Krypto Food :: 'SQWorms

The Worm Man: Organic Way to Repel White Fly, Red Ants & Pests from Your Garden! | Worm Casting Applications

2009-08-25T15:06:00.000-07:00

Only since 1800, in the last 0.1% of the history of Homo sapiens, has the human population shot into the billions. Now at nearly 6.7 billion, with 9 billion looming 40 years away, few environmentalists seem to care.
Yet the population-environment link is clear. Our environmental impact, as gauged by total resource consumption for a country or the world, is the product of population size and the average person's consumption.
Today's crumbling environment, racked by climate change, mass extinction, deforestation, collapsing fisheries and more is evidence our total consumption has gone too far. We are destroying our life-support system. In ecological terms we are in "overshoot" of Earth's "carrying capacity" for humans, our demand exceeding the planet's absorptive and regenerative capacities.
~ Return of the Population Time-Bomb || Too many People: Earth's Population Problem ~
As for motherhood — the fertility of the human race — we are getting to the point where you simply can't discuss it, and we are thereby refusing to say anything sensible about the biggest single challenge facing the Earth; and no, whatever it may now be conventional to say, that single biggest challenge is not global warming. That is a secondary challenge. The primary challenge facing our species is the reproduction of our species itself.
How the hell can we witter on about tackling global warming, and reducing consumption, when we are continuing to add so relentlessly to the number of consumers? The answer is politics, and political cowardice.
It is time we had a grown-up discussion about the optimum quantity of human beings in this country and on this planet. This is a straightforward question of population, and the eventual size of the human race.
~ Global over-population is the real issue: Population, Politics & Political Cowards || Humanity’s Choice: A Series of Exits—Not a Fork in the Road
I have had a chance to observe quite a few companies in the U.S. from the inside, and have spotted a certain constancy in the staffing profile. At the top, there is a group of highly compensated senior lunch-eaters. They tend to spend all of their time pleasing each other in various ways, big and small. They often hold advanced degrees in disciplines such as Technical Schmoozing and Relativistic Bean-counting. They are obsessive on the subject of money, and cultivate a posh country set atmosphere, even if they are just one generation out of the coal mines. Ask them to solve a technical problem — and they will politely demur, often taking the opportunity to flash their wit with a self-deprecating joke or two.
~ Surviving Peak Oil & Economic Collapse: Post-Soviet Lessons for a Post-American Century.. ~

Is There Really an Organic Way to Repel Fire Ants and Other Insect Pests From Our Yards?

Ball Point Wren

The Worm Man

Not long after my fire ant column, "Go Away! Ant That Means YOU" made it into the San Diego Union-Tribune I received a phone call from a reader, a Mr. George Hahn.

After our initial confusion (I thought he was an editor--he thought I was a reporter) Hahn explained that he owns California Vermiculture, the company that produces Wormgold earthworm castings.

My disappointment at not being hired as a columnist was great, but I got over it. Besides, Hahn's subject matter was pretty entertaining.

For those of you who don't know, worm castings are a polite way of saying worm POOP. And Hahn was on the phone to tell me he has the organic solution to California's recent fire ant invasion: worm poop.

The Enzyme

According to Hahn, worm castings contain an enzyme called chitinase. Insects avoid chitinase because it dissolves chitin, the main ingredient in their exoskeletons. If a plant contains a high level of chitinase, Hahn says insect pests like aphids, spider mites and whiteflies shy away from it. He claims they won't walk on it, either.

In other words, when a plant absorbs chitinase with other nutrients from the soil, it makes them taste bad. Insects may take a bite but will say "blech!" and go looking for better tasting chow. If they step on chitinase, they'll cry, "Aieee!" and hurry off to a chintinase-free zone.

To be honest, at first I thought Mr. Hahn was just another overeager salesman and I wished I had thought to pay Pac Bell for an unlisted number. But his enthusiasm was hard to resist and the information he faxed me was interesting.

In addition to general product information about Wormgold (Hahn's brand of castings), he included a copy of a letter written to him by Randall Ismay, Horticultural Consultant for Water and Landscape Consultants of Laguna Niguel.

The Fire Ants

In this letter, Ismay states that he reluctantly yielded to Hahn's prodding and distributed a one-inch thick layer of castings over several dozen confirmed RIFA mounds. To Ismay's astonishment, he observed that, "literally all visible ant activity ceased completely. In every single instance, without even one exception."

Ten weeks after Ismay's initial tests, the fire ants did not reappear in the treated areas.

The Whiteflies

In Hahn's information packet there was also a clipping of a Los Angeles Times article dated Saturday, May 27, 2000 by garden writer Julie Bawden Davis.

Davis wrote that she had been battling whiteflies on her hibiscus plant for over two years without success. But one month after spreading a one-inch layer of worm castings around the base of the hibiscus, she noticed "that the whitefly population had dwindled. Three weeks later there were absolutely no whiteflies on the plant. It's now back to its healthy self and producing lots of blooms."

The Suits

Hahn says he called the California Department of Food and Agriculture to tell them worm castings might be a non-toxic solution to the RIFA dilemma, but was immediately accused of illegally promoting an insect repellent without authorized government approval. They warned him that such claims could result in prison time.

"Heck," Hahn says he told them, "you're going to send me to prison because I tell people to spread worm poop in their back yards? It's already sold everywhere as a fertilizer!"

This is true. Worm castings have long been known to be an excellent organic fertilizer and are sold in countless nurseries all over the world. The stuff doesn't burn and is odor-free, unlike other manure products.

The Professors

Nevertheless, I wanted an expert opinion. I forwarded Hahn's packet of information to the horticultural department at two California universities to ask some experts what they thought about all this.

Dr. Robert Rice from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo was kind enough to send me this response:

I haven't seen any data to support Mr. Hahn's claims in the scientific literature. Mr. Hahn repeatedly refers to scientific evaluation yet does not cite the published sources. . . there are too many variables and the whitefly could have gone away for a completely different reason which coincided roughly with the application of the earthworm castings. So, I am not discounting the possibility that the castings have some repellent properties but until it was evaluated under controlled conditions I am skeptical.

An opinion from another California university was more blunt:

If this stuff really worked we (entomologist, PCA's and people in horticulture) would be recommending the material. Personally, I think he is trying to make money. There is a sucker born every minute! The worm industry was in its heyday a few years ago and people lost money in the "worm business." I believe in biocontrol but it doesn't work in every situation. A lot of claims without any documentation.

Hahn admits he needs scientific research, not just anecdotal evidence to back up his claims. Currently, he says his worm castings are being used in a study at the Quail Botanical Gardens Pinetum in Encinitas, California. And in anticipation of receiving government approval of his worm castings as an insect repellent, he has also applied for a patent.

The Hardhead

Being the hardhead that I am, I decided I'd like to see for myself if this stuff works. While we don't have fire ants in our neighborhood yet, most of San Diego is suffering from an overabundance of Argentine Ants and whiteflies.

I purchased Wormgold worm castings and spread it over an area in my yard where Argentine Ants are a serious problem (I refrained from applying it in my kitchen).

With my neighbor Sophie's permission, I also spread the stuff under her hibiscus plants, which are dying a slow death from whiteflies, as are most hibiscuses in the San Diego area.

I made note of my experiences in a log, but summarized the results of my experiment here.

You might want to experiment in your yard, too. Follow the instructions for using worm castings and let me know what happens. If you give me permission, I'll print your experience on this site.

Remember, Hahn is not claiming worm castings will kill fire ants or other insect pests. Rather, he is saying the castings will repel them.

If it works as Hahn says, when we treat our yards with castings, we should observe insect pests moving to a chitinase-free area, like the neighbors' yards. If so, this might upset the neighbors, but so what? Tell them to get their own worm poop.

The Disclaimer

I am not receiving any compensation (not even a free bag of poop!) from George Hahn, California Vermiculture, or any other agency.
I am not a gardening expert. I am, however, a mom who prefers to use natural solutions for her insect pest problems. (See "Babies on Board.")
You want a truly scientific opinion on this topic, go talk to a scientist.

Source: BallPoint Wren

"Worm Cast Applications"

by George Hahn, California Vermiculturist

Worm Castings have been known as the best item possible to make all plants to grow better. New applications have been researched by several universities and have been field tested for confirmation. Any landscape or growing application will benefit immensely from the use of worm castings.

Improved Growth: Extensive university testing has been performed by Ohio State, Cornell University, UC Davis, and the Australia SIRO to prove the results with worm castings. These tests have shown improved flower size, bloom quantity, quality, and color. Fruit and vegetable tests have resulted in yield improvements from 15% to 57% as well as improvements in taste and appearance.

100% Organic: The general public has come to correctly support non-chemical answers. Worm castings have been known since the time of Charles Darwin's research as the best way to healthy soil and healthy plants and 100% organic. A common cry is for solutions that are not chemical based so we don't risk potential health problems.

Non-Toxic: The skull and cross bones found on agriculture chemicals is absent on worm castings because they are non-toxic. Parents do not need to fear for their children or pets with worm castings.

Can't Burn: Since worm castings are 100% organic they don't have the salts found in synthetic fertilizers. The absence of these salts means that there is no possibility that plants can be damaged using worm castings.

Odor-Free/Odor Elimination: Worm castings are the only animal waste that does NOT have a manure odor. Worm castings have the fragrance of rich healthy soil.

Odor Elimination: Testing has shown that worm castings are very quickly effective at odor elimination. Mix 20% worm castings with composted dairy manure, horse manure, chicken manure, or compost and all objectionable odors are eliminated within eight hours. You can now use these effective organic fertilizers without offending odors. Worm castings are more efficient and cost less than half than activated charcoal.

Fungus Control: Four major university research projects and testing has shown that the complete soil food biology found in worm castings will quickly control fungus problems. Within a few weeks plants suffering from fungus problems will show significant improvement that lasts. All ground fungus is quickly brought under control. Nitrogen is released in the fungus control process providing added plant growth. (This is published research information and can be given to buyers in a generic form).

Insect Repellency: Testing has shown that several microorganisms found in worm castings stimulate the organisms in plants that work as repellants for a large array of insects. The repellants increase to a level that the insects find the plant nectar distasteful. The insects then leave. The effectiveness has been seen for aphids, white fly, and other bugs that feed on the plant juices. Plants tested included but are not limited to: begonias, various citrus, hibiscus, various house plants, morning glory, roses, solanum, and zylosma. The number of individuals who have successful applications now exceed 1,500. This research is on-going. A patent application is in process as well as a bio-pesticide registration.

Fire Ant and Common Ant Repellency: Ants can detect the natural repellency organisms when they walk over worm castings. They find the worm castings highly objectionable. An immediate negative reaction can be seen by ants when worm castings are applied. The ants leave areas covered with a ‡ inch layer but will begin to walk across the layer after a few weeks. Apparently some change happens to the top layer. Red fire ants will leave their nests within 24 hours of a single application. We are working with the top research scientists for the application on red fire ants. The ant revulsion has many applications.

How Does the Insect Repellency Work?

My best understanding and explanation is:

The relationship between the enzyme chitinase and insect repellency is well documented from academic research. (Extensive research work is now being done to genetically alter plants to produce a high level of chitinase). Using worm castings is a non-toxic, and organic methd of doing the same without genetic alteration.

The enzyme chitinase will dissolve chitin and chitin makes the exoskeleton of a bug. If the level is below detection then it is not toxic to the bug and they can NOT detect it. Increase the level of chitinase above this level and the bug is repelled by the nectar of the plant rather than attracted to it. The bugs reaction to chitinase is similar to our reaction to sour milk. One drop of sour milk mixed into a glass of sweet milk and you will drink the glass with no negative reaction. However, mix in three tablespoons and no one has to convince you to not drink the milk.

Using worm castings triggers the chitinase production level. At this point I can't name the trigger organism. I have a theory that I am researching. I should be able to name the organism soon. Applying the worm castings to the soil at a 10% - 20% mix results in the level of internal chitinase increasing. The 10-20% mix comes from research by Ohio State, Subler, Edwards, et al, regarding the optimum mix for optimum plant growth. Applying a ‡ inch layer to the top of a plant equates to 10%. A 1 inch layer to 20%.

The detection level for the bug is in the range of 1 million cfu/dwg. We have tested plants covered in white flies. The level of chitinase producing organisms is usually less than 300,000 cfu/dwg. One particular hibiscus tested at 260,000 cfu/dwg prior to application. This 10 foot tall hibiscus was covered in white flies. Three months after application the white flies had left the plant totally. The chitinase level had increased to 670,000,000 cfu/dwg.

The speed of repellency is in direct relation to the size of the plant. Spider mites will leave house plants in about two weeks. Aphids will leave roses in less than two months and it will take about three months for all of the white flies to leave a ten foot tall hibiscus.

It appears that this mechanism works for nearly every plant. I have included a list of the plants tested. All of the plants listed were tested by 11 nursery managers/staff and two garden writers. All tests to date have shown success. (These tests were NOT performed by California Vermiculture). We have performed our own tests and shown efficacy have relied on tests by others as support data. Nearly every one of these testers scoffed at the possibility of worm castings being able to repel insects.

The manager of Steven's Nursery told me that he could not accept insect repellency. I agreed that the idea sounded outrageous but offered samples for his personal testing. He had Joseph Coat roses that had been plagued with aphids for over six years. He said that there was not a single spot on these roses bigger than the size of a dime NOT covered in aphids. He applied a 1 inch layer in the watering basin. In less than two months, all aphids were gone. He has now applied worm castings to all of his roses. He now has not a single aphid anywhere.

Nursery managers have asked their clients to apply worm castings and observe the possible pest repellency effects. The number of people who have seen success in their own tests exceeds 1,000. I have asked how many of their clients have complained of no positive results. Not one complaint for lack of results has been made to date except for Gina Wright.

You read the article by Gina Wright in Decor & Style. You need to know the whole story. In a later article, Gina reported that her aphids were all gone but the white flies were still evident though greatly reduced on her hibiscus and abutilon. I contacted her to do some testing to determine why she still had white flies. She reported back that she had spoken too soon. All white flies are now gone.

I have registered the use of worm castings for insect repellency as a patent. The patent search shows no one else has made this claim. Dr. Scott Subler says he is familiar with the industry and no one else has tied together this effect. Dr. Subler also did Not believe my radical reports but now says this is the first ever, organic, non-toxic method to provide for insect repellency. Dr. Subler are working together to assmble the needed academic documentation. We should have several research projects underway before the end of the year.

I am working with the EPA Biopesticides to get registration as both a fungicide and a pesticide. The director and his staff are very supportive. I should have registration for non-food applications before the end of the year. Food applications will take longer.

Source: Hidden Valley Nature Arts

Food, Inc. Documentary Movie Removes Shroud of Secrecy || Betting the Farm: Longterm: Global Population driver of Food Price Spikes

2009-06-11T10:52:00.001-07:00

To give the reader an idea of the energy intensiveness of modern agriculture, production of one kilogram of nitrogen for fertilizer requires the energy equivalent of from 1.4 to 1.8 liters of diesel fuel. This is not considering the natural gas feedstock.
In a very real sense, we are literally eating fossil fuels. However, due to the laws of thermodynamics, there is not a direct correspondence between energy inflow and outflow in agriculture. Modern intensive agriculture is unsustainable. It is damaging the land, draining water supplies and polluting the environment. And all of this requires more and more fossil fuel input to pump irrigation water, to replace nutrients, to provide pest protection, to remediate the environment and simply to hold crop production at a constant. Yet this necessary fossil fuel input is going to crash headlong into declining fossil fuel production.
~ Eating Fossil Fuels, by Dale Allen Pfeiffer ~
The related terms, "sustainable" and "sustainability" are popularly used to describe a wide variety of activities which are generally ecologically laudable but which may not be sustainable. An examination of major reports reveals contradictory uses of the terms. An attempt is made here to give a firm and unambiguous definition to the concept of sustainability and to translate the definition into a series of laws and hypotheses which, it is hoped, will clarify the implications of the use of the concept of sustainability. These are followed by a series of observations and predictions that relate to "sustainability." The laws should enable one to read the many publications on sustainability and help one to decide whether the publications are seeking to illuminate or to obfuscate.
~ Reflections on Sustainability, Population Growth, and the Environment: Carrying Capacity & Denial of Population Problem ~
“Food has something in common with energy — they're both commodities that you use up. And they're both worth fighting over. Naturally, if food is a problem that could blow up in our faces, the smart thing to do would be to think strategically.”
~ AgriWarfare & Strategic Food: The Agriculture Ticking Time-Bomb: F-O-O-D, is a Fighting Word, like OIL ~

Food, Inc. Documentary Movie Removes Shroud of Secrecy

Keith Rockmichael || Sustainablog

For those in America who have yet to read The Omnivore’s Dilemma, Fast Food Nation or even The Jungle, the new docu pic Food, Inc. smoothly stirs the boiling pot of food production controversy while allowing those not familiar with the dark secrets of the food production industry to enjoy a film in bite size nuggets.

With Fast Food Nation author Eric Schlosser a co-producers and Omnivore’s Dilemma writer Michael Pollen one of the consultants (in addition to being on-screen participants) the film offers a solid, well presented structure that offers not only scary, gut wrenching even stomach turning scenes in meatpacking plants, chicken coops and but offers a silver lining into the future of food.

Producer/Director Robert Kenner weaves the film through the various food landscapes from the cramped chicken coops of Maryland to the aerial CAFO vistas to the open grasslands of Polyface Farms. Inside one of the chicken coops live chickens that wallow in their own filth and barely have room to move. Factory farm shots show downer cows being uplifted by forklifts to be transported to the slaughterhouse. The film makes a point of showing people how dangerous and unregulated our food system remains.

Besides showing the torturously nauseating animal conditions, the film doesn’t forget the human factor and the social justice issues. Food, Inc. follows undocumented factory farm workers being arrested while making the point that the huge company that they work for should be the ones under the squad car lights. Kenner also captures the human element in the case of one California family that must decide between fast food hamburgers and broccoli as a result of economic hardship. (Guess which they choose?) Food, Inc displays the bigger-breasted chickens, the perfect pork chop, insecticide-resistant soybean seeds, and even tomatoes that won’t go bad, but also shows the new strains of e coli—and the deadly results.

But the film is not all about “dishonest food” and the “ugly truth” as Kenner captures lively footage of environmentally progressive owners such as Stonyfield Farms’ Gary Hirschberg and Polyface Farms’ Joe Salatin who both proudly declare and demonstrate how food can be produced honestly and without a wall of secrecy. Like the Wizard of Oz, Food, Inc. reveals that cow behind the curtain.

Already this docu pic has several large food conglomerates just a tad worried with companies like Monsanto and the American Meat Institute creating their own websites in response to the film. It’s curious why it took till now to get a response from these food giants because according to the filmmakers representatives from Monsanto, Tyson, Perdue and Smithfield, declined to be interviewed for the movie.

Food, Inc. comes off less like a documentary and more like a food based 1984 where the food conglomerates act like Big Brother. Parts of this film appear to be as scary as any recent horror film. But consider, most horror films are works of fiction while this film deals with stuff that sits on your dinner plate.

Source: Sustainablog

Betting the farm

Over the long-term, the rising global population will be a fundamental driver of the rising price of food.

Garry Whit | The Standard

Monday, June 01, 2009

You are going to have to get used to the fact that you will have to spend a greater proportion of your income on food in the future - after decades of spending less.
That's according to Joakim Helenius, chairman of Trigon Agri, an integrated soft commodities producer in the Ukraine and Russia. He believes that food inflation has only just started - and he is not alone.

Commodities perma-bull Jim Rogers thinks people should not buy shares - he says they should buy commodities instead, especially agricultural commodities.

"I can think of very few industries in the world where the fundamentals are getting better. But the fundamentals of commodities are getting better, full stop," Rogers told CNBC last month.

The price of most commodities has jumped significantly this year, as the global economy slowly stutters toward recovery.

Gains in oil and metals prices may not have much further to go but many believe that the situation with food is different.

Soybean futures have risen 48 percent since their low, with sugar futures rising 40 percent to three-year highs.

The Indian government is so concerned by developments that it has outlawed trading in any new sugar futures contracts until the end of this year.

The government obviously believes that speculation by investors was the source of recent price rises.

However, many argue that there are fundamental trends driving the increases. The rise in food prices is inevitable, they say. Helenius says there are long-term and short-term factors at play - and these factors have combined to create a bull market in soft commodities.

Over the long-term, the rising global population will be a fundamental driver of the rising price of food.

Last year, Ban Ki Moon, secretary general of the United Nations, predicted that world food production had to increase by half by 2030 to meet rising demand.

Then there is global warming. Dry places are getting dryer and wet places are getting wetter and this is playing havoc with farming.

South America has suffered from a protracted drought this year and many crops have failed. Changing weather patterns are likely to mean this will continue.

Stephen Johnston, partner at Canadian agricultural investment firm Agcapita Partners said: "The fundamentals in the agricultural commodity markets remain unimpaired as they are driven primarily by a large increase in demand coming out of the emerging economies of China and India. We believe that the secular bull market for agricultural commodities is intact."

Rising wealth leads to rising food consumption but it also leads to more meat consumption. Raising cattle or sheep requires significantly more grain and stimulates demand for soft commodities.

It has been estimated that between 2001 and 2007, emerging economies accounted for a 26 million tonne average annual increase in consumption of major food stocks.

Short-term factors are also having an impact and these are responsible for a significant amount of recent gains. One factor is the credit crunch.

"The financial crisis is hitting both sides of the supply and demand equation," Helenius says. "Poorer countries do not have the finance to import the food that their countries need, but it is hitting the supply side as well. Farmers cannot get the finance they need to buy the inputs that go into growing food."

Ukraine is a perfect example of this. Because of the financial crisis its agricultural output is set to fall by about a third this year, meaning there will be little food to export after it has met its internal needs.

Helenius believes that the financial crisis is hitting the supply side of the equation harder than the demand side and that is why food prices are likely to continue to rise. There is also the question of the outlook for the dollar. The US Federal Reserve may soon be forced into more quantitative easing, whatever the consequences for the dollar.

One of the major contributors to the last commodities boom was a weakening US currency. Commodities are used as a hedge to protect wealth.

A tumbling dollar is likely to cause food prices to rise as well. Debased currencies stimulate an appetite for investment in real assets.

In a recent note to clients, Eliane Tanner, a commodity analyst at Credit Suisse said: "A shift by central banks across the globe towards quantitative easing will lend support to commodity prices over the longer term."

Food inflation has been stubborn.

Last week, Northern Foods, one of the UK's largest suppliers of packaged food to supermarkets, said it was here to stay for the foreseeable future. "We anticipate that next year will be equally challenging, with the continuation of food inflation," it said.

With demand for food continuing to rise significantly as the global population rises and gentrifies, the fundamental arguments for continued rises in soft commodity prices and all that means for inflation are easy to see.

If you are expecting the price of your weekly shopping basket to fall soon, it may be best not to hold your breath.

Source: The Standard

Dangers & Rewards of Home-Gardens || Indoor Survival Garden || Tire Garden || Survival Gardening: Lazy Tomatoe Growing || Rule of 3 & Survival Seed

2009-06-01T14:02:00.000-07:00

Post collapse hiding our food crops could be requisite to filling our gut with fresh produce. Somehow the idea of consuming only ground wheat gruel, day after day – month after month doesn't seem very appealing. Combined with beans it will keep you alive, but after six or eight months of this diet you will die of boredom if nothing else.
Grain can be sprouted and young sprouts eaten raw or dried and ground into a flour providing some nutrient content not found in the basic grain, sprouting is an excellent survival technique and one you should use, but nothing beats fresh corn, squash or green beans to build moral and fill, that empty spot in your stomach.
My grandfather remembers the Great Depression, he said they survived because they raised a huge garden putting up the surplus to live on through the winter. One year he recalls the garden getting hit by a drought and subsequent attacks by locust. You can still see that look of pain and uneasiness in his eyes and on his face when he recalls going to bed hungry nearly every night that year.
~ Dangers and Rewards of the Home-Garden || Indoor Survival Garden || Tire Garden || Survival Gardening: Lazy Way to Grow Tomatoes ~
The trend of farmland investment is real and gaining ground. “Many governments are rethinking their approach to food security and are saying we need more domestic production, we need to be domestically independent,” he said. “I would argue the exact opposite approach is better. Without the free flow of trade in agricultural commodities and food products the health of any given country in any given year is at risk.
“Decisions taken today will have major repercussions for the livelihoods and food security of many, for decades to come” warns the report.
~ Report: Food security fuels Africa land grab | Africa's Misery Breeding Program, (aka PC) Food security or economic slavery? ~
Today, 6.5 billion humans depend entirely on oil for food, energy, plastics & chemicals. Population growth is on a collision course with the inevitable decline in oil production.
~ The Oil Factor: Behind the War on Terror, by Free Will Production ~

Dangers and Rewards of the Home-Garden

Survivalist Blog

I am amazed by the thought process of some survival authors who go to great lengths to convince readers that raising a garden is not a viable survival strategy. After all, having a garden makes you a target, hungry people want food and will rob you of your harvest.

A Yellowstone eruption or asteroid strike could put enough crap into the atmosphere that you would not be able to raise a garden for several years. Yep, this is true - but what is the point?

If you do not plant a garden for fear of having it taken you are guaranteed to produce nothing. If you are raided by looters or Blackwater thugs and they are able to take your crop you have nothing.

I would rather spend a little time planning and planting with the possibility of getting a harvest, then do nothing and guaranteeing failure. By this logic someone with more support and firepower could take your food storage, should we not store food because we could lose it?

This is non-sense, why avoid planting a garden because you are afraid it will be taken? I am not saying it will not happen, it could; but there are steps that can be taken to minimize the risk. Like not planting in rows, the three sisters or growing in a secret greenhouse .

We can learn a lot from the marijuana growers, who come up with some ingenious ways of hiding their illegal crop from authority's. Around here growing weed is big business, growers hide fields deep in the forest and under the cover of indoor grow rooms.

Every fall the police put on their camouflage BDU's, and head to woods in search of the illegal plants, state choppers flying overhead. Yet they find only a small amount of what is out there very seldom making an arrest. It always seemed strange to me that they only seek out the fields when it's harvest time...

Post collapse hiding our food crops could be requisite to filling our gut with fresh produce. Somehow the idea of consuming only ground wheat gruel, day after day – month after month doesn't seem very appealing. Combined with beans it will keep you alive, but after six or eight months of this diet you will die of boredom if nothing else.

Grain can be sprouted and young sprouts eaten raw or dried and ground into a flour providing some nutrient content not found in the basic grain, sprouting is an excellent survival technique and one you should use, but nothing beats fresh corn, squash or green beans to build moral and fill, that empty spot in your stomach.

My grandfather remembers the Great Depression, he said they survived because they raised a huge garden putting up the surplus to live on through the winter.

One year he recalls the garden getting hit by a drought and subsequent attacks by locust. You can still see that look of pain and uneasiness in his eyes and on his face when he recalls going to bed hungry nearly every night that year.

I think the potential rewards of the survival garden outweigh any potential risk. Don't you?

Source: Survivalist Blog

Indoor Survival Garden

Survivalist Blog

Keeping your garden safe and out of sight, from hungry looters and refuges after the collapse could mean the difference between life and death for the survivor. Having a traditional garden planted in rows is an open invitation to trouble, as every hungry unprepared person passing by will try to raid your garden, for a easy meal.

Sure you could just shoot them. But like I have said before, don't draw attention to yourself or your location. You want to look just as pathetic and unprepared as everyone else. If you can avoid a confrontation, by laying low and out of sight, you have won the fight already. Why risk a firefight that could lead to a family member being killed or wounded, if it can be avoided? We are not military planners and no one in our group is expendable.

Avoid planting in rows. The Three Sisters Garden works well to conceal your crop if planted in a way as to blend in with a stand of tall weeds. Don't make trails leading to your garden, that could be followed by someone wondering by. Don't leave trash around the site, and cover any exposed dirt after digging with leaves or whatever was covering the site before you started digging. Try to make your garden blend into it's surroundings as much as possible.

Produce can be grown in sunny rooms using natural light. One way would be to take the roof off of an old shed, barn, garage or storage building and replacing it with corrugated fiberglass sheets used to build greenhouses, you can get the fiberglass sheets at any good hardware store. The walls and floor of the building should be painted white or covered with aluminum foil, to reflect sun-light back onto the plants. I like the pant best, but the foil works well.

Any windows should be covered with heavy plastic, to keep anyone from looking in. Window blinds are a good idea. They can be worked in such a way as to let light in, and at the same time make it difficult for a passerby to look in.

The grow room should also have vents covered with screen cut into the walls to let air circulate. The vents should be cut up high next to the roof to keep anyone from looking in. Four 6x12 inch vents, will be fine for a modest size grow room of say 15x30 feet.

You can set the containers with plants on a table, so they can be closer to the source of light, the more light you can give the growing plants the better they will grow. If electricity is available the light can be supplemented by adding Fluorescent light fixtures, above the planting tables. Keep the light fixture about 2-3 inches from the top of the plants, moving the lights up as the plants grow taller, while maintaining the 2-3 inch distance. Remember, the more light the better.

With a little work the secret garden can look like only an old out-building, from the outside, but have a thriving garden hidden inside. Granted, if would be difficult to grow enough produce to feed a family using this method, it works best when used to grow smaller plants like tomatoes and peppers. This plan is best when used as a supplement to other gardening methods.

Source: Surivalist Blog

Tire Garden

Survivalist Blog

I love building useful things from junk, like this root cellar and smoker built from old refrigerators, or this efficient dryer from a cardboard box, or even a generator from used car parts and mower engine, so it should come as no surprise to anyone that my survival garden would continue in the same tradition.

