The primary goal is to provide new product information to producers. New products occur every year and are often accompanied by weak performance information, testimonials based on poor comparisons. Some will sponsor a limited research trial and, regardless of outcome, make claims that the product is university evaluated. In other trials, the investigator is bound by non-disclosure agreements, where product performance remains unspoken (by the university investigator).

The results of this soybean grower sponsored trial would be widely disseminated. Chemical soil compaction treatments, liquid carbon and foliar nutrition products are already in the marketplace, and a new group of biological/microbiological...