Category: Newsletter

THANKS FOR ANOTHER GREAT YEAR OF SERVING YOUR NEEDS IN 2003!

MORE ON CROP RESIDUE: Can you afford to lose the equivalent of an application of 116-27-209. That’s the fertilizer value of the stover from a 200 bushel corn crop when it is broken down correctly/biologically. Bt corn is harder than normal to break down. When we do a recommendation on your soil, we “radionically” check a group of biological stimulants that include Restore, Liquid Bacteria, Agri-Gro, SP-1 and Soil Biological. This covers several possible approaches: homeopathic products, enzyme products and live bacterial mixtures. If it is on the recommendation, your soil will very likely “respond” to the application of any of the above that are used. One of the responses will be better residue breakdown. We almost always recommended Fish Agra [fungal stimulation] and a carbohydrate/sugar [bacterial stimulation], which are also bio-stimulants.

MORE ON SUGAR: When sugar or molasses is applied to soils, two things usually happen. The microbes can use it to help convert N into NH2 forms for easier utilization by the plant, or sugar can go directly into the roots/sap stream and feed any part of the plant. When sugar is supplemented in this way, additional energy may be available for fruiting instead of most of it being used for growth. If you want to shock a plant into fruiting and reduce internode length, then apply an “overdose” by foliar or drip. According to Texas Plant & Soil Lab of Texas, the results will occur within hours and last 5-10 days. If you produce more potential fruit/grain, be sure to be prepared to support the continued developing and ripening by good soil base fertilization, drip, fertigation or foliar. Otherwise, you may end up with some empty pods, small beans, etc. A plant “knows’ how much sugar/energy is available, but it can’t discern where it came from. Use your brix, pH and Ergs meters to keep track of the crop.

TO RECOVER SOME SOILS: Word coming from Australia is that buildups of Atrazine and Glean herbicides can cause a problem. When barley and triticale are stimulated into greater than usual root penetration [right through a hard pan], the roots can run into toxicity levels that may produce a temporary set back. There is a rumor that the herbicides may contain nickel, and an excess nickel buildup may also be causing a general biocide effect. I will be “down under” most of Feb., so will check on this then.

MORE ON BORON: I will guess that as many as 80-90% of you are not providing adequate boron for your crops. Recent field studies show it can leach more than the “old textbooks” indicate. On eastern and mid-western soils, most of you are already short as per the soil tests coming through our lab. Boron is essential for the use of calcium and recent plant tissue analysis studies show shortages of both at many stages of growth. So working so hard on getting calcium built up in your soil is to little avail if you don’t supply boron as well. Most boron products should meet NOP standards as they probably come from mined sodium borate. CSI does have a liquid OMRI boron spray available.

MORE ON SULFUR: One of the ways to make Ca soluble for plant uptake is to apply sulfur in the sulfate or other oxidized forms. We constantly recommend ammonium sulfate for this purpose on non-organic farms. Gypsum [calcium sulfate] can be used on organic farms, but has little effect if base saturation of calcium is below 60% and is usually not recommended at pH’s below 7.0. Gypsum also fails in many very high pH and/or high calcium soils. Sulfate of Potash is quite expensive, and sul-po-mag is not appropriate on high magnesium soils. Elemental S is expensive and is not usable until oxidized. Our Natural Potassium Sulfate Plus [0-0-7-15S-1Fe] product is the best answer. It contains multi oxidations states of sulfur [SO2, SO3, SO4, S2O5, etc.] making it very “reactive”. These are the same oxidation states that phosphorous can occur in. The deposit has natural sulfating/oxidizing bacteria which will continue their activity in your fields. In field tests, NKS plus releases K from soils in addition to the 7% K2O it contains. The 1% iron is a nice addition for increasing chlorophyll production. Again, your soil tests are usually short of sulfur. Regretfully, at this time, NKS Plus is only available in bulk semi-loads from the Nevada desert. Still, it costs much less [including freight] than elemental sulfur locally and is 100’s of times more “reactive”. Hopefully, bulk bags will be available sometime in 04. At 200#/acre, a semi load would cover about 240 acres. Higher amounts should be used on heavier and higher pH soils. Tests using 1000# per acre in Colorado, broke up pH 8, high calcium carbonate soils [onions] in one season. Those of you still using high nitrogen without additional sulfur are still “missing the boat” in that you will attract insects and waste a lot of the N that could have gone into making good amino acids and complete proteins. Neighbor farms could consider sharing loads and CSI is working with some of the Tenn Brown blenders to have NKS Plus used and available in smaller quantities as well.

QUANTUM AG BROADCASTERS : Because Hugh Lovel has emigrated to Australia, he has asked that I take over installation of US, Canada & Mexico broadcasters. [CAVEAT: Lorraine, his assistant is going to continue to advertise in Acres. If you call there, she will sell you the tower and make your preps. However, she says “I may not be able to install your tower, and if I do, I will not be able to provide general agronomic consulting as Phil or Hugh would do.”] Therefore, to avoid confusion, please order your Quantum Ag Broadcaster from our office. We expect a significant # of orders [we received one from IL while typing this], so PLEASE order early and we will schedule you for this spring and summer. Hopefully, we can combine installations and trips to areas, saving time and money for CSI and you. (If you order a tower from UAI, we will install it as part of our schedule.)

SOME PROBLEMS SOLVED: 1. Less than semi-loads of Tenn. Brown Phos will be available at P & L Fertilizer in Middle Point, OH 800-393-2230 and Honeyville Elevator, Topeka, IN 260-593-9943 [no bags or shipping, just bring your truck]. 2. CropGuard and other materials will be stocked at Daylight Enterprises, Fairgrove, MI 989-693-6127. 3. Bulk bags of paramagnetic rock are available by semi or by single metric ton bags or pallets of 55# bags. 4. Sol-po-mag is available by less than full semis at various warehouses around the US.

CROPGUARD: One application with spreader/sticker provided aphid control during two generations on beans in Michigan. Manufacturer is also making a CropGuard EC or Extra Concentrate to save shipping costs. New prices, new rates. See Price List.

MORE ON PREVENTING APHIDS: There is no substitute for prevention. Any natural pesticide treatment is going to cost a lot more than some basic fertility practices. I would suggest a minimum program in row for beans of: 1 Gal Fish Agra, 2oz Restore, 1pint Crop-Guard a sugar or molasses, and possibly a pint of Agri-Gro or Soil Biological or a gal. of SP-1. Other combinations including trace minerals that you know you’re short of should be considered. Consider having all planters or cultivators set up to do liquids. Drenching over row with a field sprayer is also an option.

Dr. WHEELER’S GARLIC & YUCCA: It meets NOP regulations for feed additives AS IS! If you fed it continuously, as per recommendations, would that make it a feed? Would that require using organic garlic, which would raise costs. How would OMRI certify a yucca plant grown naturally in the mountains of Mexico? If you just use it periodically, does that make it OK? It is perfect for periodic use as a wormer and antibiotic replacement on any farm. PLEASE CHECK WITH YOUR CERTIFIER BEFORE USING CONTINUALLY!

Dr. WHEELER’S ANIMAL TODY: I was very surprised when I tested the Toddy with an ergs meter [soluble salts]. It read an incredible 30,000 ergs/micro siemens! This means it is chocked full of soluble, ionic/charged minerals, in a fulvic acid medium, ready to go into the cells of your livestock for increased performance and health. The cost works out to about 9 cents a day for a full grown steer. This is NOP official even if fed continually.

NEW PRODUCT: CSI is pleased to announce the addition to our line of a 20% natural horticultural vinegar [store vinegar is about 3-5%]. This 200 grain product, made from fermented grain can be used for lowering pH’s of spray solutions or soil as well as the USDA suggestion for killing weeds. Product can be sprayed directly on foliage to dehydrate plants. Works best in mid-day heat. Very waxy plants may require second application. Large root system plants such as Bermuda grass and Ivies may require soil drenching with undiluted product to lower pH enough to kill. Soil area will recover in time or may be treated with lime and compost. Meets NOP standards.

TENN BROWN IS A “REACTIVE” PHOSPHATE!: I conferred with a Canadian geologist at Acres, and he pleasantly surprised me by emphatically stating that Tenn Brown is a reactive phosphate similar to the North Carolina Black that appeared a few years ago and then disappeared a few years later. According to the expert, Tenn Brown is associated with a clay in its structure that gives it the “reactive” property. That is why two different states have pulled samples at blending sites and came back with reports stating “labeled 0-3-0, found 0-10-0”. That is also why it is fast becoming the choice of mid-western and western blenders in Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Arizona, New Mexico and Idaho. Some of “Reams” proponents might find it performs the same or better than “colloidal clay”, since it is also clay based and cleaner. Paradigms are difficult to change.

RADIONICS TRAINING CLASSE: My original instructor, Steve Weston, is presenting beginning [3day] and advanced [1day] sessions on January 25,26,26,28 at the Charmont café in Cass City, Michigan and Feb. 15,16,17,18 at American Legion Hall in Canistota, South Dakota. Call Steve at 920-825-7225 or 920-559-7226. Michigan contact is Gary Blackwell @ 989-864-3008 and SD contact is Don Beaner @ 800-529-5988. Enjoy!

SENDING IN SOIL TESTS: PLEASE make sure you identify yourself and your samples inside the box when you send them in. NEVER put info on paper inside soil test bag. PLEASE tell us what tests you want done. NEXT, please send in the payment according to our price list. You may call anytime for a price list to be sent, faxed or emailed or go to our website, cropservicesintl.com. We will credit, debit or return overages or under payments. Samples do not have to be dried, and we only need about a pint maximum to do any and all tests on one sample. Thanks for your cooperation in saving us time and money.

SCHEDULE: Office will be closed Jan 20-28 while Phil & Louisa are soaking up “rays” somewhere south of the border. “Wish you were here!” We won’t be sending postcards.

Phil will be in Australia from Feb 3-20, giving two, 3-day classes, installing a broadcaster and Veges Sound Machine near Cairns, QLD [Sub-Tropics] and dowsing for wells on a large grazing property near Charter Towers, QLD. Sorry, no room in my suit case left for you.

MINERALS FOR TESTING: CSI has a selection of individual liquid minerals in 20 oz bottles. They are from Eniva and sold for human use. However, if someone was doing plant or animal research, they would provide and ideal way to test the reactions benefits, detriments under research conditions as they are in an ionic, soluble, pure form. Because they are excess inventory, I would take any reasonable offer. They sell for about $18.00 ordinarily. I have molybdenum, vanadium, manganese, potassium, selenium, germanium, chromium, sulfur and copper. They are still fit for human consumption too.

FREE SEA SILVER: Email me at pawheeler@cropsericesintl.com if you wish to receive a coupon that you can redeem only online for a free bottle of this excellent health product. If you are already a customer in their computer, you can’t use the coupon under the same name. THE CATCH IS, you have to pay $4.95 shipping and sign up to get a bottle every month after the first two weeks. [Which you can cancel again in a month.] THE BENEFIT IS that it gets you on an excellent vitamin, mineral, herbal product and you too can get the coupons to build a network if you wish. Don’t confuse this with the elemental, ionic Silver that comes from Eniva that I use for colds, flu, warts etc.