I am sure some of you are wondering what in the hell is going on here. What has Creekmore been smoking? Working on a garden in December? I have never been a procrastinator; I prefer getting chores over with as soon as possible. The quicker I get things done and over with, the sooner I am free to loaf.

Come planting time all I need to do is start the seed and transplant the seedlings to the garden area. No need to be rushed digging up the soil or working in compost etc., and by starting early I can be assured any organic matter added to the soil will be fully composted before the start of the growing season.

The dirt at the homestead kitty is hard clay and rock, the topsoil was striped away years ago by the mining company. My only option if I wanted a garden was to put in raised beds. I needed something free and permanent, using old car tires for planners made sense. I found all the tires I wanted for free and they are permanent.

After hauling the tires up to the homestead kitty, I started the generator and plugged in the jigsaw with metal cutting blade and cut out the top around the tread of each P235/75R15 tire, leaving one side of each tire intact. This side will act as a reservoir to hold water, while allowing the roots to grow through the center and into the ground under the tires.

Each P235/75R15 tire has six squire feet of growing space when you cut out one side up to the tread. A garden of seventeen tires will have a growing area of just over one hundred squire feet. Anyone who has ever worked a raised bed will tell you more produce can be grown in a smaller space, because the whole area is being used, with no wasted space for rows and the plants can be grown closer together.

I made cages from five foot tall concrete reinforcing wire with six-inch squire openings, for several of the planters. These will be used to grow tomatoes, green beans, cucumbers and squash. Large trash bags can be thrown over the top of the cages to act as a greenhouse (clear bags) or to protect the plants from frost, early in the season.

Source: Survivalist Blog

Survival Gardening: The lazy way to grow tomatoes

Survivalist Blog

Gardening is hard work, all the bending, stooping, pulling, planting, picking, plucking, composting and other chores can leave you exhausted by the end of the day. In a survival situation, time will be at a minimum and energy should be conserved if possible.

Negative gain

For example; if you burn 500 calories chasing a squirrel through the trees, but only extract 150 calories from the meat, that is a loss and a slow way of starving to death.

If there is an easier way of doing something, I am all for it. Why do three times the work for the same amount of gain?

My solution is the tire garden, correctly done, they entail little work after initial set up and produce more than the traditional row garden in the same amount of space.

Advantages of the tire garden

* Reduced soil compaction - plant roots need air to grow with the tire garden you avoid stepping on and compacting the soil.

* Plants can be spaced closer together in a tire garden because you do not need places to step. This increases productivity per square foot of space.

* Tire gardens tend to drain away excess moisture better than the ordinary garden, but retain a reservoir of water within the bottom wall.

* Soil conditions and types can be controlled more efficiently in a tire garden and they can be varied easily from bed to bed and for different plants.

* Tire gardens can extend you're gardening season. They tend to warm up a little sooner in the spring and remain productive later in the fall.

* Less weeding, plants in a tire garden are spaced just far enough apart to avoid crowding but close enough to shade out weeds.

* Using difficult sites. Growing in tires makes gardening possible on sites where you otherwise could not grow plants.

Cutting

I use a jigsaw with metal cutting blade to cut out the top around the tread of each tire, leaving one side of intact, this is the bottom and acts as a reservoir to hold water but still allowing proper drainage, the roots can grow through the center and into the ground, so there is no need to worry about plants becoming root bound.

A P235/75R15 tire has six squire feet of growing space when you cut out one side up to the tread. A garden of 17 tires will have a growing area of just over one hundred squire feet, with no wasted space for rows.

Tomato growing tips

For tomatoes I try to keep the soil pH in the 6.2 – 6.8 range, you can check this with an inexpensive pH test kit found at most nurseries, or hardware stores.

To make your soil more alkaline add hydrated lime in small amounts until reaching the desired level. If your soil needs to be more acidic, sulfur may be used to lower the pH. Details on lowing / raising pH levels can be found here.

I mix top soil with potting mix at a ratio of three to one. Three gallon top soil, one gallon of potting mix, I also like to mix two parts composted cow manure to one part chicken manure. If you have it Vermiculite, pearlite, and/or peat moss mixed in will "lighten" the soil, helping the roots to breath.

Mulch

After the plans become established I like to spread a thin mulch of grass clippings or wood chips around the plants to conserve water and impede weed growth, this in itself will cut the work load by at least 25%, not to shabby for what amounts to maybe 15 minutes of effort per tire.

Recommended products

Gardening When It Counts: Growing Food in Hard Times, by Steve Solmon, this book covers everything you need to know about growing food in hard times. If you garden you need seed, The Survival Seed Vault carries non hybrid seed prepackaged for long term storage.

Rest and relaxation

Remember what I said at the start of this article ; energy should be conserved if possible, set back, read a book and watch the garden grow.

Have tips on raising tomatoes or making gardening easier – tell us about it in the comments so we can all enjoy more time in the shade.

Source: Survivalist Blog

Rule of 3 and Survival Seed

Survivalist Blog

Let’s face the facts; no matter how well prepared or how much we have put back against the day of need, our survival foods will eventually be depleted. Storing a years worth of food, keeping it rotated and replaced with fresh stock is difficult enough, trying to lay back sufficient foods to last five years or more, becomes next to impossible for the average survivalist.

Sure it would be easy enough to put away hundreds of pounds of wheat, after all if kept dry and sealed from pest, it will last forever. All is well and good, until wheat is all you have to live on; some people can develop adverse reactions to wheat and eating only foods made from wheat day after day, would likely increase this allergic response in some people.

This is why I urge readers to stock an assortment of foods or at least wheat, assorted beans, oats, honey and other stables.

Knowing the limitations of my food storage and the need to restock eventually the pantry, I began to look into sources of renewable foods that will ensure my survival after my stocks are used up.

Never become dependent on one source of food, remember the survivalist rule of threes – three separate and distinct methods or sources of supply. Here at the homestead kitty I am working toward providing myself with such independence.

Take food for instance, I have my food storage which is the first line of defense against hunger, backed up by hunting, trapping, foraging, small livestock, and my raised tire gardens.

When it comes to survival gardening, obviously you must start with seed; therefore it becomes necessary to have a source of viable seed on hand. Look for non-hybrid ("heirloom") varieties, you want to be sure the seed saved from year to year will breed true and continue to do so. Hybrid varieties for the most part are unpredictable and seem to only do well during the first year of planting.

Most garden varieties should be included in your stock. Include such vegetables as: artichoke, asparagus, beans, beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, chives, corn, cucumber, eggplant, garlic, gourds, kale, leeks, lettuce, mustard green, onions, parsley, parsnips, peanuts, peas, peppers, pumpkin, radishes, soybeans, spinach, squash, sunflowers, swiss chard, tomatoes, turnip, watermelon, zucchini etc; In general put back seeds that grow well in your area and of foods you like to eat.

Never use a microwave oven to dry seed. You can use a conventional oven if you keep the door open and the seed is heated to no more than 100 degrees. Package the seed in moisture-proof containers and store it in a refrigerator or deep freezer. A moisture-proof container is one that stores seed safely while submerged in water. Use sealed cans or jars, rather than plastic bags.

In general the drier the seeds, the longer they will store. There is a chance of producing what is known as "hard seed" if moisture is reduced below eight percent. Hard seed resists germination under favorable conditions because it does not absorb enough water.

When planted, the seed gradually absorbs water, germinates and produces seedlings over an extended period. A seed lot containing 50 percent hard seed is little better than a lot containing 50 percent dead seed, because neither produces a stand of seedlings when they should.

Beans and peas are particularly subject to this condition and therefore should not be dried as completely as other seed. If they have been over dried, they germinate better if exposed to a humid atmosphere for two weeks before planting.

Source: Survivalist Blog

Victory Gardens: Growing a Greener City: Community gardens benefit the neighborhood, the economy and the environment

2009-06-01T13:16:00.000-07:00

I recently explored whether it was sufficient to pursue an energy revolution as a means for smoothing the path toward a stable, prospering population. The perfect nonpolluting cheap energy source might simply increase our appetites ( Jevons Paradox) and encourage ever-rising populations given that energy easily translates into water and food. Basically, do we need a “values revolution” as well?
~ Will More Food Simply Boost Population? || Growing Food in Times of Scarcity || The gentle art of non-gardening ~
“Food has something in common with energy — they're both commodities that you use up. And they're both worth fighting over. Naturally, if food is a problem that could blow up in our faces, the smart thing to do would be to think strategically.”
~ AgriWarfare & Strategic Food: The Agriculture Ticking Time-Bomb: F-O-O-D, is a Fighting Word, like OIL ~
Today, 6.5 billion humans depend entirely on oil for food, energy, plastics & chemicals. Population growth is on a collision course with the inevitable decline in oil production.
~ The Oil Factor: Behind the War on Terror, by Free Will Production ~

How a greener city gets growing

Community gardens benefit the neighborhood, the economy and the environment, advocates say

By Meredith Cohn | meredith.cohn@baltsun.com

May 26, 2009

Mark Smallwood in his Woodberry garden. (Baltimore Sun photo by Patrick Smith / May 14, 2009)

As a regional "forager" for Whole Foods, Mark Smallwood spends much of his time making sure the green grocer stocks local food, usually from commercial farms. But if he has his way, some products will come from even closer: Baltimore's community gardens.

To make that happen, he has hatched a plan to vastly expand the number of city residents who know how to grow fruits and vegetables - as well as how to cook, preserve and sell them. He's negotiating with the city for a site, likely in northern Baltimore, large enough for gardening classes and some individual plots. And he's applying for grants to cover some of the costs. "There's no reason why you can't grow your own food in the city," said Smallwood, an organic farmer who points to his own planted Woodberry yard as evidence. "This is a years-long project that aims to get a lot of people involved."

Local community gardens (Baltimore Sun photo by Patrick Smith / May 14, 2009): Mark Smallwood is planning a side project to teach urban farming, cooking, selling, and canning.

Smallwood said many seeds are already planted: He's one of many urban and suburban dwellers growing food at home or in community gardens from Upper Fells Point to Rodgers Forge. And people are turning out in droves at area farmers' markets in downtown Baltimore, Towson and Annapolis, among others, fueling a nationwide increase in markets by more than 25 percent since 2004, according to government statistics.

Across the nation and Canada, there were 18,000-20,000 community gardens last year, the American Community Garden Association estimates. A Baltimore group has tracked nearly 100.

Mark Smallwood will model his community project after his own garden.

Miriam Avins, a local gardener, is working to preserve them. She used a fellowship won in 2007 from OSI-Baltimore to create a land trust called Baltimore Green Space (baltimoregreenspace.org), and it bought the Upper Fells site.

Neighbors had worked the abandoned public property between two Pratt Street rowhouses for years before they began to worry that rising property values would tempt the city to sell to a developer. There are 13 individual gardens, and those who tend them say it's been a gathering spot, a beautification project and a food source.

Garden Wall: (Baltimore Sun photo by Jed Kirschbaum / May 18, 2009) A wall separates the garden from East Pratt St. but residents of rowhouses have a bit of nature to look at.

One plot is tended by Jan Mooney and her husband Kurt Schiller, who is the garden manager. It has flowers, lettuce, black beans, herbs and other plants.

"We're big on sharing," said Schiller, as he pointed to the varied collection of flowers and food. "This is a big asset to us and the community."

Chives: (Baltimore Sun photo by Jed Kirschbaum / May 18, 2009): Chives blossom in several of the gardens.

The neighborhood began trying to buy the property in 2002, but city officials wanted $40,000. They settled for about $4,000, including taxes and transfer fees, after Avins and council members joined the cause. Avins says city officials have since had a "real change in thinking" about the benefits of gardens. Baltimore's new Office of Sustainability recently hired her to create a formal process for selling to the trust at little cost.

Beth Strommen, manager of the office, said the city has a plan to develop more "community managed open spaces" that could be a garden or other use. They also are pushing more backyard vegetable gardens and urban farms that can sell food. Together, she said, they are good for neighborhoods, the planet and the economy.

Local community gardens: (Baltimore Sun photo by Jed Kirschbaum / May 18, 2009): Salvia blossoms in the garden.

"They strengthen communities by giving them recreational space or healthy food," she said. "They are good for the environment because if they're green they're not polluting. ... And they are good for the economy because they stabilize communities and increase property values."

The city's effort is ongoing. But more immediately, officials are looking for more candidates for the trust. Avins and the local green activists group Parks and People Foundation have been documenting community managed open spaces. They've counted 93 so far, mostly on city property that Avins said could have been left to drugs, litter or ill-suited development.

"A lot of properties were simply abandoned," said Avins, who got the trust idea after the garden she started next to her home in Waverly was threatened by a developer. "Instead, they've become beautiful gardens, green spaces that raise quality of life and property values around them."

Local community gardens: (Baltimore Sun photo by Jed Kirschbaum / May 18, 2009): The garden has developed in what was a vacant lot in Upper Fells Point.

Others in and around the city are finding ways to use private property for community gardening. In Rodgers Forge, for example, Joseph Hamilton has started a blog called the (theforgefarm.blogspot.com/) Rodgers Forge Farm Initiative to account for gardens there. It also aims to hook up those with time but no space and vice versa.

In Baltimore, Smallwood calls his garden program City Fresh - borrowed from a similar program in Cleveland. The effort, he said, will create a healthier population and a more sustainable city by expanding on existing gardening and developing nascent interest.

He wants to involve church and community center kitchens for cooking lessons and food pantries. And he plans to open a cannery for preserving and teaching local teens to sell to groceries such as Whole Foods, restaurants and the public. With his employer's blessing, he then plans to repeat the process around Baltimore and other cities.

Local community gardens: (Baltimore Sun photo by Jed Kirschbaum / May 18, 2009): There are 13 gardeners who have a variety of things growing from flowers to herbs to vegetables in Upper Fells Point.

Back in his Woodberry yard, Smallwood shows off his garden filled with raised beds of vegetables and herbs. He has a greenhouse with some egg laying chickens and starter plants. There's a beehive in the back near a compost pile. There's also a rain barrel with goldfish to eat the mosquito larvae and a cat and two dogs to keep watch.

"To save space, you plant the beets and radishes together, which are the slow growing and the fast growing, and you plant the tall plants like tomatoes with anything that needs shade," he said, launching into a lecture he plans to give in his future community gardeners. He has more: on soil, on timing, on organic fertilizer, on conservation.

He explains how the food can be made into meals in his future community kitchens, and how it can be preserved as sauerkraut, pickles and preserves in the canneries he wants to open.

Wheelbarrow: (Baltimore Sun photo by Jed Kirschbaum / May 18, 2009): At the south end of the garden a rusty wheelbarrow leans on a pile of mulch.

"Anyone can do this. Get a pot and some dirt and you can grow something."

Community Gardening Resources

Baltimore Green Space, preserves community-managed open spaces: baltimoregreenspace.org
Baltimore City's Office of Sustainability, implements the city's sustainability plan: cleanergreenerbaltimore.org
Civic Works' Perennial Nursery Program, offers free plants and workshops to urban community gardens: civicworks.com
Maryland Cooperative Extension, offers expert advice and workshops by master gardeners: mastergardener.umd.edu
Parks & People Foundation's Community Greening Resource Network, promotes community gardens: parksandpeople.org

Source: Baltimore Sun

Victory Gardens: Depression and Growth of Community and Urban Gardening: Bay Area's new crop of gardeners digging in

2009-06-01T12:03:00.000-07:00

I recently explored whether it was sufficient to pursue an energy revolution as a means for smoothing the path toward a stable, prospering population. The perfect nonpolluting cheap energy source might simply increase our appetites ( Jevons Paradox) and encourage ever-rising populations given that energy easily translates into water and food. Basically, do we need a “values revolution” as well?
~ Will More Food Simply Boost Population? || Growing Food in Times of Scarcity || The gentle art of non-gardening ~
“Food has something in common with energy — they're both commodities that you use up. And they're both worth fighting over. Naturally, if food is a problem that could blow up in our faces, the smart thing to do would be to think strategically.”
~ AgriWarfare & Strategic Food: The Agriculture Ticking Time-Bomb: F-O-O-D, is a Fighting Word, like OIL ~
Today, 6.5 billion humans depend entirely on oil for food, energy, plastics & chemicals. Population growth is on a collision course with the inevitable decline in oil production.
~ The Oil Factor: Behind the War on Terror, by Free Will Production ~

Bay Area's new crop of gardeners digging in

Patricia Yollin, Special to The Chronicle

Sunday, May 24, 2009

Sometimes at night, Cameron Crotty goes outside with his flashlight and hunts for earwigs. Maybe they are the saboteurs in his vegetable garden. Or maybe not.

Elizabeth Singh and her son, Arjun, walk to the family garden at her home in San Anselmo. (Eric Luse / The Chronicle)

"I had no idea how many bugs there were in my backyard," said the 40-year-old, who lives in Bernal Heights. "A lot of the leaves on my plants have holes in them. It's like this horror movie."

Still, he insists the struggle is worth it, and he's far from alone in his quest. Crotty is part of a trend sweeping the country: More and more people are growing their own food.

Bruce Butterfield, research director with the National Gardening Association in Vermont, says he hasn't seen anything like it since the 1970s, when a recession and oil embargo prompted many people to take up vegetable gardening. The current economic crisis is having a similar effect.

"It's been a super-wake-up call," Butterfield said. "And California is leading it because of the value placed on fresh produce in the state."

Mary and Joel McClure started this community garden next to their home in San Francisco. (Eric Luse / The Chronicle)

W. Atlee Burpee, the world's largest seed company, is enjoying its biggest sales spike in 30 years, said its president, Chris Romas.

"We are confident there will be a longevity to this," Romas said from his Pennsylvania office.

Blair Randall, director of the Garden for the Environment, a San Francisco nonprofit, said, "The taste of something coming from your own garden is noticeably different. And there's the sublime process of taking it from seed to fruit."

The National Gardening Association released a study in March indicating that 37 percent of U.S. households will grow vegetables, fruit, herbs or berries this year - a 19 percent increase from 2008. And 21 percent of food gardeners are first-timers.

Motivated by recession

Thirty-four percent of those surveyed said they were motivated by the recession. It's no wonder: An average investment of $70 can yield 300 pounds of fresh produce worth $600, according to the study.

Bartlett pears from this two-year-old fruit tree in the community garden started by Mary and Joel McClure. (Eric Luse / The Chronicle)

People also cited better flavor, higher quality and safer produce as reasons to garden. In the Bay Area, the fervor has been fed by the sustainable-food movement, the books of Michael Pollan and last year's Victory Garden near San Francisco City Hall, said Hilary Gordon, who teaches classes at Garden for the Environment.

"Now everybody is talking about food production," said Gordon, as she roamed through the organization's demonstration garden in the Inner Sunset. "People are saying, 'I can grow my own lemon. I don't need a lemon from Israel.' "

Elizabeth Singh plants seeds with her son, Arjun. At left is her daughter, Soraya. (Eric Luse / The Chronicle)

Ellice Richmond, a buyer at East Bay Nursery in Berkeley, where sales of vegetable seeds have jumped 23 percent from last year, said, "I've never seen it be this crazy. But it's therapeutic for people to get out in the garden and touch the earth."

That's part of the appeal for Elizabeth Singh, 33, of San Anselmo, who is growing vegetables in her front and back yards and on her deck.

"It's my form of meditation," Singh said. "I hate to do things like exercise."

A leaf-lettuce mix in a container on her deck looked impossibly perky.

"We just snip away at it when we need to," Singh said.

Her expansive vegetable garden includes Swiss chard, beets, strawberries, artichokes, carrots, red peppers, watermelon and zucchini.

She pointed to a 'Japanese Black Trifele' tomato plant, acquired at a special sale at the Marin Art & Garden Center in mid-April that opened at 9 in the morning. Out of 2,500 plants, only about 20 were left when she arrived at 10:30 a.m.

Family affair

Singh's 6-year-old son, Arjun, likes to watch the gardening process, while his sister, Soraya, 3, helps with the watering. On a recent afternoon, both children seem particularly entranced by ladybug larvae on a soaker hose.

"When I was a kid, I didn't have interest in it, but it definitely rubbed off on me," said Singh, whose parents were hard-core gardeners in New England. "Now I want to have a simpler and more self-sufficient life, and to teach my kids where food comes from. I hope it rubs off on them."

Mary McClure checks on fruit trees in the community garden in San Francisco's Bayview. (Eric Luse / The Chronicle)

Singh says she is glad she has space, but it's not necessary. Nursery buyer Richmond said container gardens have definitely caught on. Community gardens are also popular. About 1 million U.S. households are involved with them, according to the National Gardening Association study.

Two years ago, Mary McClure started a community garden on a forlorn lot next to her home in San Francisco's Bayview district, the city's historic food shed.

"My husband and I got tired of looking at weeds," said McClure, 56, as she unlocked the gate to Bridgeview Garden, where bumblebees were buzzing and fava beans were poking through the fence.

Now the hillside garden is terraced and an orange-and-yellow mural, studded with white phoenixes, covers the concrete wall below. A crop of vegetables had just been harvested, and nine fruit trees were coming alive.

The food helps feed Bridgeview Drive's elderly residents, said McClure, retail manager of a furniture company. She added that the produce garden first lady Michelle Obama is starting at the White House has been a big hit in the Bayview.

"It's gratifying," McClure said. "And it's a validation of what we've been doing here."

Elizabeth Singh and her family grow artichokes. (Eric Luse / The Chronicle)

Maddening, magical

For McClure, who grew up on a farm in Kansas, growing vegetables is easy. For Crotty, it has been a mysterious and maddening process - but also a magical one. His tomatoes, peas and radishes are flourishing, and a subtropical kaffir lime tree is inexplicably thriving, but lettuces and cucumbers are "problem children," he said.

"It's really challenging, and I didn't expect it to be," said Crotty, a writer and editor in high-tech marketing. "I've gone on the Internet to figure out what's eating my plants. I must have looked at every pest in the world."

Randall, 32, whose organization ran the Victory Garden in Civic Center Plaza, said, "I don't think you're learning unless you're making mistakes."

Singh plants seeds with Arjun and her daughter, Soraya. "I want to have a simpler and more self-sufficient life," Singh says. (Eric Luse / The Chronicle)

During World War II, when the nation was called upon to grow victory gardens, people knew how, Randall said. He noted that 40 percent of the produce consumed in the United States in 1943 was grown at home.

"The connection is still there," Randall said. "But the knowledge isn't."

Gordon said aspiring gardeners should start with culinary herbs and then fruit trees before graduating to vegetables. And they should educate themselves through books and classes tailored to where they live.

"People spend a lot of money and get discouraged trying to grow vegetables not appropriate for the site," she said. "And you have to water and feed your vegetables much differently than trees or ornamental plants. It's like having a pet - though it's more like having a cat than having a dog."

Tomatoes are the most popular among home gardeners when asked which vegetables they planned to grow this year. (Craig Lee / The Chronicle)

Top 10 vegetables

A survey of 2,559 U.S. households conducted in January by Harris Interactive for the National Gardening Association found the most popular vegeta-bles among home gardeners, when asked which vegetables they planned to grow this year:

Tomatoes (86%)
Cucumbers (47%)
Sweet peppers (46%)
Beans (39%)
Carrots (34%)
Summer squash (32%)
Onions (32%)
Hot peppers (31%)
Lettuce (28%)
Peas (24%)

Ready, set, grow

Books: Highly recommended by gardeners is "Golden Gate Gardening: The Complete Guide to Year-Round Food Gardening in the San Francisco Bay Area & Coastal California," by Chronicle columnist Pam Peirce.

Classes and events: Garden for the Environment (gardenfortheenvironment.org) in San Francisco at Seventh Avenue and Lawton Street. (415) 731-5627.

Inspiration: Chronicle staffer Jane Tunks, a novice gardener, is using The Chronicle's rooftop garden as her classroom. To read her stories, go to sfgate.com/ZHDV.

Web sites: National Gardening Association (garden.org) and Burpee seed company at (burpee.com).

Victory Garden: There's a new one in the Bay Area. It debuted in April and is located on the UC Berkeley campus, close to Memorial Glade.

Nursery: Among the biggest in the region is the East Bay Nursery, 2332 San Pablo Ave., Berkeley, (510) 845-6490. eastbaynursery.com.

S.F. community gardens: www.parks.sfgov.org/site/recpark_index.asp?id=27048

San Francisco Garden Resource Organization (SFGRO): www.sfgro.org/.

Source:

Will More Food Simply Boost Population? || Growing Food in Times of Scarcity || The gentle art of non-gardening

2009-06-01T09:33:00.000-07:00

I recently explored whether it was sufficient to pursue an energy revolution as a means for smoothing the path toward a stable, prospering population. The perfect nonpolluting cheap energy source might simply increase our appetites ( Jevons Paradox) and encourage ever-rising populations given that energy easily translates into water and food. Basically, do we need a “values revolution” as well?
~ Will More Food Simply Boost Population? || Growing Food in Times of Scarcity || The gentle art of non-gardening ~
Schumacher stressed the central role of energy among primary goods. He argued that energy cannot be treated as one commodity among many; rather, it is the gateway resource that allows all other resources to be accessed. Schumacher pointed out that the failures of contemporary economics could not be solved by improved mathematical models or more detailed statistics, because they were hardwired into the assumptions underlying economics itself. Every way of thinking about the world rests ultimately on presuppositions that are, strictly speaking, metaphysical in nature: that is, they deal with fundamental questions about what exists and what has value.
~ Schumacher Realist Resource Economics: 'Energy is the Gateway Resource' | The Long Road Down: Energy Decline and the Deindustrial Future ~
Today, 6.5 billion humans depend entirely on oil for food, energy, plastics & chemicals. Population growth is on a collision course with the inevitable decline in oil production.
~ The Oil Factor: Behind the War on Terror, by Free Will Production ~

Will More Food Simply Boost Population?

Andrew C. Revkin & Lalo de Almeida | New York Times

Soy beans bound for China from Brazil fill the hold of a freighter.

I recently explored whether it was sufficient to pursue an energy revolution as a means for smoothing the path toward a stable, prospering population. The perfect nonpolluting cheap energy source might simply increase our appetites (Jevons Paradox) and encourage ever-rising populations given that energy easily translates into water and food.

Now, a reader has mused on whether the same question applies in agriculture, in a comment on a meeting at Princeton on growing more food with fewer greenhouse-gas emissions. If we come up with new technology or practices that greatly boost crop yields, creating a second Green Revolution, doesn’t that simply boost the planet’s carrying capacity?

If that happens, isn’t the result an eventual expansion of human numbers and the human imprint? Or do we only have to consider the secondary consequences once we’ve at least gotten the tool kit for boosted supplies of energy, water and food on hand? Basically, do we need a “values revolution” as well?

By 2050 or so, the world population is expected to reach nine billion, essentially adding two Chinas to the number of people alive today. Those billions will be seeking food, water and other resources on a planet where, scientists say, humans are already shaping climate and the web of life. In Dot Earth, reporter Andrew C. Revkin examines efforts to balance human affairs with the planet’s limits. Supported in part by a John Simon Guggenheim Fellowship, Mr. Revkin tracks relevant news from suburbia to Siberia, and conducts an interactive exploration of trends and ideas with readers and experts.

Source: New York Times

Growing Food in Times of Scarcity

Steve Quayle

Today I got a call from a very good friend and one that has contact with some pretty prominent people. He was so sad, scared and worried, didn't want to pass on bad news but felt he should let me know. One of his close friends has a good source of information plus a high security clearance informed him that over the summer you would see more and more deployment by the military, come the end of summer into the early fall there "WILL" be martial law. The food source is being dried up gradually. Food will become so scarce and expensive families will be going hungry. This will be the start of a civil uprising and the military will be called into service to quell the looting, stealing, killing and destruction of property. This is all planned. Believe it or not but at least take the time to prepare for it just in case.

I am not telling you this is the gospel but I know where the information came from and it is certainly a credible source.

People, it more than likely cannot be stopped.. WAKE UP...You can still protect your family from most of the hard times with some planning. Do you want to see your children's eyes with hunger in them? Do you want to be on your knees begging for food ? I don't and I won't.

It is the beginning of spring now. Plant every square inch of land you can find, buy pots, buy dirt, buy food and put it away now while it is still here.

Those of you that say you don't have room... MAKE ROOM.. there are so many ways to increase space for your gardens, use your imagination.

How about a wall of food? simple, use PVC pipe, hook it to a rack or your fence or your patio supports. I have done this before just to see if it worked and to dress up a area of our patio that was not that attractive. I used 6" PVC pipes 10 feet long. just packed with good dirt and wired screen over the ends to allow drainage. Drilled holes in the pipe and planted. I grew flowers but vegetables can be grown just as easily. Just think.. put the smaller plants on the top tier, larger ones below. The only drawback is watering which with smaller containers you have to do regularly or you could just install a drip system?

How about planting your potatoes, asparagus and peanuts in bags? Easy to do and so much more prolific in production. Find some of the Tyvec we used for banners and signs during the campaign, cut into 4' lengths, stitch up two sides making a sack, poke holes for drainage in the bottom and add dirt. Plant all those potato eyes in the bags, add more compost or good dirt. As the plant grows add more dirt and when they are ready to harvest just dump out the bags, there are your future dinners. One bag can produce up to 30 pounds of potatoes. Do the same for Peanuts. The bags can be lined up alongside your garage, house, any out of the way place. ( Don't try using paper bags they will of course fall apart when wet)

How about all of those hanging baskets you saved from last years flowers? Cut holes in the bottoms and use coffee filters to keep in the dirt. Plant your cukes, squash, any vining plant in these and watch them grow. Easy to harvest and prolific producers as long as you keep them moist and fertilized. Ever heard of the upside down planters? Make your own.

