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  • Garlic: The Wonder Plant For All Livestock

    By Philip A. Wheeler, Ph.D.

    One of the main problems with factory farm production is how to keep the animals or fowl healthy [or at least alive till slaughter] in spite of all the factors that would make it unhealthy.  The decision to use both sub-therapeutic and therapeutic drugs has allowed factory farming to survive, but the damaging effects to humans may take decades to undue.

    Becoming a sustainable, organic or bio-dynamic grower would preclude the use of many of the factory farm concepts, but some of the problems can still remain.  Any herd or flock situation increases the chance of communicable diseases.  Every farm on the “right path” does not have total and complete remineralization of their soils, total and complete micro-organism replenishment and balance, the perfect blend or grasses, legumes and herbs in the pasture, perfect weather or the perfect ration.  If this was so, there would be no need for animal supplements, probiotics, wormers or drenchers, or veterinarian calls to any farm using the “right paradigm”.

    The main problems of bacteria, viral and fungal organisms are still out there.  Blood urea nitrogen and ammonia can still reduce production.  Weather stresses can still occur. Breeding and birthing can still be accompanied by problems.

    There are several legitimate approaches to these problems for the informed grower.  Probiotics can be used to increase the intestinal flora, mineral supplements can be fed, clay products can be fed to help absorb ammonia and high doses of vitamins, herbs or phytonutrients can be used.

    One of the best, most natural and cost effect approaches is the use of garlic (Allium stativum) of the lily family.  Garlic is the most commonly uses remedial herb in the animal world.  Its’ amazing properties include its direct use as an antibiotic (including anti-viral and anti-fungal), an internal and external controller of parasites, an immune system builder/enhancer and a production increaser.  Garlic has been used since some of the earliest civilizations as a medicine for humans.  Like all other “fold medicines”, it took a long time for the “experts” to actually test it and prove that it did have the reported attributes.  Even though Louis Pasteur, the father of the germ theory of disease, showed that garlic would fight infections as early as 1858, it is only recently that medical people are conducting more research into its’ potential uses.  All the benefits of garlic that have been proven for humans also apply to livestock.

    Let’s start with the antibiotic effect while recognizing that garlic contains an amazing number of beneficial compounds that can affect any and all health aspects.  One of the main beneficial compounds is allicin, the compound that is responsible for the antibiotic effect as well as the infamous “garlic breath”.  The compound allicin is not found in an intact garlic bulb or clove. Individual cells must be broken open to allow the mixing of an amino acid called allinin with an enzyme called allinase which then forms the allicin compound.  Now you have a natural antibiotic that is also anti-viral and anti-fungal.  Unlike commonly used antibiotics, bacteria do not become resistant to the allicin.  Allicin is also effective against a broad range of bacteria, making it an excellent choice for therapeutic or sub-therapeutic use in herd or flock conditions.

    Since garlic grows under a wide variety of conditions, it is important to recognize that garlic can vary in its’ strength of compounds according to soil content and conditions.  One of the most important elements for growing “powerful” garlic is sulfur. There are over 20 active sulfur compounds that can provide beneficial effects as well as the “odor”.  The area around Hollister, CAis the largest growing area for US garlic.  I assume or hope that the growers in that area are maintaining their sulfur levels as well as their selenium levels, as that is the second major mineral nutrient providing many of the benefits.

    Processing is also a factor in producing a viable product.  The effective compounds must be carefully and gently extracted from the pulp and then stabilized for storage or shipment.  Evidence of a good extraction is the loss of taste, odor or failure to “rot” of the pulp. Home made brews should usually be used immediately, but concentrated garlic oil, homeopathic remedies or alcohol tinctures will have a longer shelf life.  Certified organic commercial products are now available for growers who are not into the “do it yourself” mode.

    The second major use or function is parasite control.  Most internal parasites are worms or flukes.  Chemical or drug helminthics (wormers) are usually poisons that have no place in the routine worming process.  There is more known about the repulsion of external parasites using garlic than the mode or efficacy of internal control.  In external control the sulfur compounds are carried throughout the body when garlic is taken internally and then expelled through the skin tissue.  Sulfur compounds also are expelled through the lungs to give repulsion around the mouth and face areas where flies can be a problem.  This is the same mode of action and same compounds that allow garlic to be used for insect repulsion on plants.  If a grower cannot introduce the garlic through feedstuffs or supplements, the extracts can be used in the water source.  Agitation is recommended if used in the water, as the extracts tend to settle.  If the above methods of use are just aren’t feasible, the extracts can be used as an external spray.  Garlic is extremely systemic, so the external efficacy is quite good.  (Any cook that gets garlic on his or her hands can end up with “garlic breath”.)

    The last two effects, immunity building and increased production are hard to separate.  Conventional growers routinely use sub-therapeutic does of antibiotics to overcome the immune deficiencies inherent is their systems by killing the organisms that would limit gain.  So when garlic juice extract is used as a livestock feed supplement, any immune building can also be translated into fewer unwanted organisms or parasites and more energy going into gain.  The gain can be muscle/meat, milk, hair, reproductive success or birth survival.

    Well grown and processed garlic contains significant amounts of vitamin C, E and B complex.  It also contains the myriad of sulfur compounds and other phtyonutrients that include anti-oxidants.  However, the other mineral nutrient that makes garlic a real immune builder and gain producer is selenium (Se).  Se. is known as being essential to even having a functioning immune system in humans and animals.  As reviewed in my previous article, Mind Your S’s, (sulfur, selenium and silica) selenium is an essential nutrient in a narrow range and “deadly” in either deficiency or excess.  Due to fears, regulations and lack of knowledge, selenium supplementation of soils and livestock can be difficult.  Even though soil supplementing is usually the best approach, Se can be accessed in the”perfect” form [as part of a plant and accompanied by other valuable synergistic compounds] in garlic extract.

    A well produced garlic extract in a finished product should be able to furnish about .1ppm selenium per 2-4 oz of product.  Some growers may already know Se levels in pastures, forages, blood levels, etc., while others have not checked at all.  A good pasture should provide about .2ppm in the mixture of grasses, legumes, herbs and weeds, but it is doubtful that few eastern, southern and mid-west pastures would provide that amount if soil supplementation has not occurred.  So adding garlic extract to the diet has the potential to provide health improvement or gain beyond what they are now experiencing.  High producing milk cows, where production records are usually very accurate, show excellent response to Se.  Even though there may be few visible symptoms of Se deficiency, “hidden” failure to gain may be occurring just as “hidden” yield loss occurs on most farms due to one or more missing nutrients.

    Typical selenium deficiency symptoms include: high somatic cell count; low solids or protein in milk; reduced gain or production; retained placenta; reproductive disorders; death of young soon after birth; metritis, etc.  Again, lack of these obvious symptoms does not mean economic gain cannot be experienced with the use of garlic extracts by themselves or blended with other natural compounds.  The only way to find out how much more gain can be achieved is to run your own trials with a garlic product.

  • CSI Grower Grazier Newsletter – August 2011

    Letting Nature Supply All Your Nitrogen Needs

    Human activity is affecting planet earth to such an extent that natural scientists are naming this time the beginning of a new geological age/epoch called Anthropocene (the recent age of man) and ending what was the Holocene epoch (about 17,000 years ago to present). We are no longer observers of nature, but significant influencers of what is happening to nature. The sheer weight of humans and their livestock is now bigger than the earth’s wild animal population and there are more trees on farms than in wild forests. Our activities are rapidly increasing the amount of CO2 in the air. That is an established fact, the effect of which is the only thing in dispute, i.e. will it get warmer or cooler and will we be wetter or dryer?

    Although growers usually help to absorb CO2 by growing crops, their improper handling of crop residue or improper feeding of livestock can add the CO2 back to the air. However, farming’s bigger polluting effect concerns nitrogen. Plants have always used N from the air by a variety of natural methods. Now the rate we are taking N out of the air is 50% higher than what nature has done for millions of years. Most of this industrial created N is used for fertilizer. Taking N out isn’t really the problem; it is the later consequences that matter. Chemical N leaches into the aquifer. We are all familiar with ocean “dead” zones where the oxidized N and P have fed algae blooms that starve aquatic life for oxygen and the concept of “Blue Babies” that occurs when excess nitrate in the water causes babies to turn blue from lack of oxygen in their blood.

    nitrogenSo, as growers, we must do our part in mitigating our impact on natural systems by taking every opportunity to use naturally occurring N and cease use of industrially created N. There are five main ways we can get the nitrogen we need to grow our crops without resorting to manmade N. The good news is that you will be raising healthier, more valuable crops in the process of using nature’s supply of N.

    One of nature’s original methods of building available N is with N fixing plants called Legumes. Legumes can be anything from small white clover to large shrubs and trees. They all have the ability to take N2gas out of the air that is circulating in the soil and use a biological/chemical process to fix the N2into ammonium ions. There is a micro-organism called rhizobia that establishes itself inside the root nodule to complete the process. Since each legume may have need of a different rhizobium it is best to buy the inoculant that matches it the first time you use that particular legume. If you are not farming conventionally/chemically, the organisms will usually survive and you will not have to keep buying new inoculum for the repeated crop. Amount of N fixed by a given legume varies widely, but 30-60 lbs/A is common.

    The legumes usually need the trace mineral molybdenum to make the process happen efficiently. Hopefully, you all remember to dig up your legume of choice, carefully cut open the visible nodule on the root and check its size and color. The larger the nodule, the more the fixation potential. The darker the pink, purple or maroon the more molybdenum you have in your soils to make the process work. If you have dull grey nodules, you need to add some molybdenum. The easiest, least costly way is to use fish, seaweed and ocean liquid or dry products that contain traces of “Molly B” on a regular basis.

    Nature’s second process of supplying N involves free standing micro-organisms called azobacter or azotobacter that don’t have to use a root nodule to change the N2 gas to ammonias and other important compounds. They basically absorb the N2 gas and poop out ammonias and the other compounds. The other compounds are very significant, including amino acids (the building blocks of protein): Glutamic, Methionine, Tryptophane, Lysine, and Arginine. This means your plants are receiving N in a form that they can use without expenditure of valuable internal energy that can be used for increased production. Azobactor also produce vitamins B-1, 2, 3, 5, 6 & 12. In addition, the phytohormones Indole Acetic acid, Gibberellic Acid and Cytokinis are produced. If you add up the cost of buying all the compounds separately, CSI’s line of Blooming Blossom azobactor products are a real bargain. Conventional farming kills off these organisms and robs the grower of what amounts to free N and a whole slew of growth factors. CSI’s Blooming Blossom product line contains dozens of azobactor strains for your soil. Thanks to a technology breakthrough, the NutriFoliar product in that line contains stabilized cyst forms of Azobacter that can operate on a leaf surface to produce (poop) ammonias and all the other compounds for uptake by the plant. The amount of N produced in the soil and on the leaf is conservatively listed at 40-50 units/lbs per acre per application. The azobacter can also deny surface space to disease pathogens. (Believe it or not, “good” nematodes are also great ammonia poop factories.)

    The next major natural source of N is from the waste products of livestock. Stable manure will also contain urine, so now you have ammonias, nitrates, urea and some protein N. Much of this can be wasted if manure is not handled properly. Manure pits are the most common treatment/process that seeks to save/stabilize the N. However, without peroxide, biology and carbohydrates added to aerate & fix the N, much of it is lost and odor is a problem. Composting is the best way for sustainable growers to handle manure as the composting process, when done properly, kills pathogens, stabilizes the N and other nutrients, increases microbial activity, and creates other valuable enzymes, hormones and growth factors. Generally compost is used at 1-2 ton/A providing 14 – 28# N (cow) and/or 60 – 120# N (poultry) the first year.

    There are several ways to preserve more N from your manure when composting. Adding clay improves moisture retention and increase aggregation. Adding KS+, a natural mined acidic mineral, at the beginning of composting (or better yet, at the source of the manure) stops N volatilization, kills pathogens, and reduces odors very quickly, and creates better amino acids for easier uptake by plants.

    Composters in the “know” are also blending in natural mined major minerals and trace minerals to make custom composts for their clients. CSI ships semi-load bulk minerals to their sites for blending. If your compost source isn’t providing that kind of service, please ask them to contact CSI to learn more.

    The fourth way to get N for your crops is to use a protein by-product: blood, feather meal, cotton seed meal or fish products. CSI’s Organo Fish comes from harvested “junk” fish. Our fish is not part of the human food chain. Protein nitrogen is composed of amino acids which are available for direct use by a plant without the use of internal plant energy to process them. Comparing protein N to industrial produced N is complex. First, usually about 80% of the applied chemical N is lost either up (volatizing) or down (leaching). Second, research shows that the protein N in fish is equivalent to about 5 times the amount of remainingchemical N. Simply put, 100 units of chemical N winds up being 20 units used by the plant and that 20 units of chemical N has the equivalent effect of only 4 units of fish protein N.  The added efficiency of protein N from fish comes from the additional microbial stimulation of “good guys” like azobactor. 5 gallons of Organo Fish will get you the same result or better than 400 lbs or 40 gallons of 28%.

    CSI’s Organo Fish (4-1-1) has the highest protein and highest dissolved solids available in a liquid fish product on the market. It is shipped throughout the US, Canada and several foreign countries including Costa Rica.

    The 5th natural source of N for our crops is from recycling previous years’ plants into humus. Humus is the product of plant residue broken down by micro-organisms. You can build your humus levels through cover cropping and proper handling of crop residue. The humus building process is greatly enhanced in biologically active soil. Humus is produced as either active or passive factions from the plant residue. The active faction feeds your next crop, while the passive faction builds long term humus levels. The usual figure for the amount of N released by humus is 40 lbs per % of humus per year. To be on the safe side, CSI uses a figure of 30 lbs per percent of humus. Research shows that large amounts of chemical nitrogen do stimulate microbes to eat plant residue, but the carbon volatizes instead of forming humus. Another vital and positive side effect of microbial N vs chemical N is that mycorrhizea has a much better chance to do it’s job of producing glomalin (long lasting carbon compounds) which is a major factor in soil flocculation and enables plants to access N from the air.

    Keeping in mind the usual rule that says it takes a pound of N to produce a bushel of corn, let’s see how much N we can come up with using sustainable methods. We will assume you properly incorporated your crop residue with carbohydrates and bacteria and added protein N if the residue was brown. You will also plant a mixed legume, grain cover crop to take down next spring. Your current humus reading is only 2.5%. N sources and amounts for next years corn: Humus (30 lbs x 2.5 = 75# N); Crop Residue (30-40# N); Legume plow down (30-60# N); 5 gal Organo Fish (22# equivalent N); 250 ml Bioplin in the row (40-50# N); Sidedress Organo Fish and Bioplin and/or foliar NutriFoliar & Organo Fish (10# N); “A few good nematodes” (10# N). And it all adds up to (75 + 30 + 40 + 22 + 40 + 10 + 10 = 226# N [low end] or 267# N [high end]). Add more to that number if you spread raw manure or compost this fall or next spring. SEE? You have enough N to grow at least 200 bushel corn without one pound of manufactured N!

    Meanwhile, you haven’t added nitrates to ground water, killed off any of your beneficial microbes or burned out your humus with artificial, costly processed N. Please break your High N addiction now! Make sure you handle this year’s crop residue correctly, plant a cover crop and get ready for a non-chemical N spring of 2012.