YOU ARE TALKING TO ME FROM WHERE?: On or about May 15, we will launch our 35 ft pontoon, outboard cabin boat about 50 miles north of Grand Rapids. We expect to have wireless computer, fax and cell phone connections back to our home office. We hope to run CSI from the boat for at least 2 days a week up till mid-October. When you call in on our toll free #, your call should be automatically forwarded or, if technology fails, you can leave a message as usual or try our cell phone directly at 616-915-5255. Always leave your phone # please, as your (customers & suppliers) #’s are on hard copy and not in computer.

Good Luck & Good Growing in 2004. Phil & Louisa Wheeler

EXCITING NEWS ON SEVERAL TOPICS: NEW ORGANIC ANIMAL MINERALS AND SUPPLEMENTS: NEW FASTER, EASIER WEED AND INSECT CONTROL WITH TOWERS: NEW PRICING AND EFFICACY ON REPELLEX AND CROP GUARD & MUCH, MUCH MORE!

CROP GUARD & REPELLEX: The manufacturer has improved his ability to extract the essentials out of the fresh whole garlic, thereby lowering the cost. The new price is $44.80 per gallon in 2 ½’s and $35.30 in 30 gal drums, FOB for both. Both products retain their organic certification and represent one of the few options for insect control for certified growers. History repeats itself every year as frantic growers want help yesterday with a “bug” problem. Please consider that either Crop Guard or RepellEX should be on hand to go in the row or broadcast on grains to give early immunity as plants are coming up. If you and your neighbors had insect problems this year and you don’t upgrade your nutrition this fall and next spring, you will probably have insects next year. If using Fish Agra, you’re getting some yucca in the product with all its benefits and you can use the pure garlic, RepellEX. If not, the Crop Guard gives you both garlic and yucca in the same product for in-row use and then—-Crop Guard becomes your sprayed on, feeding suppressant type insecticide, for all sucking, chewing insects. CSI has received reports from a large organic farm in Sask. that Crop Guard is effective against young feeding grasshoppers. Also have re-orders from Michigan bean growers for aphid control. It works best when used correctly with a good spreader sticker and when APPLIED EARLY ON THE YOUNGER INSECTS!

NOTE: Almost all our products are shipped right from the manufacturer, who may be anywhere in the country. Plan on 7 days before receiving your product after you hang up the phone. Calling when you see lots of bugs can result in a gut wrenching experience as you wait for the “Brown” truck every day.

NEW ORGANIC FEED PRODUCTS: The same manufacturer as above has created Dr. Wheeler’s Garlic and Yucca Organic Feed Supplement for all animals, poultry and pets. Yucca aids in digestion and feed utilization, control of bad stomach bacteria, proliferation of the good guys and odor control. Garlic is an amazing antibiotic as well as the best source of safe, bio-active Selenium for strong immune systems. Selenium is one of the few known de-toxifiers of heavy metals like mercury. Garlic was found to be more potent than penicillin, ampillicin, streptomycin and others against Anthrax and it blocks the toxins.

Garlic also helps in insect/fly control in the manure and on the animal. There is no flavor or odor carryover into milk when used as directed. Only 1 to 4 ounces per 100 lb of feed are needed. Only $26.78/gal FOB in 2x 2 ½ gal case. Quarts and 1 gal. available as well.

The second new product is Dr. Wheeler’s Animal Toddy. This is a unique 70 + mineral, Organic, liquid supplement created from ancient humic shale deposits. The minerals from the clean, ancient plant materials are leached with fresh rain water. Give your livestock a boost with every trace and macro mineral known. Product is used at 1 drop per 20 lb animal weight per day. There are 355 drops per ounce, so we are talking results at very low cost. May be put in water supply or sprayed on feed. Animal Toddy can be used for all animals, birds, fish and reptiles. Available in quarts, 1, 5, and 15 gallons. Gallon price FOB is $78.00. Some Vets and Pet Stores are selling similar products for over $10.00/oz! Both products are available now. Give your animals the needed boost to prosper under winter stress conditions, lower quality feed, pregnancy or cold wet springs.

TENN. BROWN PHOS: We have decided to drop the price to $50/ton permanently, this fall. This appears to be a better system than the different prices during the year for a variety of reasons. Multiple loads will still get further discounts. In a recent state inspection of one of our blenders, the state listed the availability at 0-11-0! We claim 0-3-0. What amazes me is that some growers are buying other rock phosphates at 3 times the price with an actual 0-2-0 availability and just a little more total phosphate. Please pass the word to other growers in your organizations that Tenn. Brown is the only way to fly. We still need blenders or baggers in different parts of the country that can bring in bulk semi-loads and bag in 50’s or 1 ton bulk bags and ship out on pallets to those who don’t need a semi-load. Hewitt Brothers in Upstate NY has in smaller quantities. Call 315 497-0900.

FALL PROGRAMS: Most sustainable companies have some recommendations for crop residue treatment in the fall because it is extremely effective in turning the residue into useful humus to feed next years crop and provide some long term humus building. We could probably give you a dozen different formulas using a dozen different products. Since Fish Agra is one of our best products, let’s talk about using it or its partner C-4-1-1, that is not OMRI certified, but NOP OK. With either product you’re getting extensive bio-activation [fungal and bacterial] from yucca and protein nitrogen. With the Fish Agra, you can add sugar or molasses. The only thing else you might use is a live bacterial culture from products like SP-1, Soil Biological or compost tea.

Before or after treatment, try to do something that puts the residue in close contact with the ground such as chopping, flaying, light discing, etc. If done correctly you could see major growth of white fungal micelles all over the residue that will break it down for you. See the next section for the science of what is really happening. Meanwhile, other types of organisms such as algae that are harmed by herbicides, are being regenerated.

You will reap the nutritional benefits for a fall cover crop or for next year’s spring crop. All nutrients, including the N in the fish will be held by microorganisms. Don’t forget to take this into account when figuring next year’s fertilizer program. Rates are 1-2 gallons

Fish Agra or C-4-1-1; 1-2 gallons or molasses or 3-5 lbs sugar and biological additive.

A second approach would be liquid calcium and Agri-Gro, an enzymatic soil treatment. The Agri-Gro company is offering a 4 gal for the price of 3 for use on a fall program.

MEANWHILE corrective dry spreading of major and minor nutrients is the most efficient during the fall. Cover crops will take them up and fix them on frequency for next year’s

crop. Farmers can be very efficient at dates of planting, plant density, timing, etc. and miss the real efficiency of nutrients, microorganisms and plants.

HUMUS, THE REAL TRUTH: An ARS scientist has finally paid attention to a part of humus that was previously thought of as a contaminant. Dr. Sarah Wright has identified the component as Glomalin, the real super-glue of soil. She named it after the fungus that produces the sticky protein. Most stunning is the finding that there is more glomalin than humic acids in soil and glomalin stores 27 % of the total soil carbon! There is more glomalin produced in eastern, cooler soils than in western hot, dry soils. Now you can see why Dr. Elaine Ingham works on restoring the fungal portion of the soil food web. And, you can now understand why we strongly suggest the use of fish, yucca and garlic products in all cropping situations—THEY PROMOTE FUNGAL GROWTH!!

PRODUCTS THAT WORK: We have already mentioned Crop Guard successes, but other products produce as advertised as well. We recently heard from a grape grower in Michigan who works away from the vineyard and only is there on weekends. He is getting excellent weed control with RESTORE, the homeopathic product from Parametric. RESTORE is also a mycorrhizal [the most important plant root fungi] stimulant.

ORGANIC CERTIFICATION OF PRODUCTS: This contentious issue continues. OMRI is now viewed by some manufactures as an expensive 3rd party interloper, no longer relevant in light of National Organic Program [NOP] standards. Therefore, some manufactures are not re-registering their product on a yearly [expensive] basis, since they haven’t changed their product since the original submission. Many consumers or growers may think that OMRI gives them added protection or assurance of their inputs. In light of a recent Acres USA article, it appears that the bigger the company selling the organic packaged product, the much less chance you ever have of verifying that it actually came from an organic farm. In addition, OMRI offers no liability protection for their issuances. If they make a mistake, you as a grower, have no recourse against them.

Organic growers need a source of certified liquid calcium for ground and foliar use. Under-active soil calcium prevents maximum quality yield and foliar calcium is one of the cheapest and easiest way to supplement or overcome the soil transfer/root limitations.

Most liquid calcium products are based on calcium nitrate, that just can’t and shouldn’t be approved and stay true to the science and philosophy of Organics. However, some

manufacturers are making the product from natural, mined calcium chloride and an approved chelating agent. This meets the scientific and philosophical tenets of organic.

Chorine is an essential nutrient in all living systems. A baby formula with no chloride ions was introduced to the marketplace. Babies that consumed it exclusively, DIED!

CSI is pleased to announce that an organic certifying agency, MOSA, using NOP standards, has approved one of our liquid calcium sources for foliar and ground use!

FALL TESTING: You wouldn’t start on a trip without directions and an address, so why go into next year without a recent [max 2-3 yr. old] CEC test. Just about every soil test

that comes through our lab is Boron deficient as well as short in one or two other traces such as Copper, Zinc or Manganese. Remember, every reaction in a plant is enzyme driven and every enzyme is based on a trace mineral. Most tests are still showing under-available calcium and phosphorous, which means that the biology is still not up to par. It is like driving a car in poor repair and wondering why you are burning so much gas and oil and not getting much performance. TO MEASURE, IS TO KNOW! TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE KNOWLEDGE IS WISDOM!

Speaking of measuring, we know that the desired pH of 6.4 for plant sap is actually based on composite plant frequencies. Until all the frequencies of nutrients and components of the plant combine to give the right composite “f”, your plant sap won’t be at the right pH, the Brix won’t be high enough and the EC [Electrical Conductivity] may be out of range. RESULTS = INSECT or DISEASE attack or both. Dr’s. Reams, Callahan, Tanio, etc., Radionic Operators, Tower Inventors and their student practitioners are “telling it like it is”.

FOLIAR TIPS: Using 2 quarts liquid calcium with 1-2 lbs boron material can give a major boost to fruit, bean and seed set if sprayed just prior or during initial reproductive stages. These can be used with your regular fish and seaweed. Start planning now for next season!

NEW TECHNOLOGY: We are excited to announce a major breakthrough in using your Quantum Ag Broadcasting Towers for weed, insect and critter control. Under the old bio-dynamic paradigm, “peppers” against specific weeds, insects and critters were made by “charcoaling” them, followed by spreading or converting to cards for broadcasting. This could result in very slow death or disappearance of the target. NOW, you can just send any specimen [dead or alive] or part thereof and we can prepare a “card” with all life frequencies that identify that specimen. Then we use the card to produce a homeopathic remedy that “neutralizes” the life frequencies of the target. Place the remedy in your tower and it will broadcast neutralizing frequencies 24 hours a day. You should see much faster responses. Cost is $20 per specimen/species.

