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  • CSI Grower Grazier Newsletter – January 2001

    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.

  • CSI Grower Grazier Newsletter – August 2000

    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

  • The Worst Disease In The United States

    By Philip A. Wheeler, Ph.D.

    You probably have a mild case of this disease without even being aware of it.  The fact that you are reading Acres USA probably means that your symptoms don’t include the agricultural paradigm.  Of course I am talking about “Paradigm Paralysis”, that disease that affects us all, because we are human.

    The word paradigm is probably familiar to you, but it might be difficult for you to answer if someone approached you and asked, “What is a paradigm”.  The dictionary definition of a paradigm is “an example or pattern”.  Synonyms are more revealing: model, mold, standards, and ideals.  We all practice, use, believe in, or espouse multiple paradigms every day.  When Christmas or other holidays arrive, we especially love to practice our paradigms to their fullest degree: we travel to the grandparent’s home or we travel to the new young couple’s home; we go to a candlelight service at church on Christmas eve or maybe we have a family evening together; we open one present and save the rest till morning or we open them all or we save them all till morning.  These are the paradigms of our lives.

    “Paradigm Paralysis” is the inability to look outside the current model we are using for a given paradigm or looking outside and being unable to make changes or adopt a new model.  The causes of paradigm paralysis include: fear; peer pressure; lack of energy, knowledge or resources; and a myriad of other valid causes.  The fears can include: fear of change; fear of ridicule; fear of failure; or again, a variety of fears or concerns.

    Most of our paradigms serve us well.  Sometimes paradigms fail us, such as in the case of divorce, when the spouse’s paradigms differ much more than they realized when they met and married.  Sometimes we change churches or career paths because our paradigm [belief] changed or the institution or employer changed.

    One of the intriguing aspects of paradigms is that, as models, they are not the “real” thing.  We all believe that our paradigms are reality and are the ultimate truth.  The only problem with that is that millions of other people think their paradigms, which differ from ours, are reality and the ultimate truth.  No wonder we have conflicts in the world!

    So why are paradigms worth reading about in an agricultural publication?  Because two of the most important paradigms in our lives, agriculture and health/medicine were created with war, money, power and politics in mind, rather than on a true scientific basis with the general welfare in mind.  The power of paradigms are so great and paradigm paralysis so prevalent that the US has gone from a country with many high organic matter, mineral rich soils to being named the country with the worst soil degradation and from a country with reasonably healthy people to one that now has some of the worst rates for degenerative diseases, diabetes and obesity in the world.  8 out of 10 of our list of killer diseases are related to the condition of our soil, air and water as well as our “life styles” which includes our diets.

    Let’s start with the agricultural paradigm.  Readers of Acres are well familiar with the need for new paradigms and the names and patterns of such alternative paradigms as organic, sustainable/biological, biodynamic and quantum agriculture.  What you may not be as familiar with is how we came to the current paradigm of standard/chemical agriculture.  Recently, during a lecture to growers in Australia, a farmer became quite upset while listening to my lecture on the history of agriculture.  He was upset because he thought the agricultural model he had been practicing was based on sound science and understanding of the “nature of nature”.  He was amazed to find out that the current model was largely “imported” from the US and that the model was based on industrial, war and political needs!

    Let’s pick up the story of agriculture in the 1840’s.  Phosphate was recognized as an essential nutrient, but there was difficulty in getting plants to pick up the phosphate when it was applied as hard rock phosphate directly from the mine.  Acid soils seemed to utilize rock phosphate better, so a manufacturing process was created to acidulate [with sulfuric acid] the phosphate before it went on the soil to make it “soluble” for easier uptake.  A fertilizer similar to 0-20-0 was created by the process.  Other soluble salts such as potassium nitrate [salt peter] and Chilean Nitrate of Soda Potash were imported into the US as recorded in James Michener’s book, Centennial.