    HOW PLANTS WORK: We have previously talked about how plants “signal” the micro-organisms in their root zones by extruding carbon based compounds from the roots. Scientist have now measured parts of this process and claim about 66% of the energy/sugars produced by the photosynthetic process ends up being exuded to influence microbes in the root zone. They also discovered that the type of extrudate changes as the plant goes from growth to reproductive stages. This reinforces Dr. Ream’s concepts of plant manipulation and our concepts of mineralization and microbial stimulation for optimum plant health and production.

    FULVIC ACID: Studies indicate that fulvic acids tend to stabilize fertilizers in wet conditions. CSI usually recommends our Water Mineral product when applying boron to the soils to help prevent boron leaching. Since about 99% of tests coming through our lab show moderate to severe shortages of boron, your recommendation may include Water Mineral, a great source of fulvic acid. We recommend this under wet or dry conditions. CSI doesn’t know whether you will end up using boron in liquid or dry form, but we think that if you broadcast the Water Mineral in water, along with other recommended liquid materials, it will help hold the wet or dry applied boron. For maximum chelation, I prefer Sol-U-Bor, the common soluble powder source available in most farm outlets. Borax (soap) is also soluble in water.

    CELL PHONES, RADIATION AND CANCER: BACK IN THE NEWS. On May 31, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that experts have concluded the cell phone radiation may cause a specific type of brain malignant cancer called glioma. They also emphasized the importance of protecting the rapidly growing brains of the young. The same reasoning can be applied to all types of electronic devices that can transmit electromagnetic radiation to the brain, including microwave ovens, regular portable home phones and other Electro magnetic device.. Please take steps to protect yourself, your children and grand children. Keep active emission sources away from the body and put Cell Guard Chips on all hand held communications devices as well as desk top screens, laptops, readers, etc. CSI has a good supply available in stock at $40.00 including shipping. They make great gifts and can be transferred from one device to the next. We also carry the whole house treating Tainio Concerto units that cover about 4000 sq ft for $550.

    BLOOMING BLOSSOM PRODUCTS: This line of nitrogen fixing products – Bioplin, NutriTech and NutriFoliar – has had a tremendous burst of sales this year after reported successes on field crops last year. It is also thanks to a new distributor, Dan Juneau of Juneau Sales, who is doing a great job of introducing the products to his network of contacts in many parts of the US. Neptune’s Harvest, our friendly competitor fish company, has also started handling the Blooming Blossom line based on their customer’s 2010 crop responses. The strange weather has also played a role in giving organic growers options for “rescue” of yellowing crops. The Blooming Blossom line is available in 250 ml (1-2 acres) or 1 liter (4-8 acres) and 5 liter (20-40 acres). This year, the 1 liter and 5 liter sizes had to be special ordered and prepaid. Next year will see some 250 and 1 liter size in stock and 5 liter with prepaid orders for spring, but please, please, please let CSI or your dealer know as early as possible next year what your needs will be.

    BLOOMING BLOSSOM PRODUCT SALE: On Jan.1, 2012 we will all see a 6% price increase on Bioplin, NutriTech and NutriFoliar. CSI will discount customer prepaid orders 10% off 2011 prices IF PAID FOR by Friday, Nov 18th, 2011. Beat the price increase and get a discount too!

    OUR POWDERED MINERAL PRODUCTS: We are very pleased with the response to our “powdered/ suspendable” minerals that also contain herbs, microbes and food sources and their crop performance. CSI will be continuing that line next year. In addition, a true “soluble” line will also be available, but to do this a few fibrous “goodies” will have to be left out. IF you have learned to properly handle the “suspendables”, we urge you to stick with them. A greater variety of sizes will probably be available for your convenience.

    FALL IS THE TIME TO MINERALIZE: Sharpen your pencils, get soil tests done if needed and get your mineral levels up to par. Too many tests coming through our lab are still low in Boron & Zinc. Fewer are coming through with low Phosphorous and Sulfur, but still significant. How did your crops and livestock take the heat in July? Aside from the water issue, sulfur makes a big difference in the ability of both to handle heat.

    JANUARY 2012 SEMINARS: Watch for announcements in Acres or email Blasts for our annual 3 day seminar held in Grand Rapids, MI on Jan 10,11,12, 2012. DVD’s or MP3’s are available from the 011 seminar. Buyers have reported excellent audio and video quality. Prices are: DVD-$450, CDs-$395, MP3’s-$275. FOB. All include handbook.  One attendee emailed to us following the 2011 seminar; “I have experienced many conferences in my career and can honestly say that this was one of the best. The amount of information was heavy but it was delivered in a way that made it easy to comprehend.” Hope to see you there!

    TESTIMONIALS: “Strawberries are best ever!! Lost everything during the 2 weeks of rain but the suggestions earlier were applied and the berries are coming on and are delicious – sweet for the first time. Maybe they will last a little longer since it is cooling for a few days. I am working with Charles on the blue berries now for a dozen plants that turned yellow. Ken (Used a variety of products including powdered minerals.)

    “Where my growers used TN Brown Phos their P levels were strong 2 & 3 years later. Where they used MAP & DAP they needed more every year.” Bob Boehle, Brookside Consultant

    COSTA RICA & THE SOUTHWEST: We are continuing to ship Organo Fish to Costa Rica. Dr. Phil we be visiting our distributor there in late Sept. to introduce them to more of CSI’s great products. Phil and Louisa will also be heading to OK, TX, NM, LA and (?) around Nov. 1. Call if you want a swing by visit.

    SEE YOU AT ACRES CONF.: Dec 8-10 @ the Hyatt Regency in Columbus, OH Call 800-233-1234 for Res.

    SAVE A TREE – GO WITH EMAIL:  Email us your name, address and email address and we’ll email you a link to our next newsletter. Thanks.

    THANKS TO ALL OUR LOYAL CUSTOMERS! CSI continues to have a large # of growers who come back to us each year. CSI also gets calls from many new growers who find their way to our doorstep. Hope you have a great harvest season. Dr. Phil, Ron, Louisa & Sue

  • CSI Grower Grazier Newsletter – January 2011

    YOUR UNIQUENESS: As a reader of this newsletter, Acres USA, Stockman Grass Farmer, etc. you are very much in a minority, although a growing one. You obviously think for yourself and have the ability to discern and seek information outside the university/chemical company system (which has controlled & dominated our agriculture/food system since the 40’s). Their approach has resulted in increased costs to this country for sickness care and remedial education that may threaten our entire economy making it a National Security issue! What progress has been made in breaking this paradigm appears to be largely consumer driven with credit to the organic farming pioneers who grew first on a philosophical basis and then created markets. Please keep learning and trying to educate/influence your neighbor growers and the consuming public as best you can!

    WE ARE VERY CONFIDANT: CSI is confidant that we now have enough tools and techniques to help you produce any crop with very little if any disease and insect pressure, obtain higher than normal yields, and crops that are more nutrient dense(better flavor and nutritional value). We are basing this confidence on grower successes the last few years. The tools that allow you to do this are all NOP or OMRI listed and consist of:   1. A supply of all major, minor and rare earth minerals available for corrective replacement.

    2. Some of the same minerals ground to 500+ mesh that can be used as broadcast stimulants, seed treatments, in-row starters, sidedress or foliar feeds. These suspendable minerals are mixed with large numbers of very effective microbes including VAM (Mycorrhizea) and are in convenient powder form.

    3. The availability of the highest protein N fish fertilizer (Organo Fish) that, when combined with the Blooming Blossom line of nitrogen fixing Azobacter, can produce all the free N from the air that your plants can use.  All this applied usually at less cost than conventional programs.

    PROCESSES & PROGRAMS: Successful sustainable farming requires a process withthree steps: soil testing, re-mineralization, and bio-activation. (I recently read a pamphlet from a land grant intuition on getting started in organic agriculture. Their entire process was to apply compost and rotate crops. How typical of the “organic” approach and how limited!) You can go beyond my three steps to also include Steiner/Quantum Energy programming. This additional paradigm will greatly help you move to more Nutrient Dense production with fewer inputs.

    Once you do the first step – CSI’s soil testing – you will have a clear picture of what is required in the second step. We want growers to have both CEC (Albrecht) and LaMotte (Reams, only available from us) tests done so the facts are laid out for you in black and white. The CEC tells you what minerals you have and what minerals are missing. The LaMotte test tells which of the CEC minerals are actually available to the plant.  This allows you to make logical decisions – add more mineral(s) or activate to make them available. You can replace the missing minerals either all at once or gradually over time. You can use products /practices that gradually raise the LaMotte numbers closer to the CEC numbers. You can also apply products /practices that help suppress excess minerals.

    The second step, re-mineralization, would appear to be straight forward – if a mineral is lacking, replace it. But most fertilizer materials, natural or otherwise, are compounds: Gypsum=calcium and sulfur; Epsom salts=magnesium and sulfur; or mixtures and compounds such a KS+ with a broad spectrum of both mixtures and compounds. This makes it a little more difficult to decide on the right material to use, which is why most growers want to have recommendations from a knowledgeable service. In many cases, the two-element compounds fill in two missing minerals, such as calcium and sulfur, or the mixture fills in 2 or more major minerals and many rare earth and trace minerals that may or may not be on the test so everything is cool.

    There is always the question of whether or not to replace a mineral all at once on one field or put lesser amounts on all fields. This is strictly a management question based on cost. The two minerals I would prioritize to get replaced are calcium and boron. Calcium will last a long time but boron may need to be replaced yearly. Both are relatively inexpensive, but represent major driving forces in your crop. It always amazes me how many acres are planted each year using a simplistic N-P-K approach and then the results are passively accepted as being the supposed maximum yield obtainable under the given weather circumstance. Probably not so and our growers proved it in 2010.

    The third step, bio-activation, can be the most frustrating because the response to microbial application may not occur immediately and/or may not be observable even though changes in plant immunity and yield are occurring. Soil structure, mineral balance, contamination and moisture may hold back the biology applied since micro-organism survivability can be an issue. The biggest problem for most growers is that they reduce microbial populations when they use conventional NPK fertilizers and toxic rescue chemicals. Most providers of microbes have learned to include “survival kits” composed of supporting food; enzymes and/or humic substances with their microbes but these can be relatively short lived if you don’t also use microbial stimulants like fish and seaweed. Today many microbes come from overseas sources and appear to have excellent storage, viability and rapid multiplication under a wide range of conditions. Always add fish/seaweed to microbial products!

    jan-11-news

    HELPING WITH THE CO2 PROBLEM: It is the plants’ photosynthetic capacity and root extrudates delivery via mycorrhizea fungi that are the main drivers for soil carbon (glomalin) storage and not residue breakdown.Think of carbon storage as a root-system “weather” solver or as “money in your pocket”. Carbon not only improves aggregation, it also holds soil moisture helping to keep micro-organisms alive and active. For this reason, forward thinking growers ponder how they can keep a plant mix growing most of the season – field crop, intercrop, cover crop, etc – to capture/store this liquid carbon. They treat seed with a microbial blend containing mycorrhizea or use in-row in order to ensure mycorrhizea colonization of roots. An additional benefit of intercropping and cover cropping is the mycorrhizea guild or interconnection that can form with all the plants in the field allowing exchange of both nutrients and water. Plant a row of soys and/or white clover next to your corn. Plant annual rye grass and clover in bands or broadcast in your soys. Try to have only a 2-3 wk window of open soil with no plants to support the mycorrhizea.  

    SAVE A TREE: Send your email & we’ll email our newsletter–team@cropservicesintl.com

    IMPORTANT PRODUCT CHANGES: Fish Agra is now OMRI® listed as ORGANO FISH® 4-1-1. (Same product, new name.) This ocean fish has the highest % solids on the market. The solids give it more N than most other brands…most tests coming back as 5-1-1. Organo Fish is screened at 300 mesh for ease in use. Nitrozyme seaweed is now SeaCrop16 with same 400 ppm cytokinin hormone count and NOP. Cytokinins are naturally occurring growth hormones plus you also get all the trace minerals and other growth factors of the plant. All our mineral suspension products are now available as dry powders for you to mix on site. (1-2 pounds per acre.) This saves on freight and stabilizes the included beneficial microbes. The products are warehoused in MI as well as NM. All of the ingredients in the powdered mineral products are NOP listed…the manufacturer has a staff member who will provide all the info needed for your certifier to approve the products.

    OUR RECOMMENDED PROGRAMS: I am making the assumption that you have had the soil tested and are applying the corrective mineral materials per CEC test.  For soils low in available minerals (LaMotte) I recommend using the appropriate powdered mineral & microbial product such as Phos Cal 30, K-35 and Luna Cal 50 Plus. These products contain pulverized mined minerals (Tn Brn Phos, 0-0-50) plus a potent microbial package including phosphate/calcium/potassium solubilizing microbes. I am also assuming you have used some process or products to incorporate your crop residue from last fall. If you did not or are breaking new ground, I urge you to broadcast 1-3 gallons of Organo Fish & 1 lb of COMPLETE that consists of equal parts Sea Star, PKS & Ca, Crop Recycle & Soil Infusion. Use 3 lbs of COMPLETE in the row for a dynamite product for high value crops. A similar program is available for row crops. This program applies to all annuals or perennials including trees, bushes and vines. Just broadcast the 1 lb and band the 3 lbs for perennials. It is designed to do away with soil borne diseases, provide wide spectrum biotic life and all the major nutrients except N.

    NOTE: PKS&Cal is recommended for all programs as it is loaded with microbes including a total spectrum of VAM, both endo and ecto, mycorrhizea. It contains the 5 MAJOR ELEMENTS other than N. There is 1% magnesium but is not included on the label.

    VEGETABLES /CSA /TRUCK GARDEN: Use the above program with the additional in-row of 1 pint SeaCrop16 (new name for Nitrozyme seaweed), 3-6 gal Organo Fish and 125 ml Bioplin. This will be a very energetic starter and provide enough starter N for any crop. You may sidedress additional Organo Fish with sugar or molasses to keep the N and microbes going. Foliar feed with 1 gal Organo Fish, 1 pint SeaCrop16, 1# Complete and 250 ml NutriFoliar for continuous N fixation. Repeat every 14 days. Add NutriFoliar only every other spray & reduce the NutriFoliar to 125 ml by third foliar and maybe add a ½ lb of K-35 Plus. But please keep it going! The N and growth factors produced by NutriFoliar late in the season gave a great response on a variety of crops in 2010. This included organic field corn. The neighbor’s conventional corn barely made it with “gobs” more chemical N. No one would believe the grower had so little N and such a “good green” crop, not a “black green”. Be prepared for Crop Stress. Biological programs are your best hope!

    VINES, BERRIES, TREE FRUITS & NUTS: This program can be the same with minor adaptations. Be sure you broadcast/band the program used on Vegetables above involving the COMPLETE product. Amounts of foliar per acre can be doubled to accommodate larger trees.

    CORN: Consider the broadcast program above. If you just do it all in-row, try this: ½# Soil Infusion, ½# Crop Recycle, 1# PKS&Cal, 125 ml Bioplin, 5-8 gallons Organo Fish, 1 pint SeaCrop16. You can use more fish and sugar or molasses as side dress and be sure to follow through with the foliar program. If you believe there won’t be weather stresses next year, I have some ocean front property for you in Arizona. Minerals & Microbes build plant immunity.

