At TriEst Ag Group, we’re always exploring new frontiers in agriculture. Recently, Josh Mays, our Director of Agronomy, and Josh Freeman, Georgia Regional Sales Manager, sat down to discuss an intriguing concept: can a soil fumigant also act as a biostimulant?
In their conversation, they dive into the fascinating science behind chloropicrin, a well-known tool for managing soil-borne pests. They explain how it works, how it’s applied, and most interestingly, whether it might offer benefits beyond pest control. Their research reveals that chloropicrin could actually enhance crop yields—even in the absence of major pathogens—by influencing beneficial microbial shifts in the soil.
The duo explores early trials that sparked this line of research, shedding light on the unexpected soil health benefits they observed. The conversation also touches on the potential for chloropicrin to be used in entirely new ways, reshaping its role in modern agriculture.
TriEst Ag has a long history of using chloropicrin for pest management, but this innovative research suggests it may hold untapped potential. Could it become a regular player in boosting soil productivity and crop health?
To learn more, be sure to watch the full video and reach out to your local TriEst Ag sales representative for more information. The future of soil health might be shifting right beneath our feet!
TriEst will be attending several tradeshows and conferences that represent a variety of crops across the US in January and February and we hope to see you there at these great events.
January 8th – Annual Blueberry Update
January 8, 2025 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
The Blueberry Warehouse (199 Tobacco Lane, Alma, GA 31510)
This is a great event for Georgia local blueberry growers to get education credits. This is also a wonderful event to talk with vendors about your needs and plan for growing your crop in the new year.
January 8-11th – Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference
This is a wonderful education event for all fruit and vegetable growers. Our own Josh Mays will be speaking on the 10th there in an education session on Raspberry Annual Production Systems. We’ll be there in booth #701 too ready to discuss your needs and plans for the 2025 growing system.
Calling all potato growers! This event is full of fun education sessions, keynote speakers, fun cooking shows, and a show floor full of vendors. Our group loves attending this one and we hope you do too. Stop by the TriCal Group Strike booth #1209 to see us.
January 15th – FSGA Tailgate Event
Dover, FL
Join us at the FL Strawberry Growers Association tailgate event. We’ll be there serving up some delicious food and serving our growers who do so much work for us to have those sweet berries to enjoy.
This is a wonderful event for nursery and greenhouse growers to attend for education. TriEst will be there in booth #1710 ready to discuss ag technology and irrigation options with you for 2025.
January 16th – NC Sweetpotato Commission Annual Meeting
We’re proud Platinum sponsors of this event. It’s full of great Sweetpotato education and helpful vendors. Stop by our table to talk sweetpotatoes and growing plans for 2025.
This is a fun event full of education and exhibitors. We are proud sponsors and exhibitors here. Stop by our table to discuss grafted plants, irrigation, and soil health for 2025.
January 19-21st – US National Sweet Potato Convention
Join us at this great industry event full of education, industry news, and fellowship. We’ll be there with TriCal Group exhibiting ready to help you with your 2025 sweetpotato planting.
January 28 – 30 – 2025 Michigan Winter Potato Conference
The Winter Potato Conference is an excellent opportunity to learn and network with other industry professionals on a number of leading-edge topics. TriEst Ag is a proud sponsor and exhibitor at this event. Be sure to find our booth and talk to Tony Belcher about your upcoming potato planting plans.
January 30 – February 1, 2025 – MAR-DEL Watermelon Convention
Great watermelon Industry leaders speak on topics such as food safety, research results, disease research, legislative and regulatory issues. TriEst Ag Group and Tri-Hishtil will be there as gold sponsors with a table. Be sure to stop by to discuss grafted watermelons, irrigation, and soil health with Ben Hinson.
The Southern Farm Show is the largest annual agricultural exposition in the Carolinas and Virginia. Filling the NC State Fairgrounds, the show hosts over 400 exhibitors, agricultural meetings, workshops and training, and everything farmers need to prepare for the coming growing season. TriEst Ag Group will be there with your growing solutions in booth #1002. Stop by to see us!