NEW BOOK: If you would like to try to understand the science behind the Tower technology, may I suggest, The Field, by Lynn McTaggart. She is an investigative reporter that writes about the scientific findings for lay people. I enjoyed the book because it reports on Rupert Sheldrake and Fritz Albert Popp, both of whom I have met or conversed with.

SCHEDULE: Phil is lecturing for a new company in Australia, first class is next Feb. 04. CSI is scheduled for Small Farm Today show, Nov 6, 7, 8, Columbia, MO & Acres USA conf., Dec. 11, 12, 13, Ft. Wayne, IN. Hope to see you there.

GOOD HARVESTING! Phil & Louisa Wheeler

BACK TO BASICS: Because we have so many new customers “sign on” in 2002 and because we are beginning our tenth year of service to sustainable agriculture, it would be a good idea to review the basics of agriculture. Thanks to those who have been with us since the beginning and to all those who joined us on the journey. 2002 was another great year.

MINERALS: Minerals are the basis of life on earth. The minerals involved in soil come from weathered rocks which came from stellar material. The greater the spectrum of minerals in soils usually indicates more productive soils as it usually provides more feed for the microorganisms. Also, an appropriate balance/ratio among major and trace minerals is beneficial. Just minerals are dead soil. All plants act as mineral accumulators through their roots and through the aboveground portions from minerals in the atmosphere. Veges Sound Machines can dramatically improve mineral uptake, both root and leaf.

LIFE: Soils must contain life in the form of microorganisms and higher forms of life to perform the processes necessary to support plant life. These organisms help the further breakdown of soil particles and organic residues into humus. The smallest eat first and then these are fed upon by larger and so on. The two major categories are bacteria and fungi. Bacteria are like little animals that predominate in tilled soils, while fungi are like little plants and predominate in forest soils. However, lack of or the wrong kinds of bacteria or too many compared to the fungi in tilled soils causes problems. The use of ammonium sulfate, Fish Agra and C-4-1-1, packaged inoculants, vinegar and compost [tea] are ways to help keep the bacterial/fungal balance.

HUMUS: The organisms create humus. Humus made from green residues becomes immediate feed/fertilizer for the next crop. Humus from brown/dead residues becomes part of the semi-permanent and permanent humus content. The closer in type the green residue is to the next crop, the more efficient the uptake based on the resonance theories of Dr. Reams. Humus provides the main water holding capacity, structure, nutrient holding, recycling and regulates energy flow. With low humus, the grower has to provide more fertilizer and water. Compost, humates, plant [crop or weed] residue and sugars treated with Aqua Hold can increase humus and/or polysaccarides [soil aggragate glue].

FERTILIZER: Added fertilizers are usually thought of as an attempt to increase the major and minor mineral content. In addition, fertilizers [natural or organic] are sources of energy carried in the molecules of the material. Plants grow from energy, not fertilizer. Natural mined materials like lime, phosphates, sulfur, and potash have the energy trapped in them by the original processes that created them. These processes would have included ocean organisms that captured the minerals in their shells, simple formation of compounds in water solution like KCl [0-0-60] or more exotic things like volcanoes that used heat and/or pressure. Chemical fertilizers like MAP or DAP are created using chemical energy to create soluble phosphorous which is then reacted with nitrogen. Most nitrogen fertilizers are created with electrical energy to extract N from the air.

When fertilizers are added to soil, the energy can be released by electronic synchronization between the material applied and the minerals already in the soil. Energy can also released by dissolving in water, chemical interactions or use by an organism. Only small amounts of physical minerals are taken up and used in the plant. The plant ends up with about 95% carbon, hydrogen and oxygen which come from air and water. Of the 5 % minerals, calcium is largest contributor, both in physical amount and potential released energy.

The six major nutrients are Calcium [Ca], Nitrogen [N], Phosphorous [P], Potassium [K], Magnesium [Mg] and Sulfur [S]. Calcium, potassium and magnesium are mineral elements that enter the plant with a positive charge; phosphorous and sulfur are non-mineral elements which form oxides and have a negative charge and nitrogen is a non-mineral that can be positive [NH4+] or [NO3-]. Nitrogen is the electrolyte in the system just like acid in a battery. It allows the other nutrients to flow if water is present. The more humus and microorganisms available, the less outside N is needed.

ENERGY: Once the stored seed energy is depleted and the plant is out of the ground with a leaf and chlorophyll, then the main source of energy, the sun, takes over. The energy is used to make simple sugars and the simple sugars are made into everything else like amino acids, protein, enzymes, etc. Other energy sources are available. Any grower may capture these solar and planetary energies and spread them over and into his fields in homeopathic solution or through the new Quantum Ag Towers using biodynamic principles. Broadcasting towers may be the only way to influence rough country grazing property other than grazing patterns and plant species. Lightning is an important source of energy that keeps the earth pulsating at 7.2 cycles per second. Microorganisms are a major, stable energy source as well.

SYMBIOSIS: Soils get a plant started, but then soils are influenced/manipulated by plant roots. If the plant and soil are healthy, then the plant roots extrude material/information that tells the soil microorganisms what it wants in return, such as antibiotics, hormones, enzymes, etc. Healthy plant roots are colonized/covered by “good guys” like mycorrhizea that prevent the bad guys like fusarium from growing. Plants grow soil as much as soils grow plants. One of the newest and best approaches is to use compost teas to provide the best organisms for soil and plant surface.

WEEDS, DISEASES & INSECTS: These were covered in the Sept. 02 letter. They are a function of the conditions found by nature. Correct/change the conditions and the problems are usually manageable without resorting to toxic rescue chemistry.

PLANT MANIPULATION: Plant sap testing tools are essential for any crop, including grazed grasses and legumes. CSI recommends a brix meter, pH meter and an electro conductivity meter. Otherwise, your waiting till harvest to find out what you grew and it is too late to make any changes. Plants can be manipulated at any stage by ground or foliar applications. Foliar feeding is the most efficient and is a chapter unto itself. Plants can only do two things, grow or reproduce. Sweet or alkaline nutrients like calcium, potassium, and the special nutrients chlorine and nitrate nitrogen make things grow. Sour or acid nutrients like phosphorous, sulfur, vinegar along with special nutrients manganese and ammonia nitrogen make plants reproduce. Call us as soon as something doesn’t seem right with a crop and maybe we can suggest something to help with your problem.

CONCLUSION: All the basics of growing plants are known: mineralize, bio-activate measure/observe and react/manipulate. The “devil is in the details.” To measure is to know. Observing helps to understand. Nature will always be throwing curveballs, but the more you prepare your property in line with the above principals, the better chance you have of wining the game.

MANAGEMENT: Check with your CPA to see if you can take advantage of the new laws allowing small personal and corporate businesses to use 401(k)’s. Also, a reminder that CSI will cooperate with you on end of the year purchases for tax purposes. Several growers take advantage of our fall sales on Tenn. Brown Phos. by prepaying during the sale time for delivery in spring. You may also arrange to write the check right after the end of the year and still get the fall sale price. Some growers pay for most of their expected spring purchases on Dec 31 to fit their tax needs.

RESULTS: Using the above principals and a Veges Sound Machine a local grower was able to put the flavor back in Rome apples and ward off coddling moth with high brix. A Mexican grower was able to increase forage brix from 5 to 9, increase production by 30%, keep the grasshoppers at bay and draw in adequate rain using a Quantum Ag Tower along with materials recommended by CSI laboratory. An organic Iowa corn grower made 170 bushel corn using Fish Agra and Nitrozyme seaweed. A Colorado produce grower had the best year ever using CSI lab recommendations and a combination of Veges Sound Machine and a Quantum Ag Tower in spite of a drought!

REMINERALIZATION: This continues to be a major goal of many sustainable/organic growers. To this end, CSI is continuing to find and bring to market the best natural deposits for your properties and have them as close as possible to your area. We will hopefully be bringing online some eastern Canadian phosphates to service the N.E. US. We will continue to emphasize our Tenn. Brown Phos. It is the cleanest, least expensive, most available OMRI listed phosphate sold throughout the central [north and south] US.

MONTANA GREY is finally available in PRILL. The prilling material is molasses. This means it will have trouble with OMRI because there is certainly not enough “organic” molasses available and it would be cost prohibitive if it was. The phosphate availability is testing 4-8%, so check it out on the new pricelist.

AZOMITE is finally available in a small prill. Azomite is a very broad spectrum mineral source form Utah. It has amazing bio-activating qualities.

NKS Plus [0-0-7-15S-1Fe] is a much under noticed and under used source of energy and nutrients just as sulfur is in general. If you want, better protein/energy, reduced heat stress, etc. call for a quote. Don’t make compost without it!

HUMATE: Humates can be a very quick, cost efficient way to go “sustainable” by buffering chemical toxicities and increasing humus. They can be less expensive than compost per amount of humic acid because of concentration.

All CSI minerals contain a fairly broad spectrum to aid in general mineralization!

NEW ARRANGEMENTS: CSI will continue to concentrate on minerals by the truckload as this is the most economical way for you to purchase. To help smaller growers with their dry materials, we are pleased to announce that AgriEnergy Resources of Princeton, IL will be setting up several blending plants throughout the IN, OH, KY, IL area. Tenn. Brown Phos. will be the phosphate of choice in their blends. There is obvious potential for them to bag blends or straight ingredients that could be accessed by smaller growers. Call Ray Roettger at 812-897-5588 for location and availability.

NEW PLANT & NEW PRODUCT: Northeast Organics has opened an expanded facility in central Illinois for providing Fish Agra, the premier fish hydrolysate, and its new product C-4-1-1. C-4-1-1 is Fish Agra modified with carbon, sugar and starches. Use last fall on stubble produced highly visible fungal mycelium over field. Can be used preplant, in row, foliar, etc. Remember, balancing the FUNGI is Elaine Ingram’s main message! Western and mid-western growers will gain major freight savings from the new plant.

HEALTH MATTERS: We included a double sided page on human health with the Sept. 02 letter. We plan on repeating that again in Sept. 03, but a few comments might be helpful here. The chance of viral infection is escalating faster than in Sept. The Norwalk virus has now “jumped ship”, leaving its “in-laws” with the tourist industry and starting new families in the North East. If any reader or any member of your family missed any time at work, at school due to colds, flu, stomach infections, eye infections etc. during 02, you apparently didn’t understand my message about the new Solutonic Silver. You put it in or on your body and it has the potential to kill any viral, bacterial or fungal infection you might have without danger of buildup or adding to the worsening problem of antibiotic resistance. For those of you who wish to try out the silver without getting involved with the Eniva NM system, CSI is offering a 20 oz bottle for $26.00 or a quart [32 oz] bottle for $36 including shipping. We will also include the protocols [what you need to take for supplementation] for over 20 different human health conditions and a new health magazine from Eniva. The recommended daily amount for silver is a teaspoon. Most users take 2 tablespoons when they feel something coming on and repeat an hour later. There are two tablespoons to the ounce, so it costs about two dollar to get yourself back in shape.

