SUMMER 2007/08

Lismore BioLogic Project

Attracts Federal Funding>>pg3

A New Supergrass?Use Less Water,

Same Grass!>>pg5

Breaking Rural News

Soil Microbes Feature >>pg6

Dr Maarten Stapper

Less Fertiliser in 2008?Cropping Tour Feb 4-8

6 venues near you!>>pg6

Dr Arden AndersenUniversity of

BallaratFebruary 15th. 2008

“BioLogic Farming Delivers Profits”

>>pg7

Yongala Ag-Bureau/Landcare

Fertiliser Trail Results >>pg7

Join the LawrieCo Mail & Email List or Change your Details...Fill out this form and then fax to 08 8244 8557 or post to the address below.

Please change my contact details Please send me LawrieCo’s Sustainable Update (SA, Vic & NSW only) Please send me Email Updates

Name __________________________________________________

Address __________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

Town _______________________________ P/Code ____________

Email ___________________________________________

Phone __________________________________

Fax __________________________________

Industry (circle): Cropping Stock Dairy Vines Horticulture

Other __________________________________

Please send me information about a LawrieCo program:

Seeding Broadcast Digestion Foliar

Dry Survivor!GRDC Water Use Efficiency of 32.

Harvesting 1.2T/ha at “Tylden”with less than 100mm of Rain from April-Oct.

SU

MM

ER

200

7/08

The aerial photograph of Tim and Marianne O’Hallorans property at Balranald tells it all. It’s a picture that paints a thousand words about their foresight and success in building up the BioLogic capacity of their property using inputs of humic and microbe innoculum.

By October this year Tim was surrounded by parched and dry land. Serious failure was the grim reality for many crops in the Balranald region. There had been precious little rain since May and none to speak of in August, September and October.

Fallow rain in the lead up to seeding had been very patchy with a standout January downpour followed by a searing 34.6C average temperature day after day for February. Needless to say February offered nothing much at all (by way of rain) to settle the dust either.

Admittedly there was not much rain in Balranald to work with anyhow but hopes were high across the country that the season would be good. Tim planted on Late April rain with the LawrieCo Seeding Program. Tim has been a long term advocate for low seeding rates, this year he chose Yitpi (a hard wheat)and sowed at 23kg /ha, knowing how important that has been for him in the past in his low rainfall area.

Unfortunately the drought had never truly left and re emerged to take its devastating toll.

Even so, the Balranald Weather Station Rain Chart (page 2) shows there was plenty of reason to be

optimistic; April and May were fine, June was too light but July offered much more hope for a normal season and expectations were good. Then the months went by with no rain to speak of. Just a few “wet air” days in August and September that went nowhere, and saw the demise of most crops in the region.

If you didn’t already have the water reserve from higher carbon in the root zone and the beneficial biology working overtime, then there was nothing left for a crop to finish with.

Most in the region sent their stock onto wilting crops by late August, when they knew they’d just salvage a few weeks of feed before the crop was dead.

A total of 111.2mm of rain fell at the Balranald Weather Station, start of April to end of October. Tim monitors 4 rain gauges on his property, and the highest recorded 92.0 mm for the same period. With negligible Fallow Rain for the season it was an incredible result to harvest 1.2 tonnes to the hectare as an average across the farm.

GRDC advice (based on a 250mm-440mm growing season rainfall) that a wheat crop will yield 5-20 kg per hectare per mm rainfall with the better managed crops scoring a WUE of 10-15.

Photographer Bruce Martin 10/10/07

$5500 (incl.GST) Professional Advice & Planning Grant

Did you know that the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry (administered via Centrelink) provides a valuable grant to Farmers in EC (exceptional circumstances) declared areas for the purposes of Professional Advice

and Planning? This grant is in recognition of the impacts on farming enterprises of prolonged drought and the importance of professional advice and planning towards the long term viability of farming enterprises.

If you are in an EC area and would like to know more about this grant you

can contact us at LawrieCo or visit the Centrelink website (www.centrelink.gov.au) and follow the links to Australian Government Drought Assistance.

