Key Takeaways:
- Meristem’s Excavator AMS powered by Cyclestrike is designed to accelerate residue breakdown and improve soil nutrient availability.
- USDA projects the largest U.S. corn crop on record, creating higher-than-usual residue levels for farmers to manage this fall.
- Crop residue contains valuable nutrients that, if managed effectively, can help reduce fertilizer costs for the 2026 season.
- Field trials and farmer experiences suggest positive impacts on early-season crop emergence and operational efficiency.
- University of Illinois research highlights the benefits of combining biological products with nitrogen/sulfur sources for enhanced residue decomposition.
Record Yields Drive Residue Management Focus
With the U.S. Department of Agriculture forecasting the largest corn crop in history, farmers will face increased crop residue levels this fall. This presents operational challenges but also an opportunity to recover valuable nutrients and offset fertilizer expenses for the next planting season.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if we have one of the best corn crops in Illinois around here… On your good ground, I think we’ll see some 280s,” said Johnathan Lock, a Meristem Crop Performance® dealer and farmer near Canton, Illinois. “There are obviously nutrients in that trash… it’s going to be really important for us to get that money back into our soil.”
Meristem Crop Performance’s Excavator AMS in Action
Lock reported that incorporating Excavator AMS powered by Cyclestrike into a fall burndown improved residue breakdown and early soybean emergence. Fields treated with the product showed reduced planting interference compared to untreated areas.
Meristem Crop Performance® introduced the latest version of Excavator AMS in early 2025, featuring a patented Bio-Capsule® liquid delivery system designed to keep microbial blends viable during application.
Cost Efficiency and Fertilizer Alternatives
According to Mitch Eviston, Founder and CEO of Meristem Crop Performance®, farmers with soil test levels above certain thresholds could skip a year of synthetic fertilizer applications, potentially saving $100 per acre. “Replace that with Excavator AMS powered by Cyclestrike and reduce a tillage pass,” he said.
Research Supports Biological Solutions
Dr. Connor Sible of the University of Illinois highlighted the role of microbial blends in accelerating residue decomposition. “Combining these biological mixes with nitrogen/sulfur sources such as AMS tends to be synergistic,” he noted, adding that this approach has shown consistent yield improvements in research trials.
Meristem Crop Performance
Meristem® Crop Performance, Inc. provides biological products aimed at supporting farm productivity. The company utilizes its patented BIO-CAPSULE™ Technology platform to deliver live, in-field biologicals.
Meristem works to reduce waste and improve efficiency in crop input systems by facilitating innovation access, optimizing supply chains, and offering concentrated agricultural inputs.