February 4-5th WPVGA Grower Education Conference & Industry Show
Growers attending the conference will have the opportunity to get a head start on the season with expert market outlooks, research reports, information on new technologies and agribusiness advice. The Conference is a great place for growers to get the advice, tips and insights that will give them the edge they need in a tough business. There will be an excellent slate of speakers and presentations. TriEst Ag Group will be there in booth #58 exhibiting and ready to discuss your 2025 growing plans. We’re also a proud Beverage Reception Sponsor.
February 18-19th 2025 CO Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association Conference
Join us for great networking and learning at the 11th annual CO Fruit and Vegetable conference! We’ll be there exhibiting, ready to assist you with you irrigation, fertilizer, soil heath, and grafted plant needs in 2025.
February 19 – 23rd – National Watermelon Convention
The premier networking and education event dedicated to the watermelon industry. Join us in Austin, TX, for education, networking, an auction, the crowning of the 2025 National Watermelon Queen, and an unbelievable Texas experience! We’re proud sponsors and exhibitors there. We can’t wait to talk watermelons with you.
February 19-20th – NC Tomato Growers Winter Vegetable Conference
Join us for this high quality educational program put together by vegetable extension specialists & agents at NC State University. We hope that you take advantage of this opportunity to learn about current issues associated with vegetables. TriEst Ag Group is a proud Gold Sponsor and exhibitor at this event. We can’t wait to see you there to talk 2025 growing plans and solutions.
February 25th – Georgia Citrus Association Conference
Join us for some great education and industry fellowship at this Georgia Citrus Association Conference. TriEst is a proud sponsoring member and will be there with a booth ready to discuss your citrus growing plans for 2025.
TriEst Ag Group is hiring. Even when we aren’t hiring, we’re excited to hear from knowledgeable people who may be a great fit for our company. We are a distributor and applicator of soil fumigants, irrigation, fertilizer, equipment, grafted plants, and other products with a focus on fresh fruits, vegetables, and tobacco. We have developed a unique group of company brands that allows us to offer growers our support from pre-plant through harvest, season after season.
We have positions in the field applying our soil fumigant products, building and installing irrigation systems, and working directly with customers. TriEst has 6 walk-in branch locations across the southeast to serve growers and support sales regions across the US. We also have the corporate office that handles management, paperwork, accounting, etc.
As an industry leader with more than 50 years’ experience, TriEst Ag Group offers innovative options and solutions that protect crops, people, and the environment with honest, long-term relationships that make us the first call a grower makes when they need help. We are a part of the family of companies known as the TriCal Group. While TriEst has multiple locations throughout the southeast, the TriCal Group family of companies is world-wide with more than 25 affiliated companies and even more locations. We hire from within where possible so that our employees have room to grow.
Come join our team.
Jobs in:
Sales (Outside & Inside)
Licensed Applicators
Irrigation Techs
Agronomy
R&D
Accounting
Finance
Administration
And more
If you’re interested in working with our company and becoming part of the team visit our Career Page and Indeed.com for our current open positions and/or send your resume to HR@triestag.com.
TriEst Ag Group proudly celebrates Smart Irrigation Month by helping growers maximize water-use efficiency every day.
Smart Irrigation Month is a public awareness campaign to promote efficient water use. Focused on July, Smart Irrigation Month highlights effective practices and innovative technologies to
increase crop yield per acre.
apply water and nutrient inputs more precisely for improved results with little to no waste.
minimize runoff and topsoil erosion.
help protect and preserve water supplies for today and the future.
Smart irrigation technologies equip farmers with information they need to know regarding when and how long to irrigate. They can input variables like crop water needs and soil type, while using scheduling programs that monitor local weather conditions and soil moisture.
These data points give farmers the information necessary to irrigate with precision, minimizing stress from over- or under-watering. With a finger on the pulse of your crop’s water needs, crop quality can be improved and yields can be maximized.
TriEst Ag Group believes in smart water-saving practices and is dedicated to delivering real results by helping growers
design irrigation systems with zones and irrigation scheduling programs for more efficient water and fertilizer use.
install irrigation systems that use real-time weather data and soil moisture sensors to automatically adjust watering to meet crop needs.
precisely apply water and nutrients to minimize evaporation, runoff and waste.
qualify for government financial assistance to conserve ground and surface water and improve water quality.
meet federal, state, and local environmental regulations.
