Speaking with Farm Director KC Sheperd, Valent’s row crop segment manager Will Griffin explained that the company is “an agriculture chemical manufacturer” offering products that “fit in basically every crop that’s grown in the United States.” He noted that the business is “split 50/50 between our specialty crops and our row crops,” and he oversees all of Valent’s row-crop operations.
Griffin, originally from Mississippi, discussed similarities and differences between Southern and Oklahoma production. “We still have cotton and soybeans and peanuts and corn… I’ve been in agriculture most of my life,” he said, adding that he has lived across multiple regions, including the Dakotas. His experience, he explained, has allowed him to see “about every growing environment we have in the U.S.”
Addressing producer concerns, Griffin said growers are currently feeling the impact of lower prices: “Producers obviously are feeling some of the pinch of commodity prices.” Still, he emphasized their resilience. “This isn’t the best time that they’ve ever had, but it’s not the worst time,” he said. Producers, he added, are especially “aware from a cost perspective” and focused on maximizing yield through smart input and operational decisions.
Griffin highlighted Valent’s strengths in weed management, particularly in corn and soybeans. He said the company is “really, really strong in our pre-emerge market” and offers both pre- and post-emergence options with residuals. Effective weed control, he explained, protects moisture and fertilizer—critical in unpredictable climates like Oklahoma, where “if you don’t like the weather today, just wait till tomorrow.”
Looking ahead, he mentioned a product “pending EPA registration” and expressed hope that next year they would be “really excited about our new product coming out” while helping producers stay profitable into 2026 and 2027.
