A Reliable Source of Secondary Nutrients, Backed by Stable U.S. Supply
As the industry heads into another fast‑paced spring planting season, growers and retailers are once again focused on securing the nutrients that drive yield, efficiency and profitability. Over the past year, HELM Crop Solutions and SUL4R‑PLUS—together as industry partners—have made significant investments to strengthen product availability and meet rising demand for SUL4R-PLUS®, a domestically produced calcium sulfate fertilizer.
SUL4R‑PLUS delivers two essential secondary nutrients—calcium and sulfur—in a uniform, low-dust, easy‑to‑handle pellet. With both immediately available and season‑long nutrient release, it ensures crops receive the right nutrition at the right time. Designed for high nutrient use efficiency (NUE), SUL4R‑PLUS supports consistent crop performance and strong yield potential across a range of conditions. And with demand rising steadily in recent years, its overall value to both growers and retailers has become more apparent.
“In today’s challenging environment in agriculture, a lot of growers and retailers alike are looking for the best value in a nutritional product,” said Westin Rink, sales agronomist with SUL4R-PLUS. “I feel like we have a strong offering in SUL4R-PLUS.”
To support increasing market demand, SUL4R‑PLUS expanded its production footprint with a new facility in Marissa, Illinois, in 2025. This added capacity provides retailers and growers with improved in‑season planning confidence and more reliable access to high‑performing secondary nutrients.
Why growers and retailers choose SUL4R-PLUS, agronomic advantages
Maximizing NUE and yield requires fertilizers that perform reliably and support strong crop development throughout the season. SUL4R‑PLUS delivers sulfur and calcium in highly available forms that enhance nutrient uptake, strengthen plant structure and support key physiological processes.
SUL4R‑PLUS provides:
- 17% sulfur, essential for chlorophyll formation, protein synthesis, nitrogen fixation in legumes, nitrate utilization, and oil production in crops like soybeans and canola.
- 21% calcium, crucial for cell wall strength, stress tolerance, nutrient transport and healthy nodule formation in legumes.
These nutrients work together to improve uptake of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and other essential elements—helping growers achieve stronger, more uniform growth and higher yield potential while maximizing each fertilizer dollar they spend. Each pellet also contains fulvic acid, which enhances plant growth, nutrient uptake, root development and stress tolerance.
SUL4R‑PLUS is pH‑neutral with a low salt index (<8), which reduces the risk of salt‑related crop injury and supports long‑term soil productivity.
Field trial results continue to validate its performance across crops, soil types and fertility programs. The product can be applied pre‑plant or in‑season, with recommended rates of 100-250 lb/A, depending on crop needs.
“Due to its natural characteristics of being much more soil-stable, (SUL4R-PLUS) gives retailers and growers the added benefit of more flexible application schedules, much more so than other fertilizer products that aren’t as stable in the soil,” Rink said.
Why growers and retailers choose SUL4R-PLUS, efficiency benefits
SUL4R‑PLUS is also an efficient product, from many perspectives. First, it simplifies and idealizes operations for both growers and retailers. Its uniform, low‑dust pellets allow for cleaner handling, more precise applications, and better storage conditions compared to many blended or coated alternatives.
“Our folks take a lot of pride in producing a high-quality product, and our retailers give us a lot of positive feedback that they appreciate that,” Rink said. “They’re not dealing with excess dust that leads to poor applications in the field. We’re after getting higher standards in our quality so we can get more uniform applications, and all of the plants get adequate nutrition.”
Additionally, by providing season‑long nutrient availability in a single product, SUL4R‑PLUS helps reduce field passes, streamline inventory and improve application flexibility—key advantages during tight labor windows or unpredictable weather.
Why growers and retailers choose SUL4R-PLUS, economic value
With global fertilizer markets subject to ongoing supply and pricing volatility, SUL4R‑PLUS stands out as a stable, U.S.‑produced alternative. Retailers and growers benefit from dependable supply, reduced exposure to global pricing swings and confidence in steady product flow throughout the season.
Economically, SUL4R‑PLUS provides exceptional ROI—outperforming other sulfur‑based products through superior nutrient availability and measurable yield gains. Where commodity fertilizers often deliver inconsistent results, SUL4R‑PLUS consistently enhances crop response, which makes it a smart choice for operations focused on long‑term profitability and sustainability.
We’re ready, are you?
This season, set your customers up for success with one of the most dependable sources of calcium and sulfur on the market. With high grower expectations and increasing competition, retailers who stock SUL4R‑PLUS are equipped to deliver consistent, high‑value results.
Contact your local HELM crop nutrition sales representative to learn more about stocking SUL4R-PLUS.
You can also take one or more of HELM's online learning modules, to learn more about SUL4R-PLUS, other products and agronomic insights.