Valuable Advice – No Excuse Not to Use It

Dry Survivor! cont.....Applying GRDC Water Use Efficiency (WUE) Model for Cereal

Crops as a benchmark for gauging Tim’s farming performance the outcome has an outstanding WUE of 32

Key Formulas are:

Water Supply (mm) = Stored Water (mm) + Growing Season Rain (mm) – Water Loss Factors (mm)

WUE (kg/ha/mm) = Crop Yield (kg/ha)/ Water Supply (mm)Yield Potential (kg/ha) = Water Supply (mm) x WUE (kg/ha/mm)

Fallow rain in Balranald (3 months prior) was 133.8mm which offers 27mm as Fallow Water Storage.

Based on Balranald Weather Station Figures there was 110mm for the growing season (April-October) and we have an additional 27mm Fallow Rain to add, less the notional 100mm water loss, leaving 37mm of rain as the water supply for Tim to grow a crop on. With so little available water it is not hard to see why the rest of the region succumbed to drought by August.

Tim went on to harvest in October with an average across the property of 1200kg per Hectare, average protein 11.8, average screenings 1.82% and average hectolitre weight of 81.5.

Tim therefore has a notional WUE rating of 32, and under his circumstances that result is double the expected yield of the best managed crops in Australia as assessed on the GRDC WUE formula.

In truth Tim and Marianne harvested a decent crop when hundreds in the region didn’t and thousands across the country would have said - impossible.

Tim and Marianne adopted Biologic systems in 2001. In 2002 Tim reported low yields but also a very high WUE in a severe drought season. The change in Soil Productivity was already underway. Biologic Farming Systems focus heavily on building an active organic carbon and water bank capacity in the soil and root zone for crop and cumulative soil benefits.

With seven years of this approach on Tim’s property and a crop WUE more than double what GRDC describe as ‘better managed’ this is an outcome that will need to be replicated by others seeking to have a long term future in dry land farming.

Researchers might like to express interest in further exploring and identifying exactly what is happening underground on the “Tylden” property Balranald. In the meantime combining reduced fertilizer with Biologic Seeding Humic and Microbial Inoculation consistently delivers better crops in spite of miserly rainfall.

The answer to successful farming into the future, especially as climate changes, will be found underground, where rain water can be cleverly stored and utilized for much more productive use. BioLogic Farming Systems are clearly performing right through to harvest on a lot less water than usual. Sincere congratulations to Tim and Marianne O’Halloran for delivering an agribusiness result that Australia needs to study.

Ground Level with Adrian Lawrie (L) and Tim O’Halloran

Root Branching with evidence of Soil StickinessIndicating Exudates (Plant Carbohydrates feeding Soil Mircrobes)

Balranald Weather station records –

Month MM C

November 06 23.8 29.6

December 06 5.2 31.2

Fallow Rain

January 114.4 32.1

February 3.0 34.6

March 16.4 29.0

Fallow Total 133.8

Growing Season

April 44.0 25.7

May 33.0 20.9

June 5.6 14.5

July 20.6 15.2

August 2.0 19.9

September 4.4 22.1

October 1.6 26.0

Growing Total 111.2

Broadacre, Horticulture, Viticulture, Turf, Dairy & Livestock

In a National first, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (under the National LandCare Programme) is supporting an application by the Lismore Land Protection Group to implement a Broadacre and Pasture comparison using LawrieCo BioLogic farming inputs.

Over 20 properties in the Lismore area are participating with the aim of scientifically measuring over three years, the differences between Conventional and BioLogic Farming Systems. All sites, including suitable control sites, will be tested for biological activity, nutrient and carbon levels and for compaction. Crops and Pasture will be tested and surveyed for sugar level, growth rate, vigour, colour and diseases or disease resistance. All the information including treatments for pesticide use, fertilizer application, humates and foliar treatments will be recorded for detailed analysis. Harvest crops, such as wheat, barley, oats and canola will be measured for yield, screenings and quality.

One of the key outcomes being sought from this Federally supported farming trial will be to categorically measure any immediate and sustainable benefits BioLogic Farming Systems may provide as a future, beneficial farming practice in Australia.

Lismore LandCare BioLogic Farming attracts Federal Funding

This project is expected to complete in 2010 ( three years) to properly measure any variables in the performance level of farms using BioLogic practices.