For more information about how TriEst Ag can help you be more efficient contact us today.
Smart Irrigation Month is an initiative of the Irrigation Association, a nonprofit industry organization dedicated to promoting efficient irrigation. Visit www.smartirrigationmonth.org to learn more.
There is a lot of talk about sustainability and regeneration in agriculture these days. But what do those terms really mean? If you ask five people, you might get five different definitions. But for Josh Mays, Director of Agronomy for TriEst Ag Group, it all starts with profitability. Mays says “We should all be critical of how farming practices impact the ecosystems around the farm, but we can’t be sustainable without being profitable. There is nothing sustainable about the loss of farms in the United States due to financial instability.”
To put that statement into perspective there are only an estimated 1.89 million farms to feed 332 million people in the United States or 0.5%. According to Yahoo Finance, America has had an average loss of nearly 1.8 million acres of farmland per year since 2015.
He says profitability always has been important, but it is even more so today when there are so many factors that could take valuable farmland out of production. Challenges include competition from urban development, trouble sourcing labor, regulatory burdens, foreign competition impacting markets and the aging demographic of specialty crop growers.
“How do we keep our growers profitable? The economics need to be better for them to farm their land than to sell it for development or other uses,” Mays says. “Our intention at TriEst Ag Group is to help farmers keep farming.”
The company’s core customer base is in plasticulture specialty crops like strawberries, tomatoes and peppers. Other key customers include bare ground sweet potatoes, potatoes, snap beans, sweet corn, and vegetable crops.
Green Bean Field Trial in Florida
GETTING TO KNOW GROWERS
Mays says TriEst Ag Group helps growers key in on profitability by learning about their operations and finding ways that their products and services can be a benefit.
“We go very deep working with growers. That is what my job is all about,” he adds. “We take a step beyond just our products to discover what is the best approach to profitability for each farm. We work with growers to go over fertility programs, to consider variety selection, field selection and testing for what levels of pest problems they have in their soils. We holistically build a program that includes our products where they can help the grower but also are a part of a larger program.
“We are a spoke in the wheel. We want to better understand everything farmers have going on, so we can help them figure out the most economical solution to the challenges they face.”
PORTFOLIO OF SOLUTIONS
TriEst Ag Group has a wide range of products and services that can help growers achieve profitability. The company specializes in soil fumigation, irrigation, crop nutrition, equipment, grafted plants, polytunnels, substrate and associated growing systems.
Soil fumigation with two key products, chloropicrin and 1,3-D (TELONE™), has been foundational in helping growers get their specialty crops off to strong, clean starts. Mays says these products have been studied extensively to maximize crop yield, quality and performance, especially since methyl bromide was phased out.
“These two products have been the subject of years of research and millions of dollars invested by universities and the private sector,” he says. “They are now the foundation of what we do to make up for the loss of methyl bromide. 1,3-D is effective in managing nematodes while chloropicrin manages soil-borne pathogens.
“We’ve seen advancements in plasticulture and tarps to create a better barrier that holds these products in the ground longer at higher concentrations. This allows us to consider rate reductions and achieve more efficacy. And it forced us to be more integrated and innovative in our approach to better manage pests. We’ve been successful in doing that through our collaboration with our grower customers.”
FOCUS ON SOIL HEALTH
Mays says another area of intensive research has been maximizing soil health in fields. The study of the soil microbiome is a hot field now in all of agriculture.
“We are doing a lot of research on how our products interact with the soil microbial system,” Mays says. “We know we must manage nematodes and soil pathogens to produce a healthy crop. We are seeking the best ways to utilize our fumigants to provide the best suppression and have been studying how our fumigants alter the microbiome.”
The research has turned up encouraging results. The use of chloropicrin and 1,3-D has been shown to not ‘sterilize the soil’ as some have said.