I spent a couple of hours yesterday starting some seeds for the garden. Easy and relaxing work. I splurged and bought some new 6 pack containers which comes with a bottom tray and a top clear plastic dome cover to protect the seedlings from being washed away by heavy rain, cold, etc.

I like to use a sterile medium, Peat Moss and Perlite, it is free of diseases and bugs and insures a good start to your little plants. Use one part Perlite with 20 parts peat and you will have a perfect medium for starting anything.

Get your hands dirty and fill your little pots with the mix, leave about a half inch on the top of each section. Put in your seeds ( usually 2 seeds per container) add more soil to cover the seeds and press it down to insure good contact with the medium... Make sure you wet your peat mixture down before filling the containers. Peat is hard to wet totally and takes some mixing by hand to insure it is wet all the way through.

Then just cover and wait for nature to take its course:

Tim brought in a truck load of ruined hay to mulch our garden with and will get that on the garden tomorrow. Then the real work begins.. planting peas, beans, okra, peppers, eggplants and all the greens I love so much.. collards, kale, mustard and broccoli. These will do well even with some cold nights left to go.

Please people stock up your pantry, have enough food for your family for at least 6 months. A year would be better but I know how much it costs. Don't listen to the experts, buy what you normally eat no need to stock up on items that are recomended but you rarely eat. Make sure you have enough salt, sugar, oil, coffee, tea, chocolate and spices of all kinds. These will be the things people forget to store up on and will become good items to barter. Flour is already becoming scarce in our area, corn meal the same, Meat will become so expensive it will be out of reach for most of us but by buying now and canning it ( freezing is ok but if your power is cut off your meat will spoil so I just can it all) I must have 10 cases of hamburger canned, beef stew, Chicken "N" dumplings, Pork Chops, vegetable soups and spagetti sauce all ready to go. Just open the jar and heat and eat. So much better than the store brands and you know exactly what is in them. Roasts can be canned also very easily. If you don't have a pressure canner yet get one by hook or crook. It will be a Godsend if things go sour and I think they will shortly.

Think about building a dehydrator, easy to build, I used one of those closet bags for hanging suits etc and replaced the plastic with screen wire. Added shelves and I can hang it outside in the fresh air with all the vegetables on it to air dry. The indians did it hundreds of years ago and it is still a good idea. Dried food lasts a long time, can be stored easily and is ready to just add water and heat and eat.

Everyone is busy buying all the expensive water purifiers.. why? Build one.. easy.. look at how a alcohol still is built, make a small one. You will be making distilled water in no time. I made one out of a old pressure cooker just take off the jiggler and attach a metal or glass tube ( The first one I made used Aquarium tubing )to run to your water bottle. fill the cooker, turn it on and just watch the water start coming out of the spout. All the impurities will remain in the cooker and only pure steam will be put out to condense back into water. Add a pinch of salt to make it have some taste and you are in business.

When you go to the flea markets, yard sales etc make sure to snap up any and all canning jars and lids, you will need to can your produce for the next winters use.

Please take heed and start today. There is no time to lose and if you wait you may be one of the ones that are just begging for help from our wonderful Government which means you have to obey. You have to comply, you have to agree to be what ever they want you to be or you could just be left to starve !

DO NOT make your plans known to your neighbors unless they are also doing the same thing. When the SHTF there will be so many people on the streets looking for food for their families you will be a target. Just remember even a honest hardworking Christian will turn to anything to feed his children. He will steal, lie, even kill to keep his children from starving. Wouldn't you?

Source: Steve Quayle

The gentle art of non-gardening

by Gene Logsdon | Organic To Be

About ten years ago, I planted some bibb lettuce, and though it is my favorite kind (Buttercrunch), I haven’t planted it in the garden since then. Haven’t had to. It comes up every year all on its lonesome. All I have to do is not take care of it very well, that is let it go to seed and sprawl all over. Nature does the rest. The lettuce blooms and reseeds itself helter-skelter. All I have to do is keep the tiller away when the seedlings come up in early spring. The neat thing about it is that, as you can see from the photo, the lettuce grows so thickly that hardly any weeds grow up in it, but only around it.

This non-gardening drama repeats itself every year. The most amazing aspect of it, and I don’t know why, is that this “wild” lettuce is ready to eat before the lettuce that I plant early in the cold frame, coddled with compost and protected with a plastic cover on cold nights. The “wild” lettuce grows faster. If I had any brains, I would quit the cold-frame lettuce, but so far I just don’t have enough faith in nature to do it.

Nor does this “wild” lettuce show any signs of decreasing in quality or taste. I presume that coming from seed now for many years, it does not carry the hybrid vigor or quality of the original Buttercrunch but it makes mighty fine lettuce anyway.

Non-gardening, or as my very particular sister calls it, “slop-gardening,” works for radishes, kale and sometimes broccoli in my experience. I would assume that with a little luck and laziness, anything that matures seed in one season can be non-gardened.

If when harvesting potatoes, you miss some, they will sprout and grow in the Spring if they are in the ground deep enough not to get frozen over winter. They grow just as well as the new crop I plant in the standard manner. I have often considered planting my spuds in the fall rather than spring and not have to battle mud and early frost in spring planting. But again, I don’t have enough faith.

Onions growing from onion sets, left in the garden in the fall will often overwinter and grow new tender, little stalks very early in the spring. Peas allowed to mature from an early crop will drop seed which will sprout and grow if you get sufficient August and September rains. Mine are usually too late to make peas before frost but I know gardeners who regularly plant peas for a fall crop and get one.

A non-garden will of course look the part. It will be all raggedy-annie and will require some hand-weeding. But if you can rid yourself of the Germanic impulse that most of us carry in our genes and get accustomed to a lack of weedless, straight row-ness, you soon realize that you don’t need an absolutely weed-free garden to get food from it. And of course, some of the weeds taste good too.

I don’t imagine that non-gardening will ever become popular because it requires, as I keep saying, in a trust in nature or in fate that few of us are willing to stake our food supply on. But it is fun to think about. When I was a child on the farm, we picked lots of food from the wild including strawberries and raspberries and many other kinds of wild fruits and nuts. My wife’s family picked wild blackberries for market. Dandelions were the usual early spring salad. But we never thought that perhaps most of our garden food could come from wild-like plantings. We had passed from the hunting and gathering era of human progress and by heaven we were going to sweat and slave to get our food from a settled, stable agriculture and horticulture.

Asparagus comes closest of all our domesticated vegetables to being a product of non-gardening and indeed it does grow wild and many people gather it that way. And now I know that I can trust nature to give me plenty of lettuce without having to plant the stuff. I keep asking myself how far in this direction a crafty gardener might go. I keep hoping someone will do it. As I say, I just don’t have enough faith yet.

~~

Gene and Carol Logsdon have a small-scale experimental farm in Wyandot County, Ohio. Gene is author of The Mother of All Arts: Agrarianism and the Creative Impulse (Culture of the Land), The Last of the Husbandmen: A Novel of Farming Life, and just released: Small-Scale Grain Raising, Second Edition: An Organic Guide to Growing, Processing, and Using Nutritious Whole Grains, for Home Gardeners and Local Farmers.

Source: Organic To Be

Organic seed to be produced in the Klein Karoo || Mulch Benefits for Organic Farmers || Project helps emerging farmers go organic

2009-06-01T08:52:00.000-07:00

To give the reader an idea of the energy intensiveness of modern agriculture, production of one kilogram of nitrogen for fertilizer requires the energy equivalent of from 1.4 to 1.8 liters of diesel fuel. This is not considering the natural gas feedstock.
In a very real sense, we are literally eating fossil fuels. However, due to the laws of thermodynamics, there is not a direct correspondence between energy inflow and outflow in agriculture.
Modern intensive agriculture is unsustainable. It is damaging the land, draining water supplies and polluting the environment. And all of this requires more and more fossil fuel input to pump irrigation water, to replace nutrients, to provide pest protection, to remediate the environment and simply to hold crop production at a constant. Yet this necessary fossil fuel input is going to crash headlong into declining fossil fuel production.
~ Eating Fossil Fuels, by Dale Allen Pfeiffer ~
“Food has something in common with energy — they're both commodities that you use up. And they're both worth fighting over. Naturally, if food is a problem that could blow up in our faces, the smart thing to do would be to think strategically.”
~ AgriWarfare & Strategic Food: The Agriculture Ticking Time-Bomb: F-O-O-D, is a Fighting Word, like OIL ~
Today, 6.5 billion humans depend entirely on oil for food, energy, plastics & chemicals. Population growth is on a collision course with the inevitable decline in oil production.
~ The Oil Factor: Behind the War on Terror, by Free Will Production ~

Organic seed to be produced in the Klein Karoo

Farmers Weekly | Organics South Africa

30 December 2005

New legislation will require organic farmers to use only organically produced seed to grow crops and feed livestock, but no one in South Africa produces 100% organic seed. Now empowerment company Diverse International has taken the gap in the market and set up a community seed production project in the Klein Karoo, an area hit hard by poverty and unemployment.

The project, known as the Klein Karoo Organic Initiative (KKOI), will improve the lives of the people of Zoar, a tiny village between Ladismith and Calitzdorp in the Western Cape. Chairperson Liz Eglington says the project, run from the farm Amalienstein, will create jobs and alleviate poverty by producing and marketing organically produced fruit and vegetables.

Hendrik January, Liz Eglington, James Jacobs and Magdalene Barry believe the organic seed project could eradicate poverty in the Zoar community

Most of the world's organic producers use non-organic seed in their operations. But pending South African legislation will soon restrict fruit, vegetable, herb and cereal producers to using only certified organic seed if they wish to maintain their certified organic status. Even the feed used in organic animal production will have to be produced from organic seed.

Unfortunately, there is no organic seed available in South Africa. Empowerment group Diverse International identified this shortage as a market opportunity and launched the National Organic Seed Project.

The group has spent over four years planning the project and has established partnerships and relationships with various government departments, seed companies, overseas buyers and funding organisations to support the project. They lacked only the farmers to grow the seed.

Zoar is ideally situated for organic seed production, given the Klein Karoo's dry climate. The mountains that separate the valleys help prevent contamination from neighbouring non-organic farms.

Klein Karoo ideal for organics

Only a few places in the world are suitable for organic seed production. The Klein Karoo, with its dry climate, is one such place and is already one of the country's largest seed-producing regions.

It is also ideally situated for organic production because several mountain ranges separate the land, helping prevent agrichemical contamination and cross-pollination from neighbouring non-organic farms.

Diverse International approached the KKOI to spearhead the project because they were already involved in organic production in the area.

Eglington believes the project will do more than benefit commercial farmers - it will transform the entire Klein Karoo.

"Many small-scale farmers in the Klein Karoo are struggling to survive, never mind remain sustainable, and most lack access to markets," she says. "But farmers can be empowered through the production of organic seed. Organic seed can even be produced in people's backyards and then sold to a central marketing agent."

The first step in realising this dream is to set up a training centre to teach farmers organic seed production techniques. Initially, Eglington and her KKOI colleagues wanted to buy a farm from which to provide the training. But they found this was too expensive, and it would be better to conduct the training on an existing farm. After thorough analysis and research, Amalienstein was identified as the most suitable project site.

Amalienstein is owned by the South African government, and was made available to the Zoar community under the Land Redistribution for Agricultural Development programme. Unfortunately, the 7 000ha farm currently runs at a substantial loss. Of the 5 000 people living in the community, fewer than 30% are employed on the farm.

"There isn't any work here," says Hendrik January, chairperson of the Zoar Community Trust. "A handful of people are employed at Amalienstein and on other farms in the area. The rest of the people depend on seasonal and piece work."

Small-scale farmers are organic farmers

Amalienstein is ideal for the National Seed Project as it already has the required infrastructure and the storage facilities. Existing enterprises on the farm, such as the dairy and small-scale farming projects, will continue, but as organic projects.

James Jacobs, a Zoar Community Trust member, says most small-scale farmers are already farming organically because they cannot afford agrichemicals. For most of these farmers the switch to organic farming will be natural.

"The organic seed initiative will have many spinoffs for the community," Jacobs says. It will not alleviate poverty - it will eradicate it."

Eglington believes the project will create many job opportunities, and not only in agricultural production.

"Our vision is to turn the entire Zoar community into an organic village," she says. "First we want to set up the organic training centre. To do this we will need trainers and administrative staff. Compost, compost teas, organic sprays, pesticides, repellants and fertilisers will be made from material sourced from Amalienstein. This will create job opportunities in the making and marketing of these products."

The farm will produce organic seed and seedlings for international and local markets, while vegetables and fruit, and other byproducts of seed production, will be sold or consumed locally. The production of value-added organic products, such as herbal and medicinal plants, essential oils, soaps and even cosmetics, is also planned. This will again provide production as well as marketing and processing opportunities.

Community ownership

Eglington emphasises that KKOI and Diverse International don't want to take over Amalienstein.

"We need a training centre and Diverse International needs seed. But we want the community to take ownership of the project and benefit from it. We will supply expertise and support as long as the community needs it."

As Amalienstein is owned by the government, KKOI will require approval before it starts anything new on the farm. Eglington has met with Western Cape agriculture MEC Cobus Dowry and says he's willing to look at the feasibility document of using Amalienstein for the seed project. She says Dowry wants the entire Zoar community to buy into the project before approving it.

Kannaland district mayor Magdalene Barry is optimistic the project will take off.

"Zoar is sitting on a goldmine," she says. "All the community leaders have bought into the dream. Now we only need the community to vote and commit to the project - and that will be easy since the benefits of the project are very transparent and people have been suffering under poverty for a long time."

Source: Organic South Africa

The benefit of mulch to organic growers

Farmers Weekly

Certified organic growers have to adhere to the rules laid down by the governing body. They are restricted in what can be sprayed and what fertilisers to use. However, there is no requirement for a healthy soil organic content. The organic content of the soil makes a huge difference to the nutritional content and taste of the vegetables and provides for much easier management and general health of both the foliage and root system.

To maintain and increase the soil humus content, combining no-till with the addition of organic material – in the form of organic mixtures, manures and compost, all applied to the soil surface – will ensure success.

Organic growers should not be tilling the soil and accelerating the depletion of soil carbon, and these fertilisers work very well when placed on the soil surface.

They will enter the soil by the action of earthworms and soil microbial life. tHIS process is slow and effective. An additional refinement which is ideal for organic growers is the use of surface mulch. This can consist of many organic materials but dry grass is the most abundant and easily procurable.

Some may worry about weed seeds brought in this way but this mulch layer prevents weeds from growing. If any weeds poke through, throw more mulch on top. This means no weeds, which is extremely important for organic growers who aren’t permitted to use herbicides.

The mulch placed over the layer of organic fertiliser will provide perfect conditions to activate the soil organisms which take the manures, etc, down into the soil. The point of contact between the soil/organic fertilisers will also become moist and, with the fertility of the organic content, start to decompose.

When the soil is partially broken down, the earthworms will spring into action and consume this material, which is greatly enriched when passing through the earthworms before being deposited in the root zone.

Not only will available nutrients be released as a byproduct of the mulch and manures, but the populations of many beneficial microorganisms are increased by this process.

it’s so gradual, this form of decomposition doesn’t cause a negative period in the soil. Initially there are few earthworms present, soil fungi will do the job.

When more fertilisation is required, a concentrated organic fertiliser, such as that supplied by Talborne Organics, can be placed over the mulch before irrigation. The same can be done with chicken manure but when it comes to compost or kraal manure, it is best done occasionally and preferably when the mulch needs topping up, so the fresh mulch can be placed on top. The more the mulch is decomposed, the greater benefit to the soil’s organic content.

Bill Kerr ((016) 366 0616 or e-mail alphaseed@lantic.net). |fw

Source: Farmers Weekly

Project helps emerging farmers go organic

Farmers Weekly

The organic farming industry could provide 100 000 jobs within the next seven years through the Organic Freedom Project (OFP), a newly established non-profit organisation focused on helping developing farmers to farm organically.

Heinrich of the said the project is currently focusing on Levubu in Limpopo but has plans to expand to the Lowveld, KwaZulu- Natal and the Eastern Cape. Anglo Coal, who are co-sponsoring the together with Pick ‘n Pay, stated that this project will create new jobs for miners after mine closures and retirement.

Anglo Coal’s unused land, among other land, will be used for organic farming. The mining company identified farming as a means to ensure job creation and the development of entrepreneurs. As far as crops are concerned, the will mainly focus on soya, alternating with canola and sunflower, said.

The oil produced by the soya will be used by Pick ‘n Pay for diesel trucks that the company hope to implement in the near future. The rest of the soya oil will be used for bioparaffin, which will be sold through Pick ‘n Pay. Soya will also be used to create textile fibres, which will be transformed into clothing and sold in this chain store. The remains of the soya will be used as cattle feed. The OFP has also discussed the possibility of brewing organic beer with South African Breweries.

Organic farmer Tim Jackson, however, warned that this project is a recipe for disaster. “It took me 65 years to become an organic farmer,” he said, pointing out the fact that the OFP wanted to train developing farmers in a much shorter period of time. But Schultz said it’s easier to teach upcoming farmers how to farm organically than established farmers. “We’re trying to develop farmers who aren’t stuck in a rut with their ideas of farming.” He added that he wants to help all farmers.

Another point of concern raised by Jackson was the fact that existing farmers will probably be at the losing end of this deal. “If Pick ‘n Pay wish to go organic, then I suggest they get proactive in supporting the existing farmers,” Jackson said.

However, Ernst Kloklow, general manager of Organics SA, believed this project could be wonderful for the whole organic farming industry. He said this will not take anything away from any SA organic farmers, but rather add to their benefits. When faced with a local oversupply farmers will always be able to export, Kloklow said.

Source: Farmers Weekly

Soil Fertility: Feed the soil to feed the plants || African Bees to the rescue as colonies vanish? || Dung Beetles Saving farmers’ little helpers

2009-06-01T08:13:00.000-07:00

The Albrecht method was developed by Dr William Albrecht, a US scientist who found that the decline in soil fertility was caused by a lack of organic material, major elements and trace minerals in soils, which then yielded poor crops. He said major elements must be present in the soil in certain ratios and as soil can only contain a certain amount of nutrients, an excess of one nutrient would result in the deficiency of another.
Nitrogen, phosphates, potassium and soil pH used to be the only factors in soil fertilisation programmes, but Dr Albrecht included all the other essential elements. He also explained that the composition of ideal soil is similar to that of humus. Where humus consists of 50% minerals and 25% air and water respectively, the ideal soil contains 45% minerals and 5% humus with the same percentages of air and water.
Hence Dr Albrecht concluded that “the basic make-up of the plant and animal kingdom as it decomposes and becomes humus, matches the nutrient make-up of the most productive soils.”
~ Soil Fertility: Feed the soil to feed the plants || African Bees to the rescue as colonies vanish? || Dung Beetles Saving farmers’ little helpers ~
To give the reader an idea of the energy intensiveness of modern agriculture, production of one kilogram of nitrogen for fertilizer requires the energy equivalent of from 1.4 to 1.8 liters of diesel fuel. This is not considering the natural gas feedstock.
In a very real sense, we are literally eating fossil fuels. However, due to the laws of thermodynamics, there is not a direct correspondence between energy inflow and outflow in agriculture.
Modern intensive agriculture is unsustainable. It is damaging the land, draining water supplies and polluting the environment. And all of this requires more and more fossil fuel input to pump irrigation water, to replace nutrients, to provide pest protection, to remediate the environment and simply to hold crop production at a constant. Yet this necessary fossil fuel input is going to crash headlong into declining fossil fuel production.
~ Eating Fossil Fuels, by Dale Allen Pfeiffer ~
Today, 6.5 billion humans depend entirely on oil for food, energy, plastics & chemicals. Population growth is on a collision course with the inevitable decline in oil production.
~ The Oil Factor: Behind the War on Terror, by Free Will Production ~

Feed the soil to feed the plants

Farmers Weekly

International soil expert Kinsey believes that feeding the soil by providing it with all the necessary nutrients in the right amounts to achieve optimum fertility should be the main focus of every farming operation.

He told delegates at a recent SA Biofarm course on soil fertility in Johannesburg that plant and foliar feeds should be applied to ensure plants have sufficient nutrition. However, the problem with most feeders is that they don’t build soil fertility and this can become an extremely expensive type of production. Soil feeders, on the other hand, if applied at the correct dosages, can help to improve soil fertility and provide nutrients to the plants. Correcting soil nutrient levels is much better than simply feeding the plant.

The Albrecht method

The Albrecht method was developed by Dr William Albrecht, a US scientist who found that the decline in soil fertility was caused by a lack of organic material, major elements and trace minerals in soils, which then yielded poor crops. He said major elements must be present in the soil in certain ratios and as soil can only contain a certain amount of nutrients, an excess of one nutrient would result in the deficiency of another.

Nitrogen, phosphates, potassium and soil pH used to be the only factors in soil fertilisation programmes, but Dr Albrecht included all the other essential elements. He also explained that the composition of ideal soil is similar to that of humus. Where humus consists of 50% minerals and 25% air and water respectively, the ideal soil contains 45% minerals and 5% humus with the same percentages of air and water.

Hence Dr Albrecht concluded that “the basic make-up of the plant and animal kingdom as it decomposes and becomes humus, matches the nutrient make-up of the most productive soils.”

Accepting your soil type and improving it

However, it’s impossible to change your soil into humus, just as it’s impossible to change a specific soil type like clay into sandy soil. So, says Kinsey, it’s better to accept your soil type and work to improve its structure by getting the relationship between the minerals, humus, air and water right. This will create the optimal conditions for plant growth.

There are various ways in which a farmer can try to affect the soil structure. One way could be through stimulating soil biology by using manure, compost, mulches and biological stimulants. But this would probably not make a significant difference to the soil structure if there isn’t sufficient air and water available to foster soil microbial life.

Another way would be through physical means, such as deep tillage. “This could have a temporary effect by breaking up hardpans, but it should not be considered a long-term solution without first correcting key nutrient levels,” Kinsey says. The ideal method to address soil structure is to correct the chemistry of the soil, as this affects the porosity and the availability of nutrients.

Albrecht said calcium should represent 60% to 70% of the exchange capacity of the soil, and magnesium between 10% and 20% (see the article Biological Farming: putting more fuel in your soil’s tank in Farmer’s Weekly, 18 April 2008). These levels will vary according to the type of soil.

A clay soil, for example, should have lower magnesium and higher calcium percentages than a sandy soil, because magnesium tends to tighten the soil, while calcium tends to loosen the soil. Higher calcium levels help to improve soil aeration. In sandy soil, a high magnesium level closer to 20% would improve the soil’s water-holding capacity.

It’s all about balance

Another factor is that calcium and magnesium should ideally total 80%. The soil will become hard and increasingly unmanageable if these elements exceed 80% of the mineral content. Kinsey says correcting these levels results in a huge change in production, but if finances are limited, he advises farmers to correct the calcium levels first. “By correcting the calcium and magnesium levels, you not only affect the soil structure, but also the availability of other nutrients, as these get into the plant over the back of calcium,” Kinsey explains.

“Once the soil structure is improved, soil biology and water efficiency also improve.” And when farmers have balanced the calcium/magnesium levels, they can continue to balance and correct the levels of other nutrients. Kinsey cautions, however, that soil can’t create something that isn’t there. “Balancing calcium and magnesium might help to make elements available that used to be tied up, but that’s only if there were enough of these elements present already.

“Soil can’t produce elements. If you removed them via production, you need to reintroduce them.” In terms of balancing the other major cations, potassium should be around 3% to 5%, hydrogen between 10% and 15% and the other bases between 2% to 4%.

Then phosphorous, sulphur, and all the micronutrients need to be built up to their minimum levels. Kinsey recalls that one of his clients took 10 years to balance his soil due to his limited fertiliser budget. The crop yield however, improved significantly during this time. He goes on to say that even though crops have different nutritional needs, all will thrive in a well-balanced soil.

“Plants will do much better in a soil with the right nutritional balance than in a soil that has the right pH but doesn’t have sufficient nutrients,” Kinsey concludes. “Once soil balance has been established, farmers can continue to fine-tune the amount of fertiliser.

Contact SA Biofarm on (012) 333 4222 or www.sabiofarm.co.za. |fw

Source: Farmers Weekly

African bees to the rescue as colonies vanish?

Farmers Weekly

A returning bee communicates with hive-mates by using specific movements that indicate the source of nectar.

The mystery of disappearing bees has scientists scrambling to find answers, farmers fearing the worst and environmentalists predicting its devastating effects. Pablo Macfadden investigates.

Across the United States and parts of Europe, bees are dying off and no one knows why. Hives have simply emptied. In America at least 24 states have recorded the phenomenon. Some reports say that half the country’s bee population has been wiped out in a matter of months. In some areas 90% of bees have disappeared. The Americans call it colony collapse disorder, or CCD. There are other names for it, like “vanishing bee syndrome”. CCD originally appeared in North America, where it appears to affect the introduced western honeybee.

Lately, European beekeepers claim to have experienced a similar phenomenon in Poland, Spain and Germany. Hives that have CCD often resemble ghost ships, with no adult bees and no signs of dead bees. Often food stores, both honey and pollen, are intact. Bee grubs are left abandoned.

If CCD continues to wreak havoc across the US, its effects could be catastrophic. For example, orange and almond crops, which rely on bees for their pollination, would fail. Zac Browning, vice-president of the American Beekeeping Federation, is reported as saying “Every third bite we consume is dependent on a honeybee to pollinate that food source”.

Various culprits

While no one knows what causes CCD, scientists, beekeepers and even some conspiracy theorists have singled out one or two suspects. These include urban development, new pesticides, parasites, GM crops, an HIV/Aids-like disease and cellphone radiation.

In the last few weeks the phenomenon of mass bee die-offs has begun to feature in the media. The news is so big that local bee researcher Dr Mike Allsop, of the Plant Protection Research Institute in Stellenbosch, received over 30 calls from journalists in a matter of days.

Allsop keeps in contact with bee scientists in the US and has been monitoring the crisis closely. He believes that US bee populations have been in decline for decades, and is one of those scientists who thinks that chemicals might have something to do with it. “I think that bees have just had enough. In the US they use new pesticides and chemicals to deal with problems and don’t allow natural selection to take place.,” Allsop said.

South African bees are more free-ranging and beekeepers are less likely to use chemicals, allowing natural selection to weed out the weaker colonies, he explained. Some researchers are pointing to a new class of pesticides called neonicotinoids that don’t kill the bees but instead hamper their ability to navigate and find their way back to their hives.

Another suspect is the varroa mite, also called the “vampire mite”. It has even been suggested that this blood-red parasite, which started infiltrating hives in the US in the 1980s, has introduced new bee viruses. The only problem is that the varroa mite has not been found in all the hives affected by CCD.

Bee stress

Another theory is that bees are dying off because they are simply stressed out. Beekeepers are increasingly taking on pollination contracts. They load beehives, one on top of the other, onto trucks and travel from orchard to orchard pollinating crops. It has become big business, and is now a bigger money-spinner than honey-making. In the US a single beehive can travel thousands of kilometres in a matter of months, all on the back of a truck. To keep the bees’ energy levels up, they are fed syrup and protein supplements.

Another explanation could be that these days bees are exposed to more pesticides and herbicides over a wider area. The genetically modified (GM) plant industry has also been singled out, with pesticides for GM crops possibly contributing to the spread of CCD. Again, some scientists say there is not enough evidence to blame GM crop pesticides. Another problem with this theory is that the majority of colonies that are dying in the US are nowhere near GM crops.

There is also a belief that plants poisonous to bees are the culprits, or that it might be new virus, like Aids in humans, that affects the bees’ immune system.

Cellphones have also been fingered. There are thousands of articles on the Internet about the effects of cellphone radiation on bees. The belief is that electromagnetic waves released by cellphone towers could be disrupting the bees’ communication system, so they are unable to make their way back to their hives. Allsop says he has a problem with the theory. “I have searched for these articles, some of which have been printed in reputable newspapers. But they all quote a single German research study. I tracked down that study; it was published in 2003, cites no data and is actually just a proposal to conduct research on cellphones and bees,” he said.

Decline in SA wild bees

In South Africa, there don’t appear to be the mass bee die-offs seen in the US. “Here, CCD is not on our radar. Our bees are happy and healthy,” said Allsop.

However, Hans Blokker of the South African Bee Industry Organisation (SABIO) said that they weren’t sure if CCD was a problem, and were having urgent meetings about it. Organic bee farmer Tim Jackson, on the other hand, says that over the years he has noted a decline in the number of bees.

“In Pretoria in 1995, we used to be able to catch between 16 and 18 wild bees in a day. We have only caught one this year. There are just no wild bees,” he explained. “ Interestingly, beekeepers around our cities have also noticed a dramatic drop in feral swarms in recent years.

To ensure new swarms of wild bees, the professional beekeepers have been travelling as far as the Lowveld and even KwaZulu-Natal to trap swarms. Thus an invasion of the Cape bee was blamed for the decline of the African bee on the Highveld, but this has never been proved,” he said.

But there might just be a saviour. The African bee, long demonised by the American press, could one day save the US farmer. While scientists are scrambling to find a cure for CCD, one researcher, Prof May Berenbaum of Cornell University, has proposed crossbreeding US honey bees with African bees.

Africanised or “killer” bees, as they are known in the US, are considered more aggressive but they also appear to be resistant to CCD. But for American beekeepers to embrace the African bee would require a change in mindset.