    Fast forward to the 1890’s when industrial production or importation of acid salt fertilizers was in full swing in Europe.  Julius Hensel started to question the need for all this industrialization for what appeared to be a natural, biological process. [Readers can obtain his book, Bread from Stone, from Acres USA.]  Hensel discovered that he could grow fruits and vegetables with finely ground silt or colloidal minerals, from the mountain streams.  More importantly, the plants grew very well and did not draw insects and diseases.  Publication of his work proved the industrial paradigm had serious flaws and threatened powerful monetary and political interest.  Protection by the law and legal authorities goes out the window when current paradigms are questioned because the legal authorities share the same paradigm as the industrialists and usually have vested interests as well.  Harassment, suppression, discrediting, and destruction soon followed.  [The same type of thing happened to Wilhelm Reich, Ruth Downs, George Earp-Thomas, Dr. Carey Reams, Dr Albrecht and many, many other pioneers in agriculture and health throughout the entire 20th Century.]  [The author saw Hensel’s work duplicated by John Hamaker in Michigan in the 70’s.]

    Moving up 20 years later in Austria, the industrial model led to problems with soil and live stock health. The farmers approached Dr. Rudolph Stiener, a noted scientist, theologian and philosopher for help.  His “answers”, though appearing very strange and esoteric at the time, went on to become the basis of the agricultural paradigm called Biodynamics.  The biodynamic paradigm went the complete opposite direction from the industrial model in that it concentrated on gathering natural energies from outside the earth into preparations and applying them in homeopathic solutions to soil and plants.  Biodynamics prospered in Europe andAustralia although still very much as a minority paradigm compared to the conventional model.  The US had minor adoption of the paradigm and it is still a very small part of the agricultural paradigm in the US.

    Other Europeans such as Lord Balfour began forming the patterns of “Organic” agriculture in the early 1900’s as well.  The organic paradigm came to the US with a little more impact than biodynamics.  With the help of early American pioneers like J.I. Rodale, the word “Organic” was brought into the vocabulary.  Most of the organic activity was in organic gardening until the late sixties and early seventies.  During that same period, sustainable/biological agriculture also appeared and began to grow.  Since the author lived and worked in that era, I can guarantee you that the new paradigms were not met with open arms by the existing paradigm holders, the land grant universities and their educational arms, the extension service.  Let’s drop back to the 1940’s to see how the paradigm that the extension service was so vigorously defending developed in the first place.

    World War II had a major impact on what was a reasonably natural model of agricultural in the US with some industrialization thrown in. If you examine the USDA annual yearbooks of agriculture in the late 30’s and 40’s, you will see a major shift in approach or “patterns” of the paradigm around 1946 and 1947.  The war had ended and the political influence was beginning.  TheUS had experienced two world wars in the last 30-40 years, so there was good reason to think there could be another.  The wars had produced industrial models for munitions production and employed thousands in the factories.  The dilemma was: how to keep our ability to produce munitions, but not have huge stockpiles that would become expensive and dangerous.  Ammonium nitrate, of Oklahoma City fame, and anhydrous ammonia, of jungle floor hardening fame [now of drug making fame] needed a place to be used for other purposes.  So the political/military/economic decision was made to use American farm land as the “great dumping ground”.  Regretfully, crops will respond to luxury feeding.  Conveniently, the luxury feeding of N requires more feeding of P and K, so the fertilizer companies were all too willing to go along with the application of munitions materials.

    Perhaps they really didn’t know at the time the effects of fertilizing this way, but it didn’t take long to find out that the industrial paradigm created a need for pesticides.  Conveniently, we had another war technology called Nerve Gas!  Nerve gas technology developed by Germany became the basis for our chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticides.  The industrial model also seemed to increase weed pressure as well.  Herbicides became an excepted part of”modern” farming operations.  Acidulated fertilizers killed mycorrhizia, the main beneficial root fungi of typical crops and guaranteed the need for more of the same.  Money from the fertilizer and chemical sales poured into the land grant institutions and careers were made, mortgages and retirements paid and the paradigm became the only “truth”.  The paradigm can be described as,”N-P-K simplistic nonsense, followed by toxic rescue chemistry”.

    Currently the most active alternative paradigms are sustainable/biological with many practitioners making the move to the more restrictive Certified Organic.  Biodynamic comes in a distant third in the US.  The newest paradigm is called Quantum Ag and combines the best of all the alternative paradigms with advanced electronics, homeopathy, radionics and quantum physics.  The goal of Quantum Ag is to gather and control all available energy sources [earth and cosmic] and direct them to the soil, plant and atmosphere above the soil while continuing to mineralize and biologically activate.

    Are you ready to “heal” yourself of paradigm paralysis and move into a new agricultural paradigm?

