“Furthermore, we, as Farmers, are innovators by nature and necessity. We have always looked for better ways to manage our work… finding solutions that have survived for centuries.”
— Arnold Puech Dalissac, World Farmers’ Organization [1]
Innovation is a hallmark of agriculture. As farmers face rising input costs, tighter margins, and labor shortages, adopting new technologies has become more important than ever. The right innovations can help growers improve efficiency, maximize every input, and continue producing high-quality crops while protecting natural resources.
At Mercer Landmark, we’re committed to helping our farmers evaluate and adopt technologies that deliver real value. Through on-farm trials and local field evaluations, we test emerging products and practices across our geography, then share practical insights growers can use to make informed decisions.
Here are three innovations we’re excited to be evaluating for our farmers this year:
1. Enhanced Efficiency Phosphorous Fertilizers
Traditional phosphorus fertilizers present some challenges: they are susceptible to leaching, soil tie-up, and runoff. Enhanced efficiency phosphorus fertilizers are designed to improve nutrient availability, helping crops access more of the applied phosphorus while supporting responsible nutrient stewardship. For growers, these technologies can improve fertilizer use efficiency. For food companies sourcing from the region, they represent another tool to support water quality and sustainability goals. As fertilizer technologies continue to evolve, enhanced-efficiency phosphorus products offer growers another tool to improve nutrient management, support crop performance, and demonstrate stewardship across the agricultural supply chain.
- RhizoSorb® (Phospholutions) is a patented phosphorus efficiency technology that uses soil chemistry to keep phosphorus in a plant-available form. Rather than allowing phosphorus to bind with soil cations, RhizoSorb stabilizes the nutrient until it encounters root exudates, which trigger the release of phosphorus directly in the root zone. This targeted approach helps improve nutrient uptake and reduce losses to the surrounding soil.
- CG P2X™ (Ostara) is a granular phosphate fertilizer featuring a proprietary enzyme coating. The coating protects the phosphorus until it comes into contact with organic acids released by developing crop roots, allowing nutrients to become available when plants need them most. Because of this controlled-release mechanism, CG P2X offers flexibility for either fall or spring application while helping ensure phosphorus is available during early crop development.
2. Selective Spraying Technology
Effective weed control is paramount to protecting crop yield, but weed pressure is rarely uniform across an entire field. Traditional broadcast applications treat every acre the same, even when weeds are only present in specific areas. Selective spraying technologies are changing that approach by using advanced imaging and artificial intelligence to target weeds with greater precision. This can reduce crop protection product use, lower input costs, and support responsible stewardship without compromising weed control.
- See & Spray™ (John Deere) combines high-speed cameras with artificial intelligence and machine learning to identify weeds in real time as the sprayer moves through the field. When weeds are detected, the system activates individual spray nozzles to apply crop protection products only where they are needed. In addition to targeted spraying, the technology can detect biomass variability across a field and create management prescriptions that allow operators to vary application rates based on field conditions. The result is a more precise, data-driven approach to crop protection that helps growers optimize inputs while supporting sustainable production practices.
3. Spectral Soil Sampling
Accurate soil sampling is the foundation of effective nutrient management. Before making fertility recommendations, agronomists need a clear understanding of the nutrients and soil characteristics present in each field. Traditionally, this process requires collecting soil cores, preparing samples, and sending them to a laboratory for analysis. This is a proven but labor-intensive process that can take days or weeks to deliver results. Emerging spectral soil sampling technologies have the potential to streamline this process by providing real-time soil measurements directly in the field.
- Subterra Green® (S4 Mobile Laboratories) uses spectroscopy to analyze soil below the surface without removing or processing physical samples. By inserting a probe into the ground, the system detects hundreds of chemical signatures and creates maps of soil properties in real time. Today, the technology measures soil organic carbon and bulk density, with models for additional crop nutrients currently under development.
Innovation is helping shape the future of agriculture by giving farmers new tools to improve efficiency, optimize inputs, and support sustainable stewardship. At Mercer Landmark, we’re committed to evaluating emerging technologies under local growing conditions and providing practical insights that help our farmers make informed decisions. To learn more about these innovations and hear from industry experts, join us at the AGrow Expo, where we’ll showcase the latest advancements driving the future of farming.
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The mission of Mercer Landmark Inc. is to make a difference by providing profitable solutions that keep agricultural producers and communities growing. Mercer Landmark is a farmer-owned cooperative with over 300 employees and 20+ locations throughout northwest Ohio. Our team is fully equipped to provide customers with the industry knowledge and expertise they need to make smart, profitable decisions for their operation. Our continuous investment in our people, facilities and technology has allowed us to expand our offerings, provide the best service and solutions for our customers and help contribute to our mission to safely and effectively Feed the World.