Soybean Sidekicks: Microbes to the Rescue (Sometimes)

Jul 14, 2025

By Eric Anderson

Agricultural biological products was a $17 billion market in 2024 and was projected to increase by nearly 14% annually through the rest of this decade according to one report. A 2024 farmer survey, “Biologicals: Row-Crop Farmer Value, Perception and Potential,” was conducted by Stratovation Group and funded by Syngenta, Pivot Bio, Meristem Crop Performance and other groups. The report found that 87% of farmers in the U.S. are aware of the term agricultural “biologicals” and 45% say they are currently purchasing or using them to boost yields, enhance profitability and provide soil health benefits. If you have attended a trade show or picked up a popular ag magazine recently, you know that, clearly, interest in these products has grown in recent years.

What are biological products? The word biologicals can mean different things:

Biologicals: Living microbes that help plants grow.
Biostimulants: Natural extracts from microbes.
Plant growth regulators: Natural hormones that affect plant growth.
Biopesticides: Natural pest control products.

Some people use these terms differently, but in this article, we’ll use biologicals to mean all of them, but most references will be to true biologicals.

Source : msu.edu

Video: Canadian Wildfire Smoke Creates a Red Sunrise Over North Carolina Sunflower field - July 2026

A sunrise unlike any other.

This peaceful morning at Dorothea Dix Park in Raleigh, North Carolina was transformed by smoke drifting south from the Canadian wildfires. As the rising sun filtered through the haze, the sky glowed in deep shades of red and orange, casting a surreal light over the blooming sunflower field. While the colors were breathtaking, they also served as a reminder of how connected our environment is. Smoke from wildfires hundreds of miles away changed the appearance of a North Carolina sunrise, creating a rare and unforgettable moment in nature.

Take a few minutes to experience this quiet morning as the sun slowly rises through the smoky haze above one of Raleigh's most beloved summer landscapes.