Healthy Soil Drives Higher Yields

Cassidy Million, Ph.D., VP Ag Science • July 25, 2025

Optimizing soil health is vital for higher yields. Growers must support the physical, biological, and chemical properties of the soil in order to improve its structure, water productivity and storage, nutrient cycling, and overall crop productivity. Often overlooked, biological integrity or soil health, driven by active microbes, is the key to improve soil health and quality.


Soil microbes, particularly bacteria and fungi, play a crucial role in enhancing soil structure, water holding capacity and nutrient cycling. However, in many fields, around 75% of these microbes remain dormant or asleep. Adopting practices like reduced tillage, cover cropping, incorporating manures and compost, utilizing carbon products such as humic acid to improve soil structure and nutrient retention, or feeding the existing biology in the soil can aid in improving soil biology and soil health. Products like PhycoTerra®, a microalgae-based solution, provide a balanced nutritional boost, breaking microbes out of dormancy and revitalizing soil health.


Expert advice from retailers, certified crop advisors, or agronomists is essential. Similar to nutrient inputs, a holistic approach – diversifying inputs based on mode of action and environmental needs – increases success in the field.

By Sugar Creek Ag November 27, 2025
Tobacco growers, you're invited to join Southern States and Sugar Creek Ag on December 9th, 2025 , for an in-depth meeting focused on foliar nutrition, humic products, and practical in-season strategies to strengthen crop performance. Hosted at Palace Pointe in Roxboro, NC , this meeting will bring together growers from across the region to talk through real field challenges, field-proven solutions, and key timing considerations for the upcoming season. Growers will hear the latest updates from Sugar Creek Ag’s team, including: Field-tested insights on foliar timing How humic products support root health and nutrient uptake In-season solutions that stabilize performance when the soil can’t keep up Additional Southern States agronomy topics relevant to Carolina tobacco acres Date: Tuesday, December 9, 2025 Time: 5:00 PM Location: Palace Pointe, 5050 Durham Rd, Roxboro, NC
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