There is a quiet confidence in the Lismore area, especially amongst farms already practicing BioLogic systems that significant differences in performance will occur, and the widening of economic performance between Conventional and BioLogic will be especially noted during periods of lower than average rainfall.

Lismore Broadacre Farming “Paired Paddock” evaluation is focusing on much more than the proposition of BioLogic Farming Systems displaying superior Water Use Efficiency and Utilization. There is a very strong emphasis on determining whether “healthier” plants are grown as a result of using BioLogic Systems. Nutrient Density in Harvested grains will be tested for macro and trace element comparison.

Early indications suggest that the dry weather survival is just one part of an overall robustness and survival strength that healthy crops and pasture have when faced with frost, insect infestation and disease events.

The Lismore Land Protection Group will be aiming to ensure rigorous observation of all testing and input protocols. To ensure the highest level of In-Field Soil Testing, LawrieCo have provided the Healthy Soils Testing Kit developed and assembled by the Queensland University of Technology.

A Most Comprehensive Soil Kit that will enable accurate sampling of Soil Biology, Soil Organic Matter and the complete measurement (ongoing basis) of Soil Physical Properties.

Potential opportunities now emerge to seek a similar project in your community.

Olivia’s Long Service Leave starts with a long Flight and a decent Hike.

Olivia Grivell (nee Lawrie) is also our long serving (some say long suffering) Operations Manager at LawrieCo. Olivia and husband Brett are currently seeing the sights of South America and then they are off to Europe to see the UK based Lawrie family members over Christmas. Brett and Olivia have been sending us back some fantastic adventure stories and luckily no trouble except for the odd inconvenient motion to speak of.

Here is an excerpt from their ever expanding travel diary, while they were hiking all the way up to the top of the world at Machu Picchu –

“After the Colca Canyon, we headed to Cusco, the original capital of the Inca Empire. Here the group went out for roast guinea pig, which depending on the part you get is actually quite nice, or quite bad”.

“The next four days were spent walking up and down mountains, varying from Australian flat, Inca flat, Inca steep and Inca bloody steep. This consisted of stairs and pathways made of rocks winding up otherwise inaccessible mountains”.

Postcard from Machu Picchu

Hard Yakka Hiking Machu Picchu

Healthy Soils Testing Kit used in the Lismore Project

Congratulations to James and Leticia Gosse (nee Lawrie) on the birth of their first child, a

son John Melrose Gosse.

All are doing well and parents report that young Johnnys

BioLogic Baby Systems are working perfectly and

constantly!

New Lease of BioLogic LifeAFL Stadium Adelaide SA

AAMI Stadium is the AFL home ground to both the Adelaide Crows and Port Power Football Clubs.

It hosts regular games and training sessions for elite sport, including SANFL as well as being an entertainment arena for many charities, rock concerts and social sporting functions.

Put simply these grounds get absolutely hammered all year round!!

The stadium also gets plenty of advertising paint, line marking and chemical treatment to suppress unwanted insects and the curator is constantly fighting the cumulative problem of a degrading anaerobic biology.

Premier Sporting Stadiums have unique high impact usage, low sunlight, anaerobic soil and dying turf problems that are always in desperate need of remediation and repair to keep the ground alive, green and usable.

Towards the end of the AFL season you have to accept that these types of sporting arenas have suffered to the maximum extent and will be kept going with regular seeding just to keep the newest lush green look possible. Television Stations are very insistent about the ground looking good and looking green no matter how bad the real situation is.

In essence the only way to survive such a vicious cycle is to break it! Take a new direction in sports turf management and that’s exactly what AAMI stadium Curator Jamie Butterworth did when he consulted MD of LawrieCo BioLogic, Adrian Lawrie, back in May 2007.

Fortunately for Adrian, Jamie was from a farming background and understood the principles of building up a truly healthy soil to create a truly healthy plant (in this case, turf). Jamie had already begun looking in that direction and the timing for Adrian and Jamie to put it together was perfect.

The winter football season was upon them and the first job was to break that degrading anaerobic cycle as the season progresses.

In AAMI’s case Jamie was very supportive of Adrians’ advice and it only took 3 months from tackling the serious challenges to making the powerful recovery.