“Science shows when you apply these products, you shift the microbial community. You get shifts of certain organisms, and there are others that take their place that are often beneficial organisms. We are learning now how to better utilize that shift. There is an entire new science emerging around the interaction of those microbes and our products, across a wide range of rates and new crops.”
MAXIMIZING ACREAGE
The goal of TriEst Ag Group’s relationships with growers is to help them get more productivity and profitability from each acre of their crops.
“If we can learn new ways to innovate and create more yield on an acre and seek ways to be more efficient and reduce costs where we can, that is key to profitability,” Mays says. “If we were to take our core soil fumigants out of the equation, then you might see specialty crop yields drop by 30%. That will take 30% more acres of land to replace, and all the other inputs needed to grow the crop. That is not sustainable or profitable. We take great pride in working closely with our growers to bring them solutions that keeps that acre of farmland in farming.”
HOW CAN TRIEST AG GROUP HELP YOU?
If you are interested in learning more about TriEst Ag Group’s products and services contact us today.
At the close of the 2023 Irrigation Show, the IA (Irrigation Association) added four newly elected directors to the IA Board. One of those four is Erwin Newell of TriEst Ag Group. Directors are elected to three-year terms by members of the association. The IA Board of Directors monitors current and evolving industry trends, determines strategic priorities, defines public policy positions and acts as a steward of the IA’s financial resources.
Erwin Newell and the other three newly elected directors join 13 other members who serve on the IA Board. Their contributions are essential to the IA’s work to elevate the impact and value of the industry and create an environment where irrigation businesses can grow and thrive.
You can read about all four newly elected IA Board Directors on the IA Board of Directors page on the IA website.
Erwin Newell is the Vice President of Business Development and Irrigation for TriEst Ag Group. He started in sales and design as the first full-time employee at B.B. Hobbs in 1990. His responsibilities at B.B. Hobbs over the next 25 years ranged from sales manager to overseeing operations to managing a construction division and being named vice president. Following two mergers, Newell began his current position with TriEst Ag Group. He currently participates on the board of Landmark Irrigation as well as the Board of Reddick Equipment Company. Throughout his career, Newell has served as an advisor on boards of the North Carolina Tomato Growers Association and the North Carolina Vegetable Growers Association. He has been involved in his church and participated in mission projects in Africa and Mexico.
“The agricultural irrigation industry is changing at a rate greater than anytime during my over 30-year career. Mergers, acquisitions, aging industry leaders, changing markets, water supply, technology, urban development and other factors are impacting the agricultural irrigation industry. Ag irrigation distribution is largely doing business the same way it has for years, but in order to be profitable, attract the best and brightest talent, meet the needs of a changing customer base, most efficiently use resources and be sustainable, it needs to change. I am excited about the potential to work as part of the IA Board to identify and promote ideas and initiatives that foster positive change.”
Today, we’re absolutely thrilled to share some news with you. The July issue of the Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association’s The Badger Common’Tater features a wonderful, in-depth interview with our own Corporate Agronomist, Josh Mays! This entertaining conversation delves into Josh’s background, why he joined the company, the innovative techniques that TriEst uses, and a detailed conversation about chloropicrin-based products in crop protection.
Don’t Miss the July Crop Protection Issue by the WPVGA The Badger Common’Tater.
If you’re curious to learn more about Josh Mays and the dedicated work happening at TriEst Ag Group, be sure to grab a copy of The Badger Common‘Tater’s July Crop Protection issue. You can find the article on their website here: JULY 2023 ISSUE of the Badger Common’Tater
This interview is a must-read for farmers, industry professionals, and anyone passionate about the future of agriculture.
Three of the most important factors in pecan production are: Water, Water and Water!
Pecan trees have high water requirements, as much as 350 gallons per tree per day for mature trees. In addition, they have been shown to take most of the water they require from the upper 32 inches of the soil profile for normal seasonal growth. The deeper the trees have to reach for available water the more energy they use to obtain it. If ground water levels are very low the pecan trees will go into “survival mode” and divert their energy from developing leaves and nuts to simply surviving the drought stress.
Adequate soil moisture is important at the beginning of the season to stimulate strong, vigorous growth, from bloom through shell hardening for nut size, and during the nut filling stage for better overall nut quality. At the end of the season it is important to prevent shuck split, early nut drop, and low energy reserves.
