Education Key for Growers as Adjuvants Move Into the Spotlight

For a long time, adjuvants were viewed by many in agriculture as optional. But this changed in 2024, when the EPA began introducing new regulations tied to the Endangered Species Act (ESA). According to Landon Bunderson, Chief Science Officer at Nano-Yield, this altered how adjuvants are viewed.

“It quietly became the strongest regulatory drivers in adjuvant innovation and use,” says Bunderson. “When label changes reflect lower use rates and decreased frequency, the industry must do more with less. What that ultimately means for the grower is: ‘I better make damn sure that I’m hitting my target with the most potency possible.’”

Joe Vaillancourt, Strategic Marketing Manager, Adjuvants, at WinField United, agrees.

“Rather than burdening growers with trying to find entirely new solutions, the ESA framework often incorporates tools that are already familiar to them, such as adjuvants,” says Vaillancourt. “Drift reduction adjuvants are considered best practice across all acres, not just those impacted by ESA, meaning their value extends well beyond compliance.”

Market Economics in the Way

Despite this growing need for adjuvants, however, some of the percentages don’t show widespread usage just yet for the category. In fact, according to Johnnie Roberts, Director of Adjuvant Chemistry at CPDA, only 15% to 25% of treated acres during the 2025 growing season incorporated a deposition or drift reduction agent (DRA) into their application mixes. The reasons for this were threefold, he says.

“There might have been spray mix and compatibility issues or operators were under the assumption that the nozzles they were using could maximize spray deposition without the need for adjuvants,” says Roberts. “Or it could have been the additional cost and perceived lack of value when it comes to ‘killing more weeds and bugs.’”

This last reason, cost, could also play a role in how well (or poorly) the adjuvants category performs during the 2026 growing season. Coming off a less-than-stellar economic year during 2025, U.S. growers are again facing another season of reduced commodity prices and increased crop input/fuel/equipment costs. According to USDA numbers, net farm income dropped from $179.8 billion in 2024 to $154.6 billion in 2025. Some recovery is forecast for 2026, but only a 1% to 3% improvement based upon early estimates.

Given these facts, says WinField United’s Vaillancourt, adjuvant use might suffer during the 2026 growing season regardless of ESA requirements.

“One of the primary challenges facing the adjuvants marketplace is the broader economic environment,” he says. “Farmers are operating under tighter margins, and while adjuvants provide clear value — especially for drift reduction and oil-based systems — they are not always viewed as foundational inputs. That can make them more vulnerable to cost-cutting decisions.”

For more, continue reading the original article at CropLife.com.