From Planting to Harvest: Managing a Potato Crop with AGTIV® at Riverview Farms
See how early decisions help potatoes perform through changing conditions.
At Riverview Farms in Florenceville, New Brunswick, every season begins with one priority: setting the potato crop up for a strong start.
Owned by Shawn Paget, the third-generation operation spans 2,800 acres and focuses on chip stock and processing potatoes supported by a rotation that includes corn, winter wheat, oats, and soybeans. Shawn took over the farm from his in-laws and has continued to grow the operation with a clear focus on consistency, performance, and long-term sustainability.
Planting is a critical window. Soil conditions can vary, weather can shift quickly, and early decisions have a lasting impact on both the crop and the soil it depends on.
AGTIV® technologies are part of that early strategy. AGTIV REACH® (Liquid and Powder inoculants for potatoes) and AGTIV STIMULATE® are applied in-furrow at planting to support root development and tuber initiation from the start.
For Shawn, this approach is backed by experience. He has been using AGTIV® biological inoculants for more than a decade and has seen consistent results in the field. “You get that root development, you get the plants going, and it helps through stress periods,” he explains.
Beyond early growth, these biological inoculants also fit into a broader approach. By supporting soil activity and helping reduce reliance on certain inputs over time, they contribute to a system designed to perform not just in one season, but over the long term.
In a region where growing conditions can change quickly, early establishment plays a key role in how the season unfolds.
The 2025 season started under cold, wet conditions before shifting dramatically.
By mid-summer, fields were facing extended dry periods and heat. “All of a sudden it dried out in July,” Shawn recalls. “We had a couple of weeks of real hot weather, but no significant rain.”
These shifts place pressure on the crop at multiple stages, from early development to tuber bulking.
Under these conditions, the role of AGTIV® biological inoculants becomes more visible. By supporting root system development and helping maintain tuber set, AGTIV REACH® and AGTIV STIMULATE® contribute to crop resilience during stress periods.
“We’re seeing more developed root systems,” Shawn explains. “That’s what helps carry the crop through those tougher periods.”
Consistency over time is also part of the equation. “On five years, you’ll see four years of positive,” he says.
Beyond the current crop, Shawn has observed long-term benefits. Continued use of biological inoculants has contributed to improvements in soil structure and activity, including a buildup of mycorrhizae that supports performance across crops in the rotation.
That thinking carries through across the farm, where crop performance and long-term soil function are managed together.
By harvest, the impact of the season was clear.
Despite some timely rains earlier in the year, 2025 turned out to be one of the driest seasons Riverview Farms has experienced in the past five to six years.
“Yield is down probably 20 to 25%,” Shawn says, depending on field conditions and soil type.
Dry conditions also created challenges during harvest, with a focus on maintaining quality and recovering as much marketable product as possible.
Even with reduced yield, some indicators remained strong.
Tuber counts stayed high, and quality remained consistent. “Nice, smooth, tight potatoes, just a smaller run,” Shawn explains.
He attributes part of that stability to early-season decisions.
“It helps with root development and tuber initiation, keeping the set,” he says, referring to his AGTIV® program.
While conditions limited sizing, the crop maintained its structure and uniformity, which are key factors for marketable yield.
“If we’d had a timely rain in mid-August, we probably would have been digging a huge crop,” Shawn reflects.
At Riverview Farms, the focus is on building a system that performs across a range of conditions while supporting the long-term productivity of the land.
AGTIV REACH® and AGTIV STIMULATE® are part of that system. They support early establishment, help maintain tuber set, and contribute to crop performance under stress, while also playing a role in improving soil activity over time while increasing marketable yields.
From planting through harvest, their value is measured in how the crop holds its potential when conditions are less than ideal.
Because in potato production, performance and sustainability go hand in hand.