    SOYBEANS: Soys don’t start out making N as a seedling and some don’t do better later on due to lack of inoculation, trace minerals or toxic environments. Therefore it makes sense to start with 1-2 gallons Organo Fish, ½# Infusion, ½# Crop Recycle and 1# PKS&Cal. Definitely foliar feed with 2 qts fish, 1 pint SeaCrop16, 1# PKS & Cal, ½ # K-35, ¼ l# Luna Cal 50 and NutriFoliar for continuous N, growth factors, disease resistance, & much bigger yield potential. World Record 160 bu. used N.

    SMALL GRAINS: Much the same as corn, except cut back the Organo Fish to 2-3 gals and use in row formula as a broadcast. Organo Fish, Sea Crop16, Bioplin, PKS&Cal, Infusion and Crop Recycle. Don’t apply microbes in freezing temps. Top dress winter grains when they break dormancy.

    NOTE: We are not putting sugar or molasses in the pre-broadcast or in-row programs as you want the microbes to digest the residues, minerals and other microbes instead of going on a “cookie” eating binge. Use “cookie snacks” for the microbes in your sidedress applications or foliar programs.

    DON’T’ MESS UP YOUR PROGRESS: MAP & DAP are detrimental to mycorrhizea and so are most commercial N products, pre-emergence herbicides, fungicides and excess tillage! N-Serve preserves nitrogen by killing your microbes! The long and short term damages done by glyphosate products are now well known, and the product should be removed from your program as soon as possible!

    FUNGAL DISEASES AND ADEQUATE N: CSI and our product manufacturers feel that the above programs should mitigate most soil borne diseases because, when used as directed, the applied microbes should remove the crop residue harboring the disease organisms. Air borne diseases will also have a hard time establishing themselves on leaves or stems because of the microbe populations from both Bioplin and PKS&Cal. Grower’s experiences this year with our Organo Fish & Bioplin (N fixing Azotobacter) have convinced us that N is not a limiting factor in an organic program and the N provided by this program can help move yields toward genetic potential. Although Bioplin has 30 years research behind it, I doubt if fish fertilizer was ever used as part of the research. Bioplin and NutriTech are supposed to only be able to survive from root or leaf extrudates, which is why it is recommended by the manufacturer that you apply after the plant is above ground and use large amounts of water to get the Azotobacter down to the root zone. I feel that the potential N fixation is beyond what the research without the fish showed and allows you to put them together in the row with the seed and not worry about survival of the Azotobacter until the root extrudates begin to flow.

    GET THE SIZE YOU WANT: Since the N-Fixing line of Bioplin, NutriTech and NutriFoliar are starting to be used on the larger field crop acreage, maybe you would like to have larger sizes available to you. All the products start in India and it takes about 8 wks to get to Orlando by normal shipping. The 250 ml of Bioplin and NutriTech are now officially a 2 acre bottle (125 ml/acre). The 1000 ml covers 8 acres and the 5 liter covers 40 acres. Want these sizes? IF SO, Please, Please, give us a call. These larger sizes need to be prepaid and ordered to arrive when needed. TALK TO US!

    WHAT ABOUT SILICA?: There is a good bit of silica in Tn Brn Phosphate and other mined minerals. It’s added to the Terra Biotic powders. If you want specific sources, we have Calcium Silicate, 45% Silicon Dioxide (not NOP) and Green Sand, 52% Silicon Dioxide (NOP). Both are only available by truckload bulk, but you can mix Calcium Silicate/TN Brown on-site. Morgan Composting, MI (231-734-2451) will stock Greensand by March to blend with compost orders or in totes & 50# bags.

    NOTE TO GRAZIERS: Alan Nation, the publisher of Stockman Grass Farmer, has written a column about the “off flavor” problem with some grass fed beef. His solution is the same approach we take, i.e. mineralization. In many cases, the application of lime will solve the “sour beef” problem, but it is more complicated than that. Flavors are a result of the minerals in the plants, the water source and the mineral box. If you don’t measure, you don’t know. Test soils and forages!

    COMPOST & COMPOST TEAS: CSI certainly encourages you to use local, quality compost. We also encourage you to make or use compost teas to keep the microbes fresh and active. Please note we now have a powder instant compost tea that is NOP compliant. (Its regular, not de-café J)

    REFER TO OUR PRODUCT LITERATURE PACKET: Go online to find our literature pack under Our Approach” OR Call and we’ll send you a new one. CSI is known for its diversity of mined mineral products containing lots of trace minerals. We are pleased that Terra Biotics uses several of them in their pulverization process. Mined minerals in a drip line or foliar spray – Who would have thunk it?

    RECORDINGS OF CSI SUSTAINABLE GROWERS SEMINAR: Our 3-Day, Jan. 2011 Sustainable Growers Seminar was professionally recorded and is available on DVD, CD or MP3. Each option includes the 200 page presentation manual from the seminar.   DVD $450,   CD $410,    MP3 $275    Call the office to order!

    RON IN CALIFORNIA: Ron will be a presenter at the EcoFarm 2011Conf. in Pacific Grove, CA held Jan 26-29. Although I don’t agree with the title, The Fringes of Agriculture, Radionics and Electro-Magnetic Frequencies, he will be talking about Radionics, Broadcasters, Sound Machine, Symphony Units, at in Session F from 4:00 – 5:30 on Friday, Jan 28th.  Call 831-763-2111 for more info.

     

    Good Growing in 2011. May Health and Prosperity Be With You.

    Dr. Phil, Louisa, Sue and Ron

  • New Sound Around

    By Philip A. Wheeler, Ph.D.

    From the work of D. R. Carlson, there is no question that sound can stimulate plant growth. He and his Sonic Bloom System were the subject of an entire chapter in Secrets of the Soil, by Peter Tompkins and Christopher Bird. Pioneering work always leads other to thought and experimentation, just as Carlson drew inspiration from George Milstein and used the musical talents of Michael Holtz to develop appropriate sounds/music. Carlson chose to work in the 4-6 kilohertz range, which left a large gap of lower frequencies to work with.

    The unlikely candidate to explore and develop those frequencies into a sound system was Robert H. Karbowski. I say, unlikely, because Mr. Karbowski’s main occupation is importing of precious stones (gems) and main avocation is trophy game hunting. However, he obviously had an agricultural interest that resulted in a line of fertilizer materials that can be used in conjunction with the sound device, all under the Veges, Inc. name. Karbowski was issued patent # 5,731,265. After a successful defense of said patent, [some pioneers don’t appreciate further developments], Veges, Inc. began marketing the units.

    Not only were the units producing sound in a whole different frequency range, they were approaching the broadcasting and land coverage in a new way as well. Because the sounds are in the low frequency range, they penetrate physical barriers like barns and wooded areas as well as penetrate into the soil. This enables the units to be placed on stands at “ground” level instead of on high poles. The design also allows for stationary broadcasting instead of having to mount units onto tractors for spraying. The sound radiates out from the unit in 360 degrees, providing large area coverage up to 75 acres or more depending on the shape of the terrain.

    The mode of action is similar to the original technology, i.e. increased nutrient uptake. But this time, the uptake is increased both by foliar and root. Stomata are opened, which allows for increased uptake of nutrients and moisture in the air. Mitochondria in the cells are stimulated which increases metabolism. Increased metabolism means more production of sugars and greater disease and insect resistance. The sound waves increase chelation of nutrients in the soil, which fosters greater root uptake. As an example, a unit was placed in a sweet potato field by a consultant, Bob Benson, attempting to aid a grower in dealing with a current infestation of armyworms that were actively feeding. By the third day after placement, the worms stopped feeding, fell off the plants and died in the midst of a banquet. Obviously, the plant had changed nutrient characteristics, which changed the physical, and chemical properties of the crop, which meant the insects were no longer needed. No foliar material had been applied with the sound.

    Shorting days to maturity has been on of the best examples of changed metabolism. Dave Weber, a grower from Iowa reported the following for the 2001 season: Sweet corn, variety Delectable [85 day], was tasseled at 49 days and eaten at 65 days. Group II soybeans planted on June 28 still made 35 bushel. The top nodes had pods, with some beans in them. Dave played the sound every day, whether foliar feeding or not. He also treated the seed while playing the sound prior to planting. J.B. Meyer of LoVolt reported a garlic test in California that had 12 inches additional growth on the treated plot versus the check.

    Results for the Roger Boshammer farm in Chinchilla, Queensland, Australia on about 45 acres of Rock Melons were outstanding. Their program consisted of running the Veges sound machine each morning for 1 1/2 hours with a break for ½ hour and then another hour of playing. The pattern was chosen by dousing as to what pattern would be the most beneficial. The machine was again activated in early evening for 2 hours. Foliar applications of “brewed compost teas” were applied at regular intervals as well. Results [translated to acres instead of hectares]: The overall yield was up by 2000 cartons. This translates into a 60 carton increase per acre or about ½ melon per plant. The crop came in one week early, which can mean a marketing edge. There were no pesticides required throughout the entire season.

    The units consist of a wooden sound box containing a programmed sound card and three speakers mounted in the bottom of the unit. PVC collars protrude from the unit to allow for attachment of 3 five-foot pieces of PVC that act as organ pipes to modulate, resonate and roll the sound out of the bottom of the tubes to cover up to 100 acres. Recent innovations include the addition of a solar panel to keep the battery continuously charged and a timer to allow automatic daily operation. The sound produced is very soothing. As soon as a unit is turned off, any birds in the area immediately start “Talking Back” to the unit as though saying “Thanks, do that again when you’re ready”. Tapes have been produced for inside growers that are masked with easy listening music.

    Growers like the new technology for several reasons. The unit is stationary when being played, yet can be picked up and moved to another field. The sound is pleasant and innocuous. The unit is not tied to a particular foliar product. With no moving parts, the unit should give many years of maintenance free service. Growers can use general or special materials to feed their crops exactly what it needs at that time. The unit works to improve the crop every day, regardless of whether the grower is foliar feeding or not!

    The “frequency” behind this Sound is also imprinted on CD’s or Cassette tapes sold by CSI. Used in a “boom box” the sound works similar to the outdoor unit and is perfect for a greenhouse, back yard or anywhere the sound from the speakers could reach. As with the outdoor unit, play for 1 – 2 hours earlier morning or later afternoon to impact nutrient uptake. Check out the “New Sound Around”.

  • Innovations In Composting

    Composting has undergone a great deal of refinements in recent years and many composting operations have finally become viable businesses with good long term markets and business potential. While experimentation for the purpose of overall improvement in compost continues, there are some already proven concepts that may not have widespread dissemination.

    There are a series of problems or situations in composting looking for an answer. The first problem that may be encountered by a composting site may be odor if any manure or other rotting bio-solids are used as an input. A second problem follows from the first in that the material can rapidly lose ammonia N into the atmosphere. A third problem is the presence of E coli in some manure. A fourth problem is the loss of nutrients through leaching or run off during rainfall; a fifth problem is the loss of carbon into the air in the form of CO2 and finally there is the issue of how much true humus is formed, both the active faction and long term stable types. All of these problems/situations can be mitigated.

    Mitigating these issues requires the use of additional materials in the compost mix. The nutrient content of these additive materials usually has a cost that is less than ½ the nutrient value in the market place, but adding to the final cost of compost can still cause a marketing problem if the final price is perceived as too high. Compost producers are dealing with a perception that the major value of the compost is micro-organism content and humus with a small dose of stable N thrown in. The more innovative composters are adding materials with higher calcium, potassium, phosphorous, sulfur, nitrogen and trace minerals to the basic composting materials. Some are added during the composting process and others may simply be blended in to make a final value added product that can match the nutrient needs of the grower’s soil. Both compost products and end users need to be educated as to the value of good, value-added compost.

    Making a value-added final product can be very cost efficient and timesaving for growers of all sizes in terms of spreading. Having what amounts to a complete fertilizer imbedded into a compost offers great marketing potential to those that realize that compost is about the only option there is to recovering heavily farmed soils that used conventional programs up to this point. With the current cost of commercial fertilizer it is almost a no brainer to switch to a natural fertility program using quality compost loaded with nutrients from natural or NOP sources that have nutrient costs that are half the market costs of conventional fertilizers.

    Some of the more common compost additives are: Hi-Cal Lime, Gypsum, Clay Soil or Clay Deposit Material, Chilean Nitrate of Soda (16-0-0), Feather Meal (14-0-0), Green Sand (7% K), Wood Ash (0-0-2), K-Mag (0-0-21-11 Mg-22 S), Sulfate of Potash (0-0-50), TN Brown Phos (23% P2O5), Meat & Bone Meal (8-13-2), KS Plus, (0-0-8-24S) and Humates. The advanced composters would also have a series of separate trace mineral available for blending such as Boron, Zinc, Copper, Manganese, and Iron.

    Four of the above materials deserve special attention because of new information concerning their use, their problem solving ability and the fact that they may not be as familiar as some others in the marketplace.

    The first one to consider is humate. It would seem counter productive to add humate material to a process which is supposed to be producing humus from raw material inputs. However, Dr. Paul Reed Hepperly of The Rodale Institute has shown that adding small amounts of a humate material, clay and gypsum to the composting process created some very stable long chain humus substances. Since US soils have had a continuous degradation of the stable humus, this would offer a chance to rebuild long term sustainability to US farmland at a faster rate.

    Dr. Hepperly used  a ratio of 7:2:1 of 14 yd3 leaves, 4 yd3 manure and 2 yd3 clay plus the addition of 110 #’s of humate material and 90 #’s of gypsum. Other highly mineralized clay deposits are also available, mostly in the Western US. There are raw agricultural Gypsum mines in MI, IA, and UT, but other distant locations might have to deal with pelletized gypsum that might not be cost effective. There are multiple sources of dry humate material or soluble powders available in the US marketplace. The clay, gypsum, and humate additives also decrease the soluble components that can leach from the compost rows and are the major source of environmental concerns.

    The second material is wood ash. This is not your typical ashes coming out of a wood burning stove. This particular ash results from a unique firing process that only uses natural untreated wood. The ash is re-fired a second time. The resultant material has extreme hydroscopic (water absorbing) qualities, albeit a lower final K value. Since water scarcity is a world wide problem already, the wood ash material offers a chance to continuously bring moisture out of the atmosphere as plant roots interacting with the ash material remove moisture from the ash.

    This special ash comes out of an electrical generating plant. Whether or not your local plant is using such a process would be up to you to find out. Plants burning treated wood, coal, tires, etc. would not be suitable.

    The third material is a unique deposit formed in a volcanic plume millions of years ago called KS Plus. It is listed as an average composition of 0-0-8-24S-1Fe. The uniqueness is not evident from the numbers. There is a naturally occurring Thiobacillus bacterium that continuously oxidizes the elemental S into Thio-Sul and other active S compounds as well as SO4. These compounds give the sulfur much more activity than a straight SO4 from gypsum, ammonium sulfate, 0-0-50, or K-Mag. There are also significant quantities of Silica and some expensive traces like Molybdenum, Cobalt & Nickel.

    In relation to compost, it offers the site operator a chance to absorb all of the odor and volatile ammonia compounds from manures or other “rotting” bio-solids within 48 hours if it is mixed into the material upon arrival at the site. Because of the rapid acidification of the manure, E coli and other “bad guys” are quickly eliminated. Because of the alum content, there is less soluble leachate to escape from the pile. This is usually mixed at 20-30% of volume of KS Plus to manure. The wetter the manure the less KS Plus is needed to get the desired reaction. From that point on, all the nutrients in the KS Plus are integrated into the finished product resulting in a higher Ca, N, S, & K content. Because of the presence of S in the composting or digesting process, more of the available N will be formed into longer chain, higher quality amino acids. This will give better N utilization curves, virtually eliminating any N loss when the compost is applied.

    Standard composting lore usually avoids the use of elemental S in the composting process due to the fear that Hydrogen Sulfide gasses could be produced. The HS gasses have a bad odor and could kill beneficial micro-organisms. No such effect has been observed using KS Plus.

    As an alternative, the KS Plus could be added directly to the manure “on farm” and have the adsorption take place in pits, piles etc. before the manure is transported to the compost site. Obviously, the grower could also use KS Plus to treat any on farm manure before spreading. Dr. Hepperly found up to 80% manure nitrogen was lost as ammonia during the first two weeks. Adding KS Plus can immediately stop this loss. If treated in a pit, KS Plus can precipitate out P to mitigate the major reason given for restricting manure application.

    The fourth material is TN Brown Phosphate. This unique “reactive” phosphate allows a composter to increase the amount of available, but not water soluble, P in the mix. Run-off of soluble P from raw manure is a major factor in water contamination. The TN Brown can be composted right in or blended at the end and still hold the same available, but not soluble characteristics. TN Brown Phosphate also contains lots of trace minerals. Current availability by a state lab test shows 10-12%. Total P2O5 is about 23%. This reactive phosphate also confounds those users thinking that the numbers on a CEC test tell the whole story. Large applications of TN Brown may not show significant P1 or P2 increases, yet the P2O5 is definitely there and the availability is there by lab test and crop response. CSI has seen quite a few instances when the CEC # for P2O5 was low yet the LaMotte availability was much higher.

    There is really no limit to the type of materials that can be composted or blended into compost. Using local materials is always the best option, but sometimes it makes economic and agronomic sense to bring in unique sources of major and minor minerals that offer unique chemical and biological properties. Their use will depend on the marketplace. A composter can offer them as the first step or the composter may have a grower requesting additives as the first incentive to bring in the unique materials.

    One of the supply problems for composters is that animal manures tend to be concentrated in specific areas of the US. One doesn’t need manure to make compost, but manure does offer a unique set of bacteria and unique nutrient content. In areas that don’t have manure, the special additives offer a chance to make up for some of the nutrients. Bacteria can come from commercial sources or from local healthy soils such as fence rows and woodlots.

    If the fertilizer industry can justify N made from Russian natural gas, then the composting industry can justify asking growers to ship complete fertilizers longer distances as well. In fact, it is time for some areas of excessive manure or those that area manure deficient to cooperate and possibly subsidize both composting and shipping to mitigate the problems of manure contamination in one area and the loss of soil fertility in another.

    Let’s hope that compost making and use continues to expand. Let’s also hope that more composters can develop their skills and offerings to meet the growing demand for one time annual applications of complete nutrient composts for the full spectrum of crops grown in the US.

  • CSI Grower Grazier Newsletter – July 2010

    THE CHICKENS HAVE COME HOME TO ROOST: The President’s Cancer Panel, established in 1971, is sounding the alarm bell about chemicals in our daily lives, including those coming from conventional agriculture. The panel is at the top of the “medical mainstream” and not part of the Organic or Sustainable Ag movement. The three person panel has one vacancy at this time and the other two professionals were appointed by President George W. Bush. They want to let people know they are concerned about chemicals from all sources and they are stating that we should be concerned. They are concerned about the increasing rates of cancer, obesity, diabetes and autism in children and adults. Research shows our children are born pre-polluted and then mother’s milk usually provides a further dose of up to 200 or more manmade chemicals. However, mother’s milk is still preferred over a synthetic formula. The final statement in the panel’s letter to the President is as follows: “The Panel urges you most strongly to use the power of your office to remove the carcinogens and other toxins from our food, water and air that needlessly increase health care costs, cripple our Nation’s productivity, and devastate American lives.”

    As you must realize, this is quite a breakthrough in our fight for clean air, food and water. The report blames weak laws, lax enforcement and fragmented authority. Sound familiar? Since WW II there has been an attitude that since these new chemical molecules are used in industry, agriculture and consumer goods, they must be safe unless proven otherwise. Deliberately moving farmers off the farm and into the cities/factories and growing the country’s economy was the main emphasis. Anyone who questioned any sort of “progress” that involved making money was considered “anti-American”. There were scientists that warned about the chemicals, but little heed was paid until enough wildlife damage was done to prompt the research and publication of Rachael Carson’s Silent Spring in 1962.

    A great deal of good bio-physics research was done in the 70’s which began to discover the true “nature of nature” or how all living things function. A single living cell is complicated enough to be compared to a factory making autos. As many electro-chemical transactions take place in each cell as in the auto factory. When you walk into a factory, you experience noise, smells, sparks, heat, etc. These are all indications of inefficiency. If you could walk into a cell, all you would experience would be silence, as the thousands of transactions per second are 100% efficient.

    When you combine cells to make organisms such as plants, animals and us humans, 100% efficiency is maintained with total electromagnetic integration of the cells complete with instant communication to all other cells in the organism. Each cell uses water molecules as wave guides for internal transmission as well as electron clouds for the instant whole body interaction/communication. Moving ionized calcium and other minerals either way across a cell membrane is the major way of passing “information”. Biophysicists have documented that all living things are very sensitive to electronic, radioactive and chemical contaminants because of the way they are organized and function. The contaminants destroy the efficiency, opening the organism to diseases. Human systems affected include the endocrine (hormones), neurological and immune. No wonder we are sick!

    This government report is nothing less than a “Call to Arms”! We must stop the increasing number and amounts of manmade chemicals and radiation sources introduced to our daily lives by air, water, electronics, medical procedures & devices, packaging and food so that our national health doesn’t continue to decline and our sickness costs continue to rise. We already know that the major cause of personal bankruptcy is medical costs. The country could be bankrupt by the process. This is not a statement against universal health care.  It is a statement that we need to have the political and personal will to change several paradigms to stop the declining health and increasing cost of sickness. Since this is an agricultural newsletter, we will concentrate on that topic. However, if I was “King for a Day”, I would ban all lawn and garden chemicals immediately and take several other actions that would probably get me hung.

    We can no longer afford to use the old excuse that you can’t stop making or selling a product or process because, “jobs will be lost” or “a stock price will go down”. When you calculate the actual cost of contamination, lack of nutrition, sickness and sickness care and special education services, the drain on the economy is far greater than a loss of a specific product or industry. The country didn’t go broke when cars and trucks replaced horses and it won’t go broke when solar panels and wind turbines replace some coal fired plants. The economy will actually improve as we move toward sustainability and reduction of toxicity in the environment.

    The world has the technology and inputs (both naturally occurring and processed) to do away with the need for almost all pesticides, herbicides and fungicides and still grow an equal or greater amount of food with more life-giving nutrition.  If a rescue product is needed, there are organic versions available.

    The problem is that the majority of growers have never heard this and probably wouldn’t believe it if they did. That puts a great deal of responsibility on you, my readers. If you walk the walk, you also need to talk the talk. You are far more influential with your neighbors (farmers & consumers) than most other sources of information. However, there are powerful sources working against all our attempts to change the paradigm. The most powerful ones are just human nature, peer pressure and fear of change or the unknown. The other powerful forces are commercial and institutional. The pesticide industry is huge. It will take years, if ever, to shut it down. Many universities still have vested interest in researching pesticides, but happily, they now also have researchers working on non-toxic strategies to deal with weeds, disease and insects.

    There is a growing public movement that wants healthy food grown in a healthy way. They may not understand all the intricacies of organic, sustainable, natural, free range, grass fed, etc. but they do like the idea of “locally grown” and “chemical free” which most interpret to be “organic”. They don’t want chemicals in their food supply and they don’t want the produce shipped across the US or brought in from a foreign country. The “Slow Food” and “Eat Local” movements are impacting many consumers, suppliers, grocery stores and restaurants. The “Grassfed” movement is progressing well, even though it has strong opposition from the commodity beef/feed lot industry.

    We all have a moral imperative to change the paradigm in any way we can. Operating an agricultural paradigm based on largely false premises that require rescue chemistry automatically gives you a contaminated food, water and air system – all rainfall contains pesticides. Operating a health system without correcting the nutritional and contamination problems simply doesn’t work. This leaves a “sickness” system that also tends to ignore and be unaware of the nature of nature (especially in the “war on cancer”). The sickness system keeps trying to use more expensive electronic equipment or find a new drug as a magic bullet. Neither the agricultural system nor the sickness system is sustainable. I fear for my grandchildren. Do an “old man” a favor! HELP CHANGE THE PARADIGMS!

    Now that I have made the bold statement above about the technology and products being available for a sustainable agriculture, what are they? The following are attempts at answers to those who say it can’t be done.

    MINERALS ARE THE BASIS OF LIFE: As such they are the key to a crops’ nutritional content. Most countries have mineral rich, rock deposits that can be used to replenish broad spectrum minerals. Even those deposits with only 3-7% K such as the oldHybrotite [granite dust] product mined in Georgia are sufficient to provide for normal crop production. Low phosphorous apatite rocks can do the same thing when microbes are involved. These mineral deposits often contain 50 or more trace and rare earth minerals so necessary to re-vitalize soils. Those countries lacking their own mineral deposits can import them from neighboring countries. It would be money better spent than importing simplistic N-P-K fertilizer and the chemicals necessary to rescue the crops grown.

    When I did volunteer agricultural consulting work in northern Brazil near Rio Blanco, my conclusion was that the areas’ major limiting factor to producing good quality produce was the lack of lime. Lime could easily have been brought in from other states. I also recommended composting, using the diversity of the jungle fauna to supply a variety of trace minerals. I suggested that the local government lab start analyzing the various plant species to determine their mineral spectrum.

    If all else fails, using fish, seaweed, seawater, compost/manure, intensive grazing, multi species grazing, cover crops, food processing residues and composted plant material over a longer period of time will gradually rebuild the soils from a mineral standpoint. Remember, each plant, weed or otherwise, is an antenna picking up minerals from the air and putting them back in the soil, even if harvested and fed to livestock, it comes back in the manure.

    SOIL MICROORGANISMS MAKE THE WHOLE SYSTEM SUSTAINABLE: Microbes make the minerals available to the growing crop. Just stopping the use of rescue chemicals can start the process of biological recovery. To speed up the process, there are literally hundreds of biological products and stimulants available in the market place. Those who can’t afford to purchase packaged microbes can be taught to brew microbes in buckets using darker, fungi laden soils located under leaf mulches while adding compost, manures, fish, seaweed and carbohydrates/sugars. For more sophisticated methods, see the article Inputs & Uses by Jackie Prell in July 2010 AcresUSA. If philanthropy can provide and teach subsistence level societies how to use solar mud ovens, mosquito netting, pedal driven water pumps, outhouses, etc., then it would be just as easy to dispense packets that can be put into a compost pile or bucket! Recipients can be taught to save a small amount of “mother” to start the next batch of compost with.

    ALL PLANTS NEED NITROGEN: You can produce all the nitrogen you need from the air using the microbes that already exist in nature. Over thirty years of research in Indiahas resulted in isolating naturally occurring organisms [Azotobacter] that fix N from the air in the soil and on the leaf. The organisms are in cyst form that gives them a long shelf life and ability to survive over a wide range of pH’s and temperatures as well as on leaf surfaces.  The Azotobacter also continues to function during heavy rain conditions (see TESTIMONIALS below). When combined with liquid fish or compost, which greatly enhances the performance of both, I can’t imagine the hungriest hybrid corn in the world running short of N before maturity. CSI offers these microbes in our Blooming Blossom line. There are also the old standard sources of N such as legumes, manure, extracted protein, etc.

    One of the interesting observations about naturally “fixed” N from the air is the difference in plant reaction. Growers report a different “greening up” than observed when applying chemical N which produces the dark green of conventional Ag (see TESTIMONIALS below). There are several possibilities for these observations. One would be because of the fact that the nitrogen fixing organisms in our Bioplin and NutriFoliar products from Blooming Blossom also produce B and E vitamins and other growth stimulants on the leaf surface. Another explanation would be that the N molecules fixed by the organism have a different structure/frequency than a manufactured molecule of N. Plants recognizes sources of N that will resonate with their basic frequency and also ones that will require the use of the least amount of plant energy. Plants will pass up chemically produced nitrate and ammonium in favor of amino acid or protein based N any time it is available.

    PHOSPHOROUS IS A PROBLEM: As we know, P is critical to building sugars/brix but the world’s supply of P has peaked. Mycorrhizea fungi do better with moderate amounts of P. Phosphorous solublizing microbes combined with mycorrhizea usually does away with the need for manufactured starters containing soluble/available P. Indian research has already proven this using phosphorous releasing bacteria as a replacement for starter fertilizer on fruits, flowers and vegetables which are high users of P as well as on field crops. Natural sources of P for mineralization include several types of phosphate rock [colloidal, hard rock and reactive rock], fish, manure and bone meal.

    The use of herbicides/fungicides, excessive soluble P fertilizers and excessive tillage kills off the mycorrhizal activity in a soil. Correcting those factors can solve the P problems in all but the weakest, lowest P content soils. If you have low phosphate soils, now is the time to add a natural phosphate and stop depending on soluble phosphates, which are expected to rise dramatically in price in the next few years (see OTHER NEWS below).

    WHAT ABOUT WEEDS? Since we now have about every crop known to man grown “certified organically”, it is obvious that cultural practices have been developed to handle weed problems. We have tillage, rotations, cover crops, fallow, replaceable or degradable coverings, sheep, ducks & geese, hand labor, cross-drilling of grains and cultivation. Please refer to the July 2010 AcresUSA article, Non-Chemical Weed Control for Commercial-Scale Crops by Kathy Birt for further refinements.

    The method that offers the most long term solution to weed control seems to get lost in the shuffle – Mineral Balancing. Ream’s methods, taught in the 70’s, are still valid today. Balance and activate the soil such that the available P on a LaMotte Soil Test is about double the K availability.  Also manage the Calcium:Magnesium Ratio as close to 7:1 as possible. This method worked in the 70’s and it is still working today. You can also use the old weed suppression trick of 2 gallons each liquid calcium and molasses in 20 gallons of water applied after the last disturbance of the soil (including the planter itself) to temporarily change the P:K ratios and stop the grass and broadleaf germination. The calcium suppresses the grasses and the molasses stimulates the phosphorous releasing bacteria. Or, you can use our new liquid suspension minerals containing Ca & P to do the same thing.

    Remember, weeds only germinate, grow and flourish according to the current soil conditions. If you don’t like the current weed situation, change the conditions. Using aherbicide just prolongs the pressure of that species as it does nothing to modify mineralization, bio-activity or soil structure. It not only doesn’t help, the negative affects of Glyphosate, the killing ingredient in Roundup type herbicides, are so pervasive and disruptive, that a “sane” system of regulation would have banned them long ago (see OTHER NEWS below). Uncontrollable weeds are a not so gentle reminder that “YOU HAVEN’T GOT IT RIGHT YET!