“In South Africa, probably between 10 and 12 people are killed by bees every year. In America, where they sue you if you spill a cup of coffee on them, there is no place for aggressive bees. But when the almond farmers are losing millions of dollars and facing collapse, they might just start considering Africanised bees,” said Allsop.

Contact Hans Blocker at SABIO on (011) 678 2996 or fax (011) 476 6308. |fw

Source: Farmers Weekly

Dung Beetles: Saving farmers’ little helpers

Without dung beetles, both animals and people are left vulnerable to dung-breeding parasites.

Dung beetles can restore the health of farming ecosystems, reports Cornelia du Plooy.

But their survival is threatened by toxic anti-parasitics. A toxicity rating system for animal health products now gives farmers an indication of how to use these products safely.

In Egyptian mythology the scarab beetle was Lord Khephera, god of rebirth, creative energy and eternal life. Today, both farmers and conservationists hold scarabs in the highest regard. Their dung-burying not only improves soil fertility, aeration and water penetration, but also prevents the accumulation of breeding media for pests and parasites like flies, ticks and nematodes.

The scarabs’ vital role was recently brought under the spotlight at a workshop held by the Dung Beetles for Africa Organisation, hosted by the University of Pretoria’s Zoology Department. All the assembled experts, from scientists to leading cattle farmers, agreed that the use of toxic anti-parasitics should be limited. In the dung of animals treated with these anti-parasitics, the residual toxicity is killing off dung beetles. Already in the US, forage has been fouled by dung pads left unprocessed because of a lack of dung beetles.

This has resulted in annual losses of millions, and an explosion in dung-breeding parasites and fly populations, causing higher parasite infestation in livestock and even human infant mortality. “Farmers are faced with yet another growing dilemma - increasing tick and nematode resistance to anti-parasitics, which in turn demands more potent and longer lasting poisons,” warns the University of Pretoria’s Dr Ute Kryger.

In turn, these more expensive anti-parasitics have serious environmental impacts, particularly on dung beetles.

Drive to reduce toxicity

“We aim to determine the environmental toxicity of available anti-parasitics, inform the farming community about their ecological toxicity and publicise the importance of dung beetles in agro-ecosystems,” says Kryger.

If the use of anti-parasitics toxic to dung beetles is reduced, effective dung beetle communities will be able to process dung, reduce parasite breeding grounds and improve pasture health and productivity, as well as parasite-borne diseases of both livestock and people. Increased animal health will also lead to increased annual turnover. “Very few of the anti-parasitic chemicals available to local farmers have ever been tested against dung beetles or under local conditions,” says Kryger.

In 2003, local ecotoxicological anti-parasitic screening work led the University of Pretoria to register a dung-beetle-friendliness trademark. This indicates the effect of anti-parasitic products on non-target species with a star rating system.

“Novartis Animal Health has become the first manufacturer to subject its cattle anti-parasitic products to assessment,” says Kryger. The absence of the trademark means that the product hasn’t been tested for non-target toxicity. One star means the product’s use should be limited to stock feedlots, and it shouldn’t be used in pastures. Two stars means the product is suitable for occasional use in the pasture, while three stars means the product has a minimal impact on dung beetles and is considered suitable for regular use in the pasture.

For more information, contact Carmen Jacobs or Werner Strumpher at the Scarab Research Group, Department of Zoology & Entomology, University of Pretoria on (012) 420 3754, fax (012) 362 5242, or e-mail dungbeetlesforafrica@zoology.up.ac.za.

Source: Farmers Weekly

Organic windfall for bankrupt soil || Does Compost Tea Work? || Soil health, from Compost, Thelema Vineyards Success

2009-06-01T07:33:00.000-07:00

To give the reader an idea of the energy intensiveness of modern agriculture, production of one kilogram of nitrogen for fertilizer requires the energy equivalent of from 1.4 to 1.8 liters of diesel fuel. This is not considering the natural gas feedstock.
In a very real sense, we are literally eating fossil fuels. However, due to the laws of thermodynamics, there is not a direct correspondence between energy inflow and outflow in agriculture.
Modern intensive agriculture is unsustainable. It is damaging the land, draining water supplies and polluting the environment. And all of this requires more and more fossil fuel input to pump irrigation water, to replace nutrients, to provide pest protection, to remediate the environment and simply to hold crop production at a constant. Yet this necessary fossil fuel input is going to crash headlong into declining fossil fuel production.
~ Eating Fossil Fuels, by Dale Allen Pfeiffer ~
The related terms, "sustainable" and "sustainability" are popularly used to describe a wide variety of activities which are generally ecologically laudable but which may not be sustainable. An examination of major reports reveals contradictory uses of the terms. An attempt is made here to give a firm and unambiguous definition to the concept of sustainability and to translate the definition into a series of laws and hypotheses which, it is hoped, will clarify the implications of the use of the concept of sustainability. These are followed by a series of observations and predictions that relate to "sustainability." The laws should enable one to read the many publications on sustainability and help one to decide whether the publications are seeking to illuminate or to obfuscate.
~ Reflections on Sustainability, Population Growth, and the Environment: Carrying Capacity & Denial of Population Problem ~
“Food has something in common with energy — they're both commodities that you use up. And they're both worth fighting over. Naturally, if food is a problem that could blow up in our faces, the smart thing to do would be to think strategically.”
~ AgriWarfare & Strategic Food: The Agriculture Ticking Time-Bomb: F-O-O-D, is a Fighting Word, like OIL ~

Organic windfall for bankrupt soil

Farmers Weekly

The torrential rains of February and March 2000 drowned many fields north of the Soutpansberg in Limpopo Province. At the time, Bertus Otto noted that the crops in his conventionally fertilised lands were yellow and sickly – “really bankrupt”, even though he’d cultivated his lands for 33 years, ploughing, subsoiling, fertilising and practising good crop rotation.

In stark contrast, the natural veld adjacent to his farm, Secrabje, was in full bloom. “So my neighbour, Nature, was a far better farmer than I was,” he admits.

Well-thought-out organic idealism

Bertus realised that for over three decades he’d been doing something wrong. Now, for the past seven years, Secrabje has been one of SA’s few totally organic commercial farms.

Bertus believes the first crucial question every farmer considering the switch to organic production needs to ask is: why do want to farm organically? Is it a conscience, financial or ideological issue? His main reasons for switching to organic were his passion for nature and the need for a sustainable market. “I never liked the idea of farming with chemicals,” he recalls.

“Today you’ll spray a crop, tomorrow you’ll find many friends – birds and even bats – lying dead all over the fields. It would be like entering a family graveyard.”

Since going organic he’s noticed a significant increase in wildlife on the farm.

“Nature is coming back. We’ve also embarked on a programme to identify bats, and to breed some species.”

Study your market place and secure it

Once Bertus decided to go organic, he discussed the way forward with his sons. “We wanted to make ourselves irreplaceable,” he recalls. Their first step, and the first thing farmers need to do before going organic, Bertus stresses, was finding a buyer for their produce. If they hadn’t, they might have wound up without one, especially while their farm was in the process of conversion.

The Ottos approached a few potential clients. None were interested, until they heard the word “organic”. Then they wanted to know how much space they had to allocate. But Bertus warns farmers not to believe organic farming opens up an “easy” new world. A lot of hard work lies ahead. There are also a few organic products, such as bananas, that no longer get a price premium as they’re so common on the market. On the other hand, products such as pumpkin, butternut and sweet potato are in high demand by baby food manufacturers.

“When you listen to the inner circle talk at one of our largest food stores, you hear they want a third of their company’s products to be organic by 2012,” says Bertus. Going organic is a great way to make yourself irreplaceable in the market, he stresses.

“You only have to look at whether there’s a market for your product. But the first thing all supermarkets want to know is whether your production is sustainable – whether you can deliver daily.”

Forget everything you know

Although it probably wouldn’t be tasty, Bertus is prepared to eat all the nutrients and inputs used on his farm, and is still looking for a chemical farmer that can say the same. “I don’t have the guts, but otherwise I’d even be prepared to eat the compost,” he jokes.

He had to discard everything he’d ever learned about chemical farming. “All plant nutrients come from nature. Who do you think you are to take them back to nature?” challenges Bertus. He believes all processes needed for good soil happen naturally.

But human help is sometimes needed, for example, to help return plant waste to impoverished soil, stimulating the natural processes that increase productivity. “Have you ever seen a fertiliser truck in the Knysna forest?” he asks. “How did that world become so fertile without it? And more importantly – how does it remain intact? Branches break, fall down and decompose to litter, then to compost, which is “mined” by microorganisms, bacteria and fungi. The digested compost is the perfect food for plants.

But these microorganisms die when synthetic chemicals such as herbicides and pesticides are applied.” Bertus believes this starts a cycle which disrupts nature.

“Do you realise chemical farming isn’t sustainable?” he asks. “You need to ask yourself why so many chemicals are being withdrawn from the market. They’re a risk to humans and the environment. Nature doesn’t tolerate bad genes. It all boils down to the proverbial survival of the fittest.”

Carbon, carbon, carbon

“Get your soil’s organic carbon level right and you’re halfway there,” says Bertus. Unfortunately this is easier said than done. Secrabje’s soil had been practically depleted of organic carbon from 1967 to 2000, while Bertus was farming chemically. “The soil’s carbon content needs to be around 3%,” he explains. “The higher the production you want from your soil, the higher it needs to be.”

Especially in the hotter parts of the country, crop residues should be worked as deeply into the soil as possible. “When the organic carbon levels are correct, re-evaluate irrigation. Water will be used more efficiently for plant production, and you might need to apply less of it.” Today Bertus no longer takes soil samples unless they’re required for EurepGAP or other certification.

Every now and again he’ll take leaf samples, and tries to do this in temperatures around 25ºC.

Finding compost near you

Organic farmers constantly need compost. Bertus recommends identifying suitable compost sources nearby, or the process won’t be sustainable, as transporting bulky raw material can be very expensive. “Look around your area and see what’s readily available,” he advises. “Urban areas always have a surplus of plant biomass. Animal waste and green manure are excellent, as they accelerate the process.”

He’s identified 80 sources of compostable material in the vicinity of his farm. As it contains no residue, packhouse waste is a very valuable compost component. As for compost processing, Bertus opts again for the natural solution. “You can’t manage compost as well as the land can,” he says. “Work it into the ground and let it ferment there.”

Contact Bertus Otto on (015) 575 9912 or 082 449 2434, or e-mail m.a.otto@lantic.net. |fw

Source: Farmers Weekly

Does compost tea work?

Farmers Weekly

The use of compost tea in South Africa is a relatively new fertiliser innovation and has been met with huge scepticism by some agriculturists. Those who have incorporated it into their production cycles are convinced it really makes a difference. Glenneis Erasmus speaks to a few farmers and specialists.

The pros and cons of compost tea is currently a hot topic among agriculturists. While some outright reject it as rubbish due to lack of scientific proof and standardised recipes, measurements and applications, there are those who swear by it. “It’s true that scientific proof helps to build confidence in a product, but anecdotal evidence abounds. One can’t discount some farmers’ experience or say that compost tea doesn’t work, just because the results aren’t scientifically substantiated,” says Jako Pieterse who has his own company, Ecosoil, that specialises in compost production.

A laboratory manager at the Soil Foodweb Institute of South Africa, Stephanus Malherbe agrees, “I’ve seen many farmers achieve improved yield and soil health with what I considered to be rather poor-quality compost tea. I’m not advocating the use of substandard compost tea, all I am saying is the cost of synthetic fertiliser is rising astronomically, making it increasingly difficult for farmers to remain profitable. Scientist would be much more useful if they followed up on the findings of farmers and helped them to identify what works.”

Duncan Dicey who farms at Nooitgedacht in Wolseley affirms that it definitely isn’t a quick fix or stand-alone solution to production problems. “Compost tea application should be incorporated into other sustainable production methods to enhance soil and plant health. We’ve been using it for two seasons and have seen significant improvements in our soil structure. We’re hoping that in the long run it will re-establish soil health and help us become less dependent on synthetic fertiliser that depletes the soil.” Obvious improvements This aspiration to reduce fertiliser costs doesn’t seem too far from being realised.

Before starting Ecosoil, Jako was a fruit-farm manager at Karweyderskraal near Hermanus for 15 years. During his last five years, the use of compost tea in a fertigation system helped reduce the amount of minerals being leached from the soil.

The average phosphorous levels in the orchard increased from 38,3 parts per million (ppm) in 2000 to 55,1ppm in 2004, while the manganese content went from 7ppm to 10ppm. Sulphur increased from 7,1ppm to 27,2ppm and carbon increased from 2,2ppm to 2,5ppm. Nitrogen applications were cut by 70%. Jako, along with Soils Alive that also specialises in compost production, have recently been involved in studies on potato production in the Sandveld.

So far the yield increase in the potato cultivar FL2006, treated with compost tea and other biological products, has been 11%. In a control cultivar the yield was 43,4t/ha, while the FL2006 achieved a yield of 48,2t/ ha, with a fertilisation reduction of 20%. The results are even more significant considering the potatoes were harvested three weeks earlier than usual due to a shortage of potatoes for the potato chip market.

The increased number of beneficial microorganisms in the soil has improved soil health and structure, making compost tea one of the most powerful tools organic farmers have to enhance production. Bruce Gilson, who farms fruit organically on his farm Tierhoek situated in the Breede River Valley, can’t imagine farming without it.

“Combining compost and mulches significantly improved our soil structure. The soil is softer and smells better. There’s an abundance of earthworms indicating healthy soil. Healthy soil results in fewer pest and disease-related problems.”

Ferdie Richter who farms just outside Keimoes agrees, “We have three blocks of sultana grapes right next to the Orange River. The two blocks treated with compost tea showed a higher resistance to downy mildew than the untreated block. The increased resistance reduced my disease-control costs.”

The most remarkable thing about compost tea is that it makes it relatively simple and inexpensive to achieve dramatic results. Bruce adds, “We make our own compost tea and use it on a regular basis as foliar feed through fertigation. Our tea consists of about 10ℓ of good quality compost, 2ℓ of fish emulsion and 2ℓ of kelp, all diluted in 1 000ℓ of water. The mixture is aerated and brewed for between 18 hours and 20 hours and is then ready to use.

Around 100ℓ of compost tea is applied to the orchards every week from July and August, until the first autumn rains the following year, at a cost of only R0,10/ℓ”. Even so, there is a lot of criticism of the use of compost tea. It’s difficult to distinguish beneficial from non-beneficial organisms or measure good quality.

Stephanus confirms this, “The most effective way to identify organisms is through DNA testing. Such tests are expensive and time- consuming – farmers can’t afford to wait months to get results.

Making use of the old, culture technique takes only two days. The problem is that microorganisms are volatile. If somebody posts the tea and it takes two days to get to us, the sample no longer reflects what the farmer has in his tank.” This, however, should not be seen as an obstacle, according to Stephanus. “We look at the sample through a microscope and identify the extent of the biodiversity, as different microorganisms have different functions. The more diverse the range of microorganisms, the healthier the soil is likely to be,” he says. He advises farmers to ensure that their compost is of good quality and to rather have it analysed.

Jako agrees. He believes compost used for compost tea should be purpose-made. “There’s not enough attention to detail in the making of ordinary compost. Controlling temperatures and ensuring aerobic conditions throughout the heap to prevent a build-up of pathogens are imperative,” he says, adding that the more diverse the starting material, the more diverse the finished product.

Contact Jako Pieterse on 072 906 1636.

Does Compost Tea or not?

Claims that there is no scientific evidence that compost tea actually works seem unfounded. A literary review by Dr Steve Scheuerell and Dr Walter Mahaffee published in Compost Science and Utilization, 2002, summarises findings by numerous scientists on the benefits of aerated and non-aerated compost teas. There is debate over whether it’s necessary to aerate compost tea or not. Jako feels that it’s necessary, as beneficial microorganisms need oxygen to multiply. Another advantage of aerated compost tea is that it’s quicker to produce – between 18 hours and a couple of days, depending on the organism diversity needed in the finished product.

Non-aerated compost tea can take up to 21 days before it is ready. A disadvantage of aerated compost tea is that it requires mechanisation for continuous air addition. Scheuerell and Mahaffee point out that non-aerated compost tea is associated with lower costs, low energy input and more documented reports of plant-disease control.

There have been reports that non-aerated compost tea could cause phytotoxicity and provide an optimal environment for human pathogen regrowth, but the two authors did not observe phytotoxic symptoms when they used non-aerated compost tea as foliar spray or potting-mix drench, nor have they come across any documented evidence to substantiate such claims. Low oxygen conditions are ideal for most human pathogen growth anyway.

The authors point out numerous reports by producers and the scientific community that reveal disease suppression in crops. For some plant diseases, the level of control is considered inadequate for conventional agriculture. However, organic producers with limited control options, consider even this partial disease control as a better option than no disease control. Much of the anecdotal evidence lacks sound experimental design, objective assessment strategies or supportive dates.

The article suggests the growing number of producers using compost tea is strong evidence of measurable benefits. A better understanding of compost tea and its uses is needed. Scientists are urged to follow up results of growers with replicated field trials to illuminate the extent that compost teas will provide a reliable disease-management tool in the future.

Source: Farmers Weekly

Soil health, from Compost – the bedrock of Thelema Vineyards success

Farmers Weekly

Situated on the Helshoogte Pass outside Stellenbosch, Thelema Mountain Vineyards was nominated the second-best cellar in SA in a 2007 reader poll by Wine magazine.

This internationally acclaimed cellar is one of Wine editor Christian Eedes’ top 10 favourites. Thelema’s owner and cellar master Webb seems unaffected by the hype. At the age of 28 he left his life as a charted accountant in Durban to study winemaking full-time at the University of Stellenbosch.

In 1983 Gyles bought a derelict plum, apple and pear farm, where today Thelema produces 25 000 cases of premium wine on 50ha of mainly decomposed granite high-potential soil. Cultivars include Sauvignon Blanc, Rhine Riesling, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz and Merlot.

Irrigation water is stored in a farm dam fed by winter rain draining off the Simonsberg Mountain. Growth precision G yles believes in combining natural balance and cutting-edge technology to produce excellent wines year after year. The vertical shoot positioning (VSP) system, which arranges shoots to grow upwards, is used to balance growth with grape production. Gyles says his perfect VSP vine has a 12cm spur spacing, and two buds left after pruning.

During spring, two shoots should grow with 17 or 18 leaves each. Two bunches will form on each shoot, and after vertical shoot growth of 1,2m, these bunches will ripen to suit requirements. “In practice, we manage each block according to its potential,” he says. “If growth is too vigorous, the fruit won’t ripen. As a corrective measure, we’ve experimented with the double Guyot pruning system, where instead of pruning the shoots, new leaders are developed each season.” Soil health the natural way n the vineyards, Gyles showed Farmer’s Weekly the friable soil structure and the abundance of living organisms present.

Sample holes were dug, and we were amazed at the depth of root penetration and the amount of hair root development. “That looks like healthy soil and vines to me, so I’m happy,” observed Gyles. He sees soil health as the foundation of quality wine and an intrinsic part of sustainable production. “About six years ago we noticed a decline in our production,” he recalls. “Plant vigour was going down, so we had soil samples analysed. The results showed an alarmingly high count of plant-parasitic nematodes, and very few other living organisms.”

“We were advised to use an extremely costly, intensive chemical programme, which would have set us back R30 000/ha, but nematologist and retired academic Professor Bertus Meyer suggested using ompost to restore soil balance naturally – a cheaper, and far more environmentally friendly solution.”

With the help of Barbara Von Wechmar, an expert on composting, Thelema set out to rebuild its soil. “At first we bought compost, which we placed on the bunkies and covered with straw,” explains Gyles.

“Buying these materials was expensive, but we had to start somewhere. In the meantime, Barbara taught us how to make our own compost with material available on the farm. “Cellar waste is notoriously difficult to decompose, but with the correct inoculants, which she supplied, even grape skins can make excellent compost. Thelema can now use all its cellar waste for composting.” Recently Thelema bought a mower with a side chute so that cover crops could be mulched, instead of buying in straw.

Barbara’s technique also doesn’t require the windrows to be continually turned by expensive machines. Today Thelema removes all pruning material from the vineyards, chips it and adds it to the compost mixture. This helps prevent disease, as the heat generated by the compost wind row kills the pathogens in the cuttings.

Compost extract is prepared with an aerator and applied through the dripper irrigation, according to Barbara’s prescriptions. “In 2005 the lab recommended we chemically treat 12 vineyard blocks,” says Gyles.

“This number came down to one block in 2007.” Cover crops Viticulturist Conrad Schutte explains Thelema’s cover crop strategy. “We use cover crops for weed control and to suppress vine vigour in some blocks. We use as little herbicide as possible, and our ryegrass has been manageable up to now. Blocks with very vigorous vine growth are planted to a permanent cover crop.

We use fescue (Festuca arundinacea), which the rep claimed is the same grass as on Newlands,” Conrad smiles. Pruning intensity and production is carefully monitored. If a decline is noticed, every alternate row is cleared of fescue and an annual crop such as triticale is established instead. Blocks with medium vigour are planted to triticale, and low-vigour is remedied with purple vetch, a natural nitrogen fixer, mixed with triticale. Irrigation management Irrigation is managed with the help of a pressure bomb and a continuous capacitance soil moisture probe.

As Conrad explains, “We used to use a conventional moisture measurement system until two years ago. But it was like taking a photo. It didn’t tell you what was happening in-between measurements. The new probe system takes electronic measurements every 30 minutes, which can then be downloaded onto a computer.”

This allows for far more accurate irrigation management. “For instance, during véraison (when the berries change colour), we don’t want undue moisture pressure on the vine and irrigate accordingly,” says Conrad. “Other stages require the vine to be stressed, so we limit water to achieve the exact amount of stress required. “The better our information, the better we can manage this process.

We also combine data from Aqua Check test strips with pressure bomb samples that measure leaf and stem water potential, because while the soil might be at the correct moisture level, the plant may not be functioning optimally due to root disease or some other factor. “Together with experimental plot data from sample vines, we get a clear picture of our vineyard’s condition.

This also helps us predict the crop size so the cellar can budget for the right number of barrels, and the marketing department can do strategic planning,” concludes Conrad.

Contact Thelema Mountain Vineyards on (021) 885 1924, e-mail wines@thelema.co.za or visit www.thelema.co.za. |fw

Source: Farmers Weekly

Soil Health: Balance of Biology || Biological farming: Fuel in Soil's tank|| Soil Fertility Analysis: Albrecht Method || Cuba's Green Revolution

2009-06-01T06:39:00.000-07:00

The Albrecht method was developed by Dr William Albrecht, one of the first scientists of the 20th century to observe that “food is fabricated soil fertility”. noted that the decline in soil fertility is due to a lack of organic material, major elements and trace minerals in the soil. This lack or imbalance of nutrients was responsible for poor crops and in turn, the pathological conditions in animals fed deficient feeds, as well as many diseases and disorders in humans.
Dr Albrecht’s work was revolutionary as nitrogen, phosphates, potassium and soil pH were the only factors considered in soil fertilisation programmes at the time. He extended this list to include all the other essential elements. He travelled the world to identify the soil composition of high-yielding land. With the exception of one or two basic elements, he found that soil which contributes to good yields has similar mineral composition, whatever the crop.
He posited that major elements in the soil must be present in specific percentages and as the soil can only contain a certain amount of nutrients, an excess of one would inevitably lead to a deficiency of another.
~ Soil Health: Balance of Biology || Biological farming: Fuel in Soil's tank|| Soil Fertility Analysis: Albrecht Method || Cuba's Green Revolution ~
“Food has something in common with energy — they're both commodities that you use up. And they're both worth fighting over. Naturally, if food is a problem that could blow up in our faces, the smart thing to do would be to think strategically.”
~ AgriWarfare & Strategic Food: The Agriculture Ticking Time-Bomb: F-O-O-D, is a Fighting Word, like OIL ~
Today, 6.5 billion humans depend entirely on oil for food, energy, plastics & chemicals. Population growth is on a collision course with the inevitable decline in oil production.
~ The Oil Factor: Behind the War on Terror, by Free Will Production ~

Soil Health: Balance of Biology

Farmers Weekly

While many farmers are sceptical about biological farming, Pietermaritzburg professional natural scientist Howard Alborough believes that one day this method will be accepted as the way to go. “There are two extremes in farming,” says Howard. “The one is the 20th century approach where the over-use of chemical fertilisers and control agents, as well as long-term monocropping, has depleted the soil of organic material and microorganisms.

The other is organic farming which, in a sense, is an overreaction to the 20th century approach. I believe the answer rests somewhere in between, using organic principles in conjunction with the minimum use of chemicals.” A lso referred to as reduced chemical farming, biological farming is all about growing crops by using as few herbicides, pesticides, chemical fertilisers and fungicides as possible, while maintaining and in most cases increasing yield and farm profit.

It also reduces erosion and leaching, and decreases insect, weed and disease pressure. Building a foundation The basis of biological farming is to create healthier soil by replenishing organic matter and beneficial soil microorganisms. robust soil foodweb with millions of oxygen-loving microorganisms per gram of soil is needed to achieve soil balance and health. “One teaspoon of organically rich soil can host 600 million to 1 billion organisms,” says Howard. “These may be comprised of 15 000 species. In comparison, soils that have been abused and have little organic material, may contain as few as 100 bacteria, and very little else.”

Research by the Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences and Newcastle University in Australia has found that by increasing the soil humus content and carbon levels, food produced has a higher nutritional content than conventionally grown produce, and livestock are healthier. Converting to biological farming is a three-year process and acts as a consultant to farmers through his business, Growit Trading. In the first year, fertiliser applications are reduced by about 15%, based on a soil analysis, followed by a 20% to 25% fertiliser reduction in the second year and a 30% or more reduction in the third year.

Bigger root mass in sugarcane The first step of any programme is to get the organic material back into the soil. One way of doing this is by increasing root mass. Howard is running trials with the SA Sugar Association to increase sugarcane root mass. “When cane is harvested, most of the root mass dies back, typically leaving about 30t of root material per hectare,” says Howard. “We then apply products containing the right mix of bacteria, fungus and herbal extracts, and this can push root growth and increase root mass to up to 90t/ha, three times the original size. All that mass is then decomposed into the soil.

That means the farmer has about 60t/ha of compost he didn’t have before he cut the cane.” Bigger root mass also improves plant health. “By creating a bigger root structure, which in many plants has extensive webs of mycorrhizal fungi attached to it, the plant can access more nutrients and water in the soil, and it grows faster,” explains Howard. “Cell formation and structure is improved, which in turn means that viruses and fungi find it more difficult to penetrate the plant, so, lodging is reduced.

Further, water stress is reduced and there is improved tolerance to frost.” Increased organic matter also loosens up the structure of soil, resulting in better moisture retention, less water runoff and reduced fuel consumption and wear-and-tear on machinery used to work the soil. Howard’s methods are usually combined with a minimum-till system, designed to reduce disruption of the soil ecology. Accelerated composting Another way a farmer can increase soil organic matter is by incorporating organic material such as chicken litter, pig and cow slurry, woodchips, cane tops or residual crop material into the soil. While transporting this material from a 50km radius is viable, the most cost-effective option is to use residual crop material and left-over root mass that is already being produced on the farm.

By adding products that contain enriching microorganisms to the soil, organic content is biologically enhanced. While traditional organic enrichment methods can take nine to 12 months to break down sufficiently for on-field application, Howard can speed up the process to anywhere between 30 and 75 days. “This is achieved by applying biological inoculum that contain high numbers of specific, naturally occurring microorganisms,” he explains.

“If we can produce 10 000kg of compost in 30 to 40 days, rather than a year, it reduces the costs, such as the cost of equipment, the labour needed to turn it, and the space.” The biological inoculum also retains nitrogen and ammonia and reduces pathogens, which ensures a healthy production environment – an important consideration when one is dealing with slurry. “Slurry loses up to 75% of available nitrogen and if it is not applied correctly, if can do more damage than good to the soil,” stresses Howard.

“Soil is an aerobic environment and its microorganisms require a lot of oxygen. Slurry is typically an anaerobic environment with anaerobic organisms. If you pump slurry onto soil, the two sets of organisms go to war at a microscopic level.” Slurry application also requires between three months and a year before soil health starts improving. “The soil first has to recover,” says Howard. “But by simply adding products that contain beneficial soil organisms before it’s pumped onto the field, slurry can be turned into readily available organic fertiliser.”

New biological products Products that go hand-in-hand with biological farming are still relatively new in SA. “They have been on the overseas market for about 10 to 15 years and locally for only about five years,” explains Howard. “This field is developing all the time and in the last three to four years, local manufacturers have been producing local equivalents although their technology is lagging slightly. New technology has taken a lot of the complication out of the application of the products to the soil and the programmes are relatively simple to follow.” More advanced products also have built-in disease control.

“This is achieved by controlling soil pathogens and improving the immunity of the plant through a homeopathic-like approach such as using plant antibodies to make the plant more tolerant to disease.” Howard explains that a relatively inexpensive biological programme corrects soil balance and can, in some cases, double crop yield. “South African farmers are still sceptical, but trials have shown that biological farming can increase yield from about 80t to 200t/ha,” says Howard. “Farmers typically produce 10% to 15% more yield using 50% or less fertiliser. IIIn India reports indicate massive increases in cane yield from about 80t/ha to 250t/ha.”

According to Howard there are also reports that because plant cell structure is improved, fruit lasts two to three weeks longer on the shelf and trees hold fruit better during drought as the bigger root systems can access more water.