In a major breakthrough, Eniva now has its first product that can legally claim use as a “treatment” for heart disease including congestive heart failure and fibromyalgia. The product is called ATP-Plus. Basic ingredient is Ribose, a regulator of the body’s entire energy system. ATP-Plus has 20 patents and 100 peer reviewed studies. Other than through Eniva, it will only be available by prescription! ATP-Plus also has major implications for normal work fatigue, exercise and sports. Check it out at www.eniva.com.

Phil will be “Down Under” in Feb, Mar, June and August. Louisa will handle lab and office in his absence. Best of Luck in 2003. Please call if we can be of any assistance.

Yours, Phil & Louisa Wheeler

FIELD TRIP: Louisa and I recently took a trip to the Northwest, meeting with many growers, customers, suppliers and old friends in Idaho who I saw again for the first time in 50 years. Two subjects, that we have never addressed before, became apparent as worthy of discussion. They are management and estate planning. These are discussed in articles in the “standard” farm press, but the trip showed us they are still a major problem.

Farm succession/inheritance issues are very complicated issues and usually emotional issues as well. However, failing to face them on a timely basis will result in far more time consuming complications accompanied by emotional trauma and immense economic damage. There are primary owners in their 80’s (past life expectancy?) without basic will, trust or other options clearly specified. This leaves the next 1-3 generations “hung out to dry”. I also heard of one situation where an attorney used the term “real property” when he meant real estate. Check everything twice! The only advice I can give is “get with it” since I am not qualified in that field. However, my excellent CPA is researching a new idea for asset protection that I heard about. It can apply to sole proprietorships and C and S Corps. I’ll let you know the final results.

The above issue is related to the management issue in that they both get pushed aside by the time constraints. Growers are so busy working in the business, they don’t get around to working on the business. They fail to plan and manage fertility, finances, herd health, marketing, succession, etc. In Australia, growers of all sizes and crop types attend 7 day long planning/management seminars offered by a private company called RCS. Yours truly teaches two days of basic and advanced agronomy as part of the seminar. The other 5 days are spent on finances, personnel, equipment, marketing etc. Not only do growers make the time to attend they pay significant, but well worthwhile, fees to attend. When I ask them why they seem so eager to learn compared to US growers, they say: “Because we don’t have crop subsidies, we have to be on top of all new information and techniques that can possibly help our business succeed.”

Not only do they attend the 7 day course, many go on to “Executive Link” sessions that form them into groups of 5-7 farms that become unofficial boards of directors for each of them. No subject is off limits, including succession plans, family squabbles, divorces, etc. The farms are not neighbors, so you don’t have to worry about vying for the same parcel of land and those types of issues. All problems may not get “solved”, but at least the grower understands the issue, has “tools” to work with and peer pressure/support to get the job done. (I’ve suggested the RCS bring that kind of education to the US) (RCS already teaches the Grazing for Profit schools here.)

FALL SALES: Tenn. Brown Phosphate will again be on sale at $45/ton FOB till Dec 31. Most other commodities will have $5.00/ton discounts. Fall is the time to re-mineralize, bio-activate and turn any brown crop residue into long term humus. Call for quotes on materials or ideas on how to handle fall residue.

WEEDS: Weeds, rather than insects and diseases, continue to be the bane of most growers. Diseases and insects are directly related to the current pH of the plant sap and the external pH of the plant surface. Ideal plant sap pH is 6.4 (same as human urine and saliva). The higher the pH goes above 6.4, the greater probability of insect attack. The lower it goes, the greater probability of disease attack. When some insects attack high pH plants, they create local low pH spots that then allow diseases to start. The new meters available for farm use only require a few drops of plant sap. Combine the pH with the Brix and Ergs (E.C.) readings and you can easily manage the fertility and health of any crop. This assumes that you can apply materials after planting by foliar, drip, overhead or flood irrigation. Call Pikes Lab Supplies at 207-897-9269. They furnish “interpretive” guidelines with the meters. Call us if you have trouble with the interpretation.

Weeds are functions of the soil’s physical, chemical and biological conditions. If you don’t like the weed pattern or pressure, change one or more of the “conditions”. CSI has always stressed re-mineralization/fertilization accompanied by bio-activation. However, we also are aware that part of the physical conditions include physics conditions, i.e. subtle energy forces that are part of each weed seed and subsequent plant. These “auras”, for want of a better word, are filling in spaces in the in the energy patterns above your field by natures design. “Nature abhors a vacuum.” Being able to influence the energy patterns above your soil gives you another tool to deal with Nature’s response to the conditions you have created/provided.

Of course I’m referring to the use of Quantum Ag towers such as manufactured by Hugh Lovel and Bob Benson and offered by CSI. Using this technology, the weed aura is slowly weakened and the space it previously occupied is filled in with beneficial, resonant energies. Even though physical “peppers” are prepared from weed seeds or plants, the peppers are translated into pure energy patterns for broadcasting.

Written intentions help nature to understand what you’re trying to accomplish whether it be about weeds, insects, diseases, fertility, or weather. As an example of the use of intentions, some growers have designated certain rows to be given to the insects in each field. The insects are “informed” that if they go to any other rows, they will be killed.

While you’re waiting for nature to straighten things out, SAR researches have proven that vinegar kills weeds. 5 and 10 % vinegar solutions killed up to two week old weeds very effectively. Organic growers may have to use organic vinegar, so costs and availability may be a factor. Other growers can use white or brown vinegar or try glacial acetic acid, a commercial form of the acid nature makes by fermentation. You can add a few gallons of 28 % N and a spreader to enhance kill. It will act like a non-translocating contact herbicide, so try not to get much on your economic crop. You might be able to kill very young/weak weeds in the row with out hurting a hardy, bigger economic crop if you stay at the 5% acid concentration level. Store vinegar is usually 5% strength. That means you would use in “straight”, spraying enough to wet without wasteful run-off.

QUANTUM AG RESULTS: Here is a sampling of results using Quantum Ag techniques, equipment and materials: An Oregon farm produced 302 bu./acre corn on one field and averaged 273 bu. in 01. (Used a Benson tower, Veges Sound Machine and natural fertilizer materials from CSI deposits.) An Idaho grower with several years of tower and water treatment technology use harvested 3 ton/acre alfalfa from a planting 63 days earlier. They plan on using the minerals this fall. A grower in Wyoming did corrective fertilization in 01 and now has the only alfalfa in the area not pressured by insects. An organic Iowa grower has been using a Veges Sound machine for the last 2 years. He reports bigger soybeans, corn ears filled out to the end and no insect pressure on corn, beans and alfalfa. His neighbors are spraying everything and they can’t bring themselves to ask them for help in changing things on their farms. An Ontario grower put a Lovel tower in this spring and reported weeds were easier to kill. He also seems to have been successful in dealing with a persistent rain pattern that always seems to skirt his area. A Mich. grape grower was “awestruck” when her old vines started budding this spring. The vines are now supporting the largest crop ever. We put a Lovel tower on her property last fall.

WHEN THINGS AREN’T WORKING: An Iowa grower called while I was composing this and reported he had insect problems in alfalfa. Although he has done some of the right things, the net result was an alfalfa crop that was strongly attracting insects. How do you know, WHAT TO DO? He did not have sap reading instruments to work with and did not have a tissue analysis. Soil test data from CSI this spring showed reasonable calcium and slightly under performing phosphorous. Some potash ,DAP, ammonium sulfate and trace minerals were applied last fall or this spring. First crop was good, but second cutting was immediately attacked. ANALYSIS. Sap pH certainly too high. Elements to lower pH would be sulfur and phosphorous or vinegar. Sulfur in soil was higher than usual. Brix of sap probably too low. Phosphorous was logical culprit, since DAP probably ran out of energy by second cutting. Recommendation: Apply 1 pint/acre phosphoric acid with fish and seaweed by foliar as soon as possible. A little sugar or molasses is OK too. If organic, 1-2 quarts of apple cider vinegar and do something to apply or activate P as soon as possible. Better solution (?). Get some meters and “Manage” fertility on an ongoing basis. The rescue type repelling/killing materials couldn’t overcome nature’s response to the conditions at hand. Management is always cheaper than rescue.

RAIN MAKING: Although Hugh Lovel is working on a booklet on Rain Making, let’s start talking about the basics now. The main focus is on creating formative patterns in the atmosphere that cause clouds to come together and water to condense as rain. Lots of other subtleties come into play, including breaking up congestive smog and pollution. Currently, the three main methods of trying to accomplish this are: Radionic broadcasting, quantum tower and radionic devices combined or Malcolm Rae broadcasting devices alone. A radionics device alone can be useful, but those with Lovel towers can have the advantage of using the preps (energy patterns) from the tower in the radionics device. The tower preps will have programmed, appropriate patterns for that locale. Owning and operating a radionics device can be relatively expensive and time consuming. Operator confidence is also a factor. To simplify matters, CSI is offering a small Malcolm Rae device and a set of color cards for about $515 for broadcasting with or without a Lovel tower. I say “about” because final price is based on the British pound that fluctuates against the dollar. You do not have to be able to get a “stick” to operate, but you must be able to douse the right color cards and one numerical setting. Dousing is so useful in so many areas of farming. All living things are bio-detectors [dowsers], but some of you just haven’t tried or practiced enough.

UPCOMING EVENTS: Jayne Walker will be sponsoring another BD/Quantum Ag weekend in Traverse City, Michigan on Oct 18-20. Hugh Lovel will be presenting and Louisa and I will be there assisting. You will get to see the grapes that got a whole new lease on life when the tower went in. Call Jane at 231-620-4775.

The CSI office will be closed from Sept. 25 to Oct 3. Phil & Louisa will be putting up a tower on Kauai on our friend’s tropical flower farm. You can view their farm at BobsTropicals.com. Please try to coordinate your orders around that time.

Phil will be putting up towers and lecturing in Australia the last week of Oct and the first week of Nov. Louisa will be in the office during that time.

Acres convention is Dec. 12,13,14 at the Adam’s Mark Airport Hotel in Indianapolis, IN. CSI will have 2 Ag booths and 1 Human Health booth. Phil will be presenting on as yet un-chosen topic. Don’t miss this opportunity to listen and learn. Hope to see you there!

NEW ADDITION: Since I know that all diseases and conditions are mineral deficiencies, complicated by several other factors, it always disturbs me when I hear about illnesses affecting people I know. This is especially true when they are of a relatively young age and have a disease or condition that used to be a disease of the aged. Therefore, I am enclosing a separate page on health. Having just returned from a weekend conference on nutrition, I am now very confident that the technology and techniques are available for any human to correct/adjust their body chemistry/physics to a state where the body can balance/heal itself if given a chance. Read as you see fit.

HUMBLE SUGGESTION: Learn or review a little basic chemistry, biology and physics so you can mange your crops. Having a head full of chemical product names to rescue your crops is not exactly what I have in mind. As a minimum, knowing the chemical symbols for the six major nutrients [Ca,N,P,K,Mg,S] and which are acid or alkaline would be very helpful and knowing the traces [Zn,Fe,Cu,B,Mn,Co,Mo,Na,I,Se] and their major function(s) would also be useful. Nature works according to precise rules, when you know and understand the rules, farming is a lot easier. Acres USA has books on every aspect of sustainable farming. Call if you want some suggested reading or help with any scientific explanation. That’s what CSI is here for.

