In the Field with Pivot Bio: Agronomists Mike Saxton and Garrett Verhagen share how PROVEN 40 enhanced yields in Kentucky.

The University of Kentucky’s College of Agriculture, Food and Environment recently participated in a trial study examining Pivot Bio’s PROVEN® 40 effectiveness in fields with cover crop rotations. We sat down with Mike Saxton and Garrett Verhagen, agronomists from Kentucky who worked with the university on the trial, to discuss the study results and how the findings can help farmers maximize nitrogen efficiency, improve soil health and enhance yields, even in drought conditions.


How does Pivot Bio’s PROVEN 40 work to replace synthetic nitrogen, and what plant health benefits does it offer?

: Seventy-eight percent of the air we breathe is nitrogen. We know nitrogen is crucial to a healthy corn crop, but atmospheric nitrogen isn’t directly accessible to the plant. This is why farmers utilize synthetic nitrogen fertilizers. The problem with synthetic nitrogen is that it’s applied to the soil and requires the right amount of water to reach the plant root. Pivot Bio’s microbes help mitigate this issue by fixing nitrogen from the air and transforming it into a form the corn plant can readily utilize. The microbes do this by delivering nitrogen directly to the corn root, reducing the plant’s reliance on water for nitrogen absorption and ensuring a certain level of nitrogen uptake.

What should farmers know about the University of Kentucky’s study?

: The University of Kentucky conducted an on-farm, replicated strip trial study on corn crops planted after a small grains cover crop on a farm utilizing no-till practices. The study investigated the possibility of reducing synthetic nitrogen application by 40 pounds and substituting it with an equivalent amount of Pivot Bio’s PROVEN 40 microbial nitrogen. The findings were compelling — not only did PROVEN 40 successfully replace the 40 pounds of synthetic nitrogen, it also delivered in terms of yield.

Specifically, the study found no significant yield increase when synthetic nitrogen levels were raised from 140 to 180 pounds per acre. However, when the increase included 40 pounds of microbial nitrogen, there was a notable yield boost of 11 bushels per acre. This was despite the drought conditions we experienced in Kentucky last year. This demonstrated PROVEN 40’s efficacy in bridging the nitrogen gap that can happen only using synthetic fertilizers.

Mike, do you have anything to add to that?

: Bridging the gap is exactly what PROVEN 40 does, especially when faced with extensive drought in the early parts of the season, largely because synthetic nitrogen relies on water to reach plant roots. We saw this in the University of Kentucky study but also in a northern Kentucky trial plot, where a grower applied 110 pounds of synthetic nitrogen and supplemented it with 40 pounds of PROVEN 40 across eight rows, each 750 feet long. For comparison, he applied 150 pounds of synthetic nitrogen alone in another eight rows. The outcome was striking — with the same total nitrogen applied, the PROVEN 40 combination yielded an additional 23.5 bushels per acre, a result we successfully replicated twice.

In that same trial location in late July, we experienced significant rainfall, which led to nitrogen leaching, further diminishing the effectiveness of synthetic nitrogen during both the initial drought and subsequent heavy rains. PROVEN 40 made a critical difference, delivering nitrogen straight to the plant roots and effectively mitigating the nitrogen gap under extreme weather conditions.


Can PROVEN 40 be effective for farmers who implement additional sustainability practices such as cover crops and no-till?

: Cover crop systems can leave behind a large amount of crop residue. These practices are good for soil health but can hinder nitrogen uptake due to competing crop residue. Despite these potential nitrogen challenges, the University of Kentucky trial site that utilized 40 pounds of PROVEN 40 still experienced a yield increase. This is because microbial nitrogen is delivered directly to the plant roots, bypassing the carbon-rich residue that can deplete nitrogen levels. This highlights the effectiveness of microbial nitrogen as a valuable addition to a farmer’s soil health practices, complementing their existing best management practices.


What aspects of the study stood out to you most?

: The notable outcome was overcoming the usual yield penalty seen in corn following a cover crop because of the nitrogen competition with the residue. But in the University of Kentucky trial and other trial plots in the state, we saw that reducing synthetic nitrogen by 40 pounds and replacing it with 40 pounds of microbial nitrogen can offset that typical yield penalty.

: Echoing Mike, the consistent yield improvement using microbial nitrogen was consistent across nitrogen rates. When the farmer increases the nitrogen rate with synthetic alone, they cannot overcome the yield penalty that is commonly associated with cover crops.