Intensive Results at AAMI Stadium in 2007AAMI Stadium South Australia’s Premier Football Stadium

Picture taken Pre-Treatment First biological treatment Progress at 18th July 2007 Progress at 7th September 2007 applied 8th June 2007 (1 Month) (3 Months)

Intensive BioLogic Treatment produces the most impressive root growth and tillering. Divots decrease markedly, softness and spring increase and turf

now recovers within hours of heavy training. With such improvements you can schedule more training, more heavy tackling, more practice games,

more revenue generating concerts and ground hire, more spray-on ground advertising and much more stress on the ground keeping team overall.

Thanks to LawrieCo BioLogic Farming Systems

The recovery was remarkable. The stadium now has long term thickly thatched grass cover with multiple tillers with good growth in all the worst areas of centre, corridor to goals and goal square. Root mass has exploded and driven excellent nutrition into the grass for robust resistance to disease, pest, or the dreaded advertising and line marking paint! More importantly, from an elite sports level, the root mass is now providing a spongy feel underfoot with plenty of indent and give on impact, rather than ripped grass and body crunch. The grounds staff out at AAMI have also reported that the turf recovery and lack of divots has been a very welcome feature of the new look grounds.

The denser and deeper root mass feature of BioLogic Systems Management may become very important in assessing sports grounds suitability for intended use, from an occupational health and safety perspective.

It is also likely that the natural consideration being given to properly preparing grounds for professional sporting people should obviously extend to our own school grounds when considering the same injury concerns in contact based sport.

BioLogic program underway at AAMI Stadium

Broadacre, Horticulture, Viticulture, Turf, Dairy & Livestock

A New SuperGrass? Better Performance with Less Water on the Grass you Already Have!

LawrieCo Biologic formally announces a strategic marketing partnership with underground irrigation specialists, Greene Eden Pty Ltd.

Both companies have recognized the cutting edge technology they each possess in water saving and have now combined their efforts for the purposes of delivering the ultimate water saving technology with proven results for all types of gardens, parks, ovals and open green spaces.

Greene Eden’s TIMPACK™ (Total Irrigation Management Package) has been recognized and has received the Smart Approved Watermark status. Current school sites managed by Greene Eden, totaling eighteen, come under a special permit issued by SA Water. This permit is conditional upon strict compliance with SA Water’s requirements for monthly reporting showing adherence to IPOS BIR calculations.

TIMPACK™ incorporating sub-surface drip irrigation for turf is the most efficient way of managing water for turf irrigation. However, sprinkler irrigation can also be managed in a similar fashion, but must first undergo auditing to gain optimum outcomes. Auditing of irrigation systems is paramount in the effort to maximize water efficiency in turf and/or irrigated agriculture.

One of the major functions of an audit of an irrigation system is to determine the DU (Distribution Uniformity) of a system.

In this example, it is assumed that grass (turf) evapotranspiration or ET (water needed by the plant) is 1 inch (25mm) per week

From this example we see that uniformity directly influences the amount of water needed to keep everything green. Though there are no systems that are 100% efficient, sub-surface drip comes pretty close. It is obviously more efficient to apply 25mm and provide 99.9% DU against applying 83.3mm with the result being only 30% DU.

Greene Eden have specialized in the design, supply and installation of sub-surface drip irrigation during the past fifteen years, and has extensive knowledge and understanding of soil and turf requirements using this type of irrigation.

LawrieCo BioLogic will be benchmarking all the existing soil biology, chemical and physical properties and putting in place a complete soil remediation program to ensure friable, well oxygenated and a “soils alive” medium for plants to grow in. This will ensure any rain that does occur, infiltrates properly and becomes a significant contribution to sub-surface moisture potential. BioLogic inputs through the irrigation system will be buffering any salts or chlorine build up to ensure more water always remains available to the root zones. Benefical bacteria and Fungi will be extending

the operational ability of the root zones by converting locked up minerals into plant available forms of nutrition as well as feeding nutrient and water back to the plant and sequestering organic soil carbon to build up the healthy profile of the soil. The use of beneficial soil biology is a critical component in developing truly healthy soils. Specialized BioLogic Foliars will also be used to ensure a controlled plant growth response emphasizing root mass, increased tillering and cell nutrient density.

