The benefits of IBR s environmentally friendly fertilizers have continuously demonstrated strong resistance to plant disease, strong fertility properties, and enhanced soil and plant nutrition benefits. More importantly, IBR s biological fertilizers have shown their ability to be able to restore microbial balance to the soil to create the optimum environment for plant growth. Together these elements combine to increase yields and crop quality. Building on that knowledge base, a program of 28 extensive field demonstration and scientific replicate trials was implemented this Spring, involving major commercial row crop growers in the United States. IBR has focused its growing trials on potatoes, one of the largest cash crops in the US and a staple for most countries.
Potatoes are also very susceptible to numerous pests and diseases.
For a successful potato crop, various fungicides, pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers need to be applied prior to and during planting, as well as throughout the growth cycle. Thus the potato has one of the highest costs per acre for chemical inputs, making it a very expensive and difficult crop to grow. The potato trials are being conducted in the states of Washington, Oregon, Wisconsin and Idaho using IBR s solid and liquid biological fertilizers. IBR is also conducting trials on tomatoes and carrots, major cash crops in California. In addition, IBR has 10 scientifically founded field trials underway in BC, Alberta and Oregon focusing on the turf, horticultural and production crop sectors.