One of our customers once said “I’ve never made money trying to save money”. In other words, you have to spend money on the things that can make you money. When it comes to pecan production, one of the best investments you can make is the installation of an irrigation system. It is the best way to ensure that adequate soil moisture is available when the trees need it.
There are several types of systems to choose from including solid-set sprinklers, micro jets, punch in emitters, and drip tubing. No matter which type of system you choose, it is important that an irrigation schedule be developed based on the type of system and soil type that will meet the water needs of the trees.
Micro-jets, emitters, and drip tubing are the most common types of irrigation systems currently being installed for pecan orchards. Some of the advantages these system types have over more traditional solid-set sprinklers are:
Minimal evaporation/water loss since water would be discharged at or below ground level.
Lower pressure requirements.
Ability to maintain more constant soil moisture levels.
Irrigation can be applied during mechanical operations.
Fertilizer and other chemicals can be applied through the system.
Systems are readily adapted to automatic controls.
More efficient and uniform application of water.
A properly designed irrigation system coupled with a proper watering schedule can prevent drought stress, boost crop yields, and improve quality.
We’re proudly celebrating this year’s National Ag Day. Farmers and our ag communities are the backbone of our country. So much of what we eat, use, or wear every day is provided by agriculture.
We at TriEst Ag Group, a TriCal Group company, celebrate our farmers and are proud to be helping to create sustainable ag practices. We believe in functional sustainability and we define functional sustainability as helping growers reach both their financial and regenerative agriculture goals. It all starts with healthy soil.
Healthy soils lead to healthier plants that produce higher quality harvests. Ground-breaking information and new studies can be found at our new AgHub. https://tricalgroup.com/aghub/
So today let’s all celebrate agriculture and thank all of the people who work hard to feed the world, look after crops and livestock, and contribute to agricultural production.
The first annual TriCal Group Tree and Vine School was a success. If you were able to attend the day of the event, Thursday – November 10th, we thank you! If you weren’t able to attend, then you can still check out all of the great speaker presentations.
Dr. Greg Browne, Research Plant Pathologist, University of California, Davis:
AN OVERVIEW OF THE CAUSES AND PRACTICAL CONTROL MEASURES FOR PRUNUS REPLANT DISEASE (PRD), THAT CAUSES STUNTING AND REPLANT FAILURE IN ALMOND, PEACH, AND OTHER SPECIES OF PRUNUS
Dr. Kristi Sanchez, TriCal Diagnostics Senior Researcher and Nematologist:
A DIVE INTO THE TOP 3 MOST HARMFUL PLANT-PARASITIC NEMATODES NEGATIVELY IMPACTING ORCHARDS AND VINEYARDS, RESULTING IN REDUCED PLANT VIGOR AND CROP YIELD
BiomeMakers:
ANALYZING THE IMPACTS OF CHLOROPICRIN ON SOIL MICROBIOLOGY IN AGRICULTURAL DECISION-MAKING TO OPTIMIZE FARMING PRACTICES
Dr. Kristi Sanchez, TriCal Diagnostics Senior Researcher and Nematologist:
LEVERAGING DIAGNOSTICS AND SOIL FUMIGATION AS CORNERSTONES OF SUCCESSFUL ORCHARD AND VINEYARD INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS; SHOWCASING A GRAPE TRIAL, A CITRUS TRIAL AND A WALNUT REPLANT TRIAL
Shawn Fields, TriCal Inc., Sales Manager/Perry Fuller, TriEst Ag Sales Manager/Robert Rauert, Trident Ag Sales Manager:
MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR ORCHARD OR VINEYARD SOIL FUMIGATION: SOIL PREPARATION, EQUIPMENT, APPLICATION METHODS AND RATES
Robert Rauert, Trident Ag Sales Manager:
FEATURING THE WORK OF TIM SMITH, WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION SPECIALIST, THIS TALK WILL EXPLAIN HOW SOIL FUMIGATION CAN POSITIVELY CHANGE A FARM’S ECONOMICS