Yours, Phil & Louisa Wheeler

WELCOME TO A NEW YEAR: Thanks for taking advantage of our fall sales and awards program. Two grower families have already qualified for a vacation week in 2002. One eastern seaboard grower has been successfully foliar feeding his hundreds of acres of soys with Fish Agra and Nitrozyme seaweed for the last several years. He uses no other fertilization and tries to feed with 1-2 qt. Fish Agra and 1 pint Nitrozyme at least twice a season. He likes to avoid taxes on profits, so he buys the next years Fish Agra and Nitrozyme on Dec 31 and CSI receives the check in the next year so that he qualifies for a vacation week in the first few days of the new year. An Oklahoma grazier has arranged for 9-10 loads of Tenn. Phos. for pickup throughout this spring as back hauls for his grain delivery to the east coast, so he will hit the $10,000 purchase mark too. Congratulations!

CROP PROTECTION FROM DAY ONE: Several times last summer we received calls from certified organic growers on Friday afternoon [literally], wanting products to rescue their certified crops. Some were aware of our products and technology while others were new callers who found our ad in a desperate search. Crop disease and insect resistance is seated in soil fertility. You cannot expect to have your fertility up to par in the first few years of sustainable/organic growing. Neither can you expect that the weather and earth energy changes aren’t going to throw you a curve some years even though you didn’t have a “problem” before. My humble suggestion, for those of you with “high value”, susceptible crops, that don’t want to use chemical rescue, is to consider CropGuard in Row. CGR is a combination of garlic juice [not oil] and yucca. It is specifically designed by the manufacturer of RepellEX and CropGuard to provide a reasonable cost product to use in the row. The garlic provides highly available selenium and sulfur compounds that are important components of immunity in plant, animal and human. And they are there for your plant when the first root comes out! The yucca compoment provides major biological stimulation as well as anti-nematode, fungal, insect resistance etc. It is packaged in 15 gallon [for UPS] or 30 gallon plastic drums. AND GUESS WHAT? You can use any left over on a foliar basis to continue the immunity building/sustaining and actually stop the feeding of soft-bodied sucking and chewing insects! NO MORE FRANTIC CALLS!

BACTERIA/FUNGAL BALANCE: Dr. Elaine Ingram has certainly made her point about the importance of the bacterial and fungal ratios for optimum crop production. Most tilled cropland becomes highly dominated by bacteria. One of the reasons our Fish Agra has performed so well is that it promotes fungal growth. When used in the row, it helps to restore the critical balance of fungal to bacterial counts. It can be mixed in with the CropGuard in Row to make a potent starter. Both products are fully organic certified.

WHAT IS THE BEST APPROACH?: There are many ways to bring a soil back into biologically based fertility. The “oldest” of the modern scientific ways was the Albrecht Method of balancing minerals based on a CEC test, and then expecting nature to respond when the balances were close enough to open up the soil so that air and water could penetrate and soil microorganism would return. Dr. Reams took a little different tack and looked at the available nutrients instead. In the 80’s my former company, TransNational Agronomy, combined the benefits of both and added the concept of sugar and molasses to speed up activation of bacteria before the “perfect balance” was obtained. We also heavily promoted the use of liquid chelated calcium as a way of speeding up the process. Then Dr. Callahan introduced us to paramagnetism. Along the way, several companies introduced single product recovery systems. The product was usually a broad spectrum trace mineral, finely ground, that provided major microorganism stimulation. Sometimes the product was classified as a humate as they contained humic/fulvic acids and sometimes they were clays with little or no carbon. Now we have radionic or biodynamic broadcasting towers as well as sound machines. It is confusing, but don’t let that stop you from beginning somewhere! Usually, a combination of methods works best. Don’t hesitate to follow your head or your heart. Please call if we can be of help in sorting it out.

NEW MINERAL PRODUCT: CSI can now offer you a chance to use the broad spectrum mineral product approach. We have been approved as brokers for Azomite, from Utah. Prior to this year, we have avoided the product because of price and extreme fineness. The company is now grinding an Ag Grade mesh that is still fine enough to be reactive, but not in a flour state. The price has dropped dramatically when purchased in semi-load quantities. It is still too fine for ordinary dump trucks, so we are offering it in Ton Bulk Bags and 40 lb. bag truckloads. Application rates can vary from 200 lb. to a ton or more per acre.

TRACE MINERALS: Most of the soil samples coming through our lab are deficient in one or more trace minerals. When we make our recommendations, we usually suggest the most basic, least expensive [per lb. of actual mineral] source which is usually a sulfate or oxide or in the case of Boron, a Sodium Borate, such as Solubor. We get many calls from growers saying that their local elevator doesn’t carry one or more of the trace minerals. We usually advise them to ask the local outlet to call up to their next level of distribution and that sometimes solves the problem. However, we also find out that growers sometimes ignore our recommendations to spread the dry minerals or their outlet just doesn’t have the dry sulfates. In an effort to make it easier or more convenient to use the essential trace minerals, we are offering a line of “double strength” liquid trace minerals in 2 x 21/2 cases. These are not certified organic, but they are quite inexpensive and of very high quality. Most of them are in a nitrate form, which is very efficient for uptake and does not have the problems of EDTA chelates. The only one not available is Cobalt, but our Nitrozyme product will take care of that. See the 2002 price list for Eezy Grow “Double Strength” Trace Minerals.

TRACE MINERALS FOR VERY SMALL GROWERS OR GARDENS: The following are grocery store substitutes for the common trace minerals. Manganese = Cranberry Juice; Boron = Boraxo Soap; Cobalt and Molybdenum = Vita B and Seaweed; Zinc, Copper, Iron = pieces of scrape metal, nails or tubing, etc. soaked in 1:1 vinegar and water.

BACK ISSUES OF NEWSLETTERS: Please go to our web site at to find all our back issues plus all current pricing and info. Please notify us at 1-800-260-7933 if anything isn’t working right.

SOUND MACHINES AND TOWERS: Growers call and ask, “which would be better for my operation?” Of course there is no “correct” answer. The Towers were developed/proven on small vegetable acres, but now they cover up to 2000 acres, which makes them very cost effective [50 cents/acre]. In Australia, two Towers more then paid for themselves when they appeared to protect two large paddocks of cotton from hail, while the immediate downwind paddock was severely damaged. I’ll have placed the third tower on the cotton field by the time you get this letter. A large acreage melon grower in Queensland, Au. placed a Veges sound machine last spring after some paddocks had been planted and before others had gone in. I am still waiting for the final tabulated results, but the estimate was that it would be the best production ever. A Colorado vegetable grower has decided to do both for this spring, even though they grow less than 15 acres of produce. His overall costs of the equipment, installation and consulting fees will come out to $25/acre per year if amortized over a ten year period. This is a pittance compared his current gross per acre and I am sure his volume of production will go up and input costs will go down. He may also get some bad weather protection and a chance to draw in moisture.

Towers are readily available, but if you want a sound machine for spring, you need to order it now, as they are built on demand in minimum batches of 10. It takes at least 30 days after placement of our order for you to receive a machine. Ten machines is too big an order for CSI to finance without orders from you and our current inventory is zero.

SOME ESOTERIC STUFF: Esoteric means, “meant for or understood by a select few.” After putting in at least 7 Towers in the US and 8-9 in Au., I have developed a much stronger belief in “human intentionality”. That is a scientific way of referring to a “prayer”. Now matter what words you use, it sure works in agriculture. When I place Towers on a farm, I make sure it is a family affair. I teach all those who are going to be present to dowse for earth energy lines, called ley lines, with dowsing rods and to be able to see the energy patterns coming off of living objects like trees, livestock, people etc. Then we go out to the area where the tower is “supposed” to go in. At that point, I have the family [and sometimes farm workers too] find the exact spot where major energy lines converge. This spot will allow the energy produced by the Tower to spread over the farm. First we dig a hole and put the tower in without any BD energy pattern sources. Within seconds of having the tower placed like a fence post, it begins to put out a visible energy pattern. (Most people observe it as blue.) Next, I have a family member put the BD energy pattern tubes in the upper and lower wells. Again, within seconds, the Tower starts shooting out visible energy patterns from the top of the tower.

Then comes the mind-boggling part. The family has 2 copies of the map property with their boundaries clearly marked. On the back of each map, they have written an intentionality statement [prayer for what they want to happen on their farm] concerning the health and well being of the crops, livestock and people on their operation. The statement also confirms that they only want their intentions to effect the area within the map boundaries [their property]. They place a copy of the map/statement/prayer in the upper and lower wells. Again, within seconds, it looks like an unseen hand comes down and pushes the energy that had been shooting out the top out over the entire field/property.

On two different farms, some workers were able to observe, with their peripheral vision, what they described as small blue dots of energy in an organized pattern spreading out to the exact boundaries of the property. All family members have been able to detect the boundary of the Tower energy field at the boundary of their farm. To confirm/check the observations, we removed the maps from the wells and the workers were able to see the energy patterns start to break up and become more chaotic and dowsing did not detect the edges of the energy field at the property boundaries. NOW THAT’S ESOTERIC!

HUMAN HEALTH: Louisa and I have been “health nuts” since the early 70’s. We know that minerals are the basis of all life on earth. We also know that getting minerals into a plant animal or human is one thing, but having them available or properly utilized is another. We have recently become involved with some new technology, which has greatly improved the efficiency of minerals for human use[From 10-15% to 90-95%]. We intend to put out a mailing about the Eniva minerals to friends and family because we have seen such rapid, amazing results on ourselves and others. Louisa has lowered the blood test counts for arthritis to normal levels, gotten rid of a mycoplasma infection without the usually aggressive antibiotic treatments required, and has a bone density of 122% of normal for her age. If you have a sincere interest and would like to receive the mailing, please let us know by post card or phone. Eniva is sold by multilevel marketing, but you can purchase the minerals without participating in the MLM if you so choose. You can check out Eniva at . Please call CSI if you would like to purchase any product.

STAYING ON OUR MAILING LIST: If you do not wish to receive this newsletter and pricing etc., please have the courtesy to use our toll free # or send a post card to remove your name. Each envelope, contents and postage we send out represents over a $1.00. We have close to 900 on our current list. Thanks!

WEED CONTROL: Weeds need nitrogen to grow just like economic crops. Other than last falls or this springs general application of ammonium sulfate, try to put any additional applications only offset in the rows at planting or as sidedressing. This avoids between row fertilization of weeds.

SCHEDULE: Phil will be in Australia most of the last half of March and June and probably again in Sept. Louisa will run the office as well as the lab in my absence. Even when both of us are out-of-town, we check our recorded messages as often as possible. Please order early to avoid delays at planting time caused by manufacturers running out of inventory. You can always take shipping at a later date, once order is placed.

ACRES USA: The annual conference will be in Indianapolis, IN next year and hopefully a week later so as not to interfere with the big Great Lakes Fruit & Vegetable Show in Mich.