    WHAT ABOUT DISEASES? The normal state of all living systems is homeostasis or complete balance in every sense. Diseases can only occur when there is an imbalance. The imbalance starts with a disruption in the internal communication system of individual cells. The disruption can be caused by nutritional, electromagnetic or toxicity factors. A disease life form can then establish itself and inject further toxins into a plant. The late Bruce Tainio proved that the balanced/homeostasis state is reflected by the pH of the plant juices. The further the plant sap moves below 6.4, the greater the loss of homeostasis and the greater the attractiveness the plant presents to the disease organism. Most plant diseases are fungal in nature, with some obvious bacterial and viral examples.

    Greg Willis states that fungal diseases are only attracted to already dying tissue (see OTHER NEWS below). In other words, loss of homeostasis has already occurred, dead cells/tissue are already present. Greg has created an antifungal field spray (energy patterns imprinted into water) using Steiner concepts that effectively stops fungus in its tracks. Also, Cornell research shows that fungal diseases cannot produce a hyphae or foot to penetrate a plant if the surface pH is 8.4 or above. Baking soda and powdered milk are effective in raising the surface pH when you first see any indication of a fungus in your area or on your plants. The long term solution is adequate positive ions like calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium in the plant to provide the natural alkalinity and adequate copper necessary for fungal resistance.

    WHAT ABOUT INSECTS: The exact same concepts concerning diseases apply to insects except for the pH factor. A plant with sap above 6.4 increases its attractiveness to insects as it rises (Tainio). The other major factor is the local environment. As soon as you stop spraying poisons and leave nearby wild plants, nature creates a natural system of checks and balances involving predators and parasites to control the insect affecting your crop (see OTHER NEWS below). Growers can also use pheromone disruption (IPM) where nutritional balance is difficult to achieve, such as in trying to convert conventionally farmed mature trees to organic. It may take 2-4 years to rebuild homeostasis.

    Nutrition is still the answer to resistance to all diseases and insect problems. And nutrition requires mineral and carbon rich, bio-active soils. Diseases and Insects are the symptom of a failing crop, not the cause of it!

    GOOD HUMUS LEVELS ARE A MUST: Active carbon (a component of humus) holds four times its weight in water. It is the primary food source for microbes and it is one of the major casualties of conventional salt & rescue chemical agriculture. Carbon helps create soil structure/tilth (see Dr. Jones OTHER NEWS quotes below). Since the only way conventional ag has raised soil carbon levels is through no-till approaches including toxic rescue chemistry, it’s time for serious changes. The good news is that Sustainable Ag sequesters Carbon!

    ENERGY IS THE FINAL ANSWER: It has been an uphill battle getting growers around the world to recognize the value of the Albrecht method of soil balancing (CEC tests). Even fewer growers are able to grasp and use Dr. Ream’s technology (LaMotte tests). Fewer still understand or embrace Rudolph Steiner’s concept commonly know as bio-dynamics (see TESTIMONIALS below). As a biophysicist, I have to admit, that in my opinion, the Steiner concepts most accurately define and match the true nature of nature.

    Each substance from a single atom to a complex molecule has its own frequency pattern. All living organisms (including man) can detect those patterns of subtle energy. Substances with frequencies that don’t resonate with an organism cause interference in the efficiency we mentioned earlier. Substances with resonating frequencies enhance the life force of organisms receiving them.  All Steiner type (bio-dynamic) products and their actions are based on the frequencies imbedded in the product. The products can influence soils, plants, livestock, atmospheric conditions and more. When MI grower Dan Underwood dried out his “too wet to be on” field in 2 days using Greg Willis energy or frequency sprays (June 09 CSI newsletter) in his broadcasting tower he “saw” energy in action.

    That is why I recommend a 3 step process to you for doing your part to change the conventional Ag paradigm before it destroys our way of life. The three steps are Re-mineralization, Bio-activation and Subtle Energy use and control. Re-mineralization – add the minerals the CEC soil test show you deficient in.  Bio-activation – add manures, composts, fish, seaweeds, microbes, etc – that the LaMotte soil test shows you need. Subtle Energy – foliar feeding and  Broadcasting Towers (consider GW sprays).

    TESTIMONIALS:

    • Mark Fulford, international consultant and Monroe, ME organic garlic grower put N fixing Bioplin on his garlic in 2009. He wrote “The plants greened up but not the ‘normal’ chemical green. When the garlic bulb produced a scape (seed head) Mark removed the scape by cutting it off. At this point the garlic bulb usually dies within 3 weeks. Mark found that by using Bioplin he was able to obtain 1 extra week of growth. This is a 33% increase in growth time and he sells his garlic by the pound. “This season looks very good so far (6/9/10), strong plants which were inoculated with Bioplin as a dip. Seed was pre treated and floated for culling using peroxide and vinegar dip.”

    • John Martin, Williamsburg, IN says his KY grower ran out of NutriTech & fish and noted 6” less hay growth. His corn starter included Bioplin and lots of rain followed. The yellow is gone and green is back. “I’ve used this fish for 30 years and I know the fish alone would not have done that”.

    • Kent Friedrichsen, Perry, IA reports using NutriTech N fixing & (P releasing microbe) with fish and some of his manure pit water on corn. “The corn turned a John Deere green rather than the dark black green of my neighbors”. He also foliar feed fish and NutriFoliar (N fixing for foliage) on a water stressed field on a Thursday night (then received 3” more of rain on Friday and Saturday) and the corn greened up on Sunday and Monday.

    • Kamon Reynolds, Gainsboro, TN, “In 2008 we decided to plant a quarter of an acre of blackberries. The soil we were using is 15-20 ft above our field crops in the valley of a very rocky hillside. Loggers used this location 2 years ago with their dozers and very heavy equipment. We found our gas powered auger would not even dent the soil to able us to put in our posts so we had to do it by hand. We used your Tennessee brown, some high calcium lime, other minerals and cover cropped as you suggested. After using your microbial products to dip roots in we planted them in 18inch dug holes mixing 30% mushroom castings in the late fall of 2008. The plants were on average 6 inches tall and had a stem of 1/8th of an inch.  In the spring of 2009 we mulched them heavily and sprayed fish kelp, molasses, and Super Cal on the soil also using Tainio foliar sprays with your fish and kelp rotating biweekly.  The results were amazing. The blackberry plants now (12/30/09) cover a 6 foot tall by 14-16 foot wide area of trellis and they turned one year old in the last part of September, 2009. The plants laughed against bug pressure. I have seen grapes on this same property get defoliated in a matter of days due to Japanese beetles. I allowed a few plants to produce some fruit and it was the sweetest blackberries I have ever experienced. Since I make my career as a local food producer having a product that is easy to grow (without fear of bug pressure) and produces a fruit that is many times sweeter than the competition is great! People come back for the sweetest foods (who blames them?)”. This spring he writes, “I’ve been using PKS&Cal – Great Stuff!”

    • Wayne Underwood, Perrington, MI age 67. “A few years ago I would have thought the whole idea of a Broadcasting Tower was a crack pot idea. But after reading about it and our own on-the-farm research I’m sold on it. For one thing, our soil has a good feel to it now. I really believe it has helped preventing fungus as well. We’ve had no problems with our wheat while people around us have. It’s saved us money as well.”

    • Doug Kratz, Maldern, AR, says he grows the best strawberries. A grower with about 50 year’s experience, he also grows blackberries, blueberries, Muscatine grapes and peaches. He has used Greg Willis’ basic A, B, C and D sprays with the old Fungus Interruptus™ for about 3 years.  This year, Doug sprayed with his usual fungicide at the start of the growing season, used one application of the old Fungus Interruptus™, then two applications of the new Super Strength Fungus Interruptus™.  This year, not only is his fruit the best in the state, he has absolutely no fungus of any kind growing on any of his crops. His quote, “Super Strength Fungus Interruptus™ is the best, least expensive and most effective fungus preventative there is today.”

    OTHER NEWS:

    • Effects of Common Pesticides at Environmental Concentrations, is an excellent presentation made at 2010 MOSES conference by Dr. Warren Porter, professor at U of WI, Madison. His findings provide details on what Atrazine® and other farm chemicals do to the body. His talk is very informative and cause for real concern and caution! For an audio CD copy of his presentation call: 952-432-3079.

    • Julian Cribb, Adjunct Profession in Science Communication at the University ofTechnology Sydney predicts the cost of chemical fertilizers that prop up world agriculture could skyrocket up to ten times in only 20 years.http://acresaustralia.com.au/

    • RoundUp/Glyphosate: See Silver Bullets: Eco System Disruptors in ATTRAnews, June 2010 issue (Vol 18, # 2),.http://attra.ncat.org/newsletter/attranews_0610.html#story5

    • Insects: See ATTRAnews Orrsop’s Fable: Many Little Hammershttp://attra.ncat.org/newsletter/attranews_0610.html#story4

    http://attra.ncat.org/newsletter/attranews_0610.html

    • Christine Jones, Ph.D. – Soil carbon – can it save agricultures bacon?http://amazingcarbon.com/

    P3 “Mycorrhizal fungi, which are totally dependent on dissolved organic carbon from green plants, trade carbon with colonies of bacteria located at their hyphal tips in exchange for macro-nutrients such as phosphorus, organic nitrogen, calcium and such trace elements as zinc, boron, copper and plant growth stimulating substances (Killham 1994, Leake et al. 2004)…”

    “Mycorrhizal fungi and associative bacteria are very strongly inhibited by excessive soil disturbance and the high levels of water-soluble phosphorus and nitrogen commonly used in modern agriculture (Killham 1994, Leake et al. 2004). Where soils have been subjected to cultivation and/or the application of MAP, DAP, superphosphate, urea or anhydrous ammonia, the suppressed mycorrhizal colonization of plant roots significantly reduces carbon flow. The structural degradation of agricultural soils, accompanied by mineral depletion in food, has largely been the result of the inhibition of this natural carbon pathway.”

    “When carbon supply is limited by the loss of the primary pathway for sequestration, the physical, chemical and biological functions normally performed by healthy soil are markedly reduced.”

    P3 “The analyses (soil samples from farmed paddocks of either high or low productivity) revealed that the most important determinant of soil productivity was the level of soil carbon (measured as organic matter in Strzelecki’s day).”

    P4 “Strzelecki’s data indicate that organic matter levels in the early settlement period were around five to ten times higher than in many soils today.)”

    P5 “This contradicts the widely promoted belief that nitrogenous fertilizer needs to be added in order for stable soil carbon to form. Indeed, the opposite is true (Khan it al.2007, Larson 2007), Mulvaney et al. 2009)” (Plus, as Bruce Tainio taught, properly grown crops should realize a net increase in organic matter when considering both above and below ground mass).

    “If plants are mycorrhizal, they don’t require nitrogen in a mineralized form, that is, in the form of nitrate or ammonium. In order to transport mineralized nitrogen, mycorrhizal fungi have to convert it to glutamate, which represents an energy cost. For this reason nitrogen is preferentially transported in an organic form, generally as amino acids such as glycine and glutamine (Leake et al. 2004).”

    P6 “The nutritional status of soils, plants, animals and people has fallen dramatically in the last 50 years, due to losses in soil carbon, the key driver for soil nutrient cycles… …food produced from depleted soils does not contain the essential trace minerals required for the effective functioning of our immune systems.”

    “At the beginning of this paper it was noted that the level of agricultural real debt inAustralia had increased almost 6-fold over the last 15 years. …Many of these products inhibit microbial diversity, preventing natural carbon flow to soils.” Used with permission.

    See: http://amazingcarbon.com/PDF/JONES-SoilCarbon&Agriculture%2818May10%29.pdf

    Tomato Fungus:

    • Greg Willis comments on tomato fungus: Blight is a fungus.  Fungi show up when there is death or dying in a plant. SSFI (Super Strength Fungus Interruptus spray) restores a measure of life in a plant tricking it into thinking that there is no role for fungi. There are as many different kinds of fungi as there are plants and situations in which fungi become active.  That’s why there are so many different kinds of fungi that “attack” tomatoes.

    But if this has continues for very long, the problem is more fundamental and SSFI will become no more than a band-aid temporarily solving a problem.

    Tomatoes require compost made of composted plants, non-diseased plants to be sure, but a tomato plant compost is best. (Reams always said plants do best when they utilize nutrients of their own frequency). Tomatoes also need calcium and sulfur.  (Our solution would be PKS & Cal.)

    In the interim, a application of the Ultra 12 Step spray and SSFI should help.  I can’t say it will be the cure since blight is indicative of far deeper problems that must be addressed in the soil and the relationship between the vine and the sun and warmth.

    • Dr. Richard Olree writes, “Tell your milk producers to learn about the A1 genetic milk problem and to get their cows tests. It’s about $25 to test”. Go to his site for more:http://www.emineral.info/

    • For you who signed Dan Kittredge’s Nutrient-Dense Manifesto at the 2009AcresUSA conference, this document is now nicely displayed on a prototype website:www.nutrient-dense.info/manifesto 

    THANKS for your trust and business. Good growing and good crops to you this year,

    Dr. Phil, Louisa, Sue and Ron

  • Making A Transition To Biological / Sustainable / Organic AG: How To Observe And Document Your Progress

    By Philip A. Wheeler, Ph.D.

    The first step in the transition is to establish the existing mineral levels in your soil and determine their availability to your crop. This is best obtained by have two distinctive type of testing done.  The first test is the standard Cation Exchange Capacity or CEC, which measures the amount of major, minor and trace elements which are assumed to be agronomically available to growing crops. It is called a CEC test because it measures the capacity of the soil to hold and exchange positive, exchangeable mineral ions (cations).  This is usually related to the clay content as the clay has spaces in its lattice structure to hold calcium, magnesium and potassium for agronomic use.  Organic matter in the form of humus can also add to the holding capacity, but is usually more significant in muck soils.  The higher the CEC number, the greater the holding capacity.  A typical sandy soil might have a CEC of 5, a sandy loam could be around 8 and a clay loam might be 12.  There are very heavy mineral, clay soils in the US and foreign countries that can run 30-40 or higher.

    We call the higher CEC numbers a “bigger bucket” because a high CEC means that more lbs. of minerals per acre are held for plant use.  The size of your “bucket” helps to determine how you will approach your conversion.  Low CEC soils have few reserves, so care must be taken to track and replace minerals on a more frequent basis.  It also means it is easier to balance ratios. A high CEC may indicate a situation where trying to bring up the mineral content to a specified level or trying to balance ratios would be cost prohibitive.  The better approach there is to do more activation to assure availability to the crop.  Most soils allow for both activities to be economically feasible, i.e. replace minerals and biologically activate them.

    The second test is called a LaMotte extraction.  It uses a weaker pH extraction and is designed to simulate the action of plant organic acids extruded by the roots to etch minerals from your soil.  The LaMotte soil test numbers are assumed to be the plant available amounts of nutrients.  It is very common to find large discrepancies between the CEC numbers and the LaMotte numbers.  It is the most common to find this situation on standard chemical farms, but I frequently find the same situation on organic farms.  The organic farmer may have replaced the minerals, but he or she didn’t take deliberate steps to activate the existing microbes or add new ones necessary to make the minerals available to the crop.