    The medical/health paradigm has a similar history.  The prevailing form of medicine in the late 1800’s as imported from Europewas Homeopathy blended with thousands of years of herbal and folk remedies and surgical procedures.  Homeopathy was based on the work of Samuel Hahneman, a German doctor. He became disillusioned with the approach and methods used in medicine of his time [late 1700’s] and they had also failed his daughter as well.  He gave up the practice of medicine and went into the business of translating foreign medical related texts into German.  While translating the Greek Hippocrates, he came across the phrase, “like cures like”.  He began a series of trials or “proofs, to see if this was true.  His first proof is still with us today.  He used Peruvian Chinchona bark to induce the symptoms of malaria in a patient.  The active component of Chinchona is quinine, still an accepted remedy for relief of malaria symptoms.

    Homeopathic remedies are made by taking very small amounts of the material that produces effects similar to the disease and then diluting and percussing the material into water solution.  Percuss means to pound or shock the water and material solution by striking the container against your hand several times.  This percussion imprints the energy pattern of the material into the water. By the time you finish the dilution process, there is so little material left in the solution that standard science claims that it couldn’t possibly have any effect on a person.  However, the water remembers/retains the energy pattern of the original substance.

    Claiming homeopathy doesn’t work is like saying biodynamic preps spread on fields don’t work, projected radionic energy patterns don’t work or a Hugh Lovel or Bob Benson tower doesn’t do anything.  The author uses a homeopath and, believe me, homeopathy does work.  Modern homeopaths may now use a radionic imprint and can just choose a remedy frequency to imprint on to a moist sugar pill [called a blank] to issue to the client.  There are complete computer programs available to help the practitioner clearly identify the symptoms expressed by the client and correlate them with one of more remedies.

    Hahnemann went on to make hundreds of proofs.  These formed the basis of what is now the book called the Material Medica. Because of the success of Homeopathy, there were more Homeopathic hospitals in the US prior to 1930 than there were Allopathic hospitals.

    Allopathic medicine is defined as, “the method of treating disease by the use of agents, producing effects different from those of the disease treated.”  Was what very humorous to the author were the words following the definition that appeared in my old dictionary; “opposed to homeopathy”.  Wow, is that an understatement.  Homeopathy is very inexpensive.  The office call costs are usually very moderate, and the remedies cost a few dollars.  There is no need for man-made “foreign”, side effect producing molecules from drug companies in the homeopathic system!

    So how or why did the allopathic paradigm replace the homeopathic paradigm as the main steam medical model?  Many doctors went off to serve in WW I.  Somehow, in their absence, collusion began between insurance companies and drug manufacturers to take control of medicine/health began. Allopathic medicine quickly became a very lucrative business.  [Remember that Dr. Wilhelm Reich, and internationally respected physician, and his work had already been discredited for daring to cure cancer with energies.]  Just as chemical money flowed into the land grant institutions, the drug money flowed into the medical schools. According to some accounts, it was pretty much of a strong arm tactic.  Another factor between WW I and WW II was the “medicalization” of human childbirth.  It wasn’t long before the doctor as “God” paradigm became the standard.  With the help of the FDA, anything threatening the paradigm was quickly squashed, including the smashing of radionics machines in the early 50’s.  The chiropractic paradigm was criminally suppressed until they finally won a law suit against the AMA in the late 1900’s.

    There is no doubt that modern medicine has much to offer.  Antibiotics, which are mainly derived from nature, have saved countless lives.  They do not usually contain compounds/molecules which are foreign to the human body as is the case with most other modern drugs.  Just listen to the side effects following the way to numerous drug ads for every sickness problem on your TV. Our surgery, lab technology and emergency care are among the world’s best, but it was only less than 15 years ago that the AMA finally admitted that nutrition might have something to do with health and disease!  So why would you even think of using another paradigm along with allopathic medicine or totally without it?  Keep in mind that a large percentage of recoveries from minor diseases/conditions are from the placebo effect.  You went to the doctor believing in his paradigm and accepting it as your own, therefore what he administers to you will obviously cure you, even though it was an antibiotic for a cold virus which will not be affected by the antibiotic in the least.

