Ralco Agriculture

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Our Science

For more than 50 years, Ralco has used the power of nature to solve real-world challenges in agriculture. We pair that natural foundation with precision engineering to deliver technologies producers can rely on.

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Three Generations of Forward Thinking

From the beginning, Ralco has been shaped by bold leaders who saw a better way forward in agriculture.

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In 1971, our founder Bob Galbraith believed people would someday care where their food came from, and that better microbial tools could help naturally extract more energy from every ration. He focused not on feeding the cow but feeding the microbes in the rumen. That idea still powers our work today.

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Bob’s son-in-law, Jon Knochenmus, carried the vision forward. He brought an unmatched energy and mindset that sparked ideas and rallied people behind him. He helped pioneer the large-scale use of essential oils and prebiotics in livestock, introduced milk replacers for piglets that actually worked and pushed the adoption of net energy systems in swine diets.

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That drive continued with Jon’s son, Brian Knochenmus. Brian helped carry Ralco’s microbial technologies from the rumen to the soil, giving crop producers the same edge livestock producers had. He believed the microbial tools that support rumen performance could be just as powerful in the soil, helping crops access more nutrients from the soil and fertilizer.

Learn More About Us
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Built to Solve Problems that Matter

At our core, every generation at Ralco has focused on turning natural ingredients into functional technologies that solve real-world problems. We don’t make one-size-fits-all products, we develop targeted technologies that work in real barns, on real farms and under real-world pressure.

  • Turning essential oils and plant extracts into consistent tools for animal health
  • Designing prebiotics that work the full length of the gut, feeding and protecting beneficial microbes
  • Activating native microbial systems in the rumen and the soil to unlock more from every acre and feed ration

Our Technologies

Technology-Driven Solutions

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Microfused® Essential Oils

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Ralco was one of the first to explore essential oils as a tool for animal health on a large scale. That work led to Microfused Essential Oil technology, which breaks essential oils into microscopic droplets for better gut coverage and microbial balance through competitive exclusion.

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Actifibe® Prebiotic

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Actifibe is a proprietary prebiotic designed to ferment slowly throughout the entire length of the gut. That steady energy feeds beneficial bacteria, supports gut integrity and helps reinforce the immune system.

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Microbial Catalyst®

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Ralco has led microbial innovation in agriculture since 1971. Our patented Microbial Catalyst technology activates native microbes in the rumen and the soil, releasing more nutrients and improving how feed and fertilizer are used.

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Our Technologies

Innovative Technologies for Animal and Crop Health

Backed by decades of research and field testing, our technologies are designed to improve health and performance across livestock and crops.

Protects Beneficial Microbes

Our technologies help safeguard the good microbes animals and plants depend on, supporting digestion, nutrient uptake and stronger defenses against everyday production stress.

Promotes Competitive Exclusion

By feeding the right bacteria and maintaining gut integrity, our solutions create an environment where beneficial microbes can thrive.

Delivers Targeted Formulations

We match plant-based ingredients to specific swine challenges using mapped NEXUS™ profiles. That means every product is built for a purpose, not just a label or one-size-fits-all approach.

Strengthens Natural Immunity

Ralco technologies help reinforce structural barriers in the gut and reduce inflammation, giving animals the internal support needed to fight back and recover faster.

Helps Hosts Prepare for Challenges

Healthier systems, whether in the gut or soil, respond better under pressure. Our innovations promote balance and defense at the cellular level, helping operations stay on track during high-stress periods or challenges

Consistent
Performance

With patented delivery systems, strict quality control and decades of field-proven success, Ralco delivers reliable performance in commercial agriculture, season after season.

Our Research Centers

Our innovation doesn’t stop at the lab. Ralco’s research centers are where ideas are put to work, tested and refined in real-world conditions. Led by our team of technical experts, these sites are built to explore what’s possible, and to prove that our natural solutions perform under pressure.

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Poultry Research Barn

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Microbial Lab

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Swine Research Barn

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Ruminant Research Lab

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Swine Grow/Finish Research Center

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Agronomy Research Center

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Swine Nursery Research Center

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Jon Knochenmus Center for Innovation

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Research Lab

Our Experts

We believe innovation begins with people. That’s why Ralco invests in a diverse team of scientists in nutrition, veterinary medicine, microbiology, agronomy and beyond. They challenge conventional thinking, explore new possibilities and turn science into natural solutions producers can trust.

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Rachel Raths, MS
Senior Director of Innovation
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Russell Fent, PhD
Director of Swine Technical
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Richard Lamb
Senior Technology Director
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Alyx Fisk, PhD
Technology Research Manager
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Tim Broderick, PhD
Poultry Research & Development Manager
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Lee Opdahl, PhD
Agronomy Research & Development Manager
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Mike Johnson
Chemist
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Shelly Tiede, MS
Senior Swine Nutritionist
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Kevin Touchette, PhD
Senior Swine Nutritionist
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Josh Knapp, PhD
Associate Swine Nutritionist
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Jacob Richert, PhD
Associate Swine Nutritionist
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Tim Olson
Swine Formulation Specialist
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Chad Bierman, PhD
Swine Product Specialist
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Heidi Doering-Resch, MS
Ruminant Technology Manager
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Susan Day, MS
Ruminant Formulation Specialist
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Ben Bjork
Ruminant Product Specialist
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Alea Gigliotti, MS
Poultry Product Specialist
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Gary Loeck
Research Specialist
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Carson Sharlau, MS
Innovation Research Manager
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Craig Lasley
Agronomy Research Technician
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Sara Renelt
Research Farm Lead

Validated Through Real-World Research

We don’t just rely on internal data. Ralco partners with leading universities and conducts commercial-scale trials across millions of animals and hundreds of thousands of acres worldwide. These studies validate our technologies in the environments where producers operate every day, so they can trust our solutions to deliver.

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Choose a Species

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Poultry

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Swine

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Dairy

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Beef