BioLogic Systems management will deliver more efficient use of water, more available water and more accessible (and stored) rain water will further reduce the need for more irrigated water coming through the Greene Eden system, thereby reducing by another (projected) 20+% the required irrigated water to maintain a lush and green surface grass (or growing garden).

Several other excellent benefits also exist with the LawrieCo – Greene Eden Irrigation Program

Underground watering lines and drippers eliminate opportune vandalism to watering equipment and stop the incidence of sporting injuries from collision with surface sprinkler pots.

Increased Root Mass provides a spongy feel underfoot with ability for the grass surface to give on impact; further lessening the possibility of sporting injuries (and ripped grass or divots).

Non-Potable water may now be used and most importantly, BioLogic Systems management will enable its continued use by maintaining a soil biology that can continually detoxify unwanted components (especially chlorine, salts, detergents, heavy metals or harmful bacteria)

A truly revolutionary combination of Remote Controlled Computerized Underground Water Irrigation operating within a Potent BioLogic Soil Remediation, Microbial Proliferation and Organic Soil Carbon Sequestration. Greene Edens dosage control delivery system can now use LawrieCo BioLogic WaterBuff to completely “fertigate” into the ever expanding sub-surface root mass and to further condition plant biology to reduce its required water consumption.

The ultimate goals for the LawrieCo-Greene Eden Irrigation Program is to CUT IN HALF the previously required water and make the oval or grassed area MUCH BETTER than what it was or looked like before!

SuperGrass? The answer is UnderGround

Ditch Witch – Laying Underground Irrigation

DU as a Water needs ÷ DU as a = Amount of water you

percent of plant decimal need to apply to keep

the dry areas green

30% 25mm ÷ .30 = 83.3 mm

50% 25mm ÷ .50 = 50.0 mm

70% 25mm ÷ .70 = 35.7 mm

99.9% 25mm ÷ .99 = 25.0 mm**

** = sub-surface drip irrigation

Gre

ene EdeN

Gre

ene EdeN

Breaking Rural News : GRAINS AND CROPPING

With the cost of phosphorus fertiliser continuing to sit at record levels and farmers facing unprecedented fertiliser costs of up to $150 a hectare, any means of cutting down costs will be welcomed. Researchers have found that a combination of building microbial activity and monitoring soil phosphorus levels to ensure expenditure is profitable are two good methods of minimising fertiliser bills next season. South Australian scientist Ann McNeil, a researcher at the University of Adelaide, says soils contain organic phosphorus and by encouraging soil microbial activity, growers can encourage phosphorus cycling and increase its availability to the plant. Traditionally, farmers have accessed in-soil nitrogen reserves, which become available through mineralisation following summer rain or through growing a legume, but have regarded phosphorus as an unavoidable expenditure. Dr McNeil says growers can also make use of organic

Australia Tuesday, 11 December 2007

phosphorus in the long-term - with no-till systems improving the soil organic matter doing the best job of making extra P available. Dr McNeill’s research shows farming practices which build soil carbon also improve organic phosphorus levels and microbial activity. However it is not a short-term fix – and that P levels must be maintained to promote microbial activity.

Even though as little as 20pc of applied phosphorus ends up in the plant, the “lost” fertiliser still has an important part in stimulating microbes and eventually becomes available to plants in other seasons.

Eighty to ninety per cent of phosphorus in the crop comes from the organic phosphorus reserves in the soil, converted by the soil microbes. Dr McNeill says it takes a long time to achieve a nutrient balance in the soil but by encouraging the soil microbes growers can maintain a healthy system with a sustained ability to supply plant-available phosphorus.

“…And fertilizer prices soaring as well”“Farmers will have to contend with soaring phosphate prices as well next

year, with the market 50% higher than at the start of 2007 and fears growing that phosphate blends will cost $1000 a tonne (delivered) on –farm.”

-GREGOR HEARD, THE LAND December 6, 2007

“…Only half the rates of fertilizer needed”“Farmers using BioLogic Soluble Humate Granules and Sure Crop Seed

Inoculants are matching yields and improving crops and soils with half the previously used rates of fertilizer. Trial work and 100,000 hectares sown with this BioLogic Seeding Program in 2007 confirm these outcomes.”