Besides observing increased yield, what are some additional indicators of the effectiveness of microbial nitrogen?

: Yield isn’t the primary indicator of PROVEN 40’s effectiveness. The University of Kentucky study found that plants had overall greener leaves, indicating stronger nutrient uptake throughout the growing season. In a dry year like 2023, it’s more difficult for the plant to access synthetic nitrogen because it needs water to reach the root, but not so much water that it causes leaching. What we observed is that replacing 40 pounds of synthetic nitrogen with PROVEN 40 microbial nitrogen produced healthier, more established plants with larger biomass and a more robust root system, demonstrating the efficacy of microbial nitrogen beyond increased yields.

: We’ve talked a lot about reducing synthetic nitrogen rates and that there’s not a one-size-fits-all approach to that. However, a key measure of PROVEN 40’s success is its ability to reduce reliance on synthetic nitrogen without compromising yield. As Garrett mentioned, we also see increased biomass. I’ve conducted multiple trials across Kentucky. In all of them, we measure stalk diameter. We consistently see stronger, more robust plants.

What steps can farmers take to determine if PROVEN 40 is right for their operations, including participating in research trials similar to the University of Kentucky study?

: Farmers interested in PROVEN 40 can access and test our products in a variety of ways. The first step is to reach out to your 

 and talk about setting up a trial. It’s important to consult one of our agronomists because it’s important that the demos are executed the right way.

UK Study Finds Higher Corn Yield with Pivot Bio Microbial Nitrogen

Hi All, my name is Shelby Fite, and I am part of the second generation of Mann Farms, a grain farming operation in Jackson Center, Ohio. My passion is in agronomy, where I hold both a bachelor’s and master’s degree, along with a Certified Crop Advisor’s license. After gaining some industry experience, I had the opportunity to return home to the family farm. You may have heard of Mann Farms – we are currently featured on 

. You can catch us on Thursday’s at 5:00 p.m. EST, as well as on 

Our farm was an early adopter of Pivot Bio, driven by our goal to increase corn yields. We knew that achieving higher yields would require an additional supply of nitrogen. We also needed a nitrogen source that was predictable. Pivot Bio PROVEN 40 has proven to be incredibly versatile for us; it can catch a ride on the corn planter when being applied on-seed or in-furrow, and it still provides a daily dose of nitrogen, even late into the growing season.

Even with the recent downturn in grain, we test new products every year. I have consistently found that off-season preparation is the key to successfully conducting trials during the growing season. I’d like to share how we tested Pivot Bio on our farm and the steps we’ve established for testing new products.

Compatibility is crucial when it comes to using live biological products like Pivot Bio PROVEN 40. It’s important to note that although we opt for the liquid formulation of PROVEN 40 because it works well with our additional in-furrow products, the data from the on-seed formulation shows promising results. Please consider consulting with your agronomist to understand which products are right for your operation.

The concept of compatibility is often misunderstood in agriculture. Not everything mixes well together in the tank. Investing time and resources into a trial would be disappointing only to discover that the product was compromised before application. If you plan to use Pivot Bio PROVEN 40 in conjunction with additional in-furrow products, I highly recommend working with your Pivot Bio agronomist to send samples to their lab to test product compatibility. This has been eye-opening, and our in-field results have mirrored what the lab has told us.

For in-furrow product trials, we shut down our in-furrow pump system during every other pass, creating strips across the field where only the product in question is being tested. This method yields treated and untreated passes, allowing for a direct comparison. I like to strip a large field area with varying soil types to make sure soil properties are accounted for. When testing a tank mix of multiple products, we have found it most effective to divide fields in half. We plant the first half, then add and mix the new product before planting the remaining half.

Once planting is complete, I print an application map for each trial and include it in the farm's agronomy binder so that I can refer to it during the growing season while scouting. Two flags are set at the start and stop of each strip. I will also drop a pin on Google Maps wherever I set flags so I can refer to the same area as many times as needed.

When using Pivot Bio PROVEN 40, it’s crucial to observe key growth states for visual differences between treated and untreated strips. These stages include emergence, V10-V14 (critical N uptake), and R3-R4. While in-season observation alone may not determine product efficacy on your operation, it is important to understand how yield components are affected. 

