Meristem Crop Performance is helping Saratoga Partnership, a 20,000-acre operation based in northeast Iowa, drive consistent performance. By utilizing Meristem’s biological portfolio, the farm is effectively managing residue and cutting input costs while boosting yields.
Meristem Products Cut Costs and Boost Yields in Northern Iowa Soils
Northern Iowa — January 30, 2026
Saratoga Partnership farms nearly 20,000 acres across three states, with high-stakes production in the rich, black soils of northeast Iowa. To maintain consistent performance without ballooning costs, the operation has turned to Meristem Crop Performance.
“We are production driven. We work hard to try to find ways to grow more bushels,” said Jackson Dohlman, crop production manager for Saratoga Partnership. “What I think separates Meristem is they have a passion for bringing innovative alternatives to the producer with the focus on how to get profit out of their acres.”
- Excavator® AMS: Used in strip-till and cover crop systems to act as a surfactant, break down residue, and feed nutrients back to the crop.
- Hopper Throttle® MaxStax™ (Corn): Provides disease control and fertility boosts at a reasonable cost.
- MaxStax™ (Soybean): Allows the farm to plant “naked beans” (untreated seed) early in the season with confidence, replacing expensive traditional treatments.
Dohlman highlights the Bio-Capsule™ delivery system as a game-changer for getting live biologicals exactly where they need to be. “The Excavator AMS product is a good fit because… it helps break down all the residue and we are feeding back nutrients to the growing crop.”
“Meristem products work in Iowa, they work in Minnesota and Missouri too,” added Mitch Eviston, Meristem founder and CEO. “Large acreage or small, farmers around the country are finding ways to produce more bushels for less.”

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