Contact Howard Alborough on 072 210 4292 or e-mail info@growit.co.za |fw

Source: Farmers Weekly

Biological farming: putting more fuel in your soil's tank

Farmers Weekly

Production on farms across the world has become stagnant or even started to drop, in spite of new seed varieties and other production-boosting innovations. In an attempt to reverse the situation and remain sustainable, many farmers are applying more and more fertiliser to combat the effect of poor soil fertility on yields and using stronger pesticides to fight off the growing amount of pests “suddenly” plaguing their farms.Recently, Alan Perry of the US’s Farm Technologies Network presented a course in SA on the Albrecht method, hosted by the local biological farming company Biofarm Institute (see box: The Albrecht method).

He believes the situation is so bad, some farmers’ production methods resemble a war against nature. Others have rebelled by embracing the organic movement.

Is ‘organic’ overrated?

Alan feels that the term “organic” has become highly overrated during the past 20 years, and definitely isn’t a long-term solution to decreasing soil fertility.
“You have farmers who produce organically by neglect and good ones who do it by design,” he says. “In some cases the neglectful ones do far more damage to the soil than traditional producers, as they don’t know what’s happening in their soils and rarely take soil samples.

Alan adds that in many instances “organic” has simply become a marketing ploy to sway consumers to pay more for products, in spite of little evidence they’re actually better than traditional produce.“Consumers are becoming disillusioned with these products, especially in Europe, as they don’t live up to the claims made by the organic movement,” he says. “They don’t taste better, give people more energy or make them less ill.”So what should farmers do about the escalating production challenges? Chemical and pesticide costs have increased by over 60% in some cases since last year, so that many farmers can no longer afford to feed the soil high amounts of fertilisers.

Alan believes biological farming is the answer. To reduce production costs and maintain high yields of healthy produce, we need to incorporate the best of both organic and traditional production methods, to find a way to farm with nature, he says.

Get to know your soil’s fuel tank

The first step is knowing what’s in your soil and to know you have to measure. Soil analysis is essential, and various methods are available. SA Biofarm uses the Albrecht method. Cornelius Oosthuizen, SA Biofarm’s CEO, warns that different laboratories have different procedures for measuring the contents of the soil and processing the data – results therefore differ from one laboratory to another.He advises farmers who want to use the Albrecht method to ensure their analyses are done by the Perry Laboratory in the US, as they follow the exact procedures set out by Dr Albrecht and to ensure the data is interpreted by an SA Biofarm-approved consultant.

The first thing farmers should establish is their soil’s nutrient-holding capacity. This is determined by the Total Exchange Capacity (TEC) of the Albrecht soil analysis. “If you think of production in terms of a car, then the TEC would represent the size of your fuel tank,” Alan explains. “A car with a small fuel tank would have to fill up more often to drive from Cape Town to Johannesburg than a car with a large fuel tank.

“The same applies to production – soil with a low TEC needs to be fertilised more often, but with less fertiliser than soil with a high TEC, to get the same production results. Sandy soil has a low TEC.

”The disadvantage of soil with high TECs is that it’s much more expensive to refill with nutrients and restore to optimal conditions than soil with a low TEC. It’s also much quicker to correct soil with a low TEC.Once you’ve determined the size of your soil’s “fuel tank”, you’ll know the amount of fertiliser your soil can absorb.“If you don’t know the size of your tank, you can easily oversupply the soil with fertiliser,” Alan explains. “All superfluous fertiliser will be lost, as would be the case if you overfilled a car with petrol.” Once the soil’s nutrient-holding capacity has been determined, the next important step is establishing how much of each nutrient and major element is in the soil and what percentage of the TEC it represents.

When these are compared to the optimal percentages in a fertile soil, any imbalances can be corrected, making these nutrients more readily available for absorption by the plant.

Boosting soil’s TEC

Changing the soil’s TEC is very difficult, as it would be like changing the soil type: clay is clay and sand is sand and there’s little you can do about that. However, the soil’s storage capacity can be increased by raising its humus content, as the humus provides new storage places for nutrients.

Cornelius points out that the TEC of humus is extremely high – usually between 100 centimol per kilogram (cmol/kg) and 400cmol/kg, “Say for example you have humus with a TEC of 225cmol/kg. You add 20t/ha of this humus to a depth of 150mm. You would increase the storage capacity of a sandy soil by 2cmol/kg. This would be like doubling the TEC of sandy soils in the Sandveld.”Two “in-field” ways to raise humus levels in the soil are by working plant residues into the soil and “green manuring”, whereby crops are planted and worked into the soil before they set seed. Green manuring is especially effective as the nutrients are still in a liquid form and therefore easier for soil microorganisms to absorb.

Compost, extracts and teas

Adding good quality compost is another important way to raise humus levels. Producers can buy in compost at first, and later make their own as they become more confident. “Making good quality compost is an art that’s perfected over time,” Cornelius says. “Compost can be made using either windrows or static piles. You can also use inoculants to improve its quality.”

Adding good quality compost teas or extracts to the soil is another means of building humus content. In both cases, water serves as medium for the compost, though Cornelius adds there’s still confusion about the difference between compost tea and compost extract.

According to him, compost extract is simply compost that’s been diluted in water and aerated, whereas with compost teas, inoculants such as humic acids, kelp and so forth are added to enhance microorganism content. Both have a positive part to play in biological farming.

“Farmers who use compost tea usually also use compost, because the tea isn’t as effective in adding humus to the soil,” says Cornelius. “But compost tea gives your compost feet and can be applied regularly throughout the year.” He warns, however, that compost tea must be applied as soon as possible as it usually doesn’t have a long shelf life.

Fertiliser and compost partner up

To prevent fertiliser from washing away or getting lost in the soil, Cornelius advises farmers to add it into the compost before applying it to their lands. He suggests adding organic minerals such as rock phosphate, animal bones (rich in calcium and other elements) or sunflower husks (rich in potassium) to the compost.

The compost’s microbes will help break down these elements and make them more readily available for plant absorption. In general, these forms of nutrition are much cheaper than chemical fertilisers. A word of caution, though – these additional nutritient sources should only be added once the compost has stabilised. If they’re added during the thermal stage, the microbes will break the food down, extending the composting process, says Cornelius.

Contact Cornelius Oosthuizen of SA Biofarm on (012) 333 4222 or e-mail info@sabiofarm.co.za. |fw

The Albrecht method

The Albrecht method was developed by Dr William Albrecht, one of the first scientists of the 20th century to observe that “food is fabricated soil fertility”. noted that the decline in soil fertility is due to a lack of organic material, major elements and trace minerals in the soil. This lack or imbalance of nutrients was responsible for poor crops and in turn, the pathological conditions in animals fed deficient feeds, as well as many diseases and disorders in humans.

Dr Albrecht’s work was revolutionary as nitrogen, phosphates, potassium and soil pH were the only factors considered in soil fertilisation programmes at the time. He extended this list to include all the other essential elements.

Dr Albrecht travelled the world to identify the soil composition of high-yielding land. With the exception of one or two basic elements, he found that soil which contributes to good yields has similar mineral composition, whatever the crop.

He posited that major elements in the soil must be present in specific percentages and as the soil can only contain a certain amount of nutrients, an excess of one would inevitably lead to a deficiency of another.

Source:

Learning from Cuba's green revolution

Farmers Weekly

SA could learn from CUBA’S organic production system, says Michèle Schubert, an agricultural development technician and consultant who recently visited Cuba to study their efforts at attaining food security via a specially created department for urban agriculture. She says that, by 2005, more than four million tons of food had been produced from organic gardens or urban agriculture in Cuba.

According to Michèle, 75% of all imports and 53% of oil imports simply fell away when the Soviet bloc collapsed. “The biggest impact was on food as the Cuban population had relied heavily on imported food. In addition, their monoculture-type agriculture depended on 80% of all pesticides and fertilisers being imported from the Soviet bloc,” she explains. The solution was to turn all available open city land into gardens and to grow food organically. “By 1998, 8 000 officially recognised gardens had been developed in Havana, cultivated by over 30 000 people and covering some 30% of available land. By 2004 these Havana city gardens were producing 300 000 tons of food, from 28 000 gardens employing 100 000-plus people,” Michèle says.

What helped Cuba was that the country has a highly skilled, educated population and although it only has 2% of the Caribbean population, it has 11% of all the scientists in the region. Many of them, says Michèle, were influenced by the ecology movement and were critical of the intensive agricultural system. “But as they had started developing alternatives to chemical dependency, they were eventually given the green light to continue and expand. This led to the establishment of over 200 biocontrol agents countrywide who assist farmers with pest control,” she says.

The focus on urban agriculture stems directly from a popular movement that was started in the early 1990s to address health and nutrition issues. It was a government decision that Cubans start getting a sizable part of their caloric intake from fresh vegetables, fruits and nuts. Today, children’s nutrition is a top priority.

“Within the urban areas, beside the vegetable and fruit production, there is also honey production and bees are bred for pollination purposes. Farmers combine vegetable production with chicken-keeping and keep other animals in or near the gardens to supply the manure needed for compost production. Biopesticides/botanical pesticides are produced and used. No harmful chemicals are applied because these gardens are urban and have to be safe for people working in and living near the gardens.

“Cuba’s organopónico (disused demonstration hydroponics plants) and the heurtos intensivos (intensive gardens) cultivating salads, herbs and vegetables in raised beds with a high ratio of compost to soil, are run like businesses. As the products are sold and the profits paid out, the people have an incentive to work. The land is made available by the state for as long as it is being cultivated, and for the workers it makes economic sense to produce quality food for the local population.

“In SA, many government departments grapple with the transition from directly giving food parcels to the insecure and vulnerable towards enabling food production. If we were to establish Cuban urban agriculture in the form of city/township gardens in the Western Cape, for example, we would have to concentrate on compost production, either vermi-composting (using earthworms) or ‘hot’ compost using an effective activator like manure and/or comfrey. Increasing soil fertility breeds healthier, more pest-resistant plants and gives better results,” says Michèle.

However, she points out that community food producers would only be spurred on to work in such gardens if good results are achieved. “Finance would have to be raised for the initial job creation and wages. Also, mechanisms need to be developed so that interdepartmental job creation and nutritional improvement can be effectively worked out and implemented,” she says.

Contact Michèle Schubert on 082 718 4334. |fw

Source: Farmers Weekly :: Documentary: The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil, by The Community Solution

Soil health is 'agricultural homeopathy' || Soil microorganisms thrive on organics || Toilers of the soil: the earthworm workers

2009-06-01T05:49:00.000-07:00

To give the reader an idea of the energy intensiveness of modern agriculture, production of one kilogram of nitrogen for fertilizer requires the energy equivalent of from 1.4 to 1.8 liters of diesel fuel. This is not considering the natural gas feedstock.
In a very real sense, we are literally eating fossil fuels. However, due to the laws of thermodynamics, there is not a direct correspondence between energy inflow and outflow in agriculture.
Modern intensive agriculture is unsustainable. It is damaging the land, draining water supplies and polluting the environment. And all of this requires more and more fossil fuel input to pump irrigation water, to replace nutrients, to provide pest protection, to remediate the environment and simply to hold crop production at a constant. Yet this necessary fossil fuel input is going to crash headlong into declining fossil fuel production.
~ Eating Fossil Fuels, by Dale Allen Pfeiffer ~
Today, 6.5 billion humans depend entirely on oil for food, energy, plastics & chemicals. Population growth is on a collision course with the inevitable decline in oil production.
~ The Oil Factor: Behind the War on Terror, by Free Will Production ~
I have had a chance to observe quite a few companies in the U.S. from the inside, and have spotted a certain constancy in the staffing profile. At the top, there is a group of highly compensated senior lunch-eaters. They tend to spend all of their time pleasing each other in various ways, big and small. They often hold advanced degrees in disciplines such as Technical Schmoozing and Relativistic Bean-counting. They are obsessive on the subject of money, and cultivate a posh country set atmosphere, even if they are just one generation out of the coal mines. Ask them to solve a technical problem — and they will politely demur, often taking the opportunity to flash their wit with a self-deprecating joke or two.
~ Surviving Peak Oil & Economic Collapse: Post-Soviet Lessons for a Post-American Century.. ~

Soil health is 'agricultural homeopathy'

Farmers Weekly

Prof Fey said the current trend of focusing on soil health is “agricultural homeopathy” and that farmers could make more discerning and self-interested decisions about crop nutrient management. Omnia obviously takes a different stance. Why is this?

I don’t think that it is a different stance, it is merely that we add to the “normal” approach. We follow a holistic approach embedded in the Nutriology® concept. The biological life in the soil is important and was neglected in the past. The soil is alive and if we neglect it we will not have the best environment for crop production. By managing the microbial diversity we aim to reduce the loss of pathogens in the soil and cycle nutrients within the root zone. If we want to farm sustainably, it is time to rectify not only chemical and physical degradation but also biological degradation.

According to Prof Fey, “consumers must realise that most people have an agenda. Knowing something about the scientific method will enable you to see through possible agendas and determine which advice is true, which is exaggerated and which is false. Ask for the data behind the claims, for the scientific paper … and where the research was undertaken.” Is there a way farmers can verify results from the Omnia lab, or are Omnia’s recommendations the final word the farmer must heed?

Farmers can have peace of mind because the Omnia lab is ISO (international) and AgriLASA (southern Africa) accredited. This accreditation means that this lab adheres to not only local but also international standards. We are confident of our methods and use well-documented guidelines as a point of departure. One must also remember that these guidelines are not recipes or rules cast in stone. The agriculturalists’ knowledge and experience make the information work to the benefit of farmers under their specific conditions.

Do farmers have any guarantee that their profits will increase if they make use of your services?

The Nutriology® business model is one of value-adding and aims to create prosperity. In the past we have had contracts with farmers under specific conditions where we guaranteed increased profitability. If the “current practices” win, we would pay out the difference, but if the Nutriology® approach wins, we want to share in the increased profits. I think that is enough proof of our confidence in our people, products and technology. It is also true that the benefits realised by the farmer will vary from year to year and from one area to the next. This is because many of our products help the farmer manage negative plant reactions that are a response to stresses such as heat, drought or cold. Our approach, in general, is to limit risk and to buy the crop time should such stress be experienced.

On the issue of new products on the market, Prof Fey said specialities such as humic substances, silicate compounds and bacterial inoculums sometimes boost plant growth. But he said that before farmers are taken in by arguments about how they work, they must remember that the soil already contains plenty of these substances. Why do you feel it is important to boost them in the soil?

Soils in SA are generally low in organic matter. We do not think that it is economically feasible to increase the amount of humic substances across a field, but prefer to create pockets of potential close to the crop’s root system, using humic substances especially combined with microelements. Regarding the bacteria (Omnia does not sell bacteria), one needs carbon in the soil to feed them. It is not only bacteria that are important but also fungi, protozoa and nematodes. This is where the OmniBio™ technology can make a huge contribution by creating a well-balanced soil food web to the benefit of the crop.

Prof Fey claimed that the near-neutral pH target is an expensive myth perpetuated by advisers with horticultural appreciation of soil chemistry. He said lime does move, but slowly, and that coarse lime particles are only valuable if the crop takes 100 years to mature. Do you agree?

At the same symposium, Omnia presented a paper on liming, which was very well received. The essence of the paper is that the pH (acidity), the acid saturation, the cation concentration in the soil and the cation ratios must be considered. Just focusing on a single aspect can be very irresponsible and dangerous. Particle size is one of the factors that determines the quality of the lime. The smaller the particles, the quicker the reaction time.

Is there a growing demand in SA for advanced technology in farming?

You cannot improve what you do not measure, and the advantage of technology is the increase in the sensitivity of the information. The tremendous growth in OmniPrecise™ (Omnia’s precision farming service) and OmniSap® (plant sap analysis) is proof of the growing demand for advanced technology.

Do you think the push for technology in agriculture is greater in countries where farming is not subsidised?

Definitely. Our farmers are not subsidised and realise how important it is to reduce risk and optimise yield, which will result in improved profitability. Without subsidies, there is no room for error.

Are the services at the Omnia lab aimed only at the wealthy farmer, or can an emerging farmer afford them?

Soil analysis is a must for commercial and emerging farmers. We are involved in several emerging farmer projects and work hand-in-hand with other role-players to bring technology to the emerging farming sector to improve yields. Farmers who have an established relationship with us do not, as a rule, pay for the basic soil analysis.

Are the lab’s recommendations affordable?

The lab only does the analysis. The plant nutrient proposals are made by the agriculturists. If it is not economically feasible to implement the entire proposal, interventions will be prioritised. It often takes several years to build soils to levels that support optimum yields.

People have hinted that the sudden demand for biofuels will create a shortage not only of food but also of fertiliser. Do you think this will be the case?

Planning well in advance is important for any business. If the fertiliser is ordered well in advance, there should not be a shortage. Taking delivery is also important because of the dips and peaks in the fertiliser business in SA. The availability of transport during the peak season can be a problem if delivery is postponed until planting time.

Contact Omnia on (011) 709 8888. |fw

Source: Farmers Weekly

Soil microorganisms thrive on organics

Farmers Weekly

Ecotoxicologists from Stellenbosch University have added local scientific evidence that organic farming is better for the long-term health of agricultural land. researchers demonstrated that soil organisms in a Western Cape vineyard, such as earthworms, mites and fungi, were more active in soil under organic management practices than conventional chemical treatment. A microcosm laboratory test was also done.

The study, by husband-and-wife team Prof Koot and Prof Sophié Reinecke and doctoral student Randal Albertus of the Department of Botany and Zoology, in conjunction with Prof Otto Larink of the Institute of Zoology at the Technical University of Braunschweig in Germany, was published in the scientific journal African Zoology. Prof Reinecke says the protection of soil biodiversity and its functions is a vital goal for soil ecotoxicologists and conservationists, who want to provide ecologically relevant, economically realistic solutions to agroecological problems.

Stop poisoning soil microorganisms

Soil organisms are, amongst other things, important for the decomposition of plant matter and for making nutrients available to plants. They also help improve soil aeration and structure. In developing countries, agriculture has increasingly turned to chemical biocides to manage pests such as weeds and fungal disease. Research shows this can accidentally poison beneficial non-target organisms, especially soil organisms, including earthworms.

The concept of organic farming has been developed and popularised in an effort to reduce or even eliminate the use of chemical pesticides and fertilisers. Organic farming aims to revitalise soils by adding organic matter. Farmers are expected to rely on local biological resources and environmentally friendly techniques to combat pests and fertilise the soil. The aim is to prevent poisoning beneficial organisms and promote natural soil processes.

In the study, experimental plots received either pesticides and full chemical weed control or organic treatment according to the Organic Standards of the British Soil Association. The bait-lamina test, used to measure the feeding activity of soil organisms, assessed the activity and abundance of soil life in the plots.

researchers compared feeding activity and moisture content, and showed that soil organisms were substantially more active in the organically treated plots than the conventionally treated ones. “We must be careful when drawing conclusions because of the many variables involved, but we believe this study provided some evidence that organic management promoted higher soil organism feeding activity in the short term, shortly after treatment, compared to conventional practices,” Prof Koot Reinecke summarises. “Organic management practices could contribute to the sustainable use of soil.”

More and more support for organics

The organic management concept is widely accepted in many circles despite limited scientific evidence. Already, soil biologists widely agree that adding organic material can, within limits, increase populations of various beneficial organisms, especially in poor soils. It seems to follow that this improves fertility and sustainability, though more sound evidence is still required. Sustainable agriculture relies on biological activity, but so far direct practical evidence for organic management’s real field value in this regard has been scarce. Relevant local research is even harder to come by.

Other South African research includes studies in sugarcane fields, where green cane harvesting with trash retention, a form of organic treatment, instead of burning, increased earthworm numbers and beneficial microbial biomass. – Staff reporter

Contact Prof Koot Reinecke on (021) 808 2861 or e-mail ajr@sun.ac.za. |fw

Source: Farmers Weekly

Toilers of the soil: the earthworm workers

Farmers Weekly

CARMEN NOTTINGHAM’S INTEREST in earthworms came in a roundabout way. At university she studied languages and industrial relations, but never pursued a career in this field. It was living and working on a yacht in the Caribbean for eight years that first sparked an interest in biology. “Here I saw the destruction of the coral reefs. I returned to South Africa to study marine biology, but instead landed up in Johannesburg, far away from the sea. I decided to view the soil as the ocean of the land. Earthworms are like plankton in the ocean. They help to create the food base for all life,” she says. She started farming with Eisenia foetida earthworms, commonly known as red wrigglers, on her smallholding north of Johannesburg in 2001.

Although there are over 5 000 earthworm species, this is one of only three commercially viable species that will thrive in a waste management and recycling operation. “In terms of waste management, they are phenomenal,” she says, adding that this earthworm can also be used in management of human, animal and food waste.

The earthworms live in five 60m x 3m trenches. The trenches are exposed to direct sunlight, and the earthworms are most active at night and early morning. “This is when they do their work,” Carmen says. As earthworms are very sensitive organisms, the trenches are shaded from excessive heat and light with dark plastic during the day. “The earthworm’s whole body is a sensory organ,” she explains. The open trenches are ideal for the earthworms because in the event of extreme heat or too much rain, they can burrow deeper in. “I don’t make prisoners of earthworms.”

The process

In a day, an earthworm can consume manure equivalent to its body weight, says Carmen. It moves by continuously burrowing, ingesting material, digesting it and depositing the remains. Ingested material passes through calciferous glands that neutralise its pH. “The gut of the earthworm is very oxygen-rich, and many microorganisms are deposited in the castings,” she says, adding that this makes the Fertilis product rich in oxygen and microbes. When the manure is ready, it is collected from the trenches, and any stones, earthworms and earthworm cocoons are sifted out.

She says the manure always contains stones, as cows often swallow stones to get minerals. “When you start out, it will take about nine months of feeding and breeding before the process can become continuous. The more earthworms you have, the more manure can be converted. The way to do it is to continue feeding some trenches while sifting others. If you want to produce more, then feed quicker.” Three tons of cow manure will produce one ton of sifted Fertilis, but the potential food value of a ton of Fertilis can be up to 30 times that of plain manure.

Markets and growth

Her earthworm enterprise has grown along with the increasing demand for organic products and more sustainable ways of farming. “This growth did not take place overnight,” she recalls. “We experienced slow but constant growth. The number of trenches on the farm does not determine the viability of the business. Turnover is the actual indicator. We had 100% growth in the business last year.”

The nursery and farming industries are her main markets. The company Talborne Organics distributes her product to nurseries and farmers in Gauteng, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal and the Cape. The nursery market caters primarily for gardeners, but farmers can purchase Fertilis in bulk directly from the farm. In the commercial farming sector her product is successfully used in the planting of seeds and seedlings. Carmen also supplies large-scale farmers with the Fertilis fertiliser to produce compost tea. The fertiliser, dissolved in water and strained, is sprayed on to crops by commercial farmers.

Carmen is expanding her business into the Western Cape. She admits the expansion will entail more than setting up shop in another province. She won’t be able to use open trenches, as Cape winter conditions are too wet. “The earthworms won’t adapt well to extremely wet conditions,” she says. Further growth opportunities lie in waste management, and recycling and growing earthworms for food in the aquaculture industry. Transporting dairy manure is one of her biggest costs, and for this reason Carmen advises that an earthworm farm should ideally be established on or near a dairy farm.

She says it can be beneficial for a farmer to start an earthworm farm, but many conventional farmers see processing manure as an additional cost. “But in the long run it can save the farmer lots of money,” she says, adding that the greatest benefit of converting manure is that it creates a sustainable farming operation. “Waste must be used as an input for another production process. It is only in this way that sustainability can be created.”

As earthworm farming is very labour-intensive, labour is a major cost. Fortunately her business doesn’t require expensive mechanisation. “It is a hand process to mix manure and put it in the trenches. The earthworms do most of the work,” she says, adding that sifting and bagging is also done by hand. She cautions prospective earthworm farmers to obtain the manure from a reliable source – the earthworms will die if any antibiotics, in particular dewormers, are present in the manure.

Carmen recommends a farmer starts by rehabilitating a small field first. She estimates that it will take about two seasons to rehabilitate soil. “It is never too late to start. One person can do a lot,” she says. She believes it can be more cost-effective to farm organically. Initially the farmer will have to spend more to restore the soil’s balance, but once this is achieved the long-term costs will be reduced. “The farmer will have to use less chemical fertiliser because the plant will not be dependent on chemicals any more,” she says, adding that plants will be stronger, there will be less pollution of groundwater, soil health will be improved, and nutrient levels of plants will be higher.”

Contact Carmen at (011) 888 4215 or Talborne Organics at (011) 954 5763. |fw

Source: Farmers Weekly

Soil Soldiers: Potassium, Sulphur & Phosphorous:: Potassium Truths || Sulphur: Vital for Soil || Phosphorous: Workhorse Nutrient

2009-06-01T05:24:00.000-07:00

Today, 6.5 billion humans depend entirely on oil for food, energy, plastics & chemicals. Population growth is on a collision course with the inevitable decline in oil production.
~ The Oil Factor: Behind the War on Terror, by Free Will Production ~
To give the reader an idea of the energy intensiveness of modern agriculture, production of one kilogram of nitrogen for fertilizer requires the energy equivalent of from 1.4 to 1.8 liters of diesel fuel. This is not considering the natural gas feedstock.
In a very real sense, we are literally eating fossil fuels. However, due to the laws of thermodynamics, there is not a direct correspondence between energy inflow and outflow in agriculture.
Modern intensive agriculture is unsustainable. It is damaging the land, draining water supplies and polluting the environment. And all of this requires more and more fossil fuel input to pump irrigation water, to replace nutrients, to provide pest protection, to remediate the environment and simply to hold crop production at a constant. Yet this necessary fossil fuel input is going to crash headlong into declining fossil fuel production.
~ Eating Fossil Fuels, by Dale Allen Pfeiffer ~
The trend of farmland investment is real and gaining ground. “Many governments are rethinking their approach to food security and are saying we need more domestic production, we need to be domestically independent,” he said. “I would argue the exact opposite approach is better. Without the free flow of trade in agricultural commodities and food products the health of any given country in any given year is at risk.
“Decisions taken today will have major repercussions for the livelihoods and food security of many, for decades to come” warns the report.
~ Report: Food security fuels Africa land grab | Africa's Misery Breeding Program, (aka PC) Food security or economic slavery? ~

Soil: Potassium truths

Farmers Weekly

Potassium should ideally represent between 2% to 7,5% of the exchange capacity of soil, depending on the type of crop produced, according to the Albrecht system. Woody plants require higher levels of potassium than most other crops. Sampling wine-producing soil in France, for example, revealed that premium wines flourished in potassium levels of between 7% to 7,5%, says soil expert, Dr Neal Kinsey. But for cash crops and pasture, the desired level is between 3% and 5%.

Yield and crop quality will be sacrificed once the potassium falls below 2% of the exchange capacity. D r Kinsey recalls that a California client never used potassium in his peach orchards because it simply wasn’t done where he was farming. A soil analysis indicated that this farmer’s land was potassium-deficient. By raising the levels, the size of the peaches increased to such an extent that he was able to sell almost all of them. Previously, only a quarter of his peaches satisfied the requirements of the market. The fruit was also less prone to bruising after the treatment

Potassium sulphate vs potassium chloride

Chemical potassium application should be governed by soil pH and the exchange capacity. Both potassium chloride and potassium sulphate are effective in raising the percentage of potassium in the soil at a pH (water) of less than 6,5. Dr Kinsey prefers potassium sulphate over potassium chloride, as chlorine can be detrimental to soil life. T his is confirmed by SA soil expert, John Fair. “Farmers often shy away from using potassium sulphate, because it’s far more expensive than the chloride form,” he says. “The truth is that potassium sulphate is more effective. It’s more stable and less prone to leaching.

And it doesn’t really cost more.” Potassium and sulphur, unlike potassium to maintain the levels on clay colloids only, thereby ensuring plants have sufficient potassium for optimal production at high pH levels. Anything extra is a waste. “At a potassium deficiency of 300kg/ha in soil with a pH above 6,7, it would be better to only apply 90kg/ha according to the plant’s needs. This is because the plant can only absorb around 90kg of the 300kg applied,” Dr Kinsey says. He adds that it’s better to split potassium applications for plants with high potassium needs than to provide a once-off application in such soil.

Manure and compost = potassium source

The potassium level in all soil, regardless of pH, can also be increased with manure and compost in a high potassium content. Dr Kinsey explains that the microorganisms in these materials help to make the potassium available to the plant, and stimulate microbial activity in the soil and help make potassium previously locked up, available again. But too much potassium has disadvantages. Excess potassium is a huge risk to livestock producers who farm on small pastures. Dr Kinsey had a client who started to lose all his best heifers.

An autopsy indicated the sodium and potassium levels in the bloodstream were higher than their calcium and magnesium levels. He attributed this to the fact that the animals were grazing small areas, resulting in a huge and toxic build-up of potassium in the soil due to all the high-potassium manure. The farmer had also not added other nutrients such as calcium to offset the impact of potassium. As high-producing cattle usually eat more than average animals, they were affected first. The farmer continued to lose animals until he identified the problem and provided calcium supplements and made the pastures safe by correcting the nutrient levels.

A bitter side-effect

Another problem posed by potassium and phosphate excess is that crops get a bitter taste, making them less desirable for human or animal consumption. This is often a problem on organic farms, as producers tend to think that one can’t overdo manure and compost. The higher the percentage of potassium above 7,5%, the more problems there are with weeds.

Dr Kinsey advises farmers to first balance all the other cations before trying to strip potassium from the soil. As mentioned earlier, potassium has a rather weak charge, which means that calcium and magnesium can easily displace it and help bring the percentage in line. Sulphur and sulphates can then be used to strip excess potassium if needed.