This ongoing assessment keeps me excited for harvest and seeing the trial through until the very end. Remember to contact your Pivot Bio agronomist and arrange a time to have them come out to run a nitrogen performance index test during the growing season. These tests highlight differences in treated versus untreated areas, including wet weight, and chlorophyll content index.

Come harvest time, the strips are harvested separately and weighed using scales on our grain cart. Before harvesting a trial, we calibrate all equipment involved in the data collection process. Maintaining calibrated combines and grain carts throughout the season is key to minimizing variability. I have been impressed by the ongoing updates on the John Deere Operations Center. The yield maps offer a legend that can be adjusted to different yield parameters. Field sections can also be selected individually so a specific area of the field can be visualized. This serves as an additional way to find product yield increases.

Although testing new products can be tedious, I remind myself that a 5% yield increase on 200-bushel corn equates to 10 bushels. Hearing numbers like this motivates us to continue experimenting and striving toward improvement in our operation. I hope this provides you with ideas for designing and implementing your own on-farm trials for the upcoming growing season.

If you’re interested in conducting a trial of Pivot Bio’s products, 

contact your local Pivot Bio representative

Tips For Setting Up Your Pivot Bio On-Farm Trial

– Pivot Bio, a leading sustainable agriculture company, will send the company’s CEO, CFO, Chief Innovation Officer and Chief Business Development Officer to San Francisco this week to meet with partners at the World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit, where leaders from across the industry will come together to explore new areas of collaboration.

Ahead of the Summit, Pivot Bio’s CEO Chris Abbott the shared following four trends that the company will be watching closely at the conference.

“Cross-sector collaborations with farmers are emerging

Transforming the food system in a way that benefits growers, society and the planet will take 

 across sectors and industries. New partnership models are emerging that will help to accelerate this transition. No single product will sufficiently “reinvent” or “disrupt” the industry. We must tackle the problems together and realize it is not a zero-sum game. Everyone is finally talking about capital efficiency again (thankfully), and the quickest way to grow efficiently is through partnerships.

Pivot Bio’s role is to partner with our farmer customers who are driving solutions for an evolving food system using the latest technology and insights. A great example is our new 

, which helps farmers create a new revenue stream from avoided nitrogen waste by connecting them to companies across the value chain. By making these connections, we can help growers improve their margins while providing a critical tool for companies to meet their decarbonization goals. Ecosystem services like these will continue to be an important way for companies to incentivize direct action in their supply chains.

“Delivering on ag tech’s promise to supercharge productivity and manage risk in the face of tightening margins

We’ve already seen the power of precision ag tech, such as drones, sensors and GPS, in helping farmers better manage their farms with real-time data, allowing them to continue to drive operational efficiency. The rise of artificial intelligence and machine learning will enhance farmers’ ability to increase agricultural efficiencies and reduce production costs. We also believe these technologies will help ag tech companies manage their own businesses with better efficiency and faster speed – both of which are good for our industry. We need to share best practices and experiences on how to leverage these technologies in our industry.

Crop nutrition – and the technologies that support it – are key components of any farm operation. Scaling the use of the next generation of solutions is critical to unlocking new levels of productivity and sustainability. For example, Pivot Bio’s nitrogen-fixing microbes are helping growers gain consistency and control and improve their ROI while helping to improve the quality of our air and water.

“Greater focus on sustainable agriculture

As farm ownership shifts to the next generation of growers, we continue to see more farmers embrace new farming practices. Interest in sustainable agriculture technologies continues to rise as farmers work to ensure their farms are productive and profitable, improving resiliency in the face of an increasingly volatile market and unpredictable weather patterns.

This represents an immense opportunity. According to the 

, farmers and ranchers manage nearly 1 billion acres, or approximately 60% of U.S. land, which can act as a natural carbon sink by absorbing vast amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and storing it in plants and soil. At Pivot, we also know that reduction of nitrogen waste will be paramount to ensuring healthy soils that can keep up with a rising global demand for food. As we better understand the value that is being created, growers will accelerate the adoption of sustainable agriculture to capture more of it for their operation.

“Ag tech to usher in a new wave of investments

A renewed global focus on the transformation of the food system highlights the critical need to advance ag tech innovations to accelerate climate action. Although ag tech 

 have experienced a tightening of financing in recent years, we can expect renewed interest as investors seek out more opportunities to broaden their portfolios and deepen their climate impact. Companies that have responded to the changing capital and commodity markets should benefit from this shift.

