The unique ShuttleTM chelation system continues to grow in popularity ten years after it was originally introduced to the Australian marketplace. There are a number of features which differentiate this nutrient delivery system from other forms of chelation including the following: (more…)
The soybean is a rich form of protein and other nutrients that has been the basis of several Asian dishes for thousands of years. It wasn’t a big stretch for the industry to claim that, if a whole food is so good, then surely the concentrated juice of this food must be even better. It certainly caught the imagination of many of the baby boomer generation and they enthusiastically embraced the new “milk without guilt”. Soy growers contribute a substantial levy which is used to market soy products and the marketing has been a major success story with soy milk sales in the US rising from two million dollars in 1980 to 300 million dollars last year. The problem was that no one told the health-minded consumers that the Asians wouldn’t touch soy milk with a barge pole. (more…)
The mass move from the widespread consumption of butter to “more healthy” margarine is a study in poor scientific methodology and the opportunism that followed in the wake of a major mistake. It all began in 1957 when Aneel Keys, a leading US nutritionist, announced his findings about the link between saturated fats and heart disease. Aneel had based his research upon a ridiculously small sample of just six countries when there was actually data available for a sample four times that size. (more…)
There has never been more reasons for soil, plant and stock improvement. The prices of fertilisers and farm chemicals have risen astronomically so reductions in chemical use and increases in fertiliser efficiency have never been so well rewarded. The Government’s push to reduce carbon emissions will affect agriculture and there is no doubt farmers will benefit from fixing carbon in their soils. (more…)
Tree planting techniques to ensure rapid establishment, avoid transplant shock and promote maximum growth. Renowned siviculture specialist Matt Kilby from ‘Trees for Earth’ demonstrates his strategy for success.
Balance is a key word at NTS when it comes to the soil, but how relevant is it to animal nutrition? What similarities does the animal eating the grass or hay have with the soil from which this food was produced?
When we analyse soil tests here at Soil TherapyTM headquarters we often discuss how to ensure adequate trace mineral levels are achieved. Trace element deficiencies will have a flow on effect to production and ultimately herd health and it is usually the lowest concentration that sets the limit due to the complex interactions between the elements. (more…)
An increasing number of astute growers around the globe have recognised the potential in producing a product of superior quality, to service a rapidly growing market of discerning health enthusiasts. It’s not just about catering to the concerns about chemical residues on food, but rather a consumer-led movement to reclaim forgotten flavours and to seek nutrient-dense food, rich in protective phytonutrients. There is a tremendous marketing edge in differentiating your produce in the marketplace and in this context a comparative analysis of your product, vs. a typical analysis of other produce, can be a powerful tool. (more…)
In light of the fact that humic, fulvic and kelp have virtually become commodity products in intense horticulture I was very interested to compare our prices to the products they are currently using. I was amazed to discover just how competitive we have become. In all cases our high quality products are just a fraction of the price of equivalent products from our competitors. In light of this finding I felt obliged to scream it from the roof tops and hence I am writing to you to highlight the opportunity and to explain the price differences. (more…)
The concept of increased sustainability in agriculture has traditionally evoked images of ‘sacrifice’. In this paradigm, recent converts to organics supposedly give up all their tools and the battle begins. Productivity drops dramatically but eventually you crawl back out of the hole, through lower inputs and higher organic premiums. This ‘sacrifice’ concept may seem absurd to any grower well-versed in the advanced agronomy involved in the biological approach, however, huge numbers of farmers around the globe still subscribe to this belief (albeit with billions of dollars of propaganda support from the chemical corporates). They genuinely believe that maximum productivity and profitability can only be achieved with an NPK punch, backed by chemical protection. (more…)
The unparalleled, 100% price increase in DAP/MAP in just a few short months has generated shock waves throughout agriculture, as reality bites and growers begin to understand that peak oil means peak prices. Prices for urea, pesticides and diesel have also risen considerably but it is a special set of circumstances that is responsible for the massive blow-out in prices for the world’s largest selling fertilisers, DAP and MAP. Key contributors include a 400% increase in raw material costs combined with reduced manufacturing plants (linked to rationalisation) and huge demand due to the US ethanol boom. Energy price hikes have also contributed to the blow-out. The upside of this dramatic increase in production costs is that many growers are now forced to re-evaluate the efficiency and cost effectiveness of their phosphate fertilising. In doing so, many have realised that unstable, acid-treated phosphate, where up to 70% may be lost to lock-ups, was dubious value at $650 (AU) per tonne but it is an extremely poor investment at double that price. Let’s look more closely at the phosphate investment in crop production – let’s look at how this mineral works in the soil and in the plant, how we can increase the efficiency of phosphate fertilisers and how we can reduce costs without loss of production. (more…)
