This is How We Test
Posted on July 22, 2025
When a product from The Andersons is field-ready, it’s the result of months of research, testing, and collaboration. From greenhouse trials to multi-location field tests, each step is designed to ensure our products perform reliably across a range of growing conditions.
Greenhouse Trials
Testing begins in the greenhouse, where Ciara Patterson leads small-scale studies under tightly controlled conditions. These trials help us replicate field challenges like nutrient deficiencies or disease pressure to evaluate how products respond under stress.
“Any sort of problem that you might see out in the field, I can replicate in the greenhouse, to see if the product is going to be helpful in that sort of situation,” Patterson said.
These trials help the agronomy team along with the research and development team to identify which formulations are worth advancing and which ones to refine before taking trials to a larger scale.
Key Advantages of Greenhouse Trials
- Controlled temperature, moisture, and soil conditions
- Ability to replicate nutrient deficiencies and disease stress
- Statistical confidence from multiple treatment replicates
- Fast feedback on early product formulations
Field Trials
Once a product has passed the greenhouse trial phase, it enters field trials, led by Bethany Widman. These are conducted across a variety of geographies, soil types, and growing conditions to validate how our products perform outside controlled environments.
“We run the same trial at multiple locations in both our eastern and western regions,” said Widman.
“Growing conditions in Nebraska differ from those in Ohio or Illinois. By testing in those environments, we ensure the product works for our customers wherever they are.”
Each trial is carefully designed with treated vs. untreated comparisons, varying application rates, and season-long tracking.
Key Advantages of Field Trials
- Validation in real-world growing conditions
- Geographic diversity to test broad performance
- Season-long crop response monitoring
- Reliable data used in product recommendations
Third-Party Research
To ensure objectivity and broaden our research beyond internal trials, we partner with experienced third-party researchers. One of our long-time researchers, Tim Maloney, has been working with The Andersons since 2011, conducting trials on various products across a wide range of crops.
“I try to conduct trials in an environment as close as possible to a typical, highly productive, well-managed commercial field,” Maloney explained. “I want the data results to be as representative of what a farmer would expect.”
Maloney’s process starts the season prior, preparing fields with balanced fertility, residue management, and tillage. In season, he focuses on precise planting, timely applications, and accurate harvest data, all aimed at producing reliable, repeatable results.
“Some trials only need one year, but many benefit from multiple seasons,” Maloney said. “That’s when you start to see patterns with rate changes, timing, compatibilities, and weather variability. Multi-year testing adds depth and context that a single season can’t provide.”
When asked why third-party trials matter, Maloney shared:
“Third-party research is essential, as long as it’s done with quality in mind. If a researcher doesn’t prioritize consistency and accuracy, it introduces too much variability and confusion. But when done well, it provides clarity and confidence.”
Putting Research to Work
The insights we gather don’t just stay in the lab or field. It’s found in our annual Research Guide, a go-to resource for our sales team that’s compiled from greenhouse and in-field data. The guide helps support dealer conversations and empowers growers to make confident and informed decisions based on the trial results.
Click here to download our latest Research Guide or talk to your local sales rep and ask how our trial data can support your next product choice.