-ADRIAN LAWRIE, M.D. LAWRIECO December 6, 2007

Less Fertiliser in 2008? Cropping Tour VenuesStreaky Bay Feb 4 1.45pm - 5pm Streaky Bay - Rural Trans Centre

Jamestown Feb 5 9am -11.45am Sir Hubert Wilkins Bld. - Airstrip

Maitland Feb 5 3.15pm - 6.00pm YP South Kilkerran Ag Bureau - Lutheran Church Hall

Tarlee Feb 6 9am -12noon Tarlee Community Hall

Keith Feb 7 9am -12noon Keith Golf Club

Horsham Feb 8 9am -12noon Grains Innovation Park, Natimuk Rd

Cost: $20 (paid on site, GST incl) BBQ and Light Refreshments

Less Fertiliser in 2008?

This article reprinted courtesy of

www.farmonline.com.au - an initiative of Rural Press. Inside farmonline you’ll find dedicated web content as well as articles sourced from Australia’s leading rural newspapers and

magazines on industry and lifestyle issues affecting rural

Australia.

ThePenny Drops!

Dr. Maarten Stapper is one of Australia’s longest serving and foremost experts on Wheat Farming Systems. Maarten was born and raised in the Netherlands and gained a degree in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Wageningen. He has worked on cropping systems and models in the Netherlands, Iraq, Texas and Syria before arriving in Australia in the early 80’s. From 1983- 1988 Maarten worked at the CSIRO Griffith on irrigated wheat and introduced irrigation scheduling, nitrogen calculator and the first crop checking program, a forebear to TopCrop.

He then moved to CSIRO Canberra as a Farm Systems Agronomist specializing on dry land wheat farming. For many years Maarten has been acutely aware of the soil degradation and productivity problems that Australian Broad Acre Farmers are facing.

Dr. Maarten Stapper left the CSIRO in 2007 to pursue a new career in Professional Agronomic Consultancy with a Key Focus on delivering to his clients Sustainable & Profitable Farming Futures.

Contact the LawrieCo Office on 08 8244 8558 for more information.

SA Regional & Wimmera Victoria Cropping Tour Feb 4 to Feb 8

Soil microbes can cut

phosphorus costs

Guest Speaker,

Maarten Stapper, BAgSc, AgEng,PhD, FAIAST.

Broadacre, Horticulture, Viticulture, Turf, Dairy & Livestock

For anyone who would like to learn a lot more about Sustainable Land Care & Healthy Living, we wish to introduce our BioLogic Farming Systems most esteemed educator and mentor, Dr. Arden Andersen. Arden is a well respected US based health and agricultural science consultant who holds a doctorate in biophysics and degrees in agricultural education and medical sciences. He specializes in managing soils, crops and animals in a productive, profitable and sustainable way, focusing on bridging the gap between soil and plant balance. His books include Science in Agriculture and Anatomy of Life and Energy in Agriculture.

For many years now agrichemical enthusiasts have managed to convince the general farming community that fungicide, insecticide and herbicide are absolutely necessary to run a proper farm and to have any hope of meeting the worlds demand for food.

More and more we realize how damaging and wrong the “chemicides” path is and Dr. Andersen has been a shining light for many years in demonstrating the real potential and potency of BioLogic Farming Systems. Science proves that low-to-mediocre crop production, weed, disease, and insect

pressures are all symptoms of nutritional imbalances and inadequacies in the soil. Ardens’ book, Science in Agriculture is a concise explanation of the main schools of thought that make up intelligent eco-agriculture and he gives you a proper working knowledge of chemistry, physics, and plant biology applying to agriculture. However, meeting Arden and hearing what he has to say has often been reported as a profound and revealing experience for many people! Leaving them deep in thought about their current farming practices and what their legacy should be for future generations. Which is why LawrieCo are pleased to announce a special One Day Seminar in Ballarat Victoria on Friday 15th. February 2008.

Dr. Arden Andersen is first and foremost an excellent communicator and he shares his crucial knowledge of how BioLogic farming delivers profits in a fascinating and thought provoking way! You will be informed and empowered with the Logical Sense and Smart Thinking that Dr. Andersen always conveys.