For more information contact SA Biofarm on (012) 333 4222 or visit www.sabiofarm.co.za. |fw

Source: Farmers Weekly

Sulphur: vital but mostly lacking in soil

Farmers Weekly

Sulphur is essential for the production of plant proteins, chlorophyll, enzymes and vitamins. It promotes nodule formation in legumes, aids seed production and helps seedlings survive cool, moist soil conditions. International soil expert Neal Kinsey recommends that soil should contain at least 20ppm (parts per million) sulphur for optimal production of most crops. Woody plants and root crops will perform best at a sulphur level of 50ppm when all other plant nutrient requirements have been met. S ulphur is essential for root development.

Research indicates that wheat with sufficient sulphur shows a 50% better root development than wheat with a shortage. Similar results were found in citrus, wine grapes, cotton and maize. Addressing a sulphur deficiency will enhance crop growth and help lengthen the shelf-life of vegetables. Sulphur also helps improve the palatability and sweetness of crops. “People always talk about how sweet watermelons tasted in the past,” Kinsey says,” and the reason why they don’t anymore is because farmers are unwittingly applying less sulphur through fertiliser mixtures to soil than before.

A nitrogen excess often ties up copper so that it becomes unavailable to the crop, decreasing its palatability.” deficiency usually shows up in a light or yellow discolouration of young leaves. However, a leaf sample should still be taken, as leaf necrosis has many causes. Nitrogen and potassium deficiencies also cause leaf discolouration, but this starts on older leaves. Kinsey warns that when sulphur deficiency is evident on the leaf, there’s already been a negative impact on the crop. ccording to Kinsey, soil was already sulphur-deficient in the 1970s.

Levels have dropped even more because of changes in fertiliser composition. He explains that in the past, a sulphur deficiency was partially addressed by the fact that many fertiliser mixtures automatically contained sulphur, but this has been phased out. Shortages are further exacerbated by the continuous push for higher yields, as well as a decline in atmospheric sulphur deposition. Most soil that Kinsey has sampled is sulphur-deficient. Most affected is soil with a sandy or light texture, well-drained soil, or soil low in organic matter. Also, the cooler the soil, the less available the sulphur. Kinsey advises that sulphur, as boron and nitrogen, must be supplied regularly at slightly higher levels than the plant requires for optimal production because it leaches easily.

How to address a sulphur deficiency

Compost and manure are not good sources of sulphur. “You’re not going to get something for nothing. If animals or compost don’t receive sufficient sulphur, then they can’t produce it.” dding commercial sulphur is the best way to address a shortage. Kinsey stresses that farmers must base the sulphur product on the soil’s nutritional needs. Elemental sulphur is ideal when a quick boost is needed, but as it’s water-soluble, it soon leaches away.

Another drawback is that it only addresses a sulphur deficiency and therefore might not be economically viable when compared to other sources such as copper sulphate that also addresses copper deficiency, gypsum that will additionally raise the calcium levels, ammonium sulphate that doubles as a rich source of nitrogen, or magnesium sulphate which also provides magnesium. In John Fair’s Guide to Profitable Pasture, the author explains that he used ammonium sulphate on pasture, based on the going price of elemental sulphur minus the purchase price of additional nitrogen.

Ammonium sulphate was always a more economical purchase. He later found that gypsum was an even cheaper source and that it also increased the calcium levels. Kinsey always emphasises the importance of maintaining the right percentages of calcium and magnesium in the cation exchange of the soil (see “Elements vital to soil” in Farmer’s Weekly, 8 August 2008). “The closer the calcium/magnesium balance is to ideal, the less fluctuation will be seen in sulphur levels,” he explains. “Once equilibrium is achieved, it will also become more difficult for sulphur to leach away.”

A huge advantage of sulphur is that, when applying more than is needed, farmers will be able to strip the soil of excessive elements such as sodium, magnesium and or potassium – provided there is sufficient calcium in the soil. However, too much is never good so farmers should be careful not to overapply sulphur, as it can burn plants, cause phytotoxicity symptoms and acidulate the formation of iron.

Contact information: SA Biofarm: (012) 333 4222 or visit www.sabiofarm.co.za. |fw

Source: Farmers Weekly

Phosphorous The workhorse nutrient

Farmers Weekly

According to soil expert Neal Kinsey, a sufficient supply of phosphorous at planting during the early stages and germination is essential for most grain crops to ensure rapid seedling growth. A shortage of phosphorous in wheat during seed set could cause pollination problems and small wheat ears that curve to one side. A sustainable supply is needed for maize production, as phosphorous is associated with good kernel set, making the kernels fill out right to the top of the cob.

However, since boron is also associated with good kernel set, farmers should determine which of these nutrients is deficient before applying one blindly to address kernel set problems. Insufficient phosphorous in pasture also increases bloat in cattle. Neal recalls a research trial on a new clover variety. “Half the farmers loved it, while the other half said it caused terrible bloating in their cattle. A soil analysis revealed that all the farmers whose animals suffered bloating had a phosphorous deficiency in their soil.” Neal proposes soil should contain at least 300kg/ha phosphorous, but preferably between 500kg/ha to 800kg/ha for optimal production depending on specific crop needs.

Phosphorous is measured in P2O5 as this is the form in which it’s usually bought. To calculate the amount of elemental phosphorous in this compound, divide the mass of by 2,3. P hosphorous is conveniently divided into soil feeding and plant feeding types. Neal feels it’s better to source manure or compost with a high phosphorous level as a soil feeder than buy a commercial soil-feeding phosphorous. “You get a far better biological effect and value for money,” he says. Farmers must remember the rule of excess and minimum – if you apply too much manure, the phosphorous or excess nutrients will leach into the soil, hurting the soil nutrient balance.

Phosphorous sources Pig manure is particularly rich in phosphorous, and usually contains more phosphorous than potassium, except in a dry year, when the soil’s low phosphate content carries over into pig feed. In contrast, cow manure usually has a high potassium and low phosphorous content. Hard and soft rock phosphates are also natural soil-feeding phosphorous sources, but may be harder to obtain and release more slowly than plant-feeding foliar feeds. Hard rock phosphates also release very slowly in a soil with a pH (water) exceeding 6,5, and need a healthy soil life to make them soluble. Soft rock phosphate is a good source if you need calcium and phosphorous.

Neal adds that most of his clients using rock phosphate don’t mind the slow release period, because they don’t have to reapply it for five to 20 years. Only legumes can use the phosphorous during the first year, as only in the second year will there be enough of it for wheat. Neal points out that farmers can work legumes back into the soil to build the phosphate level for the next crop. The granular size of the phosphate source also affects the rate of release.

To test whether the source is fine enough, John Fair, considered the father of biological farming in SA, advises in his book John Fair’s Guide to Profitable Pastures that around 60% must pass through a 100 mesh screen. Diammonium phosphates (DAP) and mono-ammonium phosphates (MAP) are the other commercial soil builders. Fair prefers DAP for pasture, because it contains more nitrogen. MAP is a better choice on soils with a pH (water) above 7,5.

Timing applications In general, soil-feeding phosphate can be applied at any time and the phosphorous will be available to the plant as needed. Plant-feeding phosphate, such as super phosphate or triple super phosphate, is usually cheaper but doesn’t build the soil and must be applied annually. Neal explains that plant-feeding phosphates will revert back to tricalcium phosphate, which only legumes can easily absorb, within eight weeks after application under optimal conditions. “Plant-feeding phosphates are usually highly acidic with a pH of 3 or less,” he explains. “In a soil with a pH (water) above 5,5 phosphorous will latch onto calcium to form tricalcium phosphate.

Under adverse conditions, this reaction can take as little as four weeks. The phosphorous is, in effect, lost to the plant.” Research confirms plants usually only take up 20% of the phosphorous in a plant-feeding phosphate under favourable conditions. The remaining 80% is usually represented by phosphorous already available in the soil. Under adverse conditions, plants take up 90% from the soil, and only 10% from the plant-feed.

Contact SA Biofarm at (012) 333 4222 or visit www.sabiofarm.co.za. |fw

Factors affecting phosphorous availability

Various factors influence phosphorous availability, starting with a direct link between the level of available phosphorous and other nutrients. “Soil high in sulphur needs more phosphorous,” says Neal. “If phosphorous availability is borderline, high zinc levels can impede uptake so more phosphorous is needed for production. Highly acidic phosphorous sources react with calcium, rendering the phosphorous unavailable to the plant.” Magnesium is vital to phosphorous metabolism. Without it, (see Farmers Weekly 8 August), phosphorous uptake will be impeded. Neal advises farmers to use plant-feeding phosphate until the problem is rectified. Plants can’t absorb phosphorous under cold conditions.

Apply it in warm weather for optimal uptake. Other factors include soil aeration, compaction and moisture. Microorganisms, such as mycorrhiza, convert phosphorous to plant-available form. They need sufficient air and moisture, but excessive moisture destroys them. Don’t apply chemicals toxic to them. Anhydrous ammonium can deplete mycorrhiza for up to eight weeks. Compaction influences aeration and makes it difficult for plant roots to penetrate the soil and get in direct contact with phosphorous. Place the phosphorous as close to roots as possible. Unlike other anions, phosphorous tends to stay where it’s placed, so application time and method are crucial to phosphorous availability.

Source: Farmers Weekly

Soil Soldier: Nitrogen:: Nitrogen fertilisation: when to count on soil organic matter || Take care with nitrogen

2009-06-01T05:01:00.000-07:00

To give the reader an idea of the energy intensiveness of modern agriculture, production of one kilogram of nitrogen for fertilizer requires the energy equivalent of from 1.4 to 1.8 liters of diesel fuel. This is not considering the natural gas feedstock. In a very real sense, we are literally eating fossil fuels. However, due to the laws of thermodynamics, there is not a direct correspondence between energy inflow and outflow in agriculture.
Modern intensive agriculture is unsustainable. It is damaging the land, draining water supplies and polluting the environment. And all of this requires more and more fossil fuel input to pump irrigation water, to replace nutrients, to provide pest protection, to remediate the environment and simply to hold crop production at a constant. Yet this necessary fossil fuel input is going to crash headlong into declining fossil fuel production.
~ Eating Fossil Fuels, by Dale Allen Pfeiffer ~
Schumacher stressed the central role of energy among primary goods. He argued that energy cannot be treated as one commodity among many; rather, it is the gateway resource that allows all other resources to be accessed. Schumacher pointed out that the failures of contemporary economics could not be solved by improved mathematical models or more detailed statistics, because they were hardwired into the assumptions underlying economics itself. Every way of thinking about the world rests ultimately on presuppositions that are, strictly speaking, metaphysical in nature: that is, they deal with fundamental questions about what exists and what has value.
~ Schumacher Realist Resource Economics: 'Energy is the Gateway Resource' | The Long Road Down: Energy Decline and the Deindustrial Future ~
Today, 6.5 billion humans depend entirely on oil for food, energy, plastics & chemicals. Population growth is on a collision course with the inevitable decline in oil production.
~ The Oil Factor: Behind the War on Terror, by Free Will Production ~

Nitrogen fertilisation: when to count on soil organic matter

Farmers Weekly

Last week, soil scientist Neil Miles discussed the role animals play in the nitrogen fertilisation of pasture. This week, he tells farmers how to get the most out of soil organic matter.

Pastures obtain nitrogen from three sources: fertilisers, animal excreta and the soil organic matter. For proper nitrogen fertilisation scheduling, farmers must allow for nitrogen to be released from soil organic matter. Matching nitrogen applications with grass growth Figure 1 shows typical daily growth data for perennial ryegrass in the high-lying, colder areas of the country, showing that it varies from approximately 20kg/ha/day of dry matter in mid-winter to over 70kg/ha/day in early summer.

Because of this range in growth rates, intervals between grazings tend to be long (typically 60 days) in the very cold period and short (18 to 21 days) during the early summer growth flush. Fertilisation schedules must match these wide variations. E xperience indicates that farmers tend to apply little or no nitrogen during the mid-winter period, and not enough for the pasture to realise its full growth potential during the spring/early summer flush.

The tendency to apply little or no nitrogen in June-July is understandable, when growth is slow and a long time between grazings is experienced. However, there’s essentially no release of nitrogen from the soil organic matter during mid-winter, and the pasture is critically dependent on nitrogen fertiliser for growth and survival during that time.

The amount required in winter is low, but intervals between applications shouldn’t exceed 30 days. In severely nitrogen-deficient pastures growth stops completely, and yields in spring are depressed since pastures are slow to grow, as conditions become favourable. Signs of nitrogen deficiency in ryegrass include a reddish-brown leaf colour (often mistaken for potassium deficiency) and a stark contrast in colour and growth between urine patches and the rest of the pasture.

In spring/early summer, pasture growth rate is at a maximum, intervals between grazings are short, and soil organic matter releases minimal nitrogen because of low soil temperatures. This creates a large demand for nitrogen fertiliser. Figure 2 shows a typical nitrogen fertilisation schedule incorporating the above information. Tapping nitrogen from soil organic matter S oil organic matter levels build up under permanent pastures. Nitrogen is present in the soil organic matter at a concentration of about 5% of the dry weight.

In fertile, productive soils, the ratio of carbon to nitrogen (C:N) in the organic matter is remarkably constant, and usually falls in the range 9:1 to 13:1. This implies that as organic matter builds up under the pasture, so do considerable amounts of nitrogen. fact, pasture topsoils may hold between 5 000kg/ha and 15 000kg/ha of nitrogen – over 95% of which is in the organic matter – which is available for plant growth. But researchers have found that, annually, between 3% and 6% of this nitrogen is released for uptake by plant roots. Since this release is facilitated by soil microorganisms, it’s maximised when soil temperatures favour microbial activity.

Thus the nitrogen supply from the soil organic matter peaks in the second half of summer and is minimal in winter and early summer when soil temperatures are low (Figure 3). The relatively low fertiliser nitrogen rates recommended for January to March (Figure 2) reflect these contributions from the organic matter.

On long-term, well-fertilised pastures in which soil organic matter levels have increased, farmers can save considerably by withholding or reducing nitrogen applications when the pasture can rely on releases from the organic matter (Figure 4). In kikuyu pastures, responses to nitrogen fertiliser are marked in the first half of summer, while less is required between January and March (Figure 5).

Contact Neil Miles on 084 577 7087. |fw

Source: Farmers Weekly

Take care with nitrogen

Farmers Weekly

A plant needs sufficient NITROGEN IN the early stages of growth for a uniform, vigorous start. But with excessive nitrogen there can be less fruit-set, as well as an imbalance between leaf and fruiting, or even misshapen fruit.

On the other hand, too little nitrogen results in fewer fruit and a plant that makes smaller trusses higher up. And calculating the plant’s requirements in advance is a risky exercise, because each land is different depending on cation levels and climatic conditions, as they influence the breakdown of organic content to make nitrogen available. If sales representatives approach you with a weekly fertilisation programme for soil-planted tomatoes, your alarm bells should start to ring. But hydroponics are a different scenario.

Too many farmers ask for a fertilisation programme for their crop, often without even having had a soil analysis done. It’s important to get the cation levels right, but after that, nitrogen is the accelerator. You can use it to control growth and sufficient vigour of foliage, but don’t use too much, or you’ll lose yield and quality. For survival and productivity, the plant has a genetic programme designed to adapt to variable conditions.

This programme is active all the time and responds to conditions rather than your intentions. That’s why it’s important to frequently inspect and determine the plant’s status. It may seem okay to give the plant a good dollop of nitrogen when it’s young, but the plant could actually resort to its genetically programmed response, which helps it survive competition.

All the effort goes into vegetative growth to dominate before it sets fruit. This happenes because it’s pointless for the plant to start fruiting if it may be overwhelmed and not even survive. Small plants require little nitrogen and it’s really easy to overdo it. Watch the leaf colour and also whether the trusses are being filled to your liking. By the time that the plant has almost reached its full height, there will be a lot more nitrogen required as the weight volume of the plant increases rapidly.

If there’s insufficient nitrogen, the next biological mechanism would be to nurture the formed fruit, instead of risking energy on new fruit that it might not be able to feed. The result would be poorly filled trusses higher up on the plant. armers often wonder why they get different results for seemingly inexplicable reasons and in most cases, it’s because the application of nitrogen played a role

Bill Kerr (alphaseed@lantic.net or call (016) 366 0616

Source: Farmers Weekly

Conservation Agriculture (CA): No-Till Farming:: What no-till farmers need to know about nitrogen || No-till & biological farming: winning combination

2009-06-01T04:39:00.000-07:00

My interest in no-till came about purely by default. I had started farming on virgin soil in a poor condition, but noticed that the soil improved proportionate to my economic restraints which had caused me to cut back on tillage operations. M y intention was that would go back to normal tillage when the economic constraints passed. As a vegetable producer, no-till was the furthest thing from my mind. After a few years of minimal till and using only chemical fertilisers, noticed the organic content, and so the amount of humus in the soil, had steadily increased, improving the condition of the crops.
~ Conservation Agriculture (CA): No-Till Farming:: What no-till farmers need to know about nitrogen || No-till & biological farming: winning combination ~
The question is not whether the carrying capacity of land, air, and water ultimately limits how many people can subsist on Earth and in the United States. The limits are real; the only discussion can be about whether we have passed them or how close they are coming. The ultimate question is: What combination of population size and standard of living is wanted?
Any number of elements or systems can be hurt by overuse: A population cannot be stable if, by its size or behavior, it destroys the very life-support systems on which it depends. Sooner or later, degradation of the environment is felt in inadequacies of the food or water supply, shelter, or havens where individuals can be safe and the young can develop. Sustainability requires human or animal populations to stay at or below the carrying capacity of their physical environment.
~ “Two Intellectual Systems: Matter-energy and the Monetary Culture” | Population Politics: The Carrying Capacity Choices that Shape Our Future ~
Today, 6.5 billion humans depend entirely on oil for food, energy, plastics & chemicals. Population growth is on a collision course with the inevitable decline in oil production.
~ The Oil Factor: Behind the War on Terror, by Free Will Production ~

No-till & biological farming: winning combination

Farmers Weekly

Even though it’s combating erosion problems, reducing water evaporation and helping to keep soil cool, minimum tillage is failing to live up to expectations in many countries, says HF de Wet, a South African soil consultant currently working in Australia. “First, it hasn’t resulted in a significant rise in organic matter in the soil,” he explains. “This is because stubble needs to be incorporated into the soil to build soil organic matter.

Farmers using minimum tillage, however, leave the stubble on top of the soil.” Minimum tillage also hasn’t resulted in a major reduction in production costs. As a matter of fact, in some cases it’s even increased costs by creating new production challenges. For example, some farmers experience increased herbicide resistance because minimum tillage reduces the non-chemical options available to control weed problems, and farmers can’t burn or plough lands to get rid of weeds. Most also refrain from sending sheep or cattle to graze lands after harvesting, and thus reduce the weed seed bank, because of fears they’ll compact the soil.

While minimum tillage will remain an important production tool due to its ability to help prevent erosion, many Australian farmers are now incorporating biological farming methods into their production. Increasingly, these farmers are observing the way biological farming methods help improve soil quality and health, says De Wet.

Optimal nutrient uptake

With biological farming, instead of simply feeding the soil by adding more and more fertiliser, producers aim to create optimal soil conditions for nutrient uptake by using more natural products, such as rock phosphate, calcium or potassium silicon; by stimulating soil biology and by balancing soil elements. The idea is that by building a healthy soil, you’ll produce a healthy plant. De Wet explains the Australian government also offers farmers various incentives to increase the organic matter in their soil, due to rising concerns of global warming.

Farmers using biological production methods are also less dependent on chemical pesticides for weed and disease control. Experiments De Wet has conducted in Australia have obtained positive results using mineral fertilisation. During planting he applied Western Mineral Fertiliser, a mixture of rock phosphate, dolomite, calcium, silicate and microelements in sulphates. This increased phosphate uptake by almost 21%, compared to cases using the chemical fertilisers monoammonium phosphate (MAP) and diammonium phosphate (DAP).

“Unlocking” elements

From 1992 to 1996, De Wet conducted research at the Agricultural Research Council’s Small Grain Institute on the conversion of nitrogen, including soil mineralisation and nitrification.

His research shows that organic carbon and nitrogen, clay, cation exchange capacity (CEC) and pH are the main factors influencing soil mineralisation and nitrification. If any of these are out of balance, it can “lock up” other elements in the soil, preventing them from becoming available for plant absorption. De Wet later added soil temperature, soil moisture level and the fungi : bacteria ratio to this list.

“For example, if nitrogen is applied to cold or wet soils, very little of it would become available to the soil or plants, due to the anaerobic conditions associated with waterlogging,” he explains.

De Wet stresses that the fungi : bacterial ratio varies at different stages of plant growth. This is important, as specific bacteria and fungi are responsible for breaking down specific nutrients and making them available to other soil organisms or plants.

More roots, more wheat

Root development contributes up to 80% of the organic carbon in the soil. Plants with larger root systems absorb soil nutrients and moisture more effectively. De Wet’s recent research therefore investigates factors that influence root development. In the first study he applied 80kg/ha of MAP and 25ℓ/ha of urea ammonium phosphate when growing wheat. In one sample he added 5ℓ/ha of a calcium supplement. A control sample receive no additional supplements.

In the calcium-supplemented sample, the wheat’s root surface area was almost five times larger than in the control sample. Plant sap analysis also revealed that the wheat that received calcium, absorbed three times more phosphate.
However, the most important result was attained in terms of yield – the calcium-treated sample produced a yield of 2 781kg/ha, compared with the control’s 2 541kg/ha. Based on the wheat price, the increased production translated into an additional A,20 (R700,41).

The fungus factor

Another of De Wet’s Australian studies evaluated the impact of trichoderma – a type of soil fungi – on soil bacterial and fungal activity. Four treatments were applied. In the first sample, seed was inoculated with trichoderma. In the control sample seed received no treatment.

The third sample received liquid trichoderma, and the fourth sample a fungicide called Impact, both applied at planting. Seed inoculated with trichoderma yielded 80kg/ha less wheat than the control sample, at 1 450kg/ha. This translated into a loss of A/ha (R183,93/ha). The fungicide treatment destroyed all fungi in the soil – irrespective of whether these were beneficial and harmful – and yield was 60kg/ha less wheat than the control. Factoring in the increased cost of this treatment, this translated into a loss of A/ha (R191,28/ha).

Finally, applying liquid trichoderma gave the best results in terms of yield and economy. Yield was 100kg higher than the control, and profit increased by A/ha (R161,86/ha).

E-mail HF de Wet at meag@westnet.com.au. |fw

Source: Farmers Weekly

What no-till farmers need to know about nitrogen

Farmers Weekly

My interest in no-till came about purely by default. I had started farming on virgin soil in a poor condition, but noticed that the soil improved proportionate to my economic restraints which had caused me to cut back on tillage operations. M y intention was that would go back to normal tillage when the economic constraints passed. As a vegetable producer, no-till was the furthest thing from my mind. After a few years of minimal till and using only chemical fertilisers, noticed the organic content, and so the amount of humus in the soil, had steadily increased, improving the condition of the crops.

This led me to want to understand how that had happened. started to reflect on statements had heard at lectures at Cedara College 45 years earlier. n one of my flashbacks recalled being told that in a mixed farming system, it’s good practice to plant Eragrostis curvula on lands that have been over-farmed. The common Afrikaans name for this grass is oulandsgras (directly translated as old land’s grass). It’s a pioneer species that can survive on badly degraded soil.

We were told that after about six years, provided sufficient nitrogen was applied, the higher levels of organic material would transform the soil. We were advised to plant a cash crop like cabbages or potatoes after that treatment because the soil would then be sufficiently improved to produce a rewarding crop. But if too little nitrogen was applied, the soil would remain as poor as when we started. No explanation was provided and we all accepted the college’s advice because they had conducted trials. We were even given the amount of nitrogen to apply.

Unveiling the obvious

Another flashback told me humus had a carbon:nitrogen (C:N) ratio of 10:1. These thoughts troubled me and led me to assume that because had fertilised well, perhaps that was why the organic content on my virgin lands had improved so quickly. knew tilling the soil stimulated microorganisms to tackle the organic content and this knowledge was reinforced by a 50-year-old flashback to Weston Agricultural College.

On that occasion was told that when lands were initially prepared in South Africa, after ploughing out veld, the organic material ploughed into the soil provided drought relief through moisture retention, and in the process stimulated microorganisms. Furthermore, by applying lime and superphosphate, mineralisation (breaking down of humus and resultant release of beneficial micronutrients), would release nitrogen and make maize farming very profitable, but at the expense of organic content or humus.

Investigating a theory

Armed with these thoughts, started to phone agronomists and asked them whether there was a formula to determine how much nitrogen is required to maximise the formation of crop residue into humus. N o luck. They told me a narrow C:ratio crop residue would break down faster, but that the nitrogen content of the residue had no influence on the amount of humus formed. I replied that there had to be a formula and on one occasion I described the E. curvula scenario to them. Well-fertilised grass would yield about 10t of dry matter per annum, and there was agreement. But with insufficient nitrogen we could expect only about 3t. Agreement again. So why was the yield improved? After a moment’s silence, the reply was “you have a point”. I then started to contact agronomy professors at US universities.

The first two came back with vague statements like that nitrogen content does have a stabilising effect on humus. And then I had a breakthrough. I got hold of Prof Steve Thien at Kansas State University who not only confirmed my belief that there is a formula, but he mentioned that all his students have to do a project to prove the formula. Wow! I couldn’t believe knowledge of such economic importance has been so confined. It’s so profound it affects virtually every farmer and is especially important to understanding the mechanisms of no-till farming.

A theory in practice

To determine how much humus can be formed, we need to measure the amount of plant material or residue left in the soil after harvesting. So, pull out all the plants on 100m2 of land, including the roots because obviously they also count. Allowance must be made for other root structures left in the soil. As the crop grows, it uses the available nitrogen produced by microorganisms as they break down the previous crop’s residue after no-till .

The manner and frequency of application of nitrogen must be adapted to the requirements of both the crop and how much residue was left on the soil. It won’t help to band place all the nitrogen too far from the residue as it may benefit the crop and not humus formation later on. Legumes all have a C:N ratio narrower than 30:1 and therefore a surplus of nitrogen is left in the soil at maximum humus formation. This is why farmers who include legumes in rotations have faster soil improvement with no-till.

At the heart of the matter

My alarm bells rang some months ago when I read about trials being done in KwaZulu-Natal where various treatments were being tried to reduce a soil dwelling pathogen affecting no-till maize. A treatment with anhydrous ammonia as a nitrogen source produced good results. This product has an 82% nitrogen content and has a sterilising effect on the soil, effectively fumigating the area around the point of injection. This could account for suppression of the pathogen, but it also has another profound effect.

Once the area again becomes habitable to microorganisms, it will be re-colonised first by bacteria prompted to frenzied activity by all the nitrogen, but few other microorganisms to keep them in balance. They also use the soil carbon as a food source and in the process cause rapid mineralisation releasing more nitrogen into the soil. So, plants growing during this treatment get an extra dollop of nitrogen resulting in more vigour compared to the control. The extra nitrogen will be at the expense of soil organic content and the opposite is achieved of what we want from no-till.

Don’t underestimate nitrogen

This was illustrated to us by Graeme Sait, the CEO of NTS at a course last year. In tropical areas during the Second World War landing strips were treated with anhydrous ammonia to rapidly deplete humus and make hard surfaces. On the positive side, there are products available that can be sprayed onto crop residue to accelerate decomposition.

They usually consist of a range of microorganisms and the nutrients to increase their activity. Clearly, we can stimulate nitrogen-producing microorganism without nitrogen, even sugar feeds them, but a formula should be considered and it’s worth discussing this with your fertiliser representative. In theory, no-till just has to work. I suspect nitrogen has a major role to play in failures. Avoid compaction by only grazing livestock when the soil is dry. Once the organic matter builds up, the recovery from this compaction is much more rapid.

There are occasions when plough pans need to be broken up with a ripper, but once the build-up of humus changes the soil, input costs are lower. Study groups are necessary to share knowledge and experience. And there is something we should always keep in mind. If Israel is forced to attack Iran, the current oil price may seem a bargain. |fw

Source: Farmers Weekly

Conservation Agriculture (CA): No-Till Farming:: Fifteen years of no-till – the results || No-till success on the Orange River

2009-06-01T04:15:00.001-07:00

Conservation Agriculture (CA) principles like minimal soil disturbance through no-till or direct seeding, permanent soil cover, the use of crop residue and/or green manure cover crops, multi-cropping and crop rotation.
CA not only reduced costs, but enhanced soil structure, increased humus content, nurtured microbial life, prevented erosion and increased moisture absorption. Jaco realised South Africa needed CA to become globally competitive. Today, Jaco is reaping the benefits of no-till and crop rotation.
He doesn’t, for instance, allow market prices to determine which crops he plants – with his own silos, he can sell his crops when the prices are right. He doesn’t believe in debt, and to avoid it, he doesn’t take out production loans, but rather buys and pays for his year’s seed and fertiliser at the end of February.
~ Conservation Agriculture (CA): No-Till Farming:: Fifteen years of no-till – the results || No-till success on the Orange River ~
The related terms, "sustainable" and "sustainability" are popularly used to describe a wide variety of activities which are generally ecologically laudable but which may not be sustainable. An examination of major reports reveals contradictory uses of the terms. An attempt is made here to give a firm and unambiguous definition to the concept of sustainability and to translate the definition into a series of laws and hypotheses which, it is hoped, will clarify the implications of the use of the concept of sustainability. These are followed by a series of observations and predictions that relate to "sustainability." The laws should enable one to read the many publications on sustainability and help one to decide whether the publications are seeking to illuminate or to obfuscate.
~ Reflections on Sustainability, Population Growth, and the Environment: Carrying Capacity & Denial of Population Problem ~
Today, 6.5 billion humans depend entirely on oil for food, energy, plastics & chemicals. Population growth is on a collision course with the inevitable decline in oil production.
~ The Oil Factor: Behind the War on Terror, by Free Will Production ~

Fifteen years of no-till – the results

Farmers Weekly | Robyn Joubert

Karkloof’s no-till pioneer René Stubbs has been at it for 15 years. His maize silage yield has increased from 8t/ha DM in 1995 to 14,5t/ha DM in 2008, with a saving of up to 40 of diesel/ha in land preparation. On pastures, he saves up to 60 diesel/ha which is close to R90 000 for 170ha of annual re-sown pasture, bringing total fuel savings to R132 000 a year, writes Robyn Joubert.

