron Leader.

The Blue Angels showcase patriotism and incredible skill as they perform shows far and wide. Their coordinated maneuvers reached speeds of more than 400 miles per hour, with as little as 18 inches between each aircraft.

Aviation and farming are his two passions, and he’s heartily pursuing the later through building up the farm he grew up as one of 12 children. Cochran is working with Ag Nutrients, powered by Redox Bio-Nutrients, for nutrition for his young pecan orchard.

He said he learned many important lessons while serving America and said three critical attributes for success in life are ACE, attitude, character, and enthusiasm.

Cochran’s book, Glad to Be Here, chronicles his amazing journey, as well as inspirational insight into making the most of your life. Glad to Be Here represents the motto of the Blue Angels and is available at Amazon.com.

Redox Grows - Episode 72 - Lessons from the Sky and Orchard

The West is in the middle of a record-shattering hot spell, fueling concern that crops and turfgrass could be harmed.

Fortunately, there are ways growers and golf course superintendents can help this situation.

Redox Bio-Nutrients has an array of technology to help plants through abiotic stress events such as excessive heat.

Redox Chief Agronomic Officer Jared Sannar says products that can help plants better withstand prolonged hot spells include diKaP, Oxycom Calcium and H-85. This technology aids abiotic stress defense, keeps the plant hydrated, aids in water retention in the soil profile and stimulates root growth. 

Redox Turf Rx Sales Manager Todd Scott says K+ is a popular and effective choice by superintendents to help combat heat impacts on their courses.

Scott says it’s helpful to understand the basic agronomic principal of achieving Redox homeostasis, or plant charge balance, which is a foundational part of keeping plants at their productive best.

Redox Grows - Episode 73 - Searing Summer Heat challenges Crops and Turfgrass

Agriculture is fundamental to all, yet precious few understand all that it takes to get food from farm to fork.

Dustin Begovich is on a mission to boost ag literacy in an engaging way.  As head of Idaho Studio, he has embarked on a year-long project to make a full-length documentary movie. SPUDS will chronicle the 2024 potato season, from planting through harvest, covering many aspects of the industry.

Begovich said, in order to have an effective movie, it needs to entertain as well as inform.

“I’m doing anything to make it entertaining,” he said. “Luckily, this is a very conversational type of interview film, so people do bring out their personalities, and I’m finding unique ways to show how the industry works without making it drone on. Fun is the goal.”

Redox is excited to be the exclusive fertilizer sponsor of SPUDS, and we keep you posted on progress.  Grower Blake Matthews of Oakley, Idaho, whose farm is powered by Redox, will be featured in the movie.

Find out more at spudsmovie.com.

Redox Grows - Episode 74 - Bringing Ag to the Big Screen

The Midwest is a powerhouse in food production, with more than 127 million acres of crops. Corn and soybeans are by far the largest acreage in the region.

Buoyed by our 30-year track record in other larger agricultural regions, we have expanded our reach into America’s Heartland, providing flagship and new technology to help corn and soybean crops thrive. 

The first new growers introduced to Redox are enthusiastic about this promising technology.

“I’m really excited looking ahead, of gaining a greater relationship and partnership,” said Kurt Grimm of Precision Farms and NutraDrip Irrigation in Kansas. “This will help us better understand where the products fit, how to use them, and ultimately how we can do things better for our growers – not only for our own farm, but for the growers we work with. Understanding that it’s not about pounds per acre, it’s about the balance and the energy of getting the nutrients into the plant.”

In addition to introducing Banx™ and Mainstay™ Si to a broader audience, the Midwest Pathway™ Program includes our exciting new nitrogen optimization product, RDX-N.

Redox Grows - Episode 75 - Building Momentum in America's Heartland

Hawk’s Ridge Golf Course in Ball Ground, Georgia, has many rave reviews, and for good reason. However, maintaining the course isn’t easy.

The hot, humid climate is a challenge, but course superintendent James Rauhuff and his team do excellent work. Rauhuff credits Redox TurfRx™ as a key part of his success. In fact, his course greens actually aged in reverse since improvements were made to their nutrition program.