GOOD LUCK, GOOD HEALTH AND GOOD GROWING IN 2002. Phil & Louisa.

Thanks to all of our clients for making this another record breaking season! And fall hasn’t even happened yet! The lab has been steady all summer and sales were brisk in April, May, and June and continued a slow, but steady pace throughout the summer. Louisa got a workout with sales and the lab when I was in Australia the last two weeks of June. To show our appreciation, we have various sales and awards programs announced throughout this issue.

FALL SALES: To encourage you with mineralization of your soil, Tenn. Brown Rock phosphate will be discounted $10/ton to $45/ton FOB the mine, near Nashville, Tenn. The new NKS Plus product, ammonium sulfate, humates, Montana Grey Rock phosphate and parametric rock will we discounted by $5/ton to growers. These rates are affective upon receipt of this notice and are good until Dec 31, 2001.

GROWER FEEDBACK: CSI will issue a $10 credit to any customer who sends us a written report on the use and results of any one of our products, services or devices. Letterhead stationary, if available, and permission to use freely with or without your identification would be appreciated.

NEW PRODUCT: Mt. Grey Rock will be available in pelletized form late fall. This will still be OMRI certified and the standard price is [Not available at this time.]

NKS Plus: Our newest bulk commodity for mineralization/activation. NKS Plus is a fantastic, OMRI approved, sulfur, potash, calcium, iron and other trace mineral source. It is mined from an ancient deposit is Nevada. It is a great replacement for the very expensive 0-0-50. Although it contains less potash, it has proven to release potash reserves in soils. [Remember, there are tons of unused minerals in your soil that are not thought of as being agronomically available under typical “chemical/biologically dead” conditions.] [See enclosed brochure for info and pricing.]

HUMIC ACIDS: CSI now offers variety of liquid and powdered humic acid products to meet your needs. We now have access to the “Russian” type that supposedly work at very low concentrations that are now being manufactured in PA. We can get acid or alkali extractions from Agri-Energy of IL and a new micronized/suspendable powder from NM.

DEVICES THAT WORK: Again this season, the brave souls [innovators] that have tried the Veges Sound Machine have been pleasantly surprised by the performance. A California garlic grower, working with our Dealer, JB Meyer of LoVolt, had a 12″ increase

in growth on the treated area vs. the check. BIG IMPROVEMENTS: The inventor is adding a 12-volt timer and solar panel to the unit. He is also offering a shippable stand for assembly on site. Growers will still need to purchase 3 five-foot PVC pieces locally to complete the unit. Please read directions and use only the correct pipe or you will blow the sound unit. If my operation was growing high value crops and I couldn’t use chemicals to rescue them from diseases and insects, I would certainly consider a sound unit as it has shown to increase growth, nutritional content/brix, insect repulsion, etc qualities in a variety of crops. Field use has shown the coverage to be up to 100 acres or more. The new units will be priced at $950 FOB. Stands are $—- FOB. JUST A REMINDER: Tapes of the sound produced by the Veges unit with a music overlay can be very effective in homes, yards, greenhouses, etc. Special fall price on tapes is $20.00 FPP.

TO CHANGE IS TO GROW: Dr. Dirt (That’s me.) is adding a major paradigm to his thinking about agriculture. He is not forsaking his beliefs in mineralization and bio-activation, but he is adding a new dimension to his understanding. He is ready to start offering help to growers in gathering more of the free energy that the cosmos offers.

Although I have been aware of the agricultural paradigm called Biodynamics for years, I have never read/studied/absorbed much about it. There was always a vague feeling that it did offer the “next step” in energy gathering technology. During my visit to Australia in Jan, I read, [no, more like devoured] a biography of Rudolph Steiner, the inventor of the BD system. Then I ordered a copy of his Agriculture Lectures form Acres USA. This allowed me to fully appreciate Hugh Lovel’s lecture and slides on his BD technology and towers at last Dec.’s Acres convention. Now I am hooked!

In order to “hook” someone like me, the paradigm has to be definable, logical, and practical. Biodynamic technology grew out of the responses to German/Austrian farmer’s requests for help from Dr. Steiner. At the time, around the 1920’s, Dr. Steiner was making major contributions in the fields of education, philosophy and medicine. He was considered a clairvoyant, meaning he could see deeper into the material world than most people. He was able to see which cosmic energies influenced plants and soils, and how to capture and apply these energies/frequencies to soil and plants.

His methods of gathering the energies were rather strange, to say the least. He used various animal parts such as cow horns and stag bladders as vessels to collect/draw in the frequencies. This, of course, follows Dr. Phil Callahan’s work where shape/form determines frequency absorption. The animal shapes were filled with manure or plant matter as the absorptive material. After one or more complete seasons of absorption, the concentrated material was used to make a homeopathic solution for spreading on soil or plants. Homeopathic solutions are extremely diluted water solutions that have been stirred, percussed [pounded] or shaken to where there is almost no physical material in the solution, but the frequencies have been imbedded in between the molecules of water. And, “Yes, Virginia, the water does remember.” [See, Science and Human Transformation by William A. Tiller, Ph.D. Call 1-800-469-8653 to get a copy.]

The followers of Steiner did their best to follow his principles in Europe, USA, Australia and other countries. The BD movement had noticeable successes and lots of failures too, but the major problems were that they didn’t follow through on one important principle. They also asked you join the “”Church of Biodynamics” and become a true believer in order to share in the paradigm. The part they missed is the Horn Clay, which connects the energies of the soil to the atmosphere above the soil. They also failed to recommend some physical trace mineral shortages, thinking that all physical material shortages could be made up with frequencies. The BD group of practitioners has remained small in the US due to the philosophical constraints and mixed results.

Thanks to Hugh Lovel and Greg Willis, among others, the horn clay connection has been made and the method of making preparations/remedies, as the materials are called, has been simplified. More importantly the application of the frequencies has changed from a physical spraying of the acreage with remedies/preps, to the use of a tower for the constant broadcasting of the desired frequencies. To avoid confusion and contention with BD proponents who may not embrace the new concepts, the technology and practice is referred to as “Quantum Agriculture. Please refer to Acres USA for recent articles by Hugh Lovel for further philosophical and scientific explanations. CSI has already placed four towers on one of our larger clients in NE running irrigated crop circles and Hugh Lovel is busy placing them as well. I feel the towers can be an excellent addition to any farming or grazing operation. They can cover up to 2000 acres at a very reasonable cost and may be an excellent alternative to trying to fertilize rangeland. Hugh Lovel is also experimenting with rain influence and seems to be successful so far. Please see the enclosed brochure and call to discuss if you wish to learn more.

HERBICIDE REDUCTION: Mineral balancing, timed surface sprays, towers, tillage, etc. can all help reduce the need for herbicide. If you still discover you need a post emerge, both Nitrozyme seaweed and Fish Agra can reduce the rate required. One pint of Fish Agra with Roundup can cut the rate 25-50 % and one cup of Nitrozyme can cut post emerge types by 25-75 %. Pre-emerge types can be cut with the use of Restore. [See CSI Price list.] Yucca makes seaweed work better and longer, so if you are using Fish Agra, which has some yucca in it, with Nitrozyme, you are gaining efficacy. I wouldn’t think of going across a field with a necessary chemical, without feeding the plant/soil system with something good. One of our MD based clients is doing very well with his soybeans using the fish/seaweed combination as a foliar feed and only source of fertilizer. The rates would be one pint of Nitrozyme and 1-2 qt. Fish.

SPEAKING OF SEAWEED: The May issue of Hay & Forage reports the following: “Animal scientist Richard Evans and agronomist Roscoe Ivy, base on Monroe Co. MS, sprayed both fungus free and fungus-infected tall fescue with the marine algae during a two-year trial. Treating fescue with a seaweed emulsion produced steers with increased resistance to diseases and better weight increases, Evans reports.”

AWARDS PROGRAM: Starting in calendar year 2002, any customer/client purchasing $10,000 or more in products, services or devices will be given a free weeks stay at any RCI

condominium resort in the world. Eligible customers will be sent an RCI catalogue with over 3500 resorts to choose from. Resorts sleep up to 6 people with 2 private bedrooms and a pullout sofa so you may take friends and family. Most units have fully equipped kitchens and a huge array of activities on or near the site. Travel to and from the resort, meals and activity costs are not included. CSI will make booking arrangements for you on the dates of your choice, subject to availability in a given season and given part of the world. Customers will be asked to pay for the “swap fees”, which are currently $130 for domestic swaps and $162 for international swaps. There is also a $49 fee for the quest certificates that are required, since the units are “owned” by Phil and Louisa and we would not be accompanying you to the resort. The fees or parts thereof may be waived for greater purchase levels. Approximate value of package is $900-$1200 for the weeks lodging. Several customers have already qualified this year, so it is not an unreasonable goal for a medium to large farm operation.

FALL PROGRAMS: Fall is the time to spread minerals, humates, compost and ammonium sulfate. If your calcium levels and organic matter levels are reasonable, you will get and early warm up of the soil in spring and moderation of next summer’s soil temperatures by using the ammonium sulfate in mid to late fall. The ammonia will convert slowly to nitrates in the spring, giving you that nice flush of early growth [usually before your neighbors]. Using sugar or molasses will make the difference even more dramatic. The sulfate sulfur will make for quality protein, not nitrates, in the forage. This applies to all perennials from grasses to apples to grapes and berries. Row croppers will also find great benefits from temp control to quality crops. Let our lab help you determine just what are the best materials to balance the minerals and activate the bacteria and fungal systems.

PLAN AHEAD: There have been too many frantic calls for insect or disease rescue from growers who have failed to provide any immunity building practices at planting or earlier foliars. If you need the rescue material “yesterday”, be prepared to authorize a 1,2, or 3 day delivery by UPS COD at increased expense or wait at least 5 days or more. Most materials keep for at least 2 seasons, so I would consider buying enough Crop Guard in Row to use at planting and have enough left for at least one rescue spray. It will be available in 15 gal drums to go UPS or 30 gallon drums by truck. In row rate is 12 oz/acre and foliar rescue treatment is 2-4 pints/acre with a sticker for sucking and chewing soft bodied insects. Includes mites, aphids, whiteflies and immature stages of most insects. [Certified Organic]

WARNING: Excess sugar in the row at planting can cause short-term N tie-ups. Use sugar and molasses on a broadcast basis in fall or spring. Use either with your N, but try to broadcast that too. Using 2-4 lb. in the row is not excessive.

SCHEDULE: CSI will have a booth at the Acres Conf. On Dec. 6, 7, 8. I will be speaking with Hugh Lovel about Quantum Ag and the new tower systems during the conf.

Phil will be in Australia from Nov 1-14, but Louisa will be running the lab and office.

Because CSI now has a new reader base that call themselves “graziers “, I have included them in the title. They graze various livestock throughout the country, on grass or grass/legume mixtures. Some practice intensive or rotational grazing and some do not. Because of space limitations I will have to address most issues with both groups (crop farmers and graziers) in mind. Where appropriate, I will try to make specific distinctions, but I ask that you all just glean and apply those concepts that fit or can be adapted to your particular climate, soil, type of operation etc. Thanks for a great 2000 season.