    Once we have both sets of test numbers, we can analyze the situation and begin to see where the shortages and overages are.  You can’t do a lot about CEC indicated overages of a mineral on an immediate basis, but you can activate other minerals that are considered suppressive to the excess one.  For instance, calcium will suppress potassium and potassium is excessively available in many soils.  The obvious way to deal with shortages is to apply the needed mineral in a form that will be biologically enhancing to the microbes and also be compatible with the overall soil situation.  Many times you can receive a second nutrient right along with the one you are looking for by choosing the appropriate material.  When you buy ammonium sulfate, you get nitrogen and sulfate sulfur, which is the usable form. When you buy gypsum, you are buying the prime nutrient, calcium, and again getting the all important sulfate form of sulfur.  When replacing trace minerals, it is usually more economical to buy the basic oxide or sulfate form, such as copper sulfate.  These will require bacterial activity and time to make them available, so sometimes it is a good idea to use a readily available chelate in the row and/ or foliar to replace a yield limiting shortage.  Some of the very low level requirement trace minerals such as chromium, molybdenum, nickel and selenium can be replaced by the use of natural fertilizer materials such as yeast, garlic, seaweed and fish.

    The first mineral to consider replacing (or activating) is the calcium.  If you need to add calcium according to the CEC test, the usual rule of thumb is: use high calcium lime (calcium carbonate) if the pH is below 7 and use gypsum (calcium sulfate) if the pH is 7 or above.  I usually avoid the use of dolomite or Ag-lime as the magnesium content is too high.  Application of more than a ton or two of Ag-lime will usually upset the calcium-magnesium balance and can cause compaction problems and nitrogen release problems.  When you start adding carbohydrates to the soil in the form of sugar or molasses, the calcium usually is the first major mineral to show increases in availability.

    The most important point concerning the availability of all the minerals is that you must stop the use of muriate of potash (KCl or 0-0-60) because it is almost 50 % by weight chlorine (the major component of bleach) and seriously affects the microorganisms in a soil.  Anhydrous ammonia should also be phased out of your program for the same reasons.

    Replacing phosphorous is usually a more expensive process.  Regular fertilizer sources such as MAP or DAP do offer soluble, immediate use sources.  For long term building, natural hard rock and soft rock sources are more economical.  The important issue with phosphorous is making it available to your crop through biological activity.  Many CEC soil tests show large quantities to the point of overages, but the farmer still has to add phosphorous in the starter to avoid obvious phosphorous deficiencies in the spring.  Molasses seems to be one of best materials to start activation of the bacteria that release phosphorous.

    Another way to make phosphorous more available is to increase the amount of mycorrhizia present on the roots.  These root fungi attach/grow on and in the root surface and act as gateways for nutrients to move from soil to plant.  They are so efficient that they can relieve phosphorous deficiencies even in very low phosphorous soils.  Applications of muriate of potash and highly soluble phosphorous shut the mycorrhizia down.   The absence of mycorrhizia and other beneficial organisms on the roots is the main reason growers have so many problems with soil borne fungal diseases and have to apply costly fungicides.  Prevention by promotion of natural systems is always cheaper than chemical rescue.

    Potassium is usually more than adequately available is chemically farmed soils.  If you do need to replace it, the use of sulfate of potash (0-0-50) is usually recommended instead of muriate of potash.  The sulfate form costs more per ton, but you can use less to get the same effect, you get the valuable sulfate sulfur along with it and you avoid the damaging chlorine.  Manure, compost, sawdust and ashes are also good sources of potassium.  The more calcium and other minerals become available, the less potassium is needed to make the system function.  (This also applies to nitrogen.)

    Usually, magnesium just needs activating.  I like to use Epsom salts (magnesium sulfate) as a ground or foliar source to act as a stimulator of the magnesium already present in the soil.  It is available in most feed stores.  The adding or activating of calcium will also aid in the activation of magnesium.

     

    By using the sources of mineral suggested above, you can cover the replacement needs for sulfur without having to buy it separately.  It is the most under-used of the six majors and the lack of it results in everything from weakened plants that are susceptible to insect attack to low RFV’s of the forages.  The forage may test high in protein, but part of the measurement includes free nitrates rather than amino acids of protein.

     

    The ultimate goal of all the above-suggested practices is to have the LaMotte test numbers come up to the balanced CEC numbers. This would indicate that your plants have maximum access to the minerals stored in your soil and therefore, should perform with maximum efficiency relative to weather, plant populations, etc.  The ways to increase the efficiency even further relate to starters, side or top dressing and foliar feeding which will be the subjects of future articles.  One of the most frequent questions directed to me is: “If I am short of funds, should I put everything on a few acres or put less on more acres?”  There is no correct answer, but if fields aren’t performing, a small dose of minerals and activators may make a major difference in field/crop performance.

     

    There is one final step that can be done after the selection of proposed inputs.  After analyzing the data from the two types of tests, one can check whether or not your choice of materials and activators matches the reality of the situation.  One can’t expect the grower to conduct 2-3 years of field trials just to find out that gypsum or corn sugar or whatever is good for his soil.  In living systems (plant, animal, big or small) there is the concept of resonance.  The more a living organism can resonate with its surrounding energy patterns, the longer it can live.  Obviously, elephants and turtles do this, as they are long-lived mammals.  To verify the choices for soil additives, it is important that we establish that the proposed input will resonate with the entire soil or soil/plant living system.  This can be done electronically by placing the soil sample and the proposed input into an electronic energy-measuring device.  If a proposed input does not raise the energy of the soil system a significant amount, than the proposed input is rejected for use at the present time.  That same input may be tried and used the next season as the soil goes through stages of recovery.  This assures that the grower is only purchasing and applying materials that have a good chance of producing a return on investment.

     

    Monitoring of the whole recovery/transition process is important.  A grower may observe any of the following: insects starting to eat broad leaf weeds instead of the economic crop; brix and RFV rising in the crop; soil structural and water retention changes; improved animal performance and health; increased plant growth with less nitrogen required; less disease pressure on plants; frost resistance and so forth.  Be sure to observe in the field.  Don’t wait to just measure pounds of gain, because the best fertilizer in the wold is the footprint of the grower in the field.  Good Grazing!

  • CSI Grower Grazier Newsletter – June 2009

    SURPRISE! We decided to send this year’s fall newsletter early to get you information that you can use to strengthen this year’s spring planted crops and certainly for fall crops. Sue came on board in January to handle our ordering and financial systems. Dr. Phil and Ron are very thankful to have her help as you, our customers, have certainly kept everyone busy. Sales of our “old line” products such as Fish Agra, Nitrozyme and KS Plus are up; growers using field broadcasters with the GW Agriculture preparations or the sprays alone have had a few years under their belts to see results and our new product lines, Blooming Blossom and Green Yields, are taking off beyond our expectations.

    THE USUAL LIMITATIONS FOR SPRING CROPS: We know that commercial N usually is over used at the beginning of the season. Because of improper soil microorganism levels and activity, it gets converted to nitrates, pollutes the ground water and is in short supply during the critical last 40-30 days before harvest. This is when maximum amounts of nutrients and energy are needed to fill out the kernels, heads, nuts, fruits, tubers, etc. Another early problem is slow phosphorous release, preventing rapid early root growth which in turns limits early phosphate uptake so critical to developing the potential kernel, head, etc. These problems can be helped with the usual soil mineralization and bio-activity. Our two new product lines (Blooming Blossom and Green Yields) give you an even better chance of overcoming these limitations. Blooming Blossoms for N most anytime, Green Yields (soon) for soys (6” – 8”), newly cut hay/alfalfa fields, double cropping, etc.

    BLOOMING BLOSSOMS: Blooming Blossoms is an India based company that has received multiple international awards for their Organic N fixing and P releasing microbial technology. Bioplin fixes N in the soil, NutraTech releases phosphate in the soil and NutraFoliar fixes N on the surface of the leaf. This family of products enables you to get the phosphorous release (needed to grow roots) at very early stages, produce N on a steady, gradual basis in the soil and finally, produce N on the leaf surface at any time during the season, but especially during the late season nutrient and energy draw down period. Bioplinand NutraTech are usually applied right after germination and again about 30-50 days later, especially on high value crops. CSI suggests you foliar feed any crop the last 40-30 days prior to harvest with NutriFoliar for a natural, slowly produced and absorbed-on-demand N source to help bulk out during the final days. We also suggest a liquid potassium (K) source such as Foliar K and/or adding a broad spectrum nutrient source such as Fish Agra (also has some K).

    BLOOMING BLOSSOMS IN THE FIELD: John Martin, our Williamsburg, IN dealer, applied NutriFoliar and fish to some very yellow Triticale. It greened up almost immediately. Word-of-mouth means he can hardly keep the product in stock! He uses them on corn, oats, hay, tobacco and…. John planted oats which then received 6” of rain and turned light yellow. He put on NutraTech & fish when oats were two weeks old. Within 24 hours the crop turned dark green and hasn’t slowed down since. John also put Bioplin in his corn starter mixture (fish, seasalt, seaweed, boron, molasses etc – after all, he is a “biological” grower!) and applied 2 x 2 at planting. Since planting it’s been cold in IN. Right now (6/9/09) the corn is 7 – 8” tall and dark green. Note: John says “its more than just the fish” because he’s used that fish for over 30 years and he can tell the difference with the BioBloosoms Products. Also, John has an Amish KY grower who put NutraTech& fish on his 40 A pasture. He called to order 100 acres more saying the pasture is recovering much more quickly than usual.

    9/1/04 “I can’t begin to tell you how happy I am with the results of using BioNatural products in the vineyards this past season… The problem with my (wine grape) vines was that they were not uptaking micro nutrients from the soil. This caused mid-season clorosis and early defoliation in the crown of the vine. This problem went away using BioNatural product(s). Fruit seemed to ripen more evenly and the yield was up 50 percent.” 9/25/05 “Let me begin by saying that I am even more impressed with the BioNatural products this second year of use. The Conquistador vines held their foliage better and are just now (Sept) starting to drop their leaves. They normally start dropping leaves the third week of July. Also there were much less signs of anthracnose and fungal disease throughout the summer months. The vines show little or no defoliation around the crown of the vine which in past years usually shows up in mid June. The Conquistador crop was also better balanced with even ripening and we had an excellent yield… I also used the product on the Granny Val Muscatine variety that I grow just to eat. They produced the heaviest crop yet and they are ten years old.” June 10, 09 conversation with our Ron: “I’ve used the products now for about 5 years. I very much like the product line, in fact I’ve stopped using any other fertilizers. I like the ‘soil conditioning’ job Bioplin and NutraTech do and I rely completely onNutraFoliar for feeding the crop. I think it best if you use it at label application rates or higher. IF you dilute you will notice it. I apply the NutraFoliar every 30 days and I use a sticker. I think you get better bud break if you use NutraFoliar in the spring. I have lots of limestone in my soil.” Byron Biddle, owner/operator of Three Oaks Winery in Vernon, FL

    “Like other growers, when we planted StoneWell Vineyard in the spring of 2000 we began a chemical fertilization program both through our drip irrigation system, and by broadcasting 10-10-10 granules… We found that annual repeated applications of chemical fertilizers lead to the sterilization of the soil, prohibiting natural soil borne microorganisms from supplying sufficient nutrients to the root system, thereby making vines dependent on expensive chemicals for a consistent yield.… we (started using) Bioplin and NutriTech products beginning in 2005. Our vines improved and flourished, and yields of the highest quality organic grapes continue to increase. Last year’s crop of 2007 enjoyed a 45% increase of grapes over the previous ’06 growing season, after using less than suggested dosage amounts of Bioplin and NutriTech to the soil. “Mike Kantz, StoneWell Vineyard, Ocala, Fl (see p. 5)

    GREEN YIELDS: Dr. Norman Borlaug, the “Father of the Green Revolution”, has been involved with this product for several years. Much of his experience has been overseas where he has witnessed incredible plant response using this product. When we wrote about this product in our January 2009 Newsletter we didn’t have it named. Subsequently we decided upon Green Yields and, depending upon when your name has been added to our Customer list, you may have received a technical sheet on the product that said the product did not meet NOP standards. The Green Yields tech sheet has now been modified to remove the statement about “does not meet NOP requirements”. ALWAYS contact your certifying agency as we are still unsure of its NOP status.

    Green Yields is not sold through conventional agricultural channels. We are a distributor of the product through www.greenyieldsIL.com . You can go to this website, read about the product and watch 9 (at this writing) videos discussing and showing some of what this plant-based adjuvant will do. Our technical sheet says the product is, “A plant based extract, classified as a foliar liquid surfactant that appears to dramatically affect plant and root growth. In addition, the research shows a typical brix increase of up to 50% within 2 days of spraying. Repeat spraying every 20 – 30 days kept the brix at the increased level, however, withoutrepeat sprayings the brix levels were still elevated for about four weeks.” We don’t know why root growth is stimulated, but believe the increased growth and yield are due to the dramatic increase in root growth, especially the fine root hairs which increase the nutrient absorbing surface by 1000’s of times.

    GREEN YIELDS IN THE FIELD: Green Yields has had some very impressive plant root and yield responses. Ron has received numerous emails with pictures (p 6) showing extensive root growth and (barley) head growth compared to non-treated controls; corn roots covered with very fine root hairs, and pictures from several crops – sweet potatoes, okra, wheat, barley and others – with significant root mass compared to non-treated. Notice the extensive root hair development. The Green Yields system is in the process of evaluating/fine tuning how much product really needs to be applied to get good results. Green Yields andBlooming Blossom are very compatible to mix.

    Richard N began spraying using a three-year-old 1,000-gal sprayer with a 90-foot boom. He read the “clean out” instructions on our label, but thought that since his sprayer was so new and looked so clean inside he didn’t need to do the pre-wash routine. “The first batch went out fine. Then with the second load, the nozzles began losing pressure, the filters were getting partially clogged. I had to beat a rain, so I just slowed down and kept going. I finished about 15 minutes before it started raining. I found the main filter about half clogged and the five individual filters on the boom lines about a third full of residue. This stuff is a tank cleaner, all right.” CSI recommends following tank cleanout instructions!

    KS PLUS IN THE FIELD: KS Plus has an even greater beneficial effect when added to manure before composting. When the composted KS Plus was applied, tissue tests on potatoes (shown on  p. 7) showed a 25-40 % increase in phosphorous, a 30-40 % increase in potassium, the zinc doubled and the copper jumped 10 fold. The check had 600 #’s 12-12-12, 50 gal 10-34-0 and 1000# KS Plus. The photo shows about three times the growth! This has created quite a stir in southern California.

    PURE ENERGY CAN CHANGE THINGS: GW Agriculture supplies CSI with vials containing specific Wholistic™ brand energy/informational patterns for use in our Lovel type Broadcasting Towers as well as field sprays for direct application to fields. These types of homeopathic products are an example of what we call Quantum Ag (in this case dealing with Energy). Go tohttp://theccdsolution.com where you can download information about stopping/controlling The Colony Collapse Disorder honey bees are currently experiencing. Click on bottom link to download Greg’s free Wholistic™ Field Broadcaster Handbook. Greg Willis announced his CCD (colony collapse disorder) Solution is working (see testimonials below). His Dandelion Formula (frost protection – holds back flowering), Field Drying and Transplant Formula sprays are highlighted in the picture section (p8). His Fungus Interruptus™ fungal control is gaining wide appreciation and acceptance.

    ENERGY IN THE FIELD: Ross Baumstone from N. California. Ross raises tomatoes in a greenhouse. In two years of using GW’s preparations, including Fungus Interruptus™. He has not had any powdery mildew or botrytis at all in his greenhouse.

