Blog

Employee Spotlight: Noah Binkley

Noah Binkley, a Sales Manager with SUL4R-PLUS, has been an integral part of the team since 2021. With over 10 years of experience in the agriculture and fertilizer business, Noah brings invaluable expertise to our mission of helping farmers achieve higher yields. 

Hailing from Central Kentucky, Noah’s agricultural roots were established early on, as he worked on his uncle’s farm, producing tobacco and tending to cattle. His upbringing instilled in him a strong work ethic and a deep appreciation for the industry. Noah furthered his education at Murray State University, graduating in 2007 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Finance. 

 As a Sales Manager, Noah oversees SUL4R-PLUS sales in Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, and Missouri (excluding the bootheel). His deep industry knowledge, coupled with his genuine passion for agriculture, enables him to foster strong relationships with our customers and assist them in unlocking the full potential of their crops. Noah’s dedication to customer success and his ability to understand the specific needs of farmers in these regions have made him an invaluable asset to our team. 

Beyond his professional pursuits, Noah is a passionate supporter of Kentucky basketball and football (Go Wildcats!), exemplifying his love for the state and its sports culture. Noah enjoys hunting, fishing, and golfing, activities that he now shares with his two sons. 

Noah’s expertise, enthusiasm, and unwavering commitment to our mission have significantly contributed to our pursuit of higher yields and improved soil health. 

SUL4R-PLUS vs. AMS Fertilizer

When compared to AMS fertilizers, SUL4R-PLUS is simply the smarter option. Our fertilizer is designed to deliver nutrients to crops when they need them most—plus it comes with cost saving benefits.

SUL4R-PLUSAMS
Nitrogen021
Sulfur1724
Calcium210
Sulfate ReleaseContinuousUp front
Pellet Strength82
Pellet Size (SGN)265235
Lignosulfonate6-8%0%
Soil AcidificationNoneSignificant
Options to Include MicronutrientsYesNo
Low Salt IndexYesNo
WHY SUL4R-PLUS WINS

SUL4R-PLUS does not acidify the soil like ammonium sulfate does. AMS creates a need for 5.4 pounds of lime to match each pound of nitrogen, but SUL4R-PLUS doesn’t require it. This makes it an easier, cost-effective and more environmentally-friendly option for producers.

In a 2021 soybean trial in Nebraska, SUL4R-PLUS fertilizer showed an average yield advantage of 3.65 bu/acre above AMS and 5.12 bu/acre over Grower Standard. SUL4R-PLUS cost is a lot less volatile than that of AMS and typically more affordable per acre.

More Benefits

SUL4R-PLUS granules are uniform and size and density—optimized for even spreading.  The SUL4R-PLUS granules are dust free because the binder we use makes the granules strong, preventing them from fracturing during handling, while also providing some fulvic acid to feed the soil and improve plant health.

 Plus, their water solubility ensures that the crops receive the nutrients they need to stay healthy by providing plant available calcium and sulfate almost immediately and then throughout the growing season.

Overall, SUL4R-PLUS fertilizer is a reliable and effective option for producers looking to improve crop yield and health. Its homogeneous granule, superior spread, fulvic acid, low salt and truly dust-free handling from the warehouse through application make it the preferred choice of calcium and sulfate nutrition for suppliers and producers of all kinds.

Connect with our sales team today to learn more about the SUL4R-PLUS benefits.

subscribe for updates

Get expert insights, company news & trial data.

RELATED POSTS

Here’s a few similar resources we think you may find interesting.

  • Breaking Ground on New Opportunities for SUL4R-PLUS & Marissa, IL

    We’re excited to announce that SUL4R-PLUS is coming to Marissa, IL! The new plant location will reside on 34 acres of the former Quad County Ready Mix concrete plant near the Prairie State power plant at 655 Washington County Line Road. Our goal with this expansion is to help meet growing sales needs and increase product availability to better support our growers.

    Read More

  • Calcium Clarified: Soybeans

    As the quest for higher-yielding soybeans advances, balanced fertility will be required to push yields higher. Proper crop nutrition goes beyond the macronutrients of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K).

