The biggest variables affecting the agrochemical business (like weather and markets) cannot be changed – or perfectly predicted. This means that the way you manage factors you can control makes all the difference in your agriculture product line’s profitability and long-term viability.
That’s why decisions like the partners you choose to assist in your chemical blending process carry tremendous consequences. Choosing a custom toll-blender isn’t a simple exercise—it requires careful thought. Asking the right questions will help you determine if a potential partner is a good fit for your line and your company, especially when evaluating partners for agrochemical manufacturing.
While your customers know that the chemicals they buy are regulated by the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), when it’s time to buy, they aren’t looking for the EPA’s assurance – they’re buying your brand’s assurance.
If your brand is going to represent “reliable results,” you need to find a reliable chemical blender that understands your customers and their needs, too.
To help we’re offering some decision-making advice based on 80 years of blending and manufacturing experience in the agrochemical sector. These five key issues will help you evaluate a partner’s capabilities in agrochemical manufacturing.
The timely application of any agricultural insecticide is key to maximizing crop production. Months of intense planning precede each season, and as the season approaches your success, and your customers’ success, may depend on your ability to zig or zag very quickly.
We recommend looking for a FIFRA-compliant partner located near your customers or distribution areas. Production location and facility capabilities are critical factors in successful agrochemical manufacturing.
Beyond location, evaluate your partner’s blending capabilities. Ask for EPA registration details and understand how consistency is maintained across multiple facilities.
Quite simply, quality standards = customer satisfaction = customer loyalty. If your herbicide is formulated to stick to broadleaf weeds and its moisture content varies due to poor packaging, it won’t work as expected and your customers won’t buy your brand again. If your insecticide is formulated to kill larva but an ingredient used in the formulation is too light, your product may blow away in a strong wind, meaning your customers will lose crop yield and you’ll lose customers. If you aren’t convinced that quality and consistency are paramount to your blender, keep looking.
We recommend asking a lot of questions about water. Water temperature can dramatically affect a formulation. Quality standards and testing protocols are critical. Be to also find out how your blender adjusts formulations in different batches based on inactive ingredients, or variations in water pH that may occur in different plants or due to seasonal changes.
As mentioned in the example above, packaging also affects product quality. Ask your blender about its supply chain management process, which should be a documented part of its quality assurance program.
Agrochemical formulations require a wide range of packaging options depending on customer size, distribution methods and myriad other business, formulary and regulatory requirements.
Even if you don’t need a tanker option now, your next customer could ask for one, and it will make you look great if you can immediately say “Yes! We do offer that!”
Packaging options a blender can offer include, but are not limited to:
Fresh chemicals? Sounds like an oxymoron! But you want to know if your blender will be able to ship quickly. The less distance your products have to travel the better.
Ask about logistics and distribution capabilities. Ideally, if your line includes regional blends, you’ll select partners located in or near customers in each region. Shorter delivery routes cut costs and ensure more timely deliveries which makes it much more likely you’ll sell through your inventory.
Additionally, be sure to ask about substitutions and supply management. Estimates of customer demand are just that – estimates. Different variables affect every season. What are your plans if you need to increase a particular product line or offer a substitute due to a shortage? What happens if you need to increase an order amount. Does that slow production or shipping time?
You want to find a blender that can help you make good decisions about your product line. Ask your manufacturing partner about flexibility, contingency plans, and how they accommodate change orders.
Experience matters. Ask how long specific products have been manufactured and what types of formulations the blender specializes in.
At Royal Chemical, we bring over 80 years of experience in blending and packaging adjuvants, nutrients, and crop protection products. Our team is actively involved in industry organizations and collaborates with experts to solve complex challenges.
Need assistance managing production, quality, and cost? Looking to scale during peak season?
Royal Chemical supports agrochemical manufacturing with: