GilgaiA Passion for Solutions

(PART TWO)

Our Method1.‘Weeds’ are GOOD , and are indicators of soil health.

Our Method2. No use of Chemical Herbicides

Our Method3. No use of Chemical Fertilizer

Our Method4a. Sow Dry

May 2005 October 2005

April 2006 January 2008

Our Method

4b. Sow Dry

March 2007 February 2008

Road Paddock – Murga Ridge

Road Paddock – Murga Ridge

North Ridge – Glenara March 2007

The Better the Grass, The Better the CropNorth Ridge – Glenara 21/09/2008

The Better the Grass, The Better the CropNorth Ridge - Glenara 21/09/ 2008

And The Better the PastureNorth Ridge – Glenara 21/09/ 2008

Science DailyTexas Agri –Life Research Station

Germination Trials (September 2008)

Cam Laurie’s Results

Completed Training

• Grazing For Profit • Low Stress Stock Handling• “Quickchecks” – Land Health Monitoring• Holistic Resource Management• Farm Management Systems (CMA)• Soil Foodweb Interactions and Benefits to Plant

Production• Compost Tea Brewing

Chemical Results (2 weeks after ACT Application)

Before After DesirableNitrate 143.6 2.6 13.0Ammonium 14.9 3.5 15-18P 33 13 48K 491 337 60 - 75OM% 3.9 3.1 4.5CEC 12.75 7.65 7.0Ca 6.93 4.77 10.0Mg 3.20 1.15 1.2 - 1.7Ca/Mg 2.16 4.15 6.3 (4.8)pH 6.6 6.9 6.7C/N 10.60 14.8 10 – 12

Our Biological Process

1. Grow cover crop, graze and harvest grain

2. Mulch Remnant

3. Apply Aerobic Compost Tea 4. Monitor Results & Feed Biology

Soil Food Web Analysis Results(2 Weeks after ACT Application)

Before After DesirableActive Bacteria 36.1 43.9 1 to 5

Total Bacteria 85.5 879 175 to 300

Active Fungal 10.9 10.8 1 to 5

Total Fungal 76.4 314 175 to 300

Our Balanced Approach

• The Big Picture

• The Past (Trials and Tribulations)

• The Present (Land, People and Profit)

• The Future (Trials and Tribulations)

The Compost / Compost Tea Trials

We looked at the logistics of Compost Spreading, Compost Making and being certain of a quality tested compost that met the requirements for our specific soils.

Our solution was applying a Self Brewed Compost Tea from our

OWN Compost

The Compost

The “Tea Bag” and Aerator

The Compost “Tea Bag”

The Brewer

The Spray Rig

The Boom Jet

The Boom Jet

www.soilfoodweb.com.au

Our Aerobic Compost Tea

Fungi

Bacteria

Protozoa

The PresentDefinition: Current, Contemporary

and/or Gift,

and /or to Portray, to Communicate

Our Belief

Soil Health

Plant Health

Animal Health

Human Health

www.eatwild.com

www.soilfoodweb.com.au

North Ridge – Glenara March 2007 September 2008

“No Brainer” Rehabilitation

Making Use of Existing InfrastuctureNorth Ridge – Glenara 21/09/2008

www.tolweb.org/Glomeromycota

Lucerne and Box Grasslands (Paspalidium Constrictum)

Pasture Mix – Exotic and Native Grasslands

Murga & Cooee February 2008

No Bloat Problems on Lucerne

Moving to Biodiverse Improved Native Grasslands

Firbank March 2008

Biology as a H-----ide?

Saffron thistle – January 2008

Bathurst Burr and Cathead (Feb 08)

Biology as a H-----ide ?

Our Results3/09/2008

10/09/2008

21/09/2008

26/09/2008

14/10/2008

Rain, Stocking Rates vs Growth

Rain, Stocking Rates vs Ground Cover

Rainfall vs Total FOO 2007 v 2008

Paddock Performance Monitoring (DSE/grazing days/hectare/paddock)

THE FUTURE

Definition: Opportunity, Hope &

Potential

“The people who neglecttheir land

destroy themselves.”

Ana Primavesi from ‘Stubble over the Soil’

Our FamilyEric, Wendy and Family

Matthew has Masters in Marine Biology and working at SARDILuke has completed Certificates 2,3 and 4 in agriculture and

currently employed as our farm manager.

Our Grand Daughters

Kailee & Hannah Amelia, (Coco –Nicole) and Georgia

Our Extended FamilyMum & Dad James & Rhonda

Simon Luke & KarissaFelicity

Karissa currently studying ‘Meat Inspection’Felicity studying ‘Environmental Management’ at Macquarie University

Simon employed in the Singapore corporations as Vice Chairman of Minstar

Our Future ‘Landscape Function’Agro-Forestry

Brewing Centre of Soil Microbes (Compost Teas)

Algae or Trees for Bio-diesel production

‘Wind Farming’ for Electricity

Fish Farming

Niche Marketing of Beef, Lamb and Wool

Agro Forestry, Conservation & Re-Vegetation Areas

www.soilfoodweb.com.au

Farmers are Stewards of the soil, water & environment.