René Stubbs has come a long way since he first dipped his toes into the milk industry in 1989. Not only has he built up his dairy from a small leased herd to his own impressive herd of 760 Holsteins in milk, René has also pioneered no-till farming in Karkloof outside Pietermaritzburg.

“When we bought Denleigh farm in 1986, the soils were shot,” he recalls. “The land had continuously been farmed to produce maize for an intensive beef operation, as well as potatoes and later carrots. The soils were full of harmful pathogens, had very little structure and contained hardly any organic matter.” René explains that the contour banks were huge and poorly constructed, leading to severe erosion whenever they had a big storm. Conventional tillage practices required tractors and equipment clocking up many working hours and he was faced with mounting bills to replace equipment which he couldn’t afford at the time. Despite his best efforts, René was unable to improve maize yields beyond 7t/ha. “The writing was on the wall – it was time to change the way we did things on the farm.”

The no-till movement was gaining momentum then and good experience was emanating from the US, Brazil, and locally. “We were seeing improvements in no-till equipment and people were starting to understand that with the right equipment, herbicides and technique, the system was feasible,” he says. “The price of glyphosate had also become more favourable and I was faced with an interesting challenge.” René, who is chairperson of Midlands Milk (Pty), uses two systems of forage production at Denleigh to support his dairy herd.

The first is maize silage and cover crops, the second is pastures consisting of kikuyu and perennial ryegrass for the summer and annual ryegrass for winter forage.
He has used no-till on maize for 15 years now and over that period, rain-fed maize silage yield improved from 8t/ha DM in 1995 to 12t/ha DM in 2002 and 14,5t/ha DM in 2008. In terms of pasture, René is going into the third year of no-till and expects to establish all newly sown pastures with this method.

Diesel savings and soil improvement

René estimates that on the maize fields alone, he saves 30ℓ to 40ℓ of diesel/ha in land preparation, which amounts to R38 000 a year on 110ha of maize silage produced. On the pastures, he saves 50ℓ to 60ℓ diesel/ha, which is close to R90 000 for 170ha of annual re-sown pasture, bringing total fuel savings to R132 000 a year.
“That’s not taking into account the savings of up to 900 tractor-hours per year between maize silage and pasture establishment. The money I’m saving could buy a new 65kW tractor every 11 years,” he points out.

Perhaps even more important for René than the economic aspect is the improvement in the condition of the soil. Soil pH has improved from 4,5 to 5 on average.
“We are consistently applying lime topdressings and gypsum at strategic times. The average soil acid saturation in 1995 for the entire farm was 16%, now it is close to zero.” With the acid saturation coming down, calcium levels have improved to just below 1 000mg Ca/ℓ in the soil. Magnesium increased at the same time. Soil organic carbon is increasing slowly but steadily.

On average, most of Denleigh’s soil contains over 4% organic carbon in 2008 compared to 2% in 1996, and that improvement comes on fields that produce maize silage alone, René says. “We have also seen a spectacular increase in the earthworms and other indicator species. Earthworms have improved from no earthworms per square metre in soil that had been ploughed for many years to 300 earthworms per square metre after three years of no-till. We work in an amazingly forgiving environment.”

Weeds have also been reduced significantly. “There has been an enormous change in weed species and reduced populations of grasses, especially stoloniferous types in maize and nutgrass in pastures.” A sharp decrease in soil pathogens has come as a welcome relief. “Soil pests like rootworm and wireworm, together with black maize beetle, were prolific 15 years ago and were costing us close to R500/ha to try and combat,” René says. “Now we no longer treat for any of them. We only use Eco-T from Plant Health Products, which helps restore the balance in the soil of predatory fungi, ensuring improved germination and plant health.”

Improving water, reducing erosion and returning wildlife

The no-till system has had a significant impact on the quality of catchment water. A Sappi water quality test repeated from 1999 to 2001, measuring the number of organisms in the water, found that while the Karkloof River was in “fair” health in the first two years, it was upgraded to “good” in 2001. “We have seen a significant improvement in water quality in the river as more farmers adopt the no-till method,” explains René.

Soil erosion has been reduced during heavy summer rainfall due to soil cover. “If the soil is tilled, cover is reduced and soil gets washed away. This fact drives us away from conventional to alternative cultivation methods.”
The increase in cover and food for wildlife has resulted in the return to the valley of some indicator species such as the wattled crane and the bald ibis and an improvement in the numbers of other species such as the guinea fowl.

Promoting no-till

René is emphatic that the no-till production system is effective, economically sustainable and environmentally acceptable. “The system works. However, it requires a thorough understanding and needs a long-term commitment to see it through. As we are the custodians of our farms, we have a responsibility to become sustainable, innovative and economical in the way we manage our farms for future generations.”

Contact René Stubbs on (033) 3302822 or e-mail denleigh@mweb.co.za.

Timeline of silage maize and cover crop system

Mid-September/mid-October: spray cover crop with glyphosate.
November: plant maize and apply pre-emergent herbicide spray.
November/December: nitrogen top dressing and post-emergence herbicide sprays.
April: silage-making and simultaneous seeding of cover crop. Plant cover crop in the same four-day period that maize silage is harvested to prevent the soil from drying out.
June to September: intermittent grazing of cover crop. If decent rain falls, put cows in to graze. But keep cows out if there is no rain or if it is muddy to prevent compaction.
June to September: this is the ideal time to take soil samples and make soil fertility corrections. Apply lime and gypsum.
September to October: allow cover crop to grow out.

Timeline of no-till pastures

The no-till method for pasture is based on ensuring planting is done at the right time. René says they generally plant for winter production in February.
Kikuyu over-sow:
Late February: spray the cover crop with glyphosate (400ml/65ℓ water) and mulch if necessary.
Early March: plant kikuyu seed and irrigate.
Annual ryegrass:
End December: stop grazing and bulk up organic matter.
Mid February: spray off with glyphosate (3ℓ/65ℓ water).
End February: spray off with glyphosate (1ℓ/65ℓ water).
End February: plant ryegrass into cover, band-applied fertiliser for pop-up.
Mid April: graze.

Source: Farmers Weekly

No-till success on the Orange River

Farmers Weekly

From his farm Rivierkraal on the Orange River, Jaco van Niekerk plays a leading role in local research into cultivars and no-till practices, which include soya production – both with Argentinian cultivars and for the proposed Sasol project – and alternative crops such as paprika. Jaco earned a BSc Agric from the University of the Free State in 1985 and started sheep farming with his father and brother on Winterhoek farm in the Strydenburg area of the Northern Cape.

In 1986 he bought the then 132ha farm with his father’s help. Today he farms on 1 139ha, including 440ha of irrigated crops, 3ha of pecan nuts and about 4ha under lucerne, planted between the centre pivots. O n sandy loam soils with a clay content of 10% to 12%, Jaco’s soya, maize and wheat respectively yielded 4,3t/ha, 14,9t/ha and 7,3t/ha this past season. He grazes his 130-strong commercial Bonsmara beef herd on the thick residue of his maize crop, while he also runs a flock of 600 Dorper ewes for fat-lamb production.

Soil: a lifelong fascination Jaco’s interest in soil structure and the damage done by conventional tillage, inorganic fertilisers and harmful chemical applications was nurtured by his father and reinforced at university. S eeking alternatives, he went on a farmer’s tour to the US in 1995, where he first learnt about conservation agriculture (CA) principles like minimal soil disturbance through no-till or direct seeding, permanent soil cover, the use of crop residue and/or green manure cover crops, multi-cropping and crop rotation.

CA not only reduced costs, but enhanced soil structure, increased humus content, nurtured microbial life, prevented erosion and increased moisture absorption. Jaco realised South Africa needed CA to become globally competitive.

Today, Jaco is reaping the benefits of no-till and crop rotation. Crop residue mulch captures rain and irrigation water, letting him use up to 30% less water, and cutting down on pumping costs. As Rivierkraal receives only 300mm rainfall per year, and with moisture retained due to no-till, weekly irrigation scheduling, done by GWK using a neutron moisture meter, is vital. The crop residue also forms a blanket that regulates temperatures and helps control weeds.

Thanks to the build-up of humus, Jaco also needs less fertiliser, while microorganisms and earthworms flourish in the wetter soil. Ahead of his time When Jaco adopted no-till, it was rapidly increasing worldwide. In 2001/02 an estimated 72,1 million hectares were under no-till, South Africa accounting for only 300 000ha. Jaco blames this on a lack of knowledge, citing the dearth of information on CA available in South Africa. “Farm machinery and diesel were more expensive here than in the US, but financial savings weren’t what motivated me to go no-till,” says Jaco.

“I wanted to save and enhance my soils for myself and future generations. But local farm machinery companies weren’t importing no-till equipment. Alongside other input companies, they were actively discouraging no-till for fear it would hurt their sales.

For example, I use only 6ℓ/ha of diesel to no-till plant, and only about 20ℓ/ha to plant, spray, combine and deliver the crop to my on-farm silos. In 2003 I managed to buy a Brazilian no-till Tatu planter for my maize and soya, and a no-till John Deere 1570 drill for my wheat. I’ve never looked back.” Jaco approaches his farming operations holistically.

His soils have been analysed and balanced on a grid basis according to the Albrecht system, with soil samples initially being sent to the US, before GWK took over. He plants weed- and pest-resistant GM cultivars which need fewer chemical applications and when selecting cultivars, Jaco first considers trials he has conducted himself, then other trials conducted in the area. Jaco believes that by balancing his soils, using GM cultivars and adopting CA principles, he has had to spray less for fungal diseases.

He didn’t have to apply chemicals to his soya for the last three years, or to his wheat for the last two. He has also found that weed populations have declined, allowing him to spray less pre- and post- emergent glyphosate to control them. Sound financial approach Jaco believes the key to success is sound financial management.

He prepares and monitors a monthly budget, so that any corrective action necessary can be dealt with immediately. He doesn’t, for instance, allow market prices to determine which crops he plants – with his own silos, he can sell his crops when the prices are right. He doesn’t believe in debt, and to avoid it, he doesn’t take out production loans, but rather buys and pays for his year’s seed and fertiliser at the end of February.

Shared prosperity Jaco also provides for his workers and their dependants. He and his wife Marlene sent their domestic worker on a Smile training course so she could teach at a nursery school for workers’ children. Jaco provides school transport, sponsors fees, clothing and a soccer team and pays doctors’ bills. And, since they receive a bonus based on the season’s profits, Jaco’s workers have nothing to worry about.

E-mail Jaco van Niekerk at rivierkraal@telkomsa.net.

Source:

Is It a Trap?: South African farmers in high demand across Africa || Africa: Tractored out by “land grabs”?

2009-06-01T03:52:00.000-07:00

Population Security Misery Theorems: [1]: "The Dismal Theorem"- If the only ultimate check on the growth of population is misery, then the population will grow until it is miserable enough to stop its growth.
[2] "The Utterly Dismal Theorem" - This theorem states that any technical improvement can only relieve misery for a while, for so long as misery is the only check on population, the [technical] improvement will enable population to grow, and will soon enable more people to live in misery than before. The final result of [technical] improvements, therefore, is to increase the equilibrium population which is to increase the total sum of human misery.
[3] "The moderately cheerful form of the Dismal Theorem" - Fortunately, it is not too difficult to restate the Dismal Theorem in a moderately cheerful form, which states that if something else, other than misery and starvation, can be found which will keep a prosperous population in check, the population does not have to grow until it is miserable and starves, and it can be stably prosperous.
Until we know more, the Cheerful Theorem remains a question mark. Misery we know will do the trick. This is the only sure-fire automatic method of bringing population to an equilibrium. Other things may do it. The economic analysis I presented earlier indicates that the major priority is a world campaign for the reduction of birth rates. This is more important than any program of foreign aid and investments. Indeed, if it is neglected, all programs of aid and investment will be ultimately self-defeating and will simply increase the amount of human misery.
~ Reflections on Sustainability, Population Growth, and the Environment: Carrying Capacity & Denial of Population Problem ~
Today, 6.5 billion humans depend entirely on oil for food, energy, plastics & chemicals. Population growth is on a collision course with the inevitable decline in oil production.
~ The Oil Factor: Behind the War on Terror, by Free Will Production ~

Is It a Trap?: South African farmers in high demand across Africa

I Luv SA

'If you control the oil you control the country; if you control the food, you control the population.'
~ Henry Kissinger ~

To give the reader an idea of the energy intensiveness of modern agriculture, production of one kilogram of nitrogen for fertilizer requires the energy equivalent of from 1.4 to 1.8 liters of diesel fuel. This is not considering the natural gas feedstock.

In a very real sense, we are literally eating fossil fuels. However, due to the laws of thermodynamics, there is not a direct correspondence between energy inflow and outflow in agriculture.

Modern intensive agriculture is unsustainable. It is damaging the land, draining water supplies and polluting the environment. And all of this requires more and more fossil fuel input to pump irrigation water, to replace nutrients, to provide pest protection, to remediate the environment and simply to hold crop production at a constant. Yet this necessary fossil fuel input is going to crash headlong into declining fossil fuel production.
~ Eating Fossil Fuels, by Dale Allen Pfeiffer ~

Consider the realities of Peak Oil on the future of industrial agriculture..

Then ask yourself 'Is it a Trap?'

Or don't these people know that the entire industry of industrial agriculture relies on cheap fossil fuels?

What will white people do for a bit of black 'appreciation' and 'acceptance'?

How long do these farmers wait to find out the 'appreciation' and 'acceptance' was just another 'Truth and Reconciliation' bulls*t story?

Or is it just an ingenious African-Madoff Ponzi Investment Scheme?

********

South African farmers in high demand across Africa

Ghana Business News May 9, 2009

By Emmanuel K. Dogbevi

South African farmers are now in high demand across the African continent, ghanabusinessnews.com has learnt.

Information available to ghanabusinessnews.com indicates that a number of African countries are inviting South African farmers to come over to their countries and ply their trade, and Libya is included.

Libyan leader, Muamar Gaddafi is specifically requesting for 80 South African farmers to come over to Libya to farm.

And the Financial Mail has reported that South African farmers are flocking to accept an invitation from the government of the Republic of Congo (Brazaville) to start commercial farming.

Recently ghanabusinessnews.com carried a story about an organization called GHANSA which is working with and encouraging South African farmers to come over to Ghana to do commercial farming, and the story has generated some debate, especially over land issues in the country.

The other countries that are inviting South African farmers are Uganda and Kenya.

In Congo Brazaville for instance, the government has offered free land, exemption from taxes and import duties for five years, and the freedom to repatriate profits to South Africa. The country is also offering the South African farmers the option of retaining the rights to sell the businesses or leave them to their heirs.

According to the reports, the South African farmers in return must establish a commercial farming sector that will ensure food security within five years. Congo Brazaille imports almost all of its food because the country's agriculture sector is severely neglected.

The colonial masters of the Congo, France however appears unhappy with the development, according to a South African farmers' co-operative, Agri-Braz.

Its chairman, Andre Botha was quoted as saying "Congo-Brazzaville is a dumping ground for third-grade French food products. The French, Congo-Brazzaville's former colonial masters, are not happy with us. They know what South African farmers can achieve."

As part of the enticement package, Congo Brazzaville has undertaken to help farmers with infrastructure such as roads, telecommunications and railways.

Fertiliser manufacturers and others have expressed interest in the venture, and logistical challenges are being addressed - such as the development of home-schooling packages for children of relocating farmers, Botha has said.

About 94% of Congo-Brazzaville's people live in cities and towns, making it Africa's most urbanised country. "The remaining 6% live in 90% of the country and there is almost no commercial agriculture taking place, despite abundant fertile arable land," according to Botha.

Adding, "there is about 10m ha available in a country that straddles the equator and therefore has two summers. It is humid, hot and wet, better than Winterton in KwaZulu Natal, regarded as the best farming land in South Africa with its average annual rainfall of 1 100 mm. In the Congo it is 1 500 mm on average."

Botha notes that SA's two major maize-growing areas enjoy far less rainfall: the Nigel-Potchefstroom-Vanderbijlpark triangle averages 450 mm-700 mm, and Lichtenburg-Bothaville-Ventersdorp 600 mm-700 mm.

The South African farmers are attracted to this particular offer and others they are considering in Africa because of the acceptance and appreciation they are getting from these countries, which South Africa has failed to offer them.

While South African farmers would not leave the country permanently, they would accept these offers because of the good business opportunities that they offer.

Sources: Farm Land Grab :: Eating Fossil Fuels (PDF:138K)

Africa: Tractored out by “land grabs”?

IRIN (United Nations)

11 May 2009

JOHANNESBURG, 11 May 2009 (IRIN) - Rich countries and firms are leasing or buying massive tracts of land in developing nations for the production of food or biofuel.

An area equivalent to Germany’s farmed land is at stake, and tens of billions of dollars on offer.

On the plus side, agro-industrial production could develop underused land, and broaden the world’s food production base while providing much needed resources for poor countries.

But is the land really idle and currently unused? Are small-scale farmers going to be “tractored out” in a murky neo-colonial “land grab”?

Farmers and experts in several African countries know all too well the need for higher food production, but the scale and structure of the deals gives rise to concern on many fronts, according to multiple interviews.

The food and fuel prices hikes of 2007 and 2008 and a steadily growing world population raised the immediate and strategic value of food production.

Food-importing countries that lack land and water but are rich in capital, such as the Gulf States, are initiating deals to produce food in developing countries, where land and water are more abundant and production costs much lower.

Vast tracts of land and huge amounts of money are involved: 15 million to 20 million hectares, almost equivalent to the total area under cultivation in Germany, according to analysts at the US-based International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). Investment so far adds up to $20 billion to $30 billion, dwarfing foreign aid budgets for agriculture.

Murky?

Joachim von Braun and Ruth Meinzen-Dick of IFPRI point out in a new policy brief that developing countries with large populations, like China, South Korea and India, are seeking similar deals, including growing biofuel crops.

The institute warned that there was a "lack of transparency" in many deals, with the amounts involved "often still murky".

Land is an "emotional issue", said Theo de Jager, deputy president of Agri SA, the South African farmers' association. Some of the deals have already begun to ruffle feathers in developing countries, most of which are highly food insecure, and at least one has led to the overthrow of a government.

An April 2009 policy paper from the German NGO Welt Hunger Hilfe says: “States that are dependent on food imports, in particular, are surrendering more and more land to foreign investors while failing to ensure that conditions improve income and food security for their own population. Agricultural investments are rarely made in such a way that they offer the local population a genuine share of the benefits.” The paper also points out the risks of high-level corruption.

The president of the International Federation of Agricultural Producers (IFAP), Ajay Vashee, told IRIN "Faced with a growing population, if we do not increase our global food production I can foresee another crisis, maybe in another two years." IFAP, formed in 1946, claims to represent 600 million mostly small-scale farmers, a third of the world's food-growers.

"We are not against the deals, as they will bring in huge amounts of money for agricultural infrastructure development, besides boosting food production globally, but we must also realise that in most developing countries, such as those in Africa, most small-scale farmers have customary rights and face the threat of being forced off their land," said Vashee, who farms in Zambia.

IFPRI has called for a code of conduct to be drawn up, modelled on international business laws to prevent corrupt practices in the context of foreign direct investment.

So what's the deal?

According to von Braun, the arrangements usually involve governments, either directly or through state-owned entities and public-private partnerships, and the land was usually leased or made available through concessions, but was sometimes bought.

"The size and terms of the contract differ widely - some deals do not involve direct land acquisition, but seek to secure food supplies through contract farming [[and investing in]] rural and agricultural infrastructure, including irrigation systems and roads - these are the better deals."

The concept is not new. Von Braun pointed out that China started leasing land for food production in Cuba and Mexico 10 years ago.

However, in its 2008 report on "land grabbing", GRAIN, a Spain-based NGO that promotes the sustainable management and use of agricultural biodiversity, warned that the "very basis on which to build food sovereignty is simply being bartered away" in the deals.

"These lands will be transformed from smallholdings or forests, or whatever they may be, into large industrial estates connected to far-off markets. Farmers will never be real farmers again, job or no job," GRAIN cautioned.

Various Gulf States have struck most of the deals in East Africa, which is facing some of the biggest food shortages globally. IFPRI's von Braun and David Hallam of the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) told IRIN it was "too early" to assess the impact of the deals on food security and farmers in the lessor countries.

Unease, resistance and protests

Farming and pastoralist communities in the delta of Kenya's Tana River have reacted strongly to reports of government's intention to lease a chunk of this rich coastal land to Qatar. Kenya is facing huge food shortages and high prices after a third consecutive year of drought.

Mohammed Mbwana, who farms in the area and is an official of the Shungwaya Welfare Association, a local NGO, said the agreement would displace thousands of locals. At least 150,000 families in farming and pastoralist communities depend on the land in question, said to be part of Kenya's biggest wetland.

Tana River County councillors have threatened to go to court and block government's plans to lease the land. The council's vice-chairman, Gure Golo, told IRIN they were opposed to the project because local communities used the delta for produce and livestock farming.

During drought periods, pastoralists from as far as Garissa, the capital of neighbouring North-Eastern Province, and other arid regions, came to the delta in search of pasture and water, he said.

According to media reports, Mozambicans have resisted the settlement of thousands of Chinese agricultural workers on leased land.

In Madagascar, negotiations with the South Korean Daewoo Logistics Corporation to lease 1.3 million hectares to grow maize and oil palms played a role in the political conflict that led to the overthrow of the government earlier this year, the IFPRI brief said.

In Malawi, Chinese investors were allocated land, used by locals for agriculture in the southern town of Balaka, to construct a cotton processing plant. When protests followed, local traditional leaders were taken to neighbouring Zambia to see what the Chinese might deliver in terms of development. When they came back they relented and opted to move to another area "because the Chinese would create jobs for their subjects", a government official told IRIN.

Victor Mhone of the Civil Society Agriculture Network (CISANET), a grouping of individuals and NGOS in Malawi, said: "What we need as a country is to improve on food production, and that can be done if we empower local farmers by giving them the best land for cultivation. Foreign companies are here to make profits and there is little that we can benefit from, whatever they will be growing here."

Sudan, which has received some of the biggest foreign investments in agriculture in Africa, dismissed notions of the emergence of a new form of colonialism.

Abdeldafi Fadlalla Ali, the Federal Agriculture Commissioner at the Sudanese Ministry of Investment, told IRIN that they always ensured local interests were taken care of in the deals - the produce was sold locally and local people "become the highest beneficiaries".

Sudan, Ali said, has 84 million hectares of arable land, of which only 20 percent is under cultivation, and had registered 75 deals worth $3.5 billion in eight years. Almost $930 million of this was already invested. Eight countries, including Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Egypt, Jordan, China and India are involved.

Ali reasoned that in the face of limited domestic capital, foreign investment seemed to be a "better strategy" to achieve agricultural targets, and expected that produce from the deals would be exported in future.

Millions of Sudanese require food aid, according to the UN. However, Ali claimed food insecurity was more related to transport and marketing than absolute production shortfalls.

Safeguards

IFPRI recommends transparency, respect for existing land rights, sharing of benefits, environmental sustainability and adherence to national trade policies as key elements to be incorporated in a proposed code of conduct. This could include foreign investors being denied the right to export during an acute national food crisis.

Farmers and think-tanks talk about turning this "opportunity" into a "win-win" situation. While the agriculture sector in most poor countries grapples with the impact of the economic slowdown, deals for arable land continue to prove attractive.

Rwanda recently announced a new programme to identify “unexploited“ arable land for foreign investors. On the other hand, the Republic of Congo announced it would lease 10 million hectares of farmland to individual foreign farmers to boost its food security.

"This is a better option - leasing out land to farmers who will transfer skills to local farmers, boost the country's production, and care about the land," said Agri SA's de Jager. South African farmers have helped improve production in Zambia, Botswana, Mozambique and Nigeria, among other countries he said.

But IFAP's Vashee pointed out that farmers cannot bring in the huge investment needed to build or rebuild infrastructure.

IFPRI is working with the African Union to develop guidelines on how to negotiate with foreign investors, which will be presented to African leaders for ratification at a summit in July.

Irin News (United Nations)

Report: Food security fuels Africa land grab | Africa's Misery Breeding Program, (aka PC) Food security or economic slavery?

2009-06-01T02:56:00.000-07:00

Population Security Misery Theorems: [1]: "The Dismal Theorem"- If the only ultimate check on the growth of population is misery, then the population will grow until it is miserable enough to stop its growth.
[2] "The Utterly Dismal Theorem" - This theorem states that any technical improvement can only relieve misery for a while, for so long as misery is the only check on population, the [technical] improvement will enable population to grow, and will soon enable more people to live in misery than before. The final result of [technical] improvements, therefore, is to increase the equilibrium population which is to increase the total sum of human misery.
[3] "The moderately cheerful form of the Dismal Theorem" - Fortunately, it is not too difficult to restate the Dismal Theorem in a moderately cheerful form, which states that if something else, other than misery and starvation, can be found which will keep a prosperous population in check, the population does not have to grow until it is miserable and starves, and it can be stably prosperous.
Until we know more, the Cheerful Theorem remains a question mark. Misery we know will do the trick. This is the only sure-fire automatic method of bringing population to an equilibrium. Other things may do it. The economic analysis I presented earlier indicates that the major priority is a world campaign for the reduction of birth rates. This is more important than any program of foreign aid and investments. Indeed, if it is neglected, all programs of aid and investment will be ultimately self-defeating and will simply increase the amount of human misery.
~ Reflections on Sustainability, Population Growth, and the Environment: Carrying Capacity & Denial of Population Problem ~
Today, 6.5 billion humans depend entirely on oil for food, energy, plastics & chemicals. Population growth is on a collision course with the inevitable decline in oil production.
~ The Oil Factor: Behind the War on Terror, by Free Will Production ~
"It is important to understand the distinction between information and intelligence. Information is an assimilation of data that has been gathered, but not fully correlated, analyzed, or interpreted. Intelligence, on the other hand, is the transformation of information into knowledge and insight." -- Admiral Jeremy Boorda, Joint Military Intelligence College
~ Santa Clausiwitz NSA PsyOps :: How Will World War IV (We Need to 'Cull' the Surplus Population) be fought? :: Slamdunk Tzu CIA PsyOps ~

Food security fuels land grab, says report

Javier Blas in London | Financial Times

24 May 2009

Only a short time ago, African farmland seemed of little interest to outsiders. But last year’s food crisis and water scarcity in many countries has changed foreigners’ appetite with the result being that fertile soil in Africa is now sought by international investors to the tune of hundreds of thousands of hectares.

The first big report on the trend – branded by some as “farmland grab”, but seen by others as a huge development opportunity – concludes that food security, rather than commercial enterprise, is behind most of the deals sealed or negotiated.

“Governments concerned about stability of food supplies are promoting acquisition of farmland in foreign countries as an alternative to purchasing food from international markets,” the report says. “The food price hikes of 2007 and 2008 shook the assumption that the world will continue to experience low food prices.”

Alarmed by exporters’ trade restrictions, food importing countries have realised that their dependence on the agricultural market makes them vulnerable not only to a surge in prices but, more crucially, to an interruption in supplies.

“Land grab or development opportunity? Agricultural investments and international land deals in Africa” by the UN and a London-based think-tank, is the first attempt to study the new trend.

“This is rightly a hot issue because land is so central to identity, livelihoods and food security,” it states.

Investing countries’ desire to repatriate the crops to feed their own population in the name of self-sufficiency changes significantly the nature of such investment. In the 1950s and 1960s, international companies focused on making money by growing food for a global market.

Kanayo Nwanze, president of the International Fund for Agricultural Development, a UN agency that fights rural poverty, says the world is witnessing an emerging trend. “The issue of food security is back on the political agenda and that is driving investment in agriculture,” he says.

Lorenzo Cotula, one of the report’s authors and senior researcher at the International Institute for Environment and Development, adds: “The trend of farmland investment is real and gaining ground.”

The trend to outsource the provision of food security and to pursue self-sufficiency at home is hotly contested by agricultural companies and trade officials.

Carl Hausmann, chief executive of Bunge North America, one of the world’s largest agricultural trading companies, echoed a view widely held among other executives and government officials at the World Agricultural Forum last week in St Louis.

“Many governments are rethinking their approach to food security and are saying we need more domestic production, we need to be domestically independent,” he said. “I would argue the exact opposite approach is better. Without the free flow of trade in agricultural commodities and food products the health of any given country in any given year is at risk.”

Pascal Lamy, head of the World Trade Organisation, warned this month, that more trade rather than less was the solution to food security.

“If anything, international trade has reduced the price of food over the years,” he told a conference at the International Food and Agricultural Trade Policy Council in Salzburg, Austria.

Such concerns are, however, unlikely to stop the trend. With agricultural commodities prices on the rise again and some of the export restrictions imposed a year ago still in place, most experts argue that the impact in Africa and elsewhere is likely to be long-lasting.