    Human dis-ease can be separated into two types, those involving a bacteria, virus or fungus and those that have no such entity present.  If there is no entity present, it should be called a condition.  In both cases there is usually a nutritional deficiency and/or a genetic weakness involved. [Plagues of very virulent strains of “germs” can override even healthy immune systems and we are not including them in this discussion.  However, even in plagues, all exposed persons do not die.]  The beginning of any disease/condition is a loss of energy from a group of cells.  This loss of energy continues until the body repairs the damage.  If repair does not occur by natural body defenses, then “symptoms” appear.  Usually, if the liver is still functioning and has the right minerals, enzymes and vitamins available, new cells can be produced to heal the situation.  Prior to the symptom stage is the best time to heal.  That is why supplementation, exercise, good diet, water, etc. are so important.

    Allopathic medicine has never attempted to detect the energy loss stage.  Dr. William Tiller, world renowned material physicist and author of Science and Human Transformation was doing this, years ago, at Stanford Univ.  He could even track the energy as it was carried out through the lymph system.  Radionic practitioners and all the other energy medicine pioneers were all doing this.  Readers should note that it is still illegal in the US to do this with radionics on human subjects. States will vary in enforcement, but the FDA is relentless.  Europe and many other countries allow energy work is conjunction with medical doctors. Allopathic medicine has recently made a break through in early detection by chemistry, i.e. identification of certain proteins that indicate prostrate and certain other cancers. [It is very early detection, but cancerous cells are already present in large enough quantities to be a problem.]  Full body MRI’s also allow for earlier detection, but costs, interpreting results and efficacy are still in question.  The “best solution” is to maintain health through life style, diet/nutrition and supplementation.  It is obvious that that message is not the accepted paradigm in the US.

    When you reach the symptom stage, you still have a chance to cure “paradigm paralysis” and let your body heal itself.  If you have never stepped outside the allopathic paradigm, it will be a scary thing to do.  What are the alternatives?  If you really are new to the alternative medical/health paradigm, let the allopathic practitioner run the tests and give their diagnosis.  Then the journey begins. If it is a condition and not a disease [no germ, virus, prion or fungus, then you don’t need an antibiotic, but you may need a painkiller to get through the early healing time.  Try to avoid taking any symptom masking drug that does nothing to help your body heal. Your choices for further advice on how to deal with the condition include chiropractors, naturopaths, homeopaths, nutritionists, etc. They will talk about how to get your body to heal itself, not about how they are going to “cure” you. Honest allopathic doctors will tell you they can’t cure anything, they just try to suppress systems so the body can heal.  If you want to go it alone, you have to read.  An excellent book to start with is, Foods that Harm Foods that Heal, published by Readers Digest. Another great book is Prescription for Nutritional Healing by James F. Bach, MD and Phyllis A. Bach, C.N.C.  You may have to add or delete some foods completely from your diet.  You may have to make lifestyle changes.  But which would you prefer: a diagnosis of arthritis, [a catch-all phrase for “something is wrong with your joints.”] followed by painkillers, continued deterioration of the joint for the rest of your life or changing your diet, rebuilding the cartilage and full use of the joint in accordance with your age?

    I can certainly say this is possible since a close family member has done it twice in a lifetime.  The first time was by using the Dr. Reams method of fasting, followed by corrective diet and supplementation.  [Dr. Reams and his trained practitioners were able to help many people with the same success over decades.] The second time was again diet change and “advanced” supplementation that wasn’t available years ago.  What is meant by advanced supplementation?  Most supplements are in the capsule or pill form such as calcium tablets made of calcium carbonate or other calcium compounds with binders and stabilizers.  Research shows that most capsules or pills have about 10-15% utilization rate.  Your doctor’s desk reference will prescribe the amount or number of capsules based on that assumption.  If you have trouble digesting that fact, pun intended, check with your city sewage waste department or the nearest porta-potty company.  Undigested vitamins, minerals and pills of every sort are a major disposal problem and you can still read the brand name on many.

    Advanced supplementation was featured in the 2 part article in the May and June Acres entitled “Fire in the Water”.  The author has no personal experience is using the products mentioned, but the technology rang true.  At least two other companies in the UShave gone a step further in taking “digestion” out of the picture.  Their liquid minerals, which are the basis of life and healing, can pass through the skin or lining of the mouth and be transported to each and every cell.  This technology is important because part of the general decline of our health status has included weakening of digestive juices.  Once the mineral is in the blood and lymph system, the body will “decide”, on the basis of priority for the entire organism, where the minerals will be used for initial repairs. Other repairs will follow, as decided by the body, if the mineral are continued.  That’s why it may take several months for the symptoms you are trying to alleviate to disappear. These new technologies now make it much easier to give the body a chance to heal itself.

