Inside Valent U.S.A.’s Midwest Agricultural Research Center

Valent U.S.A.’s Midwest Agricultural Research Center (MWARC) is a technologically advanced 160-acre research farm focused on sustainability and precision agriculture. Located near Champaign, Illinois, MWARC includes a teaching and learning center, a seed protection unit, greenhouses with spray chambers, a commercial seed treater, a long-term soil health study and more.

“At MWARC, we can establish long-term research trials to see the implications and the benefits that a grower would see if they implemented similar practices in their fields,” says Frank Carey, field research and development team leader for Valent U.S.A.

Real-world research by Valent scientists at MWARC helps develop crop protection products to meet tomorrow’s challenges while addressing the issues growers face in the field today.

Testing for Real-World Conditions

“We try to look at worst-case scenarios,” says Ron Estes, manager of the Midwest Agricultural Research Center. “If a disease or pest shows up in your field and comes at you with a vengeance, how can our products take care of it?”

Those worst-case scenarios often involve fields with heavy weed pressure.

“Weed scientists will describe a bunch of Palmer amaranth or waterhemp as a beautiful stand,” Carey says. “But that’s what helps our research be successful and gives us the best products to deliver to growers.”

Leveraging Precision Agriculture Technology

Technology plays a critical role in MWARC research.

“Any time that we spray a product or harvest a crop, that record is geo-referenced,” Estes says. “We’re able to test multiple seed treatments, hybrids and varieties within a small area. Our equipment can apply multiple products at once, and it’s all driven by GPS.”

The research center’s irrigation system is also GPS-driven, allowing for prescription watering of crops.

“Not only is that good for research, but it also helps conserve water,” Estes says.

Drone imaging captures plant health data and other insights that are not easily visible to the naked eye.

“We dedicate a portion of the farm every year to demo trials, where we can bring in groups to talk about our products, compare performance and share best management practices,” Estes says.

Education and Innovation at MWARC

MWARC also serves as an education hub.

The teaching and learning center hosts events for growers, retailers and community groups, including FFA and 4-H, as well as continuing education for Valent employees.

A commercial seed treater onsite demonstrates application and efficacy of seed treatments, with cameras providing a live feed into conference rooms for close-up viewing.

“We can send video into our conference room so people can see the process without being right next to the equipment,” Estes says.

A 2018 expansion added greenhouses with spray chambers, enabling year-round herbicide, nematicide and other research trials.

From Research to the Field

“Everything that we do here ultimately ties back to the grower,” Estes says.

At MWARC, Valent researchers develop new compounds and continue refining and testing products from early-stage development through commercialization and post-launch support.

Learn more about the Midwest Agricultural Research Center and listen to the Field Advice podcast wherever you get your podcasts.