As dairy farmers spend their winter being encouraged to analyse their conserved forage stocks, Gary Zimmer, founder of Midwestern BioAg and champion of ‘biological farming’, advises producers to also turn their attention to the soils in which these crops grow.
“Everything starts in the soil and ultimately returns to the soil,” says Gary. “They’re a living system alive with trillions of organisms that sustain life.
“If you have healthy soils, the ecosystem provides crops and livestock with the trace elements to produce balanced outputs,” explains Gary.
He says soils are a critical element of crop and pasture production, and producers should be ensuring that they are provided with the necessary nutrients to maximise the activity of soil microbes.
“This is the fundamental principle of biological farming,” says Gary. He adds that biological farming shouldn’t be mistaken as organic farming.
“Biological farming puts the emphasis on achieving naturally productive soils. It promotes the need for a balanced relationship between three aspects of the soil – the physical, chemical and biological – all aided by improved carbon content which can be supplied by liquid carbon-based fertilisers.”
Gary advises that traditionally farmers have relied on soil testing or refractometer readings to indicate soil nutrient deficiencies, but he says farmers should trust their instincts alongside a range of testing models.
“Due to photosynthesis, test results will naturally vary from plant-to-plant throughout the day and soil sampling is likely to provide varying results across the field.”
“Similarly, readings from refractometers, which will indicate the sugars available in the plant, only provide a snapshot at that specific time.”
He adds that the results of these tests will often result in fertiliser recommendations. “These recommendations are necessary, but only take into account a tiny bit of the soil picture, and farmers may find that despite providing ‘required’ nutrients they may not be available to the crop.”
While all forms of measurement can be variable, Gary says that tissue testing can be one of the most effective. “Tissue testing analyses exactly what’s in the plant and can confirm trace-element deficiencies before they affect production.”
He also encourages producers to rely on their senses and says there’s no substitute for sight and smell. “Soils should smell healthy and should be teaming with activity and while microbes are not visible to the eye, the presence of earth worms is a great indicator of soil health.”
Gary adds that when plant tissue testing there are four major minerals that are tested. “We want to look at levels of calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and boron as these are ‘indicator minerals’.
“Indicator minerals require a complete biological system to get them up to the desired level,” explains Gary.
To increase the plant’s ability to uptake these nutrients and to ensure they’re not ‘locked’ in, Gary states the importance of feeding the soil.
“A liquid carbon-based fertiliser, such as QLF’s Boost fertiliser, doesn’t just feed the plant, it feeds the soil.
“It’s rich in carbon which provides energy to beneficial soil bacteria, which enhances plant nutrient availability to help improve plant performance, root growth and crop quality.”
Boost is a simple and cost-effective way to provide readily available carbon to compliment an existing fertiliser plan.
Steve Jackson, QLF, adds that “Boost can enhance the soil’s biological function by feeding the microbes and therefore improve nutrient availability which will not only improve crop yield but also quality.”