Key Takeaways from the 2024 ACS Innovation Series
Jan 14, 2025

Each year, Central Valley Ag's Innovation Agronomist conducts in-field trials on a variety of products and practices at CVA's Innovation Plots. Testing includes the newest trends including, but not limited to, in-furrow and foliar, soil fertility, technology, seed treatment and biologicals, equipment, and carbon. The ACS Innovation Series is here to assist growers with learning and validating different products and practices on different soils, equipment, management and climate. It is the cooperative's commitment to help growers filter information to find the products and practices that benefit their productivity, profitability and sustainability. Discover what was learned through the 2024 trials.
2024 Weather in Review
In 2024, we experienced a mix of weather conditions that significantly impacted crop growth. The year started with an active moisture pattern, which helped recharge soil moisture and set the stage for a promising start to the growing season. Early rain delayed planting at Norfolk, Neb. and Belleville, Kans. a few days more than normal and planting conditions were not ideal. The summer was generally warm with below-average rainfall. Beaver Crossing, Neb., test plot experienced six days with temperatures exceeding 100°F. There were two days in June, one day in July and three days in August. The plot did receive some heavy rain in June and severe storms in July, but thankfully did not cause notable crop damage to the plot this year. Overall, while the weather was chaotic, the crops managed to perform well, thanks to the early moisture and cooler summer temperatures.
Key takeaways from the 2024 ACS Innovation Series
- In the fertilizer trials, CVA tested the same products on the same plots as in 2023. MicroEssentials SZ continues to demonstrate that it is a great product to improve both corn and soybean yields.
- Six years of testing CVA Elite PHP has shown that the product continues to increase corn yield and ROI. This is our third year of testing the CVA ELITE PHP92, the new formula has the same great plant health promoting attributes with a more concentrated active ingredient allowing for a much lower use rate of 9 oz./ac.
- CVA ELITE Accelerate was trialed this year in soybeans in combination with planting populations ranging from 80K-140K. We increased soybean yields with higher planting populations and CVA ELITE Accelerate increased yields at all populations.
- This year we included a High Yield Contest between Central Valley Ag regions to showcase each region's plan for achieving 300+ yield in corn and 100+ in soybeans at each of the Innovation Plot Sites. All plans included additional population, fertility, stimulants, and crop protection with multiple and a variety applications and timings. While we were unable to achieve our yield goals this year, we plan to continue this trial over the next several years to gain more information on management and product synergies that will help us gain significant yield improvements in high yield environments.
- We continue our testing of several different Humic and Fulvic Acid products from multiple suppliers applied in-furrow and foliar. We are not only looking for yield, but how products mix with fertilizers and other products.
- Continue to look for new biological products including bio-stimulants, bio-fertilizers and bio-fungicide.
Thank you to the growers that attended the 2024 ACS Innovation series, post-event grower meetings or visited with their Field Sales Agronomists this fall. If you have questions, please contact your local agronomist or Cary Skibinski, Director of Specialty Products, at 402-362-8454 or cary.skibinski@cvacoop.com

Harvest Data Book
Central Valley Ag is committed to equipping farmers with the most accurate and up-to-date information. Discover how the CVA ACS Innovation Trials unlock valuable insights to maximize your crop's full potential this year. Compare results year over year with the last six years of research data from CVA's corn and soybean trials. Research is important; get it from a source you can trust!