    Read More

  • When You Neglect Calcium, You’re Neglecting Your Crops

    Calcium is an important nutrient for proper corn plant nutrition. Even though it is a secondary nutrient, calcium is critical for optimizing plant strength, ear and kernel development and plays a key role in numerous physiological processes throughout the plant.

    Read More

Improve Soil Health & Crop Yields With Low Salt Fertilizer: See the Field Trial Results

Fertilizer is an essential component of modern agriculture, providing the essential nutrients for plants to grow and thrive. However, not all fertilizers are created equal, and some can have negative impacts on soil and crop health. One factor that is often overlooked when selecting a fertilizer is its salt index, or the potential any fertilizer has to harm a crop. Excessive salt levels can lead to soil compaction, reduced water penetration, decreased plant growth, increase susceptibility to insects and disease, and reduced yields.

This is one of the reasons why we developed SUL4R-PLUS. Sul4rPlus is a unique, gradual-release, 100% plant-available calcium sulfate product with a low salt index of 5 as compared to AMS, a traditional dry commodity fertilizer with a salt index above 80. This is a significant benefit for growers, as it allows them to reduce the potential for crop injury while improving soil health and increasing productivity.

FIELD TRIALS SHOW SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT

To demonstrate, we ran multiple trials comparing top dress application vs. in-furrow application of SUL4R-PLUS and the results were telling.

Using SUL4R-PLUS positively impacts crop yields and quality. Because the product is specifically designed to provide plants with essential secondary-nutrients in a form that is readily available, it can lead to improved plant health and higher yields. Additionally, the low salt index of SUL4R-PLUS eliminates the risk of salt injury, which can damage plant root systems.

2022 DRYLAND WINTER WHEAT BURLEY, IDAHO

When comparing the impact of SUL4R-PLUS to traditional dry commodity fertilizers, the benefits of the former are clear. Dry commodity fertilizers may have high salt indexes, which can lead to negative impacts on soil health and plant growth. Additionally, dry commodity fertilizers are often less efficient in terms of nutrient uptake, meaning that they may require higher application rates to achieve the same results as SUL4R-PLUS.

 Overall, the impact of salt index on fertilizer selection should not be overlooked. Choosing a low salt index product like SUL4R-PLUS can lead to improved soil health, higher crop yields, and better quality crops. Making the switch to SUL4R-PLUS, growers can ensure that they are providing their crops with one of the best possible nutrition products, while also protecting the long-term health of their soil.

 Connect with our sales team today to learn more about the SUL4R-PLUS benefits.

SUBSCRIBE FOR UPDATES

Get expert insights, company news & trial data.

RELATED POSTS

Here’s a few similar resources we think you may find interesting.

  • Get the Most Out of Your Fertilizer with SUL4R-PLUS

    Fertilizer prices are rising, and that makes your decision of which to buy even more important.

    Read More

  • SUL4R-PLUS is the Investment You Need

    Fertilizer is more than just a cost, it’s an investment. When you take into account inflation, supply chain issues, and overall commodity shortages, every penny counts.

    Read More

  • SUL4R-PLUS and HELM Crop Nutrition Americas Announce Exclusive Partnership

    We are thrilled to announce our exclusive partnership with HELM Crop Nutrition Americas, a leading name in agricultural logistics and distribution.

    Read More

Latest Corn Field Trials Show Strong Cost Savings

We recently completed a field trial on corn  coordinated with Meyer Farms of Addieville, Illinois and the results are in! This trial compared the  yields using our patented SUL4R-PLUS product and the grower standard N-P-K fertility treatment with varied reductions in the amount of nitrogen applied. So how did it work out?

OPTIMIZING INPUT COSTS WHILE INCREASING YIELD

Through this test, we saw strong results to demonstrate the effectiveness of SUL4R- PLUS. On a 30-acre trial, we used our continuous release fertilizer and confirmed that less nitrogen was needed to result in the same or improved  crop yield. In this trial we reduced the nitrogen application by 10% and reached a positive revenue difference of $188.21/acre vs their grower standard nitrogen application rate.

