Rob Dunlop Vice President, North America Seed – responsible for the safe and efficient execution of Nutrien Ag Solution’s seed business in North America. Rob has spent his entire career in the seed business in various roles, from R&D to Strategy to Sales, across multiple crops, countries, and continents.
Agriculture, in essence, begins with a seed. This small, potent entity encapsulates the promise of a future harvest, the potential of a crop, and the sustainability of our farming practices. At Nutrien Ag Solutions, we take seeds seriously, as evident through our Dyna-Gro and Proven proprietary brands and the other supplier brands we sell. However, to actualize the latent potential of these seeds, there is a critical complementary element: effective agronomy.
Dyna-Gro and Proven Seed
The Dyna-Gro and Proven brands are exclusive to Nutrien Ag Solutions and form an integral part of the extensive portfolio of crop inputs Nutrien Ag Solutions can supply to our growers. Our proprietary breeding programs in canola, cotton, rice, and wheat allow us to bring exclusive quality products to the market. Products that have been bred by our breeders, selected by our product managers, produced by our producers, conditioned by us, bagged by us, and sold by us. Dyna-Gro and Proven are not just brands that Nutrien Ag Solutions sells; they are fully-fledged seed companies with products that include proprietary germplasm and the best traits available for our growers. These aren't just seeds; they're the culmination of scientific insights and agricultural dedication developed through meticulous research and development. Yet, seeds, no matter how advanced, need the right conditions to flourish. Enter agronomy—the science and art of soil management and crop production.
At Nutrien Ag Solutions, our commitment lies in nurturing this partnership, heralding a new era of efficient and sustainable farming.
Every field or plot of land is different, with its own unique set of challenges based on its unique blend of soil types, soil biome, microclimates, and cultivation histories. Agronomy helps us better understand those local conditions to better inform management decisions, ensuring the land, weather and seed complement each other as much as possible. Through our research sites across the US and Canada, we gather critical data that informs our agronomic practices. This ensures the strategies employed aren't just generic but meticulously tailored to each field's specific needs.
But agronomy isn't just reactive; it's proactive. It predicts and prepares. For instance, a seed might inherently boast of high yield potential, but external factors—weather, soil chemical imbalances, nutrient deficits, local pest pressures, and diseases—can hinder its growth trajectory. Herein lies the synergy between seed genetics and agronomy. The seed provides the potential, and agronomy ensures an environment where this potential is realized to its fullest. This includes timely interventions, from assessing early weed pressure due to unforeseen events to in-season scouting, pest management, and disease control, all while keeping the seed's inherent potential at the forefront.
Additionally, marrying seed selection with agronomy offers long-term dividends. Sustainable agronomic practices not only ensure bountiful yields today but also safeguard soil health for tomorrow. A seed's traits, like its nitrogen-fixation capabilities, can guide fertilizer application rates, leading to both efficient and environmentally conscious nutrient management.
To bolster this relationship between seed and agronomy, our Loveland Products provide an added layer of crop protection and nutrition. This integrated approach ensures that the land is primed for the seed and the seed is supported throughout its lifecycle. Recognizing the intertwined financial dynamics of these processes, Nutrien Ag Solutions extends crop input financing through Nutrien Financial, giving growers the financial empowerment to make the most informed and beneficial choices.
In the grand scope of agriculture, while the seed signifies potential, agronomy crafts the pathway to its realization. Together, they symbolize an integrated, comprehensive approach, optimizing immediate yields while championing long-term sustainability. At Nutrien Ag Solutions, our commitment lies in nurturing this partnership, heralding a new era of efficient and sustainable farming.