Heads UP Dr. Arden Andersen Ph.D, D.O., F.S. B.Sc Ag/Ag.Ed (USA)

Join Us

BioLogic Farming Delivers ProfitsSeminar Friday 15th. February 2008 (Caro Convention Centre)University of Ballarat – Victoria

• Significantly Cutting Fertilizer Costs• Ensuring Long Term Water Use Efficiencies • Raising Organic Soil Carbon Levels• Permanently Improving Soil Biology• Creating True Carbon Sequestration• Reducing Pest & Disease Susceptibility• Making Sure of Sustainable Profits

Yongala Ag-Bureau/Landcare Fertiliser Trials

visiting LawrieCo in February 2008.

Jamestown Mid North SA 2007

Chris Bretag a member of Yongala Ag Bureau and Landcare donated fertiliser for the LawrieCo recommendations component on Peter Kitschke’s property at Caltowie.

The work included fertiliser, varieties, and chemical comparisons etc. The table below indicates the fertiliser comparison and wheat yield data component from Richard Porter of Peracto who conducted the trial.

Yongala Ag-Bureau Landcare Results Yield

Basic N Kg/haMAP 70kg Urea 50kg 2164

MAP 70kg Easy N 54L 2084DAP 77kg Urea 35kg 2141DAP 77kg Easy N 38L 1859*LawrieCo 200120:13 77kg Urea 38kg 183120:13 77kg Easy N 43L 1851

*LawrieCo input at seeding : 45 kg DAP, 5 kg BioLogic Soluble Humate Granules, BioLogic Sure Crop VAM Foliar (replacing urea): BioLogic Growth, Fulvic, and MicroLife.

The cost for the total LawrieCo program input was approx. 80% the cost of other plots.

The BioLogic Benefit Continues :Compared to high inputs of DAP and Urea, Biological Soils

continue to improve from residual humic compounds and extended root biological activity.

Biologic Foliar applications are replacing urea and fungicides to further improve soil condition .

Even lower conventional fertiliser rates (than in the Yongala trial) can be used after 2-5 years on Biologic Farming Programs.

In seasons of limited spring rainfall Biologic Crops appear to finish better than expected.

With input costs rising, BioLogic Farming Programs become a cost saving opportunity in 2008.

Adrian, Peter Kitschke and David Porter - checking for bio-colonisation in plants at the Yongala Trials 17/08/07

LawrieCo: ContactsRegional Field Consultants

Burt Nuade 0427 557 789South Australia & Sunraysia

Tom Pickhaver 0429 811 002 Central Districts SA

Tim Watt 0428 568 684 South East SA & Western Vic

Trevor Cook 0402 811 005 Western Districts - Lismore Vic

Vaughn Maroske 0418 530 369 Wimmera Region Vic

David Clayfield 0407 091 250 Technical Advisor

Other StaffAdrian Lawrie 0418 811 237 Managing Director

Andrew VanderSluys 0409 333 543Sales & Marketing Manager

Olivia Grivell Operations Manager

Robert Mugford Production & Logistics Manager

Office and Warehouse Locations Head Office and Warehouse - Wingfield 08 8244 8558Open Monday to Friday 8.30 - 5.30pm

Regional Warehouse - 4 Allan Drive Mt Gambier 08 8725 0166 Open Monday to Friday 8.30 - 10.30am

BioLogical Farm Tour Follow UpFollow up from Rohan and Mira Turners farm tour visit.

Among the many good stories from Rohans farm is the silage hay paddock we all walked through. For those of you on the Soils Alive 2007 BioLogical Farm Tour (19th-21st Septermber) it was the very first paddock we walked across and at the time it was knee high.

Well it continued to dry out and grow. With no significant rain before cutting it ended up as seen in the photo here. The clover was the most impressive I have seen this year standing up 700 mm tall and very dense. Rohan reported to me after the bales were wrapped that he had 470 bales off 12.5 ha at 500 kg /bale. We agreed that if the rain had of arrived 4 wks earlier then that number could have been up another 25% easily or in Rohans words chest high. I guess that measurement is his chest not mine!

Note the same day this picture was taken we could not find any leaf damage at all on any of the clover over the entire farm! Great effort Rohan.

Article supplied by Tim Watt