WHAT WERE THE OFFICIAL COST SAVINGS

To estimate margin improvement per acre associated with varying the nitrogen application rate, we carefully split the 30-acres into three 10-acre plots and tested a 10% ammonia (NH3) reduction on plot 1, 20% NH3 reduction on plot 2, and finally a typical “grower standard” NH3 application on plot 3.  All other nutrient application rates (P-K-Ca-S) were the same. We saw the largest margin per acre increase on plot 1 with plot 2 also showing positive results.

BREAKDOWN OF COST SAVINGS/ACRE
REVENUE/ACRETOTAL REVENUE NH3 COSTREVENUE/ACRE DIFFERENCE FROM NORMAL NH3 APPLICATION
PLOT 1 – 10% NH3 REDUCTION$1,816.65$1,682.04$188.21
PLOT 2 – 20% NH3 REDUCTION$1,681.88$1,562.23$68.40
PLOT 3 – NORMAL NH3 APP$1,643.40$1,493.83$0.00

These results aren’t standalone either. See our previous corn field trials conducted in Western Kentucky to learn more about our results and the consistent savings you could find with SUL4R-PLUS. Want to increase your yields and fight inflation? Talk to our sales team today.

SUBSCRIBE FOR UPDATES

Get expert insights, company news & trial data.

RELATED POSTS

Here’s a few similar resources we think you may find interesting.

  • Weathering the Storm with Consistency

    By now you’re most likely aware of current global fertilizer trends, as spikes in pricing and decrease in supply have affected the whole industry. You also know that fertilizers provide crops with the nutrients they need to grow their best, making them essential to the world’s food supply. We know that the last thing you need is more uncertainty in your day-to-day.

    Read More

  • Improve Soil Health & Crop Yields With Low Salt Fertilizer: See the Field Trial Results

    Fertilizer is an essential component of modern agriculture, providing the essential nutrients for plants to grow and thrive. However, not all fertilizers are created equal, and some can have negative impacts on soil and crop health. One factor that is often overlooked when selecting a fertilizer is its salt index, or the potential any fertilizer has to harm a crop. Excessive salt levels can lead to soil compaction, reduced water penetration, decreased plant growth, increase susceptibility to insects and disease, and reduced yields.

    Read More

  • Reliable Increases for Less with SUL4R-PLUS

    When so much about your work environment is unreliable, you need to be able to rely completely on the few factors you do control. One of the most influential of these factors is the fertilizer you choose. Your fertilizer investment can make or break a season—so don’t leave your yields up to chance.

    Read More

New Year, New Video Launch

To kick the new year off right, we’re launching a brand-new video to showcase what we do best: making farming a little easier and whole lot more rewarding. Watch it now:

ABOUT THE VIDEO

Highlighting all of the strengths that SUL4R-PLUS has to offer, this new video is a celebration of the sustainability, competitive advantages and incredible customer care that we bring to the table.

On top of that, we truly care about our customers and we declare that we will never put profit before those relationships. This vision comes from the top down and the bottom up – it’s a part of our company culture at every level.

Behind our exceptional customer commitment is our revolutionary product. Our patented, dust-free fertilizer is good for producers, operations and the environment. Our whole team stands proudly with our product – we know you’ll be satisfied.

THANK YOU

Thank you for celebrating with us! We’re so proud of our team and our product, and we invite you to watch and share this exciting new video.

SUBSCRIBE FOR UPDATES

Get expert insights, company news & trial data.

RELATED POSTS

Here’s a few similar resources we think you may find interesting.

  • Employee Spotlight: Noah Binkley

    Noah Binkley, a Sales Manager with SUL4R-PLUS, has been an integral part of the team since 2021. With over 10 years of experience in the agriculture and fertilizer business, Noah brings invaluable expertise to our mission of helping farmers achieve higher yields. 

    Read More

  • Get the Most Out of Your Fertilizer with SUL4R-PLUS

    Fertilizer prices are rising, and that makes your decision of which to buy even more important.

    Read More

  • SUL4R-PLUS is the Investment You Need

    Fertilizer is more than just a cost, it’s an investment. When you take into account inflation, supply chain issues, and overall commodity shortages, every penny counts.