    Even allopathic medicine is catching on.  They suggest folic acid to prevent birth defects, they suggest all people need supplementation due to the soil and food conditions and they recently noted that Q10, a popular supplement, has reduced the tremor effects of Parkinson’s disease.  Parkinson’s disease is mislabeled.  There is now anecdotal evidence the disease is really a condition of severe nutritional deficiency.  Fibromyalgia, another catch-all disease/condition label, falls into the same category.

    So let’s assume that the body can heal itself from many conditions by the use of diet and supplementation with minerals, vitamins, enzymes, probiotics, and amino acids. What about the true diseases which involve and infectious entity?  An active immune system is the best defense.  Two alternative products that have appeared over the years are hydrogen peroxide and silver.  Both have proven to be effective both topically and internally.  Our ancestors crossed the plains with water barrels.  In the bottom of that barrel was the family silver and possibly some silver dollars.  The practice saved countless lives and saved the family silver from robbery as well.  Most hot tubs and spas have an option for peroxide systems and an insert point for a silver cartridge, because silver can kill bacteria, virus and fungal organisms on contact.  The author has learned to use the liquid silver in spas, humidifiers, etc. at a much reduced cost to standard chemicals.

    Colloidal silver has been available in the market place for quite a few years.  It is effective.  The only problem lies with excess doses.  It won’t kill you, but you may have some buildup.  The reason that can happen with colloidal silver is that the size of the colloid may prevent full excretion.  The new soluble silvers, which are angstrom size rather than colloidal size, are just as effective without the build-up problem.

    You really can’t afford not to have silver available for your family under today’s conditions.  Silver can kill anthrax spores, West Nile virus organisms, the viral organism associated with planters warts, small pox organisms, listeria, salmonella, cold and flu organisms, etc. when in direct contact, externally of internally.  If you read or listen to the news, your chances of coming in contact with one or more of them are escalating every day. We have had at least ten deaths in West Mich. from West Nile since it arrived this summer. Separate doses of silver should only be used when you know or suspect that you have come in contact or symptoms appear.  Get to a physician or hospital immediately if the organisms have already began producing enough toxins to cause symptoms, as silver will not neutralize the toxins already produced.  Continue to take silver until the symptoms are gone to make sure the organism is no longer present in your body.

    If you do end up in a hospital for any reason, you must be fully aware that your chances of nosocomical [hospital acquired] infection and injury from errors is incredibly high.  Put the patient on silver and continue for at least a weed or two after leaving the health care facility.  Never leave a child, elderly person or anyone who will be unable to check things alone.    Check every medicine coming into the room and verify it has the correct patients name, type and dosage according to the doctor’s chart.  Ask every staff member, including doctors, if they have washed their hands since contact with a previous patient.  Use body markers on limbs that are to be removed or areas of body where the problem is.  Leave nothing to chance because the allopathic paradigm is coming apart.  There is such a shortage of healthcare workers that the government intends to give live virus small pox vaccinations to workers while still on duty instead of the keeping them home during their contagious period.  Medical costs are continuing to rise and will drag down the economy or become unaffordable to large numbers of people.  Doctors are refusing to do procedures because of liability insurance costs.  Medical problems and their allopathic paradigm “cure” are one of the main causes of personal bankruptcies in the US. Many companies are reducing or eliminating medical insurance coverage for employees. We must change the health/medical paradigm in the minds of the majority of US citizens or our future is bleak indeed.

    There are some positive signs.  Over half the population have looked into or used alternative medical paradigms.  Organic food purchases are climbing rapidly.  Schools are offering healthy beverages along with or instead of colas.  A movement called “Slow Food” started in Italy and is making its way around the world.  Massage therapy and yoga are becoming “mainstream”.  Clinical studies have been compiled that identify the nutrient deficiencies associated with over 22 diseases/conditions that afflict us.  For a copy of these protocols, please see me at the Acres convention or contact my office.  Good Luck and Good Health.