NITROGEN: The big issue for spring is nitrogen. Prices are climbing, and will probably keep doing so. I don’t recommend you go all to soybeans, because I think that too many will do that and the price of corn might be quite good come fall. My suggestion is to change your approach to providing N for your crop. We all know there is all that free stuff (N) we need in the air above our fields and in the air that is supposed to be in our soil. The trick is to fix as much as possible into the soil and/or apply N in forms such as the protein in Fish Agra (4-1-1) that give maximum efficiency. Calcium nitrate has not gone up like other types because its N is made by electrical discharge in Norway rather than natural gas. It can be purchased in dry or liquid form.

N FIXATION: You can fix N with legumes or with azobacteria that do not require a legume. Legumes can be grown prior to or with a non-legume crop such as a row of soybeans planted very closely with a single or double row of corn. Those of you who saw Hugh Lovel’s presentation at Acres USA realize the potential for growing corn without added N when growing soys right with the corn. However, Hugh was also applying Biodynamic preparations [homeopathic energy patterns] through a broadcasting tower. I may be taking training from him this winter and CSI now offers the broadcasting towers available for sale. They can cover up to 500 acres, so it is something to consider.

Direct fixation by azobacter is accomplished by putting a liquid bacterial product in the row, broadcast and/or foliar feeding later in the season. Very specific methods and fixation rates have been established by the manufacturers of “Soil Biological” the product we work with. Growers can cut the applied N in half and add 1 pint of Soil Biological in the row. Although the product contains some bacterial food, it is recommended that you include additional carbon in the row such as humic acid and/or sugar or molasses. Even more important is to include vinegar. Florida research shows that vinegar stabilizes the nitrogen being released from your soils organic matter, with about 60% being in the ammonia form. This is very important, because almost all conventionally farmed soils have bacterial populations that convert N to nitrates at a much too rapid rate. The results are losses of N to leaching and/or excessive uptake of nitrates which cause susceptibility to disease and insect attack, decreased seed production, failure to dry down, etc.

A recommended program would look like this: One pint Soil Biological, 1 qt. 200 grain apple cider vinegar or 1 gal store strength vinegar, and 2 qt. molasses in row at planting. Reapply one pint soil biological by foliar at last cultivation. I would suggest 1-2 qt. fish and 1 pint seaweed, and 1 qt. molasses with it. This program can be expected to fix 40-60 #’s of N under normal conditions as well as stabilizing the released organic matter N. You can also figure on 30-40#’s of N released per lb. of your soils organic matter. Start looking for vinegar and molasses now.

Protein N acts very differently than nitrate or ammonia. It is selectively taken up by a plant under stress. That is why the Fish Agra (4-1-1) has performed so well on corn and grasses in drought conditions the last three years. I would suggest that those with reasonably healthy soils and at least a 1.5-2% organic matter could move right to an all natural N program. Use 2-3 gallons of Fish Agra and a cup of Nitrozyme in the row or broadcast with the above Soil Biological program and go for it on at least part of your best field. Some sort of N monitoring can be done and a foliar feed of 2-4 #’s of urea with fish and seaweed at last cultivation or 1-3 times on pastures will probably provide more than enough N. Livestock will love the lower nitrate, higher true protein, feeds.

Choose hybrids with lower N needs. It is never too late to condition open pollinated corn to your farm and to save your own low N requiring genetics. At least a gallon or two of fish should be used with any reduced N program to insure stress resistance under any circumstances. At least one knowledgeable person has been talking major drought for the mid-west and very high temperatures this season. Last fall’s or this spring’s ammonium sulfate will also help control soil temperature.

HUMATE: If you have low organic matter, it may be time to consider compost or humates. 200-500 lbs./A of a humate can make a major difference in the biological response of a soil. It can also help hold moisture. Compost can also work like a humate, but the volume has to be greater to a point that humates could be very economical in comparison. If you want to consider increasing the efficiency of water use, look to yucca. Yucca, a saponin from cactus, also suppresses nematodes. It is already in Fish Agra or may be purchased separately. [See price list]

OTHER BIOLOGICALS: Many growers have had excellent success with adding AgriGro to a standard chemical program. It is a broad spectrum biological stimulant that can be used easily with other chemicals. I don’t want to confuse you, so call if you want to discuss the options. A new organic version, Ultra, is now available.

FIGHTING FUNGUS: Fungus is best fought by two methods, root colonization by beneficials and controlling internal and surface pH of your crop. If you are doing greenhouse growing, check out the Actinovate. If you are in horticulture, food or ornamentals, check out the BioOrganic products. They now have 7 strains each of endo and ecto mycorrhizea in the LA type. Field crop and graziers should check out the BSG seed treatment for both mycorrhizial and tricoderma inoculation. All these products colonize the entire root structure to prevent any disease fungi from establishing a basis as well as increasing nutrient uptake. Diseases are more prevalent when plant sap is below 6.4. Low sap pH would usually result from lack of calcium or other positive ions such as magnesium or potassium. When fungus attacks a leaf and is able to establish itself, you can assume the surface pH was also low and beneficial microorganisms were not as diverse and healthy as they should be.

To knock out an existing fungus, try a 1-3% solution of hydrogen peroxide. Put nothing else in except the water and 3-5 #’s white sugar and spray just where there are infections. This spray can kill both external and internal infections and encourage the beneficials. Wait at least 4 hours and then come back with 3-5#’s/A baking soda or potassium bicarbonate on the area of possible infestation to prevent establishment of the new fungi on the surface. Don’t put anything acid like fish with the bicarbs, as the 8+ pH is part of the kill, but do use a surfactant. Helena Chemical has a registered fungicide called ARMICARB, which is potassium bicarb mixed with two dry surfactants. I used a similar product in Australia against orange rust on sugarcane. The peroxide and potassium bicarb treatments were very successful in knocking out and keeping out the orange rust. You can also try a 10% solution of water and milk. Milk and sodium bicarb worked very well on my friend’s organic, tropical flower plantation in Hawaii. Milk is alkaline and the potassium phosphate compounds in milk are perfect for increasing the cell strength and raising brix. And finally, for fungus in fescue, seaweed seems to help mitigate the negative effect on the livestock. You can spray the seaweed on the fescue and/or feed kelp meal. CSI handles both.

PHOSPHATES: The more you encourage mycorrhizial root colonization, the more phosphate is taken into your crop even in low phosphate soils. Many farms have ridiculously high levels of phosphate because they have blindly applied phosphates that have high analysis, low efficiency due to quick tie-up, and unavailability to plants in chemically damaged soils. Using the carbohydrates, bacterial cultures and bio-stimulants can greatly increase the phosphate availability. If your soil is really low phosphate, CSI has located and obtained marketing rights on natural, non-tie-up type phosphates in Florida, Tenn. and Montana. Each is a different type of deposit with its own unique properties. CSI will work with you to determine the one suitable for your needs.

INSECT CONTROL: Again this year, some biological/organic soybean growers have had trouble with disease carrying insects. Again, I urge you to put garlic juice in the row for early immunity and not wait to try to rescue an already weak/insect attractive plants when the insect is there. Although CSI has two insect control options available, they can still be more costly than the prevention. Kaliente will knock down existing insects at a reasonable cost. The new organic version, Complete, is far more expensive than expected because of OMRI specifications. The new federal organic reg’s would allow Kaliente as is, which will be a Godsend to organic growers. Use the Crop Guard in Row for maximum benefits of both garlic and yucca, insect/disease resistance and water efficiency. Those using the Fish Agra could use the straight garlic, RepellEX AG at a reduced rate.

WEED CONTROL: Besides the three we covered last Jan. [Mechanical, suppressive companion crop such as winter grain with soys, and liquid surface materials], the homeopathic approach deserves a close look. The manufacturer has combined all the “crop specifics” into the one Restore product. The Restore now contains mycorrhizal stimulants for all crops and grazing range situations. It also provides weed suppression for all crops. Since the material is usually applied at 2 oz/A, it offers an economic possibility for spraying large acres by helicopter or fixed wing aircraft. It is a direct energy/information approach, rather than a physical nutrient one. Please call me if you are interested in experimenting on a range/desert situation. Furnish CSI with a Polaroid of a large area and Louisa will electronically check product responses.

LIQUID CALCIUMS: CSI will continue to offer 3 quality, liquid chelated calcium products. We were unable to get one of the types certified organic by OMRI. This was definitely a case of a total lack of agronomic/scientific understanding by OMRI as the material will qualify as organic under the Fed Reg’s and rightly so. It is made from a naturally mined calcium source and combined with an organic chelator. What more do they want!!

PLANT HORMONES: Although we like to think that fertilizers are causing/controlling everything about our crop, it is really the hormones that have the final say as to what the plant will do. This is particularly true for growth, reproduction and senescence. All of these can be problems, depending on the crop. The roots should be thought of as the head/brains of a plant. The roots start with cytokinnen hormones to produce growth. Later, IAA produced in the growing points starts to negate the cytokinnen’s and reduces their production by inhibiting new feeder root growth. You can overcome this plant limitation by using seaweed, the best source of natural cytokinnen. That is why the first foliar application at early growth stage can be beneficial, but the real plant changing impact can come with an application at pre-bud stage followed by a mid-season one. Nitrozyme is used at one pint/A at these times. Fish, sugar, etc. can also be used at the same time, but see below to do even more plant manipulation.

To increase set, decrease the nitrates with 2-4 lbs. of Epsom salts [magnesium sulfate], move the sugars by adding a touch of Boron and increase the K with liquid potassium or potassium bicarb just before budding or about 10 days prior to tassel for corn [same time as Nitrozme above]. A pint of aqua ammonia or 2-3 #’s/A urea will carry the nutrients in. Same approach can be used to start to close down a crop 2-3 weeks before harvest.

SODIUM: Many of you are in low sodium areas and those of you with livestock realize how much you force feed them and/or allow them to free choice. Sodium [Na] is also a small, but important part of the soil cation exchange system. It is agronomically beneficial to have more sodium coming through the pastures or forages for several reasons. The New Zealand studies showed a dramatic decrease in bloat when up to 80 #’s/A of plain salt was applied, because the bovine uses the sodium to make its own sodium bicarbonate or rumen buffer. Sodium coming through a plant is biologically tuned, which increases its efficiency of use by the animal. Therefore, CSI has been checking a special salt against the soil tests coming through the lab that show low sodium availability. Redmond salt, which is a mined, natural red salt that has lots of trace minerals, has an excellent livestock and soil application history, so we are recommending it. Plain feed grade lose salt could also be used. It you don’t have a local source of Redmond, CSI has made arrangement with some of their regional distributors to source it for you.

CALCIUM: CSI can now recommend 3 options for calcium. Regular lime for low pH soils, gypsum for high pH soils and calcium silicate for mid-range pHs such as 6.2-6.8. Calcium silicate is available at the same site as our Tenn. Brown Phosphate, bulk only. Silica is showing major yield increases in rice and sugar cane on sandy ground as well as fungal kill. It shows a similar response on vegetables on muck. Part of the success of the new Quantum Biodynamic paradigm is focusing on silica.