    Read More

Trials Continue to Show Improved Yields by Adding SUL4R-PLUS

The results are in from our 2022 corn field trials conducted in Western Kentucky! These trials demonstrated that SUL4R-PLUS can improve corn yields while also increasing nitrogen uptake efficiency and utilization by the crop. Let’s dig into the details.

CORN YIELD RESULTS

The graph below illustrates the improvements we saw when compared to the farmer’s standard N-P-K application program. It demonstrated that when SUL4R-PLUS is used in your fertility program, you can not only get increased yields, but increased nitrogen utilization efficiency to further enhance grower margin per acre.

INCREASED NITROGEN UPTAKE EFFICIENCY

Using this combination of SUL4R-PLUS and up to 23.3% less nitrogen translated to a higher gross margin per acre in this instance. The best gross margin we found during this trial was a 15% reduction in nitrogen applied versus the grower standard and it resulted in $74.13 higher gross margin.


If you’re ready for higher yields and higher margins per acre for your growers, it’s time to consider SUL4R-PLUS. Connect with our sales team today.

SUBSCRIBE FOR UPDATES

Get expert insights, company news & trial data.

RELATED POSTS

Here’s a few similar resources we think you may find interesting.

  • Get the Most Out of Your Fertilizer with SUL4R-PLUS

    Fertilizer prices are rising, and that makes your decision of which to buy even more important.

    Read More

  • A Solution to Food Shortages

    If you haven’t heard it yet, we suggest taking a listen to The Power Hungry Podcast - Episode #133. In this episode, host Robert Bryce talks to John Harpole, president of Denver-based natural gas broker Mercator Energy. Mr. Harpole brings data-driven points highlighting the impact that the current energy, food, and fertilizer crisis hitting Europe will have on food prices and food security worldwide.

    Read More

  • Trials Continue to Show Improved Yields by Adding SUL4R-PLUS

    The results are in from our 2022 corn field trials conducted in Western Kentucky! These trials demonstrated that SUL4R-PLUS can improve corn yields while also increasing nitrogen uptake efficiency and utilization by the crop. Let’s dig into the details.

    Read More

Weathering the Storm with Consistency

By now you’re most likely aware of current global fertilizer trends, as spikes in pricing and decrease in supply have affected the whole industry. You also know that fertilizers provide crops with the nutrients they need to grow their best, making them essential to the world’s food supply. We know that the last thing you need is more uncertainty in your day-to-day.

The good news? SUL4R-PLUS has maintained relative price consistency throughout the fertilizer fluctuation of the past 2 years, especially when compared to some of the other options out there. We’ve weathered the storm the best way we know how: with confidence, consistency, and a customer-first mentality. 

A recent Q&A article, Fertilizer volatility and the food crisis with John Baffes, Senior Economist at the World Bank Group, mentions that worldwide trends are affecting each and every part of the agriculture industry. Baffes states, when it comes to fertilizer prices, “For the next six months to a year, we don’t see how prices can come down.” 

Farmers Business Network (FBN) released their first-ever Fertilizer Price Transparency Report, an in-depth look at how up-trending fertilizer prices will impact application rates this fall and 2023 planting decisions. The FBN report indicates Fertilizer Prices and the Potential Impact of Sky-High Nitrogen Costs on 2023 Acreage Intentions, “FBN’s analysis exposed widespread fertilizer price variation across regions–especially with nitrogen fertilizer–which could suggest a lack of price transparency with possible implications for 2023 crop plans.”

At SUL4R-PLUS value price consistency and strive to ensure our customers are top of mind when making any adjustments. By keeping our prices consistent, regardless of season, we’ve set you up for success, even in the hard times. Ensuring you can continue to count on us for reliable and sustainable fertilizer, no matter the news you hear about the rest. 

SUBSCRIBE FOR UPDATES

Get expert insights, company news & trial data.

RELATED POSTS

Here’s a few similar resources we think you may find interesting.

  • Sulfate All Season Long

    The ultimate purpose of fertilizer is to provide essential nutrients to your crops. That’s why SUL4R-PLUS fertilizer is designed to make nutrients available to your crops when and where they are needed—not simply dump chemicals into the soil.

