Brewing microorganisms is almost an act of faith. You add some ingredients to the brewing tank, wait 24 hours and then apply the discoloured water to your soils or crop. You can’t see the new workforce you have created so you simply trust that something worthwhile is involved. You can, of course, minimise the guess work by buying yourself a microscope or by taking advantage of the free NTS service where one of our Chemists/Agronomists will check out your efforts and offer guidance if necessary. You will also maximise the potential of biological multiplication if you follow a standardised brewing protocol. Here are the essentials for successful microbe brewing. (more…)

Imagine a liquid fertiliser that has been specifically designed to nurture and promote the most important creatures in the soil, whilst also supplying a comprehensive food source for the developing crop. This dual functionality has often been promised but rarely achieved as a cost-effective liquid fertiliser. The soil organisms in question are mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). These effective root-extending fungi are the most decimated of all the soil-life stars (numbers are down to just 10% of what they should be) and yet they are our most productive allies when striving to build both soil fertility and profitability. (more…)

Click this link to read the article from the ‘Dairy News’.

Potassium (K) is the mineral with the greatest influence upon crop quality parameters and, in this context, foliar-applied potassium during the business end of the season (from flowering onwards), can be particularly productive. Potassium is unique amongst major minerals in that it never becomes part of functional molecules involved in plant structure. Instead, it serves as a spark plug that triggers numerous biochemical and physiological processes related to plant growth, yield and quality. (more…)

Humates are the most exciting yield building, profit boosting tool available in crop production and if you have yet to discover their multiple benefits, it’s time to realise their potential. Trial a small area and you will become a humate convert. We are yet to experience a grower who has not been impressed with the humate response. Often the level of success is based upon how this tool is utilised. Here are some tips to help maximise humate benefits (more…)

Liz Riley is a leading viticulture consultant in the Hunter Valley and she heads her own consultancy company. Liz attended one of our four day courses last year and she proved a wealth of intelligent queries and well reasoned opinions that we have come to expect from recipients of Nufield scholarships. An NTS Agronomist has since travelled to the Hunter to visit some of the vineyards that have begun to work with biological principles. There have been some great results with the precision nutrition associated with prescription blends but Liz has been particularly impressed with the performance of Grape-Tech™. (more…)

In part one of this series I looked at some of the costly mistakes associated with the soil. In this second installment, the emphasis is upon the growing crop and how to avoid those profit sucking shots in the foot. (more…)

A large part of the Plant Management segment of our four day, Certificate in Sustainable Agriculture course is dedicated to demonstrating the use of a range of in-field diagnostic tools. These include a range of pocket tools for immediate feedback and a novel use of conventional leaf analysis. Together, we call this approach, Plant Therapy. These tools can prove invaluable aids but it must be made clear that they should never serve as a substitute for informed observation and hands-on participation in the growing process. (more…)

An agricultural system that is dependent upon petrochemicals is absurdly vulnerable as peak oil approaches. Smart operators, the world over, have recognised this vulnerability and are seeking to reduce their reliance upon oil. The focus changes from oil to soil as growers come to recognise that their chemical approach has been self perpetuating. The more you use, the more you lose and the higher your requirement for chemical intervention.In contrast, a biological approach involves ever reducing inputs as the biology kicks in. (more…)

1) Lift Your Quality – Organics has a reputation for idealism, which can be good motivation but bad business. Consumers should get more than chemical-free when they buy organic. They should get forgotten flavours and extended shelf life to justify the premium, and this is all about nutrition. If you are deficient in zinc or boron, all of the compost in the world won’t correct that deficiency. You need soil and tissue tests and good advice to sponsor a quality-driven, precision nutrition approach that will bring the customer back for more. NTS are world leaders in soil and plant nutrition. (more…)