    Rick Hanson, commercial greenhouse manager outside Chicago. Rick’s been using GW’s products instead of chemicals now for two years. The company, Mayday’s Greenhouse, has split the management of the green houses between Rick and another man who manages the other half of the operation chemically. Rick hasn’t been able to completely eliminate chemicals since they get so many new plants running through their systems and there are always bugs and other problems coming in. But he says his quality is as good or better than the other manager’s quality for a lot less cost. He has no fungus problems at all; no white files; almost no fungus gnats. He uses the Valerian spray as a final spray to intensify the colors. Customers love his quality.

    Dan Underwood from Michigan called to say his land was too wet to plow this spring (2009), so he popped a Field Drying Formula™ vial into his Field Broadcaster Tower on Saturday. By Sunday afternoon the fields were almost too dry to plow. Just 2 days! What a difference. He used the new field drying formula that’s 2 times faster than the original.

    Bill Groen, an almond grower on 75 acres in the Sacramento Delta area, reports he’s had absolutely NO fungus of any kind on his almond trees or nuts. He’s been using Fungus Interruptus™ on his trees for three years. Nothing else! Thissaved him $1,600 in fungicides that all his neighbors had to spray.

    Jacqueline Freeman sent an email praising her hay harvest this year. Jacqueline is a proud user of GW’s sprays and after a few years really has a handle on how to best use them. Last year’s hay harvest was a banner year. “We had hoped for 100 bales and got 180. Isn’t that remarkable? Beautiful grass, too. We thought we’d be buying hay part way through the season and instead we ended the season with extra bales.”

    Hank Beckmeyer, California winemaker, cheesemaker and vineyard owner, two and a half years ago switched to Fungus Interruptus™ and the Wholistic™ Ultra Field Sprays. He has not had any fungus of any kind during these 2 1/2 years including Powdery Mildew and Botrytis which are common in California vineyards. His wine quality is all “Gold Medal”.

    Paul McDowell, Montello, WI corn and soybean farmer planted his corn, each seed bag pretreated with the Seed Starting & Transplant Formula™ and Ultra Field Spray™, (a simple process that only takes a minute). Two weeks after planting the roots on the corn were 5″ – 7″ deep and tops 1.5″ – 2″ tall, a perfect 4:1 root to top length ratio. This is an ideal start for his corn.

    Jacqueline Freeman Teacher of “Bees: The Other Way”, Friendly Haven Farm, Battle Ground, WA “I went into winter with five hives, all collected from swarms in spring 2007. Over the winter I lost two of them. I’d noticed decreased activity in the two hives and wasn’t surprised I lost them, although watching a hive decline is particularly painful. I also noticed another hive looked sluggish and was afraid I was going to lose that one, too. Then in January a hive’s roof blew off in a storm. The comb got totally soaked. In the Pacific Northwest this would usually be the death knell for a hive because our constant dampness won’t let a moisture-laden hive dry out. I sprayed the Wholistic™ Agriculture ‘bee sequence’ on all the hives about three weeks ago. Yesterday we opened up the hives to have a look. ALL the hives looked strong, were building new comb and had plenty of brood. The activity level was high, just what you like to see this time of year. I believe the Wholistic™ Agriculture sprays made a significant difference in the bee’s health and vitality and I am truly glad I put them to use.”

    Patti Pitcher, Beekeeper, Snoqualmie, WA “In a time when we are all worried for our bees, I have watched mine thrive using Wholistic™ Agriculture’s CCD kit. The hives we tend are doing beautifully. They are filled with so much honey it astounds me. When I look into each hive I see the bees radiating an obvious vibrant state of health; but, what is even more exciting to me is how well the wild hives are doing. This year our two wild honeybee hives multiplied and turned into three thriving hives. And our native bee populations are doing well too. I saw them increase in numbers this year, compared to a decrease last year before I started doing the CCD Solution.”  Update:  “I opened up one of my hives the other day (one that I have been using the CCD Solution Kit on)…my goodness it was a hopping place of liveliness. Very busy and happy bees!”

    FALL IS FAST APPROACHING: Fall is the time for soil testing and mineralization. Tn Brn Phosphate and KS Plus are two primary mineral sources to keep in mind.  We have stock piles ready to access. Shotgun applications would be: Tn Brn Phos: 500 – 800#/A. KS Plus: 400 – 800#/A. These amounts will give you a good amount and should last several years.

    WE NEED REPRESENTATIVES JUST ABOUT EVERYWHERE! As you may have noticed, we are running ads in AcresUSA & Stockman Grass Farmer, looking for new dealers. There are huge farming areas not being covered by anyone. In today’s economy there is a chance to help growers achieve sustainability and earn income for yourself or someone you would recommend.

    CSI offers access to soil testing, technologies and products that will help make you (and your customers) a success. You just need to go out and call on growers to get them started. CSI has one of the broadest product lines in the industry. We have the best mined minerals at the best prices. We have both organic and non-organic trace minerals and we have a variety of bio-activators. With that in mind, please click here for part two of this CSI June 09 Newsletter.

  • Cutting Farming Costs in Today’s Economy

    By Philip A. Wheeler, Ph.D.

    One of the ways businesses that produce real goods – like agriculture – rather than just shuffling paper can save money is through increased efficiency. Efficiency can come from better utilization of manpower or from increased output by the manufacturing involved. Both are applicable to farming. Although the best possible economic scenario is to own “no steel” other than a pick-up or ATV, reality is much different. Utilizing custom planting, spraying, harvesting, etc. is widely practiced in some crops, but many farmers are still going across their fields multiple times doing something with their own equipment.

    The best way to increase the efficiency of those trips across the field is to multi-task, and no, I’m not talking about surfing the web or watching videos. I’m talking about doing multiple field operations with each pass of the tractor. Field operations can include plowing, disking, “fitting”, fertilizing, planting, cultivating, side-dressing, foliar feeding, inter-seeding, “topping”, harvesting, and residue management. Doing only one of these field operations at a time is extremely inefficient! All but the most antique tractors can be modified to do multiple tasks, and in most cases, it is can be done with off-the-shelf-equipment. This, however, requires pre-planning and some winter days in the “shop”.

    In an ideal situation, a tractor would have two saddle tanks that could contain two different liquids, one for ground application (either broadcast or side-dress) and one for foliar feeding either from a front or rear boom. A seeder should be available for the front of the tractor so that cultivators or other towed equipment can be used to cover the seed while inter-seeding the next economic crop or adding a cover crop to a current economic crop. A field sprayer should be quickly modifiable to allow the nozzles to be turned backward for foliar feeding so that the liquid rolls up under the plant leaves. Greater efficiency is gained by negatively charging the fluids in the tank or as they leave the nozzle. The negative charge will attract them to the positively charged plants.

    Once you have the equipment modified, you usually have to modify your thinking. If you think that plants grow from fertilizers, then think again. Plants only grow by the use of energy produced internally or absorbed from external sources. Plants use phosphorous, magnesium, iron and sunlight and water to produce the sugars that subsequently are used as sources of energy to make all the necessary components of a plant and to build new cells (grow & reproduce). All the other major and minor nutrients that are incorporated into the plant end up as only 5% of total volume and the rest is carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. The initial energy to grow a plant is stored within the seed. This allows it to grow until the photosynthetic process takes over.

    Since plants grow from energy, logic would dictate that a grower wishing to cut costs would try to take advantage of all the free energy he can get. It order to get/use the free energy, one must understand the sources and their implications.

    The next source of energy, after photosynthesis, is the Chemical Energy added and created when a new material (fertilizer/compost/soil conditioner/etc.) is added to the soil. Some of the energy is stored in the material itself. This energy was put there by nature such as found in natural deposits of lime, gypsum, K Mag, KS Plus, potassium sulfate etc. The rest of the energy comes from the reactions of the new material with the soil with all its’ components. Dr. Reams taught that Calcium is the main element that other elements react with. The energy produced comes from both the electromagnetic spin of each element as well as the standard chemical reactions (oxidation & reduction) any time an acid and base or electrolytes are in a water/soil solution.

    When a recommendation was made to a farmer years ago by our lab to use ammonium sulfate, he vehemently refused. “I’ve just spent several years liming my soil to bring it up to 6.8 pH. I know that ammonium sulfate will acidify my soil, so I’m not going to use that.” What he didn’t understand is that nothing is going to happen in his soil unless the pH does change throughout the day and night from a chemical energy standpoint. Changing pH or changing temperature and pressure are the only reason why chemical reactions will continue to take place and produced the energy needed for crop growth. And if he is a chemical farmer, he won’t have much biological energy either. No wonder yields in conventional farming have “peaked”.

    The earth’s moon cycles also provide constant change to the temperature and pressure in the soil which can help produce the needed chemical reactions that produce the chemical energy portion of the “big picture”. Solar days and yearly seasonal changes all add to the constant change. A grower would have a difficult time trying to change the sun, moon and stars, but he can make pressure changes using sound waves. That is the basis of the technology and equipment called Veges Sound™ Unit. When it is played, the sound/pressure waves travel through the soil and atmosphere where increased chemical and biological activity increases nutrient uptake. The subsequent energy produced can then be used by the plant for increased growth, reproduction or immunity building.

    There is a third form of energy that was the basis of my Ph.D. work. That involves the frequencies given off by the elements of compounds when they are in the ground and are therefore subject to the Shuman Resonance, otherwise known as the earth’s vibration. The earth’s vibration is usually listed as 7.8 cycles per second. When I subjected a pure sample of MAP, 12-62-0, to the Shuman resonance in a lab with Dr. Phil Callahan, the resulting frequencies were just the right wavelength to be absorbed by microbes and fine root hairs. The earth’s Shuman Resonance vibration comes from the constant lighting strikes on a world wide basis. The day the lighting stops is the day all life on earth starts to collapse if it can’t quickly adapt.

    The materials added to soil to keep the changes happening do not need to be strong chemical fertilizers nor in large amounts. Any non-pesticide material that will produce chemical, electromagnetic and biological reactions will produce energy. However, some materials commonly used in conventional farming produce electromagnetic patterns that are harmful to the soil system, even though they may produce some beneficial chemical energy, such as KCl. That is the basis for using Radionic instruments to predetermine the energy compatibility of any material going on your soil or plant.

    So how do you translate all this chemistry and physics into cutting costs? The above shows that having a steady supply of anything “new” creates the physical and chemical energy as long as it will resonate with your soil. The cheapest additives are manure and urine directly from grazing livestock, cover crops, lime, gypsum, local mineral deposits, food wastes, carbohydrates such as sugar and molasses, and homeopathic (energy) products or instruments that broadcast them. However, with today’s fertilizer commodity prices going through the roof, one can save money by buying natural sources of major and minor minerals, even if they have to be trucked from a distance. Some conventional and natural/organic fertilizer companies have chosen to use the intense buying pressure of foreign countries as a reason to raise the domestic price to equal their international price. In my opinion, I would put MAP, DAP, 0-0-50, 0-0-60 and elemental sulfur in that category of P-K-S sources. Other companies have kept their domestic prices lower, while selling into overseas markets at a higher price in US dollar’s. These companies include the suppliers of natural mined phosphates, gypsum, and KS Plus, covering the P-K-S nutrients. You also get some Mg, Ca and a broad spectrum of very valuable trace minerals in these mined US market priced nutrient sources. K Mag falls somewhere in between for pricing per unit of nutrients.

    When considering mined mineral sources consider the value of KS Plus* [0-0-8-24S-1Fe] using 0-0-50 (potassium sulfate) as a cost basis @ $1100/ton or $1.10/unit of K or SO4:

    K: 8% = 160# x $1.10 = $176.00

    S:  24% = 480# x $1.10 = $528.00

    Micronutrients (Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, B, Mg, Na, Mo) = at least $100

    Total comparative value of KS Plus [$163] compared to above mineral sources at $804/Ton. *June 08 pricing.

    Consider the value of Tenn Brown Phosphate (23% P2O5) using MAP (11-52-0) as a cost basis @ $1250/ton‡. Subtracting out the value of the N leaves $1000 of P205 value or $20/unit of P2O5. Total value of Tn Brn [$125], not including calcium or trace mineral values would be $20 x 23 units = $460. Other US natural phosphate pricing would be similar in range. ‡Oct 08 pricing.

    The next vast area of energy production is Biological Energy. Microbes cover almost the entire earth’s surface including under bodies of water. They regulate most of the processes that go on in that layer. In soil, they provide a constant source of energy by constantly reproducing, consuming each other or plant and soil material. These are all oxidation/reduction processes which add new ions, compounds, heat and frequencies to the soil medium which then become part of the energies used by crops to grow or reproduce.

    If you want a good education in all the biological species and/or reactions they perform, I would suggest you consult a textbook or various publications from Acres that can provide that detail. More importantly, how do you re-establish populations and create an environment that fosters their presence?  Because of conventional farming practices, most US soils are sadly lacking in a good mix of bacteria, fungi and beneficial nematodes.

    One could make a good argument for saying that a grower shouldn’t add microbes to his damaged soil because they will die off. He should use cover crops and fallow to let nature clean up the soil before adding any new microbes. On the other side, the microbes and/or their by products (enzymes, hormones, B vitamins) can help speed the recovery of soil. The addition of carbohydrates such as cane sugar, dextrose (corn sugar) or fructose (fruit sugar) or molasses can give a quick food boost to microbes that have been offered only N with no carbs to help them digest it. On the other hand, growers who feed a lot of carbs can also end up with lower bacterial levels as the bacteria will die off once the food source depletes. Only adding N leaves much of the N on conventional farms to convert to nitrates, leach out of the root zone and contaminate ground water. If you want to save money and still use chemical N products, always add a carbohydrate to your N and cut back the application rate to take advantage of the increased efficiency of use.

    Free bacteria and fungi are everywhere! They are in your manure, in your unfarmed fence rows, in your garden and in the local woodlot, no matter the size. You can brew your own microbial teas without making compost, but you will probably get a better mix of species if you compost first. The fungi are just as important as the bacteria, so be sure and use leaf mold where you can physically see the white mycelium growing in the dark damp leaf layers. Fungal organisms are stimulated by acids, so liquid fish is usually used in compost tea. That is also a reason to use liquid fish as an excellent source of protein N and you get the fungal and bacterial stimulation thrown in for “free”. Apple cider vinegar is also an excellent fungal stimulant as well as a trace source of bio-active potash. It would probably be wise to get a good book on compost tea making, as it is easy to end up with a not-so-beneficial mixture (Ron killed everything he applied it on).

    One of the most cost saving microbes is mycorrhizia or root fungi. They extend the surface area of the plant root thousands of times and help to bring nutrients to the plant. Phosphorous is one of the most difficult nutrients to make available in the soil and mycorrhizia are the fungi to do it for you.

    There are lots of commercial bacterial and enzyme products on the market. They can certainly pay for themselves if you jump start the bacterial process that feed on the organic matter in your soil and turn it into available and long term humus and glomalin. (Please refer to Oct 08 Acres article “Soil Carbon”, Page 30. You may also refer to the article on page 16, “Farming in the Peak Water Area’ for excellent cost saving water techniques.)

    Hidden from our view are other sources of energy that are usually never talked about in agriculture. Dr. Rudolph Steiner identified these as originating from cosmic sources. The most basic process is the absorption of energy into the earth from June 21 to December 21 and the subsequent release of the energy for plant growth from December 22 to June 21 (opposite in the southern hemisphere). This provides the spring flush of growth we experience in the northern hemisphere. You can use all the energies Steiner identified as well as ones that have been identified by others since his time to enhance the processes that your crops would go through in the natural process of germinating, growing and reproducing.