    Read More

  • New Year, New Video Launch

    To kick the new year off right, we’re launching a brand-new video to showcase what we do best: making farming a little easier and whole lot more rewarding. Watch it now.

    Read More

  • Reduce Fertilizer Dust, Increase Workplace Sustainability

    Calcium is an important nutrient for proper corn plant nutrition. Even though it is a secondary nutrient, calcium is critical for optimizing plant strength, ear and kernel development and plays a key role in numerous physiological processes throughout the plant.

    Read More

Bulk Up Your Winter Wheat: Increase Protein with SUL4R-PLUS

We all know the industry has been seeing a lot of challenges, and it’s not over yet. This article from Argus Media Group, Global wheat market braces for high-protein shortage, states, “The global wheat market is heading for an imbalance in the supply of high and low-protein milling grades this year, as above-average yields in the northern hemisphere have resulted in a lower-protein crop for the 2022-23 harvest.”

Luckily, SUL4R-PLUS can help North American wheat producers this winter. Thanks to season long plant-available nutrients, our fertilizer not only improves yield, it also improves the quality and protein content of winter wheat. Just take a look at this trial from Meyer Farms in Washington County, IL.

Dave Meyer has been a longtime SUL4R-PLUS client who’s seen the benefits firsthand. Dave uses SUL4R-PLUS on his wheat and in 2018 he shared with us that he was able to increase his yield by at least 10 bu/acre and 1-2 pts on test weight, which are numbers worth paying attention to.

Find out what SUL4R-PLUS can do for your wheat operations and how it can help the protein shortage.

SUBSCRIBE FOR UPDATES

Get expert insights, company news & trial data.

RELATED POSTS

Here’s a few similar resources we think you may find interesting.

  • Don’t Lose Young Crops to Salt Burn

    Virtually all fertilizer materials are salts. And while fertilizer can make an enormous, positive difference in the quality of your crops, it can also sometimes cause salt burn.

    Read More

  • Calcium Clarified: The Basics

    Optimal crop nutrition is more than just N, P and K. Secondary nutrients, like calcium, are often overlooked, but actually serve important roles in crop production.

    Read More

  • Calcium Clarified: Alfalfa

    Calcium is a vital nutrient that helps facilitate proper growth and function of alfalfa plants. From regulating cell division and cell wall development to facilitating nutrient uptake and metabolism, calcium is required for numerous physiological processes.

    Read More

A Solution to Food Shortages

If you haven’t heard it yet, we suggest taking a listen to The Power Hungry Podcast – Episode #133. In this episode, host Robert Bryce talks to John Harpole, president of Denver-based natural gas broker Mercator Energy. Mr. Harpole brings data-driven points highlighting the impact that the current energy, food, and fertilizer crisis hitting Europe will have on food prices and food security worldwide.

If you haven’t heard it yet, we suggest taking a listen to The Power Hungry Podcast – Episode #133. In this episode, host Robert Bryce talks to John Harpole, president of Denver-based natural gas broker Mercator Energy. Mr. Harpole brings data-driven points highlighting the impact that the current energy, food, and fertilizer crisis hitting Europe will have on food prices and food security worldwide.

As with most supply chain disruptions, the N-P-K fertilizer shortage isn’t affecting one isolated market. With the shuttering of fertilizer plants across Europe, U.S. fertilizer prices are rising as the demand in Europe for U.S. fertilizer increases. We’re also told by Mr. Harpole to expect a 15-20% reduction in global grain production in the next two years. All of this is leading to a worldwide food shortage, most likely to hit the poorest parts of the world first with famine and death.

While this may seem dire, we know that there are possible solutions to be had. SUL4R-PLUS can be a part of those solutions. Our product can be helpful in these turbulent times, in spite of the rising costs for N-P-K fertilizers.

SUL4R-PLUS has proven to be key to providing a more balanced nutrition to our key crops, as well as increasing the uptake efficiency of other nutrients – especially nitrogen. We know that it can provide the world with a better fertilizer that can increase yields and help ease food shortages.