For ag tech leaders, it is important to remember there will never be a more important time than now —during a low point in a cycle — to champion innovation and develop new technologies.”

:
Pivot Bio is a leading sustainable agriculture company delivering farmers patented crop nutrition technologies that harness the power of nature to reliably and productively grow the food the world needs in the face of increasing volatility. Currently available in North America and soon in Brazil, the company’s products are a breakthrough innovation. They are among the industry’s most promising climate solutions because they deliver nitrogen to plants without the negative impacts of synthetic fertilizer. The company’s nitrogen is weatherproof, safer to handle, and does not leach or contribute to nitrous oxide pollution. By making this possible for the first time at scale, Pivot Bio is upending the 190 billion USD nitrogen market. Pivot Bio has been recognized twice by Time magazine on its annual list of best inventions, by Fast Company on its World Changing Ideas and World’s Most Innovative Companies lists, by CNBC on its Disruptor 50 list of private companies and by Fortune on its Impact 20 list of startups driving social good. The company recently announced its fourth consecutive year of growth. For more information, visit Pivotbio.com.

Pivot Bio Shares Four Trends Driving Agriculture Forward

Maximizing nitrogen utilization while minimizing waste and cost is critical to a farmer’s success. Incorporating Pivot Bio into your fertilizer plan can revolutionize how you manage nitrogen uptake, providing a predictable, efficient nitrogen source straight at the roots throughout the growing season. To do this, Pivot Bio identified microbes that fixed nitrogen on their own. Once identified, the DNA responsible for nitrogen production was activated and supercharged using the microbe’s genetics, so they never stop producing nitrogen — even if synthetic fertilizer is present in the soil.

Whether it’s your first season planting with Pivot Bio or you’re a longtime customer, the following tips can help ensure you have a successful growing season.

Our on-seed and in-furrow products should be stored in their original packaging and out of direct sunlight in a dry, temperature-controlled environment between 32 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit.. When using our on-seed product, it is especially important to keep the seeds out of direct sunlight. If managed properly, our on-seed products have a 60-day shelf life. For both products, it’s important to wait to open them until they are ready for use.

Once you are ready to plant, remove the product from the outer cardboard box. The liquid container should be agitated three to four times to activate our in-furrow products so the product is evenly distributed. There is no need to agitate our on-seed produce since a Pivot Bio representative will apply it directly to your seed.

For our in-furrow products, once the top(s) and pull tab(s) from each spout have been removed, the contents of the container should be evenly poured from both spouts simultaneously at a total rate of 12.8 ounces per acre. With Pivot Bio PROVEN® 40, two distinct microbes are contained within the box, one in each bladder. To ensure the product can provide a full 40 pounds of nitrogen to the crop, both bladders need to be applied in equal amounts. The 

 can help you determine application rates.

With our in-furrow products, there will be a distinct odor coming from the containers. This is a good sign! It means the microbes are alive and ready to produce nitrogen. We recommend that Pivot Bio products be the last thing added to the in-furrow blend when filling your tank.

Pivot Bio products must be used within 24 hours of opening, so mix products in small batches that can be completed within that time frame. When using our on-seed product, ensure any flow agents and dry plant lubricants such as talc graphite are compatible. For in-furrow products, ensure compatibility with 

Detailed instructions are printed on the product packaging, and our 

 page has helpful videos and resources. If you have additional questions, call 1-877-451-1977 to talk to our Midwest-based Customer Success team.


Tips For A Successful Season With Pivot Bio

The next generation. Ask farmers what motivates them, and you’re likely to hear some version of that – taking care of the farm so that their kids or family members can take over. That means both taking care of the land and taking care of the business. It’s hard work that lasts a lifetime, but it’s work worth doing.

Making that work just a bit easier for growers is what motivates us at Pivot Bio and what led to the creation of the N-OVATOR program.

“PROVEN® 40 and RETURN® give farmers access to biological nitrogen that can benefit the economic and environmental sustainability of their businesses,” says Randy Minton, who leads Pivot Bio’s commercial sustainability group.

A 40-year veteran of the agricultural services industry, he has a difficult time containing his enthusiasm when he talks about his work. “Through the N-OVATOR program, we have a chance to help transform how we think about nitrogen. That is really exciting,” says Randy.