“Decisions taken today will have major repercussions for the livelihoods and food security of many, for decades to come” warns the report.

Financial Times

Food security or economic slavery?

Business Day (Lagos) | Ogho Okiti

Monday, 01 June 2009

In the last edition of The Economist, the magazine reported a new and growing form of foreign agricultural investment. National governments of rich but limited land resources are now undertaking agriculture investment in foreign countries but the produce meant specifically and only for the home country.

For instance, the report mentioned that Saudi Arabia, earlier this year, received the first imported rice of its agriculture investment in Ethiopia. South Korea, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Egypt have made similar investments in Sudan, Africa’s largest country by size. China has joined, making its investments in Congo, just as Kuwait has the same type of arrangement with Zambia and Cambodia.

Though the details of these agriculture investments may differ, the core feature is that national governments are negotiating with national governments of some poor developing countries for hectares of land for agriculture use in exchange for some forms of benefits to the country.

These transactions constitute movement of capital from the rich country to the poor country for the purpose of food production accompanied by improvements in agriculture technology and seedling. The end result is an improvement in yields in places that these have been carried out so far, compared to the average in Africa. As the report rightly claimed, it is a case of “countries that export capital but import food are outsourcing farm production to countries that need capital but have land to spare”.

The practice has proved very contentious. Those that support the arrangement do so on the basis that it provides poor countries with new seeds, techniques and money for agriculture. Opponents call it “land grabs”, because the lands are insulated from host countries and argue that poor farmers are pushed off the lands they have farmed for generations.

This growing phenomena raises some serious fundamental issues about the future relationship between rich and poor countries. Though foreign agriculture investment is not new, they have been conducted much the same way as other investments, before now. The present form is initiated at the government level, introducing cross border political dimensions to agriculture investment. Because of the seriousness of food security, this measure will introduce or escalate political instability in the countries in question. Such arrangements give the most visible political interest, rather than solely commercial. Indeed, it is not surprising that, besides Zambia, many of the countries that have accepted such arrangements have some level of political instability. It is a roll call of potential time bombs waiting to explode and that include countries such as Sudan, Ethiopia, Congo, and the arrangement has already consumed a government in Madagascar.

It is disingenuous to see the growing type of foreign investment as another form of outsourcing. In its purest and natural form, outsourcing consists of the “shipment of jobs” abroad to areas that same services can be provided with lower costs, due mainly to improvement in technology. With outsourcing, the host country benefits in terms of improvement in income, knowledge, training and expertise.

This is not the case with this arrangement as the farmers are completely insulated from the local dynamic economy. This arrangement is also peculiar such that all the produce are specifically meant for the home country. Effectively, the international trade process on food is being circumvented. This can only be regarded as the height of neo colonialism because these countries are poor, some of them being fed by the World Food Programme (WFP). These countries have not got enough food, mainly because they cannot muster the capital requirements for improving their food production. A rich country now engages in some kind of cosy arrangement with dubious political leadership to guarantee food for its own people. The least acceptable, is for the home country and the investing country to share the produce.

Another ingredient of neo colonialism in this arrangement is the lack of any form of control by the home nation. The produce, the quantity of the produce, the method, and the destination of the produce are all decided outside the host country. It is also possible that the payments made to host countries are shrouded in secrecy, raising serious questions about taxes, tariffs, and duties and their applicability in such instances. The only benefit I see for now is the domestic jobs in these farms, but it is possible that existing jobs are displayed, anyway. And in the case of China’s investment, the report suggests the workers will be Chinese.

So, these arrangements are reminiscent of “banana republics” when many African countries served as plantations for European countries, but even those did not come with such explicit restrictions and rigidities.

But, what can we learn from this? First, it is the most concrete evidence yet that food security remains a political issue, and should remain a number one political goal. Nations that have no much land will have to use their vast capital to ensure food security, even if it means another neo colonialism. Second, this is mostly in response to the 1997 and 1998 global food shortages that drove up food prices. In the context of these two issues, the response of the federal government is to provide access to N200 billion to commercial farmers. Third, it demonstrates that commercial agriculture value chain remains the best option for African counties such as ours to improve on agriculture produce. And finally, these rich nations realize that any measure of food insecurity is a return of poverty. Effectively, food insecurity is poverty!

Business Day Online

'Free' Congo Farm Land Seduction for White 'Neocolonial Land Grabbers' | Africa almost giving land away, says UN

2009-06-01T02:21:00.000-07:00

The related terms, "sustainable" and "sustainability" are popularly used to describe a wide variety of activities which are generally ecologically laudable but which may not be sustainable. An examination of major reports reveals contradictory uses of the terms. An attempt is made here to give a firm and unambiguous definition to the concept of sustainability and to translate the definition into a series of laws and hypotheses which, it is hoped, will clarify the implications of the use of the concept of sustainability. These are followed by a series of observations and predictions that relate to "sustainability." The laws should enable one to read the many publications on sustainability and help one to decide whether the publications are seeking to illuminate or to obfuscate.
~ Reflections on Sustainability, Population Growth, and the Environment: Carrying Capacity & Denial of Population Problem ~
I have had a chance to observe quite a few companies in the U.S. from the inside, and have spotted a certain constancy in the staffing profile. At the top, there is a group of highly compensated senior lunch-eaters. They tend to spend all of their time pleasing each other in various ways, big and small. They often hold advanced degrees in disciplines such as Technical Schmoozing and Relativistic Bean-counting. They are obsessive on the subject of money, and cultivate a posh country set atmosphere, even if they are just one generation out of the coal mines. Ask them to solve a technical problem — and they will politely demur, often taking the opportunity to flash their wit with a self-deprecating joke or two.
~ Surviving Peak Oil & Economic Collapse: Post-Soviet Lessons for a Post-American Century.. ~
I admit that thinking clearly about money can be difficult. Money has been around far longer than the oil age, the industrial era, and may even pre-date civilization itself. But though we may take money for granted, it is neither simple nor solid nor reliable -- far from it. Money is a complex and fragile construction, and as history has shown over and over again, money can become worthless almost overnight. In the long run, money has proven very difficult to manage -- it's a tricky and strange invention.
~ Local Currencies: Financial Secession from the TapeWorm DebtSlave Economy ~

'Free' Congo Farm Land Seduction for White 'Neocolonial Land Grabbers'

Farmers Weekly | GRAIN

About 50 million acres (over 20 million hectares) vanish each year to urbanisation, population growth, and economic and industrial development.

To get an idea of how fast population is going up and arable land is going down, take a look at the Internet clock that keeps track of this at: tranquileye.com/clock/.

In October 2008, the global food security-focused NGO called GRAIN issued a report, The 2008 landgrab for food and financial security, citing over 100 examples of what they referred to as "neocolonial land grabs".

In the absence of any population reduction or containment measures, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates the amount of additional land required to meet projected food demand in 2050 would be about 3 billion hectares – and nearly all of this will be in developing countries. Africa, with only 14% or 184 million hectares of its arable land under cultivation, is a prime target for such land grabs.

In light of aforementioned realities, the Congo approached white Afrikaner farmers (oh the irony!), offering them 'free farming land', in exchange for food security for the Congo's remaining citizens. Considering the honourable ethical morality of the Africoon; how long do you think it may be, before any of those farmers are called 'neocolonial land grabbers'?

***

More than half the population of Congo-Brazzaville has been wiped out by HIV/Aids and more than 99% of its food is currently imported. It has formally asked Agri SA to help it establish a primary agricultural sector. Dr Theo de Jager, deputy president of Agri SA, recently went there to negotiate the terms of a contract. He spoke to Glenneis Erasmus about the opportunities and challenges in that country.

What does the memorandum of understanding between Agri SA and the Congo entail?

Congo-Brazzaville offers free irrigation land to South African farmers exclusively for 99 years. Six government farms of 135 000ha in the Niarri Valley and another 10 million hectares have also been made available.

Farmers will also get a five-year tax holiday and be exempt from import taxes on equipment and agricultural inputs. This means you'd be able to import a John Deere tractor for cheaper than you can buy one in South Africa, as you won't have to pay tax or import duties on it. Profits can also be taken out of the country at any time to any place. The Congolese government, in return, wants the country to be food-secure within the next five years.

What is the state of food security in the Congo?

Congo-Brazzaville imports 99,9% of its food. It's mostly past its sell-by date or unsuitable for the French market so it's "imported" or dumped at exorbitant prices. Poor-quality imported tomatoes sell for around R100/kg, while beef sells for around R185/kg. The quality of the beef is so bad that no South African would consider eating it.

There are around 10 000 cattle, 36 000 sheep and 30 000 goats in the country. The cattle aren't farmed in the conventional sense of the word, as the locals are afraid of them. When our delegation approached the cattle for inspection, the agriculture minister told his bodyguards to shoot them if they attacked us.

No chicken, egg and dairy products are produced either. Most of the cassava and bananas grow wild.

The locals can't afford the imported food and they live off cassava produced locally. Since they don't eat maize, there are no issues like in South Africa about using maize as feedstock for biofuel production. We could produce two harvests in the Congo, as the country has two summers a year.

What markets are there if most of the Congolese are poor?

The average income of Congolese workers on the mines and in government employment has grown significantly. Over 35% of these people's income is spent on food due to the high cost of imports. With local production, the country would have better, more affordable produce. A huge expat community, working in the mining industry, would welcome better food.

The rest of Africa also has great opportunities – Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which is just across from Brazzaville on the southern side of the Congo River, has more than 8,5 million people. That's twice the entire Congo-Brazzaville population and the export opportunities are huge. Europe and our other traditional export countries would still be an option with exports primarily via the Pointe-Noir harbour.

Many African countries are notorious for bribing tourists and foreign visitors. How will the Congo prevent this from happening to South Africans?

Farmers will get a letter from the Congolese government saying that they are guests of the president. There will also be an emergency number they can call if they feel they're being treated unfairly. In addition, farmers will get special number plates so that they can be identified easily.

The Congo-Brazzaville has been disrupted by civil war and political instability in the past. How will South African farmers be protected?

There's a bilateral agreement between South Africa and the Congo which stipulates compensation for expropriation. In such a case, the renter has to be compensated for investment in infrastructure and loss of income and must receive another piece of land with equal production and income potential as the one that was lost.

The agreement also protects South African investments and stipulates compensation in the case of losses due to war, armed conflict, riots and so forth.

What if the government is taken over by a new party which doesn't honour this agreement?

The chances of this aren't very good as the ruling party represents the majority. It has also formed a coalition with the main opposition party. A new government would have to honour the agreements signed by the previous government. South Africa would also be able to contest reneging on the agreement at the international court of The Hague if necessary.

What about protection against dumping and cheap imports?

We were actually surprised by the strong stance the Congo took in this regard. The country understands the importance of protection if it wants to establish a sustainable industry. It has asked Agri SA and future farmers to become involved in developing a strategy to protect the agricultural industry in terms of phytosanitary requirements and import tariffs.

Describe the infrastructure.

It's very poor, but the government has approached our government to help fix the railway line between Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire where most of the people live. The Congo River can also be used for transportation. Most of the roads in the northern parts of the country are non-existent so it's better to fly between certain towns.

The World Bank and UN's Food and Agriculture Organization have pledged to help with the establishment of new infrastructure and the development of new markets. The Chinese are constructing a huge hydraulic power generation plant, and MTN is investing in telecommunication infrastructure.

Do you see this as a way for white farmers to escape the difficult political and economic challenges in South Africa?

There are some farmers who'd leave South Africa to establish themselves in the Congo and in other African countries due to land restitution, rising production costs, low protection and other political factors. But I see the Congo and other African countries as an opportunity for farmers to expand and diversify. Producing in other countries will not only help to spread risk, but increase markets. For example, banana farmers in Mpumalanga, who also have orchards in Mozambique, are currently generating higher profits there due to low labour and input costs.

Contact Theo de Jager on 082 332 2110.

Source:Farmers Weekly :: GRAIN: The 2008 landgrab for food and financial security (PDF:207KB)

Africa almost giving land away, says UN

Javier Blas in London | Financial Times

24 May 2009

African countries are giving away vast tracts of farmland to other countries and investors almost for free, with the only benefits consisting of vague promises of jobs and infrastructure, according to a report published on Monday.

“Most of the land deals documented by this study involved no or minimal land fees,” it says. Although the deals promise jobs and infrastructure development, it warns that “these commitments tend to lack teeth” on the contracts.

The report – “Land Grab or development opportunity?” – is written jointly by two UN bodies – the Food and Agriculture Organisation and the International Fund for Agricultural Development – and the International Institute for Environment and Development, a London-based think-tank.

It is the first major study of the so-called “farmland grab” trend, in which rich countries such as Saudi Arabia or South Korea invest in overseas land to boost their food security. The investors plan to export all, or a large share of, the crops back to feed their own populations.

The trend gained notoriety after an attempt by South Korea’s Daewoo Logistics to secure a large chunk of land in Madagascar, which contributed to the collapse of the African country’s government.

Some critics, including Jacques Diouf, head of the FAO, warn against “neo-colonialism” but others say the investments can boost economic growth in Africa.

The report, seen by the Financial Times, concludes that “virtually all the [farmland] contracts” were “strikingly short and simple compared to the economic reality of the transaction”. Key concerns such as “strengthening the mechanisms to monitor or enforce compliance with investor commitments” on jobs or infrastructure, “maximising government revenues”, or “balancing food security concerns . . . are dealt with by vague provisions if at all”, it says.

The report, which studied cases in Ethiopia, Ghana, Mali, Madagascar and Sudan, uncovered farmland investment in the past five years totalling about 2.5m hectares – equal to about half the arable land of the UK.

Other estimates, including one from Peter Brabeck, chairman of Nestlé, put total farmland investments in Africa, Latin America and Asia above 15m hectares, about half the size of Italy.

Also raised in the report was the risk that poor people will lose access to farmland and water.

“Land allocations on the scale documented in this study do have the potential to result in loss of land for large numbers of people,” the report states. “Long-term land leases – for 50 or even 99 years – are unsustainable,” it adds.

Lorenzo Cotula, one of the report’s authors, says new research indicates that farmland deals could be “structured much better”. In particular, it proposes giving host countries more resources to negotiate the deals.

“As pressure grows, the deals will start to be done in a different way,” he adds.

Source: Financial Times

Australia's Johnny Appleseed Low Energy Input NoTill Ecology Farming Innovator

2009-05-29T11:22:00.000-07:00

In a very, very rough rule of thumb, and unfortunately I talk in old acre terms, but round our neck of the woods about $85 per acre would be a regular conventional cropping cost; we do it for $6. So relating that to the output side of things, you see we don't need to generate much to double our money, do we, versus the conventional croppers need to have a massive output to double their money. It's so simple and yet it's obviously so hard to grasp for so many people, because the whole agricultural sector is geared to maximum production, and increasing your yields every year, otherwise you're not doing well enough to keep your head above water.
~ Australia's Johnny Appleseed Low Energy Input NoTill Ecology Farming Innovator ~
Yesterday a teenager sent me an email letter in which he said, "I feel cheated that it's all UP TO ME. By being in the younger generation, I have to save the world before I can even begin to think of building a life for myself, or there will be nothing to build my life on."
Here is Quinn's Second Law: What people think is what they do. And its corollary: To change what people do, change what they think.
~ A Path of Hope for the Future; Keynote Ecological Leadership Address by Daniel Quinn ~
"The aim of public education is not to fill the young of the species with knowledge and awaken their intelligence. ... Nothing could be further from the truth. The aim ... is simply to reduce as many individuals as possible to the same safe level, to breed and train a standardized citizenry, to put down dissent and originality. That is its aim in the United States... and that is its aim everywhere else. ~ H.L. Mencken, The American Mercury
"Perhaps school's greatest danger is that it may convince you life is nothing more than an institutionalized rat race," ~ Grace Llewellyn, The Teenage Liberation Handbook
~ The Exhausted School: "How Did We Ever Come to Believe that the State Should Tell Our Children What to Think?" ~

Australia's Johnny Appleseed Low Energy Input NoTill Ecology Farming Innovator

ABC Rural Online

Michael Mackenzie: Now conventional wisdom does suggest that to be an innovative farmer, you actually need to be working on the farm. But our guest today has a different theory. His philosophy is to use innovative practices on the farm to free up time to work off farm. But how can you be an innovative farmer if you're spending half your time away from the business?

It's something that cropping and cattle farmer Bruce Maynard, from Narromine, on the Central West Plains of New South Wales knows all about. Bruce not only runs a cattle and cropping property that's almost sustaining itself, he also works three days a week for his local Landcare office and on top of that, he has a number of other offshoot businesses that help to fill the coffers. Some of his mates call him lazy; he sounds more like a genius to be, and Bruce Maynard has popped into our Dubbo studios to have a chat. Hi, Bruce.

Bruce Maynard: Hi, Michael how are you?

Michael Mackenzie: I'm well, thanks. Do you mind being called lazy?

Bruce Maynard: No, it's a tag we're fairly happy with.

Michael Mackenzie: let's go back to the beginning: have you always been on the land?

Bruce Maynard: Yes, my working career has been on our family farm; I'm fourth generation on our property.

Michael Mackenzie: And did you stay on the farm from the moment you were born till now, or have you been elsewhere as well?

Michael Mackenzie: Yes, been pretty much on the place. I did spend a year away with Rotary Exchange straight after school, which was a wonderful broadening experience.

Michael Mackenzie: And being a fourth generation farmer, what kind of farming practices did you inherit from your parents?

Bruce Maynard: Well our property was a mixed sheep/wheat/beef farm, when I came back after school, and we were typical of our area, and we were conducting a lot of what was assumed to be best practice management at that time, and in some cases it's still recommended best practice. But over time, we realised that it wasn't as sustainable as it was being presented.

Michael Mackenzie: So in your parents' time, the kind of practices they practiced in that sort of mixed farm cropping situation, you obviously don't necessarily agree with any more, you don't think they are best practice.

Bruce Maynard: No, we began to take a broader and a longer term view about what we were doing, in fact what we found was a lot of the time we were doing things to make money for the immediate time, that sort of thing, but they were really against our long term interests, a lot of the short term things we were doing.

Michael Mackenzie: So in terms of farming innovation where you're standing at the moment, future planning is vital then.

Bruce Maynard: Yes, we like to try and take the 50-year and the 100-year view on things really, and try and design our surroundings to not only serve our family interests, but serve the natural processes as well.

Michael Mackenzie: Now as we mentioned, you've had a long family tradition of being on the land. Had you always wanted to be a farmer?

Bruce Maynard: No, I hadn't, Michael, no. I guess I finished up school and came back to the farm mid-'80s and that was a very, very difficult time; as a lot of farming folk would know, runs of bad seasons, coupled with incredibly high interest rates, above 20% and that sort of thing, and so it was a difficult time, and it was a decision to be made Well, do I stay and help out or do we finish up completely?

Michael Mackenzie: So your Mum and Dad were in fairly dire straits when you came back to the farm in the '80s, were they?

Bruce Maynard: Yes, we were having difficulties at that time, and that continued pretty much through the 1980s and we got to the end of that stage and really had sat down as a family and decided Well why were we doing what we were doing, and what did we want to do in the future? And the end result of that was really coming to realise that we weren't really there for the money in the long run. Yes, we did have to have enough to support ourselves in a decent standard, but really we were there for some bigger purpose as a family.

Michael Mackenzie: And what was that purpose?

Bruce Maynard: Really to hopefully hand things on in a better and better shape, as our generations went on. We really see ourselves now as just stewards and only land managers, even though we own the property, we're only temporarily there, and in our lifetime we should be looking to try and do as best we can and get our farm as close to its natural state as possible, and natural functioning, while still making an economic return.

Michael Mackenzie: I think that's a really wonderful philosophy and I think it's something that perhaps isn't discussed as much as it could be in the rural sector, and that is that Yes, of course you want to make a living and turn a profit when you're a primary producer but you've also got to bear in mind that perhaps you have some other long-term responsibilities, and that the use of the word 'stewardship' really rings true for me.

Bruce Maynard: Yes, I think when you ask groups of landholders at any time what's really important to them, you know, you get the answers that are very similar to if you asked a group of city people or in any other lifestyle, a good family life and enough money to get by and to be seen to be making a difference and a contribution. And all of those things at times we tend to leave aside if we're only reacting to the immediate emergencies in front of us.

Michael Mackenzie: So just take us to the time in the '80s, Bruce, when you and the rest of the family sat down around the table and decided OK, first, do we continue? OK, yes we do, we will continue to farm this land, but we're going to change the way we farm it. What year did that occur?

Bruce Maynard: Right, that was at the end of the 1980s, so I guess it was over a period of time, it wasn't just one meeting or one discussion at all. It gradually came out that very obviously we could do a lot better financially by selling up and going and doing other things, other industries, the rate of return would be higher. But so then given that, we then had to really question ourselves about why we were staying then; if that was the case then why were we there?

Michael Mackenzie: And in so making those decisions on perhaps changing the way you view the land and the use of the land, were you then put in charge of seeing that change through?

Bruce Maynard: Not necessarily put in charge, no. We've certainly adopted the attitude that it is the whole of our family that makes decisions about how we move forward.

Michael Mackenzie: Does that mean there's been conflict over issues at times?

Bruce Maynard: Oh yes, but we have disagreements and arguments about things, and that sort of thing, like every family; but in the end we drive towards a consensus about moving forward. And everybody's viewpoint is important. It's so vital, I felt, that we just weren't if you like, in the stereotypical image where the father or the main breadwinner makes all the decisions and everybody else gets carried along. All of us get together, and whatever we do on our farm has to serve everybody's interests.

Michael Mackenzie: So it's by consensus that decisions are made, and that can take time but I guess the results are rewarding. And what has that meant for the way the property now runs. We talked about the fact that traditionally it had gone through four generations of being a mixed property of sheep, wheat, beef, cropping; what's different now in your place in Narromine?

Bruce Maynard: Well it's vastly different from what it was before. We're now just growing beef and doing some cropping, but our place looks vastly different in that our paddocks now are becoming more and more complex grasslands with trees regenerating in them of their own accord, so the place is moving back towards an open woodland that it would have been in its natural state.

Michael Mackenzie: So you've stopped clearing, obviously.

Bruce Maynard: Oh yes, absolutely, and we don't do things like burning wood or anything like that, or 'tidying up' the place and so forth. We very, very importantly look at all the ecological niches that we can provide on our place. We try and make our business as simple as possible but the nature on our property as complex as possible. Whereas there's every societal pressure on all landholders to do just the opposite, to make businesses very complex, but to simplify everything out in the landscape.

Michael Mackenzie: By being almost monocultural in the kind of output from the property?

Bruce Maynard: Indeed, yes. And we go further and further away from that, and we continue to add complexity to it.

Michael Mackenzie: So how do you add complexity? Do you just let things slip away from your control, then let the environment take back what was its originally? Is that how it works?

Bruce Maynard: There's a little bit of that, but like all landscapes in Australia, they've been managed one way or another for 47,000 years, and our future is the same. There's no going back to a pristine state and that's virtually everywhere, whether it be locked up in a national park or whether it be completely privately owned. So we have to manage the resource as best we can, and we're all going to make mistakes as we move forward, but if our aim is just to continue to add diversity into the situation, then that's actually adding to our long-term wealth as far as we see it in the natural sense.

Michael Mackenzie: So you say at the moment though, the main purpose for land in your family is to raise beef, is that right?

Bruce Maynard: That's the tool we're using to get the landscape effect that we desire. So our landscape ideals are not just all altruistic to do the best we can there, we do still have to make money on the top of it. So we use predominantly cattle over the top to make the pastures more and more complex with more and more native species. We don't rely much on any of the introduced species at all such as lucerne or other pasture species such as that. And also along with that we do a method called advanced sowing, where we actually go cropping into our grasslands but we don't use any tillage or use any chemicals or any fertilizer, so we in fact grow a crop over the top of our native pastures, in addition to what they're doing.

Michael Mackenzie: To traditional farmers this must sound extraordinary. I mean you're planting seed but without tilling the soil; do you water the seeds in?

Bruce Maynard: No we don't, we actually place them in dry, which is a key to the advance sowing method, so in fact we're just trying to mimic nature here, and we're putting a seed in the ground and then when the seasonal conditions allow, that's when the plant will germinate.

Michael Mackenzie: This sounds extraordinarily lackadaisical I've got to say, here Bruce. No wonder you got this maybe a misnomer of being a lazy farmer; you're just chucking seeds all over the place and when it rains, it rains, and we'll see what happens. I mean, how do you maximise output from that.

Bruce Maynard: That's an excellent question and that's exactly the question that farmers will put to you straight away. They'll put it in a slightly different way because they'll ask you about yield, which is exactly what you've just asked me about maximising output. And my reply to that is that we don't care about yield, we care about profit, and natural processes.

Michael Mackenzie: Aren't they the same thing though?

Bruce Maynard: No, not at all. Unfortunately it's often confused and in fact this has been going on for decades, and worldwide. And if you can imagine since especially the Second World War, the amount of production that's increased off agricultural land worldwide has been massive. It's been quite phenomenal, the extra production. But at that same time, farming industry has become less and less profitable, we've lost more people out of our rural areas and our natural environment has been declining.

Michael Mackenzie: We've been talking about all those issues ad infinitum on this program this year, and that's because they're current, and you're right, that's very much the growing sense of what's happening in our rural areas.

Bruce Maynard: Indeed. And it's a trend, and it continues to happen, and I would suggest that one of the main barriers to that has been the thought process that has been to maximise production. I'd say to any farmers, I really don't care how much they produce, I care very deeply that they profit and that they look after their land, but I would not care at all what they produced. This is a very, very hard argument for most people to accept because we're talking about head versus heart stuff. And think about when you go and try and win a category at an agricultural show or the Royal Easter Show, you grow the biggest pumpkin, say, you don't win the prize for three little pumpkins that might be a bit funny-looking, but might have made more profit and look after the land, you win the prize for the big pumpkin.

Michael Mackenzie: We're talking to Bruce Maynard, who is our farming innovator hailing from Narromine in the Central West of New South Wales. And Bruce, let's put that last piece of the jigsaw puzzle in, when you're talking about maximising profit while still maintaining the environment. This is where you save on the means of production, don't you, rather than the outputs on production.

Bruce Maynard: Indeed, yes. It's exceedingly low cost to go and do the cropping method that we use.

Michael Mackenzie: Well can you give us the dollar terms and what the comparisons might be for people?

Bruce Maynard: In a very, very rough rule of thumb, and unfortunately I talk in old acre terms, but round our neck of the woods about $85 per acre would be a regular conventional cropping cost; we do it for $6. So relating that to the output side of things, you see we don't need to generate much to double our money, do we, versus the conventional croppers need to have a massive output to double their money.

Michael Mackenzie: It's so simple and yet it's obviously so hard to grasp for so many people, because as you say the whole agricultural sector is geared to maximum production, and increasing your yields every year, otherwise you're not doing well enough to keep your head above water. And what you're saying is you can balance the environmental concerns of your property and your stewardship and still make a comfortable living.

Bruce Maynard: Yes indeed, but it does take a big mindset change to look at our paddocks and see our cropping paddocks, they look like a mess because they might have 120 different species, a lot of those species being weeds, versus a conventional field, which is just all wheat or whatever and nothing else. So it takes a big change to accept that the mess looks better than the neat and tidy monoculture.

Michael Mackenzie: And are your neighbours coming around to your point of view?

Bruce Maynard: I think it's always hard to be a prophet in your own land, so the biggest change in adoption comes from people that are a bit further away from us. But we're starting to get a lot of progress, yes.

Michael Mackenzie: And do you laugh when people call you lazy then, knowing exactly what's happening there?

Bruce Maynard: Oh yes, well we got that because when we go sowing with our cropping method we sow from 9 to 5, and that's it. We don't go trying to chase any harder than that.

Michael Mackenzie: Now that's my kind of farming, Bruce. In the meantime of course, this approach to land use has meant - and very quickly, we're running out of time, I'd love to talk to you all day, but you have this other alternative life off-farm as well, and you're doing things with Landcare, and what else are you doing off-farm?

Bruce Maynard: We have some accommodation businesses which are some apartments and houses that we've been doing up since we've changed our farm methods, that's allowed me the time to go off-farm and do these other things. If we'd continued to do the old farming methods, I wouldn't have had the time or the opportunity to go and pursue these other interests.

Michael Mackenzie: OK, so there's that, the tourism angle, there's the Landcare, obviously which falls in very nicely with your philosophy about land use inside the property. Do you have sons and daughters who are looking forward to taking over your innovative approach?

Bruce Maynard: Well we'll see. They're 4 and 2 at this stage, so their minds are on other things at the moment. But yes, we'll see in time, but at least they'll have the opportunity to choose. Not only will they have one business, but they'll have multiple income streams so they'll be able to make some choices about what they want in life rather than feeling trapped into anything.

Michael Mackenzie: I've got a feeling you're the Narromine version of Johnny Appleseed. Do you mind me saying that to you?

Bruce Maynard: Well I don't know about that, but hopefully they say small stones in a pond sometimes can make big ripples, and here's hoping.

Michael Mackenzie: Bruce, it's been an absolute pleasure, thank you so much for joining us.

Bruce Maynard: Thank you very much, Michael, goodbye.

Michael Mackenzie: He is truly a farming innovator, I don't think he's lazy I think he's a genius. Bruce Maynard, who hails from Narromine, which is in the Central West Plains of New South Wales, truly a farming innovator. You can still make a great profit, you've just got to look at the means of production versus your yield. And of course the side benefit for his particular property is that he's maintaining an environmental balance that he can hand on to the next generation of land users in that particular region.

Source: ABC Rural Online