For further reading, here are some articles referenced in The Power Hungry Podcast, Episode #133:

CRU Group Website

CF to Halt Ammonia Output at UK Plant on Soaring Gas Prices By Elizabeth Elkin, Megan Durisin, and Aine Quinn, Bloomberg

European Crisis Kills Industrialization  By Emmet Penney, Grid Brief  

Day Ahead Energy Prices

SUBSCRIBE FOR UPDATES

Get expert insights, company news & trial data.

RELATED POSTS

Here’s a few similar resources we think you may find interesting.

  • Trials Continue to Show Improved Yields by Adding SUL4R-PLUS

    The results are in from our 2022 corn field trials conducted in Western Kentucky! These trials demonstrated that SUL4R-PLUS can improve corn yields while also increasing nitrogen uptake efficiency and utilization by the crop. Let’s dig into the details.

    Read More

  • The Top 3 Nutrients Missing from Your Soil Test

    Soil testing can be expensive, and if you’re not sure what kind of testing is most valuable to you, it’s tempting to just choose the most affordable option.

    Read More

  • A Solution to Food Shortages

    If you haven’t heard it yet, we suggest taking a listen to The Power Hungry Podcast - Episode #133. In this episode, host Robert Bryce talks to John Harpole, president of Denver-based natural gas broker Mercator Energy. Mr. Harpole brings data-driven points highlighting the impact that the current energy, food, and fertilizer crisis hitting Europe will have on food prices and food security worldwide.

    Read More

SUL4R-PLUS is the Investment You Need

Fertilizer is more than just a cost, it’s an investment. When you take into account inflation, supply chain issues, and overall commodity shortages, every penny counts.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) fertilizer prices are at near record levels in the U.S. and globally. As referenced in this article, “Fertilizer prices account for nearly 20% of U.S. farm cash costs, with an even greater share for corn (36%) and wheat (35%) producers.”

When considering this size of investment, growers deserve a product with proven success and consistency. Check out our field trials and real-world customer reviews and see for yourself why our innovative SUL4R-PLUS fertilizer is exactly what your operation needs.

CUSTOMER TESTIMONIALS

Customer relations is at the heart of what we do. As a team, we aim to provide unparalleled service and innovation in our industry. Over 90% of our annual volume comes from repeat customers, and last year over 8 in 10 of those repeat orders increased their tonnage. Check out these testimonials from real people who use our product in different areas of ag.

“The SUL4R-PLUS people were telling the truth. We saw elevated calcium and sulfur levels in the V-8 tissue samples and a 9 bu/acre yield bump on our 230 bu/acre corn at harvest.”

– Richard “Dick” Fischer, City View Farms, Lewiston, MN 

“We handle 12-13 different varieties of dry fertilizer, and SUL4R-PLUS stands out to me mainly for the quality of the pellet produced. I know the nutrient value is there, we’ve tested that, that’s not an ongoing concern, it’s a consistent product. But it’s mainly the quality of the pellet that comes into the barn. I have employees that have to work in that barn and when you have a product that’s poor quality, it really creates a lot of dust that’s not suitable to work in.”

–       John Ezinga, Michigan Agricultural Commodities, Middleton MI
FIELD TRIALS

If you’re like us, you need proof that something works before you try it. That’s why we have a robust library of field trials on our site. That’s why we have a robust library of research.

SUBSCRIBE FOR UPDATES

Get expert insights, company news & trial data.

RELATED POSTS

Here’s a few similar resources we think you may find interesting.

  • Don’t Lose Young Crops to Salt Burn

    Virtually all fertilizer materials are salts. And while fertilizer can make an enormous, positive difference in the quality of your crops, it can also sometimes cause salt burn.

    Read More

  • Calcium Clarified: The Basics

    Optimal crop nutrition is more than just N, P and K. Secondary nutrients, like calcium, are often overlooked, but actually serve important roles in crop production.

    Read More

  • Reduce Fertilizer Dust, Increase Workplace Sustainability

    Calcium is an important nutrient for proper corn plant nutrition. Even though it is a secondary nutrient, calcium is critical for optimizing plant strength, ear and kernel development and plays a key role in numerous physiological processes throughout the plant.

    Read More