“I firmly believe one of the main reasons was due to the Redox line of products,” Rauhuff said. “The way those products perform is superior to anything else that I have used. Combining Redox products, optimum soil chemistry, root growth and health, and an ideal air to water relationship has provided the soil microorganisms a conducive growing environment which I believe has helped reverse the aging of our greens.”

The par 72 course was designed by Bob Cupp and has plenty of beautiful features, including a centerpiece waterfall on hole 15.

If you play a round at Hawk’s Ridge, keep an eye out for Ziva and Duke, James’s German Shepherds that are so loved that members now carry treats in their golf bags to give to them as they’re on the course.

Redox Grows - Episode 76 - Improving on Excellence

Margins for farmers are tight, so there’s more emphasis than ever on finding innovative new ways to innovate and stay in the black.

Dave Handsaker is with AGNETWORX in Iowa, which helps efficiently connect farmers to new technology and better understand its effectiveness.

He said, with corn and soybean prices down, growers are especially interested in increased efficiencies and maximizing production wherever possible.

Matt Rohlik with ARVA Intelligence helps boost revenue for growers, by making them aware of incentives available from consumer-packaged goods companies to help sustainability through agronomic practices, including reducing commercial or synthetic inputs, split applying nitrogen, foliar feeding, tillage, cover crops and biologicals.

Shane Forney with Sentinel Fertigation helps growers maximize efficiency by leveraging satellite imagery to help growers improve nitrogen recommendations throughout the growing season, all done without a negative impact on yields. 

Handsaker, Rohlik, and Forney were among the speakers at the Farmer Innovation Forum in Omaha, presented by Redox.

Redox Grows - Episode 77 - The Quest for Greater Intelligence

Agricultural research is the cornerstone of productive farms and abundant food. The investment Redox Bio-Nutrients has made continues to grow and pay dividends.

“The is really a banner year for Redox,” said Head of Research, Dr. Gifford Gillette. He said the addition of Dr. Debatosh Das to the team and a second year for Faith Talley, who started as an intern and now works with the research team on carrying over protocols and adding new ones.

The understanding of and benefits from biostimulants continue to grow, leading to rising optimism about the ability for this technology to help growers.

“Dr. Das has put together a 56 biostimulant mode of action checklist,” Gillette said. “We probably never will measure all 56 of the modes of action, but they’re all on our radar. This matches well with what we know about the science of biostimulants in agriculture and what they do for crops.”

The global biostimulant market has seen rapid growth, with estimates that the value of sales may triple within the next decade.

Redox Grows - Episode 78 - The Farm Team

California is a world leader in strawberry production, growing $3 billion of the fruit annually. Getting the most out of the crop was the focus of the annual Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Strawberry Center Field Day.

Areas covered included non-chemical pest and disease solutions such as bug vacuums and the use of UV-C light for disease suppression. A myriad of other issues were addressed, including workplace efficiency and safety, as well as mechanical ag plastic removal and recycling.

“The thing that impresses me the most is the variety of innovative products,” remarked Leo Stoeckle, a longtime strawberry industry official. “Everything from fertility products to ag chemicals to disease control to strawberry genetic resistance. We get the whole gamut here.”

The Cal Poly Strawberry Center recently celebrated its 10th anniversary and is operated in partnership with the California Strawberry Commission.

Redox Grows - Episode 79 - Better Berry Blueprint

From the small town of Pauanui, New Zealand, to Gonzales, Louisiana, is 8,000 air miles and a world of difference. That’s the trek Mike “Kiwi” Robinson made as a young adult, and he’s now running the highly regarded Pelican Point Golf Club in the Bayou State.

Louisiana summers usually come with heat and tremendous humidity, so Mike has countered with well thought out plant nutrition from the Redox Turf Rx line, with a variety of products as stables, including K+, NatureCur, C-85, Supreme™, and CA. 

He said Redox not only helps keep his course in great shape, it has taken a significant amount of his stress away.

“Apart from having healthy turf, the biggest thing I get from using Redox is my stress levels are down,” he remarked.

New tracks tagged #bio-nutrients