In 2022, he and his team launched a pilot to collect farm management data—such as historical nitrogen management data, the boundaries of the fields where PROVEN® 40 was used, and how much synthetic nitrogen was replaced with the product— from Pivot Bio’s customers, with the goal of developing a new revenue stream for them. The project enrolled 725,000 acres of U.S. farmland. Randy was stunned. Based on his decades of work in production agriculture, he knew the scale of these acres could have a major impact. “It blew our socks off,” he says.

With a proof of concept in hand, the team began looking for partners, which ultimately led them to connect with Emily Johannes, the director of sustainable sourcing at Nestlé USA. Emily leads Nestlé’s work to reduce emissions across its ingredient supply chain. One of the main ways to do this is through encouraging on-farm practice changes within the areas Nestlé sources from.

“As we accelerate the transition to regenerative agriculture in our supply chains, Nestlé needs partners who are working directly with farmers to help reduce emissions. Our goal is to help reward growers who are making the practice changes,” says Emily. “The Pivot Bio N-OVATOR program encourages growers in our supply sheds to replace their synthetic fertilizer with microbial nitrogen, which can help reduce the amount of nitrogen needed, decrease waste and reduce emissions.”

In 2023, growers enrolled in the N-OVATOR program replaced, on average, 37 pounds of their synthetic nitrogen per acre with PROVEN 40, Pivot Bio’s product for corn, and received revenue for the sustainability benefits generated on their farms by the practice change. For example, in 2023 Nestlé USA purchased nitrogen credits that were generated from the impact made by Pivot Bio customers across 300,000 acres of farmland within Nestlé’s supply shed and participating farmers received payments for their practice changes.

“What we offer that’s different from other programs is an annual practice change that can help growers take care of their land, reduce emissions, and make their operation more profitable, while also providing a new line of income,” says Jane Franch, Pivot Bio’s senior director of climate impact.

Last year, Pivot Bio built insetting pilots with other well-known companies that are also dedicated to achieving ambitious sustainability goals. Jane sees that as a significant opportunity – to increase the use of Pivot Bio products, of course, but more importantly, to help growers in the hard, long-term work of taking care of their land, improving sustainability and growing their bottom lines.

The 2024 N-OVATOR program will have even more opportunities for growers to participate in innovative partnerships like these, which can generate significant revenue for Pivot Bio customers within the year and lead to practice changes that can help reduce on farm emissions.

Driving On-Farm Practice Changes through the N-OVATOR Program

I recently traveled to Davos, Switzerland, for the 

World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting

. It was an incredible opportunity to learn, explore new ideas and share our innovative technology and mission with a new and diverse audience, including industry leaders across a variety of sectors who are impacting our work.

, which brings together private companies leading the way in innovation. It’s inspiring to hear from fellow community members about their budding, cutting-edge technologies that are helping build a better future for all of us.

Throughout the week, WEF hosted sessions on a range of climate-focused topics, including technology’s role in climate adaptation, the importance of soil health and the impacts on local food systems.

It was a true honor to speak on WEF’s “

” panel, along with Sarah Reisinger, chief science and research officer at tdsm-firmenich; Noubar Afeyan, CEO of flagship pioneering; Dror Bin, CEO of the Israel Innovation Authority; John Schultz, EVP, COO and chief legal officer at Hewlett Packard; and Amy Webb, CEO of the Future Today Institute. The panel discussion focused on the importance of working together across industries in order to solve a challenge as big as fertilizer.

Beyond the official event agenda, media-hosted events throughout the week dug into complex issues. For example, CNBC hosted a panel on “

,”with Bayer CEO Bill Anderson, Protix CEO and founder Kees Aarts and myself. Much of our discussion centered on the need for collaboration to modernize our regulatory framework and a rebalancing of resources to bring existing technological innovations to scale.

Between these events, I learned from leaders in agriculture, water, energy, transportation, and even consumer products, who share Pivot Bio’s commitment to collaboration and the evolution of a global food system. I left each of those conversations energized and with hope for the future.

Agriculture is incredibly complex, and no single product or company can solve the industry’s challenges alone. This is why the entire value chain has a responsibility to come together to build a better future and why it is so important for Pivot Bio to be on the ground at events like the WEF Annual Meeting.

WEF Annual Meeting Spotlights Collaboration Across Sectors

It’s important for us to reflect a broad range of perspectives – from the farmers who use our products to the scientists who invent them. Whether it’s to learn about the science behind our products, read real-life stories from the field, or understand the issues facing agriculture – turn here for the latest thinking.


Latest Thinking