Farmers are Caretakers of their fellow human beings.

Farmers are food production managers

www.soilfoodweb.com.au

If you don’t understand and appreciate these facts,

Get another profession

Haida Indian proverb

“We do not inherit this land from our ancestors,

we borrow it from our children”

Australia Day 2007

1.b What happens between the Rows

Completed Training

• Grazing For Profit

• Low Stress Stock Handling

• “Quickchecks” – Land Health Monitoring

• Holistic Resource Management

• Farm Management Systems (CMA)

• Soil Foodweb Interactions and Benefits to Plant Production

• Compost Tea Brewing

THE FUTURE

Definition: Opportunity, Hope &

Potential

Foods Required for Brewing 1000 litres of ACT

• Humic acid – 400ml - $1.60

• Fish Emulsion – 600ml - $2.39

• Kelp Extract – 600ml - $2.88

• Oat Bran – 250gm - $3-00

• Molasses – 4 litres - $2.40

• Rice Flour

• Soy Flour

Biology as a H-----ide ?Saffron Thistle (Feb 08)

Cost of Equipment

• Microscope - $1543

• Nozzles - $1100

• Dissolved Oxygen Meter - $2800

• Thermostat - $550

• IBC - $300 each

• GeoTea Extractor $4950

• Spray Rig (Applicator) ???

Cost of Foods

• Humic Acid - $3.96 per litre

• Fish Emulsion - $3.97 per litre

• Bioactive Kelp - $4.80 per litre

• Molasses - $0.62 per litre

• Fish Hydrolysate - $1.20 per litre

Foods to Feed Biology – Bi – Annually (Autumn and Spring)

• Humic Acid – 30ml per ha

• Kelp Extract – 75ml per ha

• Fish Hydrolysate – 6 litres per ha

• Molasses – 2 litres per ha

List of ContactsDavid Von Pein – Brix Spectrometer PO Box 7964, Toowoomba Qld

4352 Tel 07 4635 7065 Mob 0428 987 117

Australian Soil Additives and Products – PO Box 121,

Bangalow. NSW 2479 Tel 02 6688 2324 Mob 0410 880 084

www.asapsupplier.com.au

Soil Foodweb Institute – 1 Crawford Rd, East Lismore. NSW 2480

Tel 02 6622 5150 www.soilfoodweb.com.au

South Australian Marine Products Industries (SAMPI)

Port Lincoln SA – Peter Laughton Tel 0400 050 013 www.sampi.com.au

Environmental Analysis Laboratory (EAL)

c/o Southern Cross University, PO Box 157, Lismore NSW 2480

Tel 02 6620 3678 (Lab)

Our Future Enterprises

• Commercial Brewing Centre of Compost Teas with Consultancy Service

• Bio-diesel Extraction plant for own Use

• Niche Marketing of Gilgai Branded Produce –Chemical Free and Carbon Negative (Wool, Fish; Lamb and Beef MSA Processed)

Cam Laurie’s Results

Completed Training

• Grazing For Profit

• Low Stress Stock Handling

• “Quickchecks” – Land Health Monitoring

• Holistic Resource Management

• Farm Management Systems (CMA)

• Soil Foodweb Interactions and Benefits to Plant Production

• Compost Tea Brewing

Chemical Results (2 weeks after ACT Application)

Before After DesirableNitrate 143.6 2.6 13.0Ammonium 14.9 3.5 15-18P 33 13 48K 491 337 60 - 75OM% 3.9 3.1 4.5CEC 12.75 7.65 7.0Ca 6.93 4.77 10.0Mg 3.20 1.15 1.2 - 1.7Ca/Mg 2.16 4.15 6.3 (4.8)pH 6.6 6.9 6.7C/N 10.60 14.8 10 – 12

Our Biological Process

1. Grow cover crop, graze and harvest grain

2. Mulch Remnant

3. Apply Aerobic Compost Tea 4. Monitor Results & Feed Biology

Soil Food Web Analysis Results(2 Weeks after ACT Application)

Before After DesirableActive Bacteria 36.1 43.9 1 to 5

Total Bacteria 85.5 879 175 to 300

Active Fungal 10.9 10.8 1 to 5

Total Fungal 76.4 314 175 to 300

Our Balanced Approach

• The Big Picture

• The Past (Trials and Tribulations)

• The Present (Land, People and Profit)

• The Future (Trials and Tribulations)