SOUND MACHINES: Several machines were out for research in 2000. Two were used on soys and produced a very noticeable size increase. They were not even used to maximum efficiency as one was let on too long on some days and the other wasn’t even combined with a foliar feed, which is supposed to be the main use of the sound [to open the stomata for nutrient uptake]. However, the sound does increase root nutrient uptake as well as normal leaf uptake of nutrients from the air. The third machine was used on wheat in Idaho and then moved to sweet potatoes in Miss. In Idaho, the machine attracted an amazing population of ladybugs and in Miss. it stopped an infestation of armyworms from feeding and they just dropped off and died. The obvious explanation was increase of nutrient uptake followed by a rise in brix to a point of insect non-palatability.

MISCELANEOUS: I will be lecturing in Canada and Australia in Feb., but Louisa will be here to serve your needs. Farmer problem mentioned in last newsletter turned out to be excess use of surfactants that stripped minerals off colloids and collapsed soil structure. Be sure to monitor any reduced N program by in field nitrate test, chlorophyll meter or other suitable method. If N prices go down, plan on the ammonium sulfate for this fall as a hedge against a similar ploy next winter. Don’t hesitate to order early for later delivery. Almost all our suppliers reported record sales in 2000. Thanks, Phil & Louisa.

FALL PROGRAMS: Fall is the best time to remineralize or paramagnetize or put on a composted material. The fall, winter and early spring months allow the soil and microbes to absorb, process and incorporate the materials in preparation for next springs crop. Even this fall’s grain, cover crop or permanent pasture will benefit as well. They will help to hold/bio-activate/electronically tune the minerals for future use by the next crop. CSI has assembled a great group of commodities to choose from; phosphates, humates, potash, gypsum, etc. and including some ammonium sulfate from the nylon industry. Most of my non-certified clients have come to realize that the application of 100-200 lbs. of ammonium sulfate in the fall is one of the best things you can do for their soil and next year’s annual or any perennial. Try it on your lawn and see what happens. It works best if the lime (calcium) is kept up. Watch for our Acres USA and Stockman Grass Farmer ads in Sept. and Oct.

TECHNOLOGY UPDATE: Those of you working with the carbohydrates such as sugar or molasses combined with nitrogen will be dramatically increasing the bacterial counts. Other important little critters have to eat different things. Fungi will be turning green residues into active humus which can/will serve as a source of energy for the next crop. The proliferation of microbes can also produce more permanent/inactive humus called humin. However, the microbes that do that are acetimytes. In order for acetimytes to do their thing, you have to provide “brown” matter containing lignin rather than cellulose and hemi-cellulose. Brown matter is dried stalks, stover, hulls, sawdust etc. So, if your system is digesting green manure rapidly, than start thinking about providing the brown stuff to build more permanent organic matter. WARNING: I just received a phone call from a grower whose failed to consider the above. He has been on a biological program for many years and has radionics available. He apparently began following a standard program based on a group of products with bacterial emphasis. They were working well so he even became a dealer. He didn’t check the products radionically himself this year, but was told by another operator that product X was not appropriate on his farm this year. He used it anyway. The soils on the whole farm tightened up even though there is adequate moisture and the crops are suffering. He sent samples to Elaine Ingram of Soil Web in Oregon and she reported the ratio of bacteria to fungi to be way out of whack. His son checked for potassium radionically and found very little in the plants. Without the benefit of a LaMotte test, my analysis is as follows: Potassium, which is usually available, even on chemical farms, is being suppressed. Reason could be complete change of bacterial species or high levels of active calcium suppressing the K. The magnesium has become very available or very non-available and is binding up what is already high magnesium content clay. LESSONS TO LEARN: There are many good products, but only the ones that resonate with your crops and soil, as shown by radionics, should be applied repeatedly and never excessively. Dr. reams warned about too much of anything, especially when the LaMotte numbers get very high. Run LaMottes yearly!

Nematodes are good to have in your soil! It has now been shown that a class of good nematodes continually produces a manure pellet containing almost exclusively ammonia nitrogen. The potential addition to soils is very significant. Dr. Reams taught that the finding of significant ammonia nitrogen on the LaMotte test showed great progress toward biological recovery. CSI lab stills finds the majority of submitted soils have very low ammonia readings, but some of you are making excellent progress. Growers need to continually back off of the chemical input, feed the good guys, maybe use some detoxifying bacteria as well as adding some new species, etc. to reach that point.

NEW IDEAS: The use of RepellEX AG (garlic juice) allowed the reduction of RoundUp by 75%. Garlic is highly systemic and will carry the chemical throughout the plant.

Fruit splitting in cherries was eliminated using mycorrhizia inoculant on the roots at planting. Mycorrhizia increase efficiency of nutrient uptake, especially phosphorous.

RepellEX and Fish Agra worked very well together as a bird and deer repellent.

Glacial Acetic Acid (manufactured form of the acid in vinegar) worked well against scab.

Fireblight was dried up by spraying with 3 gal. of 50% hydrogen peroxide in 20 gal. of water, followed by 3 lbs. of baking soda in 20 gal. water after 4-5 hours. The peroxide works internally on the bacteria and the oozing stops fairly quickly.

Powdery mildew is being controlled by milk! I don’t know how well our processed milk will do, but try a 10% milk solution twice a week on infected areas. Mild infestations have been controlled with a 5% solution. Potassium phosphate is an important compound in milk and your plants can use it to build immunity. Having medium to high available phosphates on your LaMotte test is the important first step to having your plant pick up the K and internally make it into potassium phosphate.

If the pH of plant sap is less than 6.4, fungal attack is more likely, if pH is above 6.4, insect attack is more likely.

RepellEX or CropGuard In Row is important to use in the row or with transplant solutions if you have any history of disease or insect pressure from previous seasons. Waiting to see if immunity becomes well developed enough to repel insect and diseases makes it that much harder to induce repellency later. Selenium and sulfur compounds are the key factors in the garlic. Prevention is a better than rescue. That also leads to consideration of the Tenn. Brown Rock phosphate [55 ppm selenium] for use in low selenium areas. It will be very beneficial for livestock graziers or feeders as the selenium in the forages or grains will build immunity in the livestock. It is a lot cheaper to do it that way than by injections.

Absorption of organic molecules takes less energy by plants than mineral ion absorption even though the organic molecule carries an electric charge like an ion. That is why Fish Agra continues to perform on a variety of crops, soils and under stressful weather conditions.

Kaliente, which means hot/heat in Spanish, “fries” insects, eggs, etc. but as one grower found out, the fumes/mist are hot enough to make you sneeze, blow, eyes run, etc. It is not phytotoxic to delicate plants. Use with a sticker for longer lasting results and wear a face protector.

The homeopathic products from Nutrapathic are showing significant release of nutrients in the soil and major increases of uptake in the plants, especially calcium. This action is in addition to the soil conditioning and weed suppression actions.

PRODUCT UPDATES: The organic version of Kaleinte, called Complete is still being worked on. There is a problem finding a certifiable, non-GMO source of a minor natural ingredient. Let’s hope for spring of 2001 for OMRI approval.

The Montana Grey Rock and Tenn. Brown Rock phosphates have been OMRI approved.

Bio/Organics has received the OMRI approval for their mycorrhizia organisms.

The BSG seed or transplant treatment is the most economical way to introduce mycorrhizia into an annual crop. BSG is controlling rhizoctonia, pythium and fusarium in soybeans. Remember, sometimes it is less expensive to go for increased absorption rather than trying nutrient replacement when levels are medium-low. OMRI pending.

NITROZYME continues to be the premier seaweed on the market. Nothing else even comes within half the hormonal strength at similar rates and cost.

The Veges sound machines are on test plots around the country. The patent tests already prove they work, we just want more field data from a variety of geographical locations, soils and crops. We would appreciate feedback on the machines and any of our products.

NEW PRODUCTS: CSI now has powdered or liquid yucca available for those who live in drought areas, are paying for water or are spending money on irrigation. Yucca is a natural surfactant with amazing bio-stimulant properties. It will be on next spring’s price list.

CSI will also be reintroducing a product from the TNA [TransNational Agronomy] era. The product will again be named Aqua Hold. It is a bacterial mixture designed to be combined with 15-20 lbs. of sugar per acre to produce large amounts of polysaccharides. These long chain sugars will bind sand, open up clay and help to hold more moisture.

CSI TRAVEL, LECTURES, CLASSES: Phil will be in Montana and southern Idaho first week of Aug; Tenn. in mid-August; Australia in late Oct and early Nov; speaking at the Stockman Grass Farmers conference in Atlanta on Nov. 17 th; and conducting a 3-day Non-Toxic Farming seminar in the twin cities on Dec.4, 5, 6, [Mon., Tues., Wed.] just prior to Acres. (Call CSI to register for the seminar this year.) Also speaking at Acres.

IMPORTANT: CSI office will be closed in GR from Sept. 9 to 25, but Phil and Louisa will continue to provide sales support from Orlando FL. The lab will be closed, so plan accordingly. If you do call in during that time, please leave a clear message with name and phone number and a good time to get back to you so we can take care of you as efficiently as possible. We also plan to get a laptop computer so we can respond to e-mail during that time. [There is no “good time” for us to take a vacation] Sorry for any inconvenience.

FOR SALE: CSI has about 2/3’s of a barrel of liquid chelating agent that can be used to make a batch of liquid calcium or other chelated minerals. Price is $5.00 gallon FOB Grand Rapids. CSI will help you with the formulation.

OTHER THINGS OF POSSIBLE INTEREST: Phil and Louisa do not usually participate in multi level marketing [MLM] even though we live in the same city as the (in)famous Amway. However, we sometimes buy health-oriented things from MLM companies. Since last fall, we have found two different companies that have products that have worked very well for us. The first company sells two types of machines. We purchased a “Chi” machine and an “FIR” [far infrared] last Dec. The Chi machine has provided us a wonderful aerobic work out without any potential impact damage of joints. All you do is lie on your back with your feet slightly elevated on the machine. It oscillates back in forth and moves your spine side to side from bottom to top. It has allowed me to maintain great lung/wind condition without having to jog/run/etc. I can rollerblade 10 miles or bike 20 without even breathing hard. The FIR is a half-culvert shaped device that fits over your body when lying down or sitting up. It broadcasts infrared heat/energy into your body at the same frequency your body radiates energy out. As a result, the body can use the increased energy to improve circulation and make necessary repairs. Louisa was able to deal with a potentially serious abdominal condition that usually is considered untreatable. All pain and indications are gone.

We also tried some new clear liquid minerals that claim to be in “angstrom” size units. My granddaughter brought home an eye infection from school about a month ago. Both my eyes became very red and the infection set heavily in the lower eyelids. I took the silver formula internally and used it with eyewash twice a day. It cleared up in 2 days. If anyone has any further interest in either concept, give us a call.

THANKS for helping us have a great spring and summer season. We are looking forward to serving your needs for this fall. Good Luck! Phil & Louisa Wheeler