    Because these energies are captured in “esoteric ways”, the acceptance of the use of the energies in the US has been limited. The original proponents of using Steiner energies called themselves biodynamic. Australia was a much more fertile ground (pun intended) for the spread of the biodynamic concepts and our own home grown Hugh Lovel has immigrated to Aussie Land and is doing very well. Another home grown proponent, researcher and producer is Greg Willis. He has taken both the understanding and the production to new levels. I urge you to visit his website http://theccdsolution.com/  and download some of his free publications. Click on “click here for more pdfs” to download a copy of his new The NEW WHOLISTIC™ Agriculture Field Broadcaster Handbook a 150 page document presenting his technology and products.

    Greg’s products with the captured energy patterns are called field sprays. The field sprays can be applied with conventional sprayers or they also can be broadcast through “Field Broadcasters”. The energy patterns are then influencing your property 24/7/365. The total cost of broadcasting these energies for a ten year period would be about $1.00 per acre on a 200 acre farm. Now that is real cost savings!

    The one nutrient we haven’t addressed is Nitrogen. The improper use of nitrogen since the 40’s has caused incalculable harm to farmers, US soils and the American populace. This was all brought to you by our federal government wanting to keep munitions manufacturers (corporations) in business. The over use and misuse was quickly aided and abetted by our glorious land grant institutions who were in turn aided and abetted by the chemical corporations who used them for “research”.

    There is lots of free N available. All you have to do is grow legumes with proper rhizobial inoculation, and they do the work for you by fixing N from the atmosphere into nodules on their roots. This fixed N can then be used by the plant fixing it as well as subsequent plants when the legume is incorporated. Or, if you can’t get legumes into your rotation, there are azobactor bacteria that can fix N both in the soil AND on the LEAF SURFACE without the presence of a legume. There is brand new technology that puts multiple strains of bacillus into a cyst form that is very stable in the atmosphere and protects itself from solar breakdown for several weeks or longer. The cysts germinate, use the carbohydrates produced at the leaf surface for energy and proceed to fix N in an amino acid form that can be used by the plant without the use of internal energy for assimilation by the plant. Vitamin B, a growth stimulant, is also produced by the accompanying microbes, along with vitamin C and E.

    As much as 50 to 55 lbs of N/acre have been established using these organisms in the soil and when used on the leaf surface. Since the N is being slowly produced, the plant is able to utilize it as needed with resultant yield increases of 50% or more on a variety of crops. This means that farms using sustainable/organic/biological methods and practices with reasonable to good organic matter and biologically active soils can probably cover most all their N needs through the addition of the azobactor as a foliar. Low organic matter/transitional growers will want to include the soil azobactor as well as the usual fish/seaweed/carbohydrate programs.

    Protein N is a much better buy than raw nitrates and ammonium compounds. Fish hydrolysates from whole fish offer the maximum amount of protein N. Compost can also provide similar fixed N. Both are excellent food sources for the nitrogen fixers. The better the quality of your microbe populations, the less chance you have of losses of ammonia to the atmosphere or nitrates into the ground water. The percentage of applied N that is actually used in conventional agriculture is economically unacceptable. Bruce Tainio estimates that only 2% of applied chemical N is utilized by the plant.

    So there you have it: Increase equipment efficiency, keep chemical and bio-physical reactions going all the time, let the world of microbes do their thing, use Steiner/Greg Willis energies, buy low cost nutrients from natural sources, fix your own N and take charge of your farm. Happy growing!

  • CSI Grower Grazier Newsletter – January 2009

    Thanks to you, our repeat and new customers, CSI increased our sales volume again in 08. Thankfully, Ron is now on full time and a new office person, Sue Hartman, is on board.

    EXCITING NEWS: Because we have several new technologies and products to introduce to you, the “agronomic message” will be integrated into the discussion of these products. We hope you have or will read our articles in the Nov. & Dec. 08 issues of AcresUSA as they are loaded with the type of info we typically include in our agronomic message.

    NATURAL NITROGEN FIXATION: We all know that N prices are way too high. We also know that standard nitrogen is usually over used resulting in watery plant sap, aka low brix. That leads to the necessity of crop rescue with toxic chemicals. Then the excess N and the toxic materials end up in the ground water or food supply. Since we can’t do without N (it’s the electrolyte in the soil/plant system) it behooves us to find more natural sources of N as well as regulating the application amounts and/or finding ways for the soil and plant to produce N and uptake it as needed. Many species of Azotobacter (microbes) are identified as having this quality of being able to “fix’ N” (make available in nitrate and ammonia forms) from the N2 nitrogen gas found in air.

    CSI is pleased to announce that we have been granted a Master Distributor position for a large portion of the US for a new line of Azotobacter products from BioNatural™ Blooming Blossoms®.

    BioNatural products are the result of the most advanced technology and have won multiple awards, including the most prestigious Gold Metal Award from the World Intellectual Property Organization for excellence in innovation. The uniqueness comes from the manufacturing process that puts the Azotobacter spores into a cyst stage that allows the product to be in liquid form with a two year shelf life. The uniqueness also comes from the fact that you can use the cyst spores in the soil and on the leaf surface to produce N on the leaf, using the sugars being produced by microbes on the leaf surface as the necessary energy source for N fixation.

    BioNatural soil products combine bacteria and Azotobacter species that release P (phosphate) in the soil. We know that one of the hardest nutrients to get into a plant from the soil is P. The combination of making P available and producing N in the root zone gives us a better chance of increasing photosynthesis. BioNatural programs have resulted in increased yields on Corn of 24% to 45%, increased germination of 95-100% with N fixation in the 50-55 lbs/A range. Their products have produced 49.5% increased dry matter yield in Wheat, 41% increases in Grapes, 45% increases in Strawberries and 38% increases with Apples.

    The BioNatural Blooming Blossoms line consists of three products, 2 for soil and 1 for foliar. The first product is called BioNatural NutriTech. It contains multi species of Azobacter for N fixation in both nitrate and ammonia form. N can’t be fixed without minute amounts of molybdenum so I would use some fish and seaweed as fertilizer sources with NutriTech to insure maximum N fixation. NutriTech is used after planting and emergence, when root hairs are present for absorption of released P and fixed N. The usual rate is 250 ml product (about 9 oz) in 50 gallons of water to get the spores down into the Rhizosphere (root zone) for high value crops and field crops. Use lists for a wide variety of crops are available.

    The second product is called BioNatural Bioplin. It is the primary P releaser using bacteria as well as some Azotobacter species. It is used with and at the same rates asNutriTech along with the 50 gallons of water for getting into the root zone. Since both of these soil products have some overlapping function, the manufacturer suggested that growers with biological soils, those that show reasonable P availability numbers on a LaMotte test, could just use the NutiTech. My first thought would be that most of you aren’t where you really want to be yet with available P, so why not introduce both sets of needed micro-organisms to your soil at least once.

    The third product is BioNatural NutriFoliar. I am most excited about this one as it offers a chance to correct a “flaw” in the nitrogen cycle. If you look at all the test data on soil nitrogen throughout the season, you almost always see a major decline in N levels just when the crop is trying to fill out a head or ear. Dr. Reams taught that if you can foliar feed a crop the last 30 days, you can double your yield! So here is a chance to have Azotobacter sitting on your leaf producing N on a regular basis and allowing N to be used by the plant on a daily basis as the plant needs it. NutriFoliar is compatible with other nutrient sources such as fish, seaweed, soluble K, sugar, etc. NutriFoliar also works in the early and mid stages of growth in the same manner. The additional kicker is that the organisms in NutriFoliar produce Vitamins in the B group, Vitamin E and C. B vitamins can act as growth stimulants and E and C provide disease resistance.

    The BioNatural Blooming Blossoms product line is all OMRI Listed®. The Azotobacterspore counts are over 1 billion per gram, which exceeds the minimum requirement for effectiveness by a factor of 10; and 5 to 10 billion spores/ gram are regularly achieved. The product can function in soil pHs from 4.5 to 9.0 and in temperature ranges from 32 degrees to 110 F including very low humidity.

    It is my opinion that trying the BioNatural Blooming Blossoms line is very worthwhile for fruit, vegetable and berry growers, as the research reports are very impressive and the cost factors are very reasonable when using all three products at recommended rates and times. Field crop growers should try the appropriate products, using/leaving check plots.You should also see a major reduction in any disease and insect pressure. We talked to our compatriots in Australia who have had these products for a couple of years under an Australian trade name, and they spoke highly of the quality control and performance. The research and products come out of India.

    We urge you to go to http://www.bloomingblossoms.com/ to review all the data. Please see our enclosed price list.

    INCREASED ROOT GROWTH: One of the easiest ways to get more nutrition/energy into a plant is to increase the root depth and mass. Only new root hairs are able to effectively bring nutrients and water into the plant, as old ones soon lose their efficiency. There are many ways to increase root growth as witnessed by the side by side pictures in the color brochures you see for typical biological and enzymatic products. The results can be very impressive.

    With root growth in mind, CSI will begin offering a new product called RevvUP which is our own private label. This product is a soy based soap classified as a non-ionic surfactant.

    RevvUP’s mode of action is not clearly understood, but it appears to have something to do with the size of the particles being in the Nano range which is getting down towards the size used to measure individual atoms. So here we are near the Quantum range of physics. Whatever or however the plant perceives when these Nano particles enter the plant, the plant response seems to be major root growth in depth and thickness. Maybe the plant thinks that there is a shortage of moisture due to the wetting agent effect?

    The research shows a typical brix increase of up to 50% within 2 days of sprayingRevvUP. Repeat spraying every 20 – 30 days kept the brix at the increased level. However, without repeat sprayings, the brix levels were still elevated for about four weeks! The original use of the product saw some disease and insect control, and subsequent research showed that productivity also increased about 9% compared to check plots. There are also field reports of very large grain heads (4 inches long with 4 rows of kernels instead of 3 inch with 3 rows). Test weights on wheat using RevvUP were at 63 to 64 lbs. On corn, the really significant thing other than yield and test weight was the non-denting of the kernels about half way back from the tip. This shows major uptake of plant nutrients, excellent carbohydrate production and higher feed value. Rice in China, Indiaand Vietnam showed an excellent response.

    Recommended rate of RevvUP application is 8 oz/A in 10 – 20 gallons water (1 gal. covers 16 acres). Some growers report even better response at 9 – 12 oz/A. Best response comes with the first spray at 2nd (trifoliate) leaf stage or about 4 – 6 inches of growth on most crops. Since RevvUP is a nonionic surfactant it can be mixed with most nutritional or chemical applications that call for a nonionic surfactant. Caution: burning could occur with some applications.

    Although the ingredients are all safe food additives consisting of horticultural oil, sugar and corn, the product does not meet NOP requirements. The product compiles with OSHA CFR – 1910.1200 Section (i) “Trade Secrets, Contains No Hazardous Components”. Under Current OSHA Definitions, this product contains only ingredients listed at the FDA EAFUS Database of Food Additives.

    We urge you to check the website at http://www.biobased.us/. We strongly suggest you test this product out.

    CONSIDERING CLAYS: CSI has become a major brokering source to Sustainable and Organic Farms for Natural/Organic mined minerals. To make our offerings more complete we have decided to offer an “old line” product from Mississippi calledFlorastim®. Louisa & I visited the site last fall on the back side of our TX trip. We have known the original owner/developer for years and now will be working with his son, Larry Strite. Florastim® is created from an ancient mineral deposit that was deprived of air/oxygen when laid down millions of years ago and is called a Bucatanna Clay. When brought to the surface it appears to be rocky shale. But amazingly, when piled up and exposed to air it starts to compost! After thorough composting the product is screened and ready for shipment in bulk, tote or 50 lb bags on pallets. Florastim® meets NOP organic standards.

    Florastim® contains over 80 minerals and over 4 billion organisms per lb. It is also rich in fulvic acids. We think it offers a broad spectrum mineral and bacterial clay that compliments other specific PKS mineral deposits (like our TN Brown, KS Plus andKMag) both in trace mineral availability and in microbial life. Florastim® should be applied on the surface as a top dressing on planted or open fields and should not be plowed under. Typical rates are 300 lbs per acre the first year (300 – 400 lbs on chemical soils) and 150-200 lbs the second year.

    PANÁK-ITE, A SECOND CLAY: CSI now has a Unique Lacustrine (freshwater) Edible
    Clay from the Southwest High Desert. These Nevada minerals come with 78 elements identified to date, mostly in trace amounts. PANÁK-ITE has organic origins as diatoms, algae and other microorganisms processed volcanic material plus microbial-formed fulvic acid that chelated the trace elements to amino acids and peptides. OMRI Listed®.

    PANÁK-ITE has been used successfully in California to arrest a host of fungal and blight problems affecting citrus, grapes, strawberries and live oak trees. It helps foster good humus, improves soil texture and good tilth and boosts water retention in sandy soils. It’s used at 1000 lbs/A (750 lbs/A on Potatoes) with subsequent applications after 3 years. Trees respond well to 10 – 15 lbs applied around the drip line. It may be used in hydroponics, greenhouse, lawn and garden and golf course maintenance with great results.

    NEW PHOSPHATE: CSI is mindful of the environmental impact of shipping mineral deposits great distances. Whereas we ship Tn Brn Phosphate throughout the East and Mid-West, we are now offering Soda Springs, ID prilled soft phosphate (it is not colloidal) to our more western customers and/or those who need a prilled product. OMRI Listed®.

    NEW FIELD BROADCASTER: CSI is now marketing a new type of field broadcaster from GW Agriculture along with our Lovell type and Tainio models. The GW model looks like 2 pyramids placed base-to-base with the points facing up and down. They stand about 3 ft tall and are made of carbon fiber, an expensive and durable material. This field broadcaster contains one input well and covers up to 25,000 acres. Larger sizes are available.

    WINTER SHOWS: Ron will have a CSI booth or attend the following shows:

    American Grassfed Association Conference held at the Lexington KY Hyatt Hotel Feb 5 – 7, 2009.

    Tainio Technology & Technique Conference held at Spokane, WA Feb 19 – 20, 2009.

    Midwest Organic & Sustainable Ed Service – MOSES Conference held at LaCrosse, WI Feb 26 – 28, 2009.

    FERTILIZER PRICES: Prices of commercial fertilizers (KMag, Ammonium Sulfate, 0-0-50) may be volatile this spring. Dealers are stuck with inventory they purchased at high July pricing. Who knows if they will be as volatile this year. Prices for Tn Brown, KS Plus, Green Sand, Humates and the rest of our products will be a lot more stable – see 2009 CSI Price List. Trucking prices have moderated, but will be checked at time of order. Please order early as our manufactures & suppliers will be very busy! NOTE: price changes will be posted to our website as time allows.

    SOIL TESTING CHANGES: We no longer need a separate Humus test as the current CEC test has one as standard. Additionally, we now offer a Total Carbon test to start your carbon sequestering records.

    SCHEDULE: Phil & Louisa will be out of the country from Jan 23 to April 1st. Ron and Sue will do their utmost to take care of your needs during the assumed slow period. If “Spring” comes the 1st of March, everyone is going to have fun J.

    Have a Happy, Prosperous, Successful Year! Dr. Phil, Louisa, Ron & Sue