[Terrapreta] Pure Organics Vs. Biological Agriculture

[Jon C. Frank]

Sean,

International Ag Labs provides soil testing, fertility recommendations,
microbial inoculants, foliar sprays, and consultation to help farmers
improve soil health and grow quality plants.  We work with gardens
(www.highbrixgardens.com), turf, market gardeners, international customers,
and production agriculture of all types.  Our work with production
agriculture is to help transition farmers away from a mentality developed by
the university system of GMO's, high rates of NPK, crop protection products
(all the 'cides), with the result of poor soil and plant health.  Grains
from industrial agriculture are many times infected with mycotoxins that are
frontal attacks on immune system health of animals and people.

Our role is to teach people how do develop healthy soils that are
biologically active and produce good yields.  Our approach is to combine the
best of organics with the best of commercial agriculture always with the end
in mind: measurable quality.

Do we recommend commercial fertilizers?  Yes.  Do we recommend organic
inputs?  Yes again.

I have a question for you.  Do you use salt on food when cooking or at the
table?  I am sure most people do.  Why?  It adds electrolytes which are
needed both in the human body and in soil.  Too much is bad.  Too little is
equally bad.  Commercial fertilizers add electrolytes in the soil.  They are
not automatically used but rather used according the need as shown on the
soil test.  If the soil runs out of energy (electrolytes and available
nutrients) plant growth stops and yields bottom out.

Our goal is to set up the right environment for plants and the microbial
communities to function at optimum health.  This goal is not usually reached
in one year.

As far as recommending charcoal it cannot be done until there is a supply
for people to economically utilize it.  That infrastructure is far from
being in place.

Also FYI we never recommend or sell the damaging products such as anhydrous
ammonia, potassium chloride (approved for organics but horrible for soil
biology), or any type of pesticide or herbicide.

I believe biochar or charcoal can play a role in the future as it becomes
more available.  In the meantime we have learned how to increase humus in
the soil without charcoal or biochar.  It involves getting calcium levels
high enough to support increased microbial populations, increased fine root
hairs, and increased exudates from  healthier plants.  Want to learn more?
Then take our upcoming class called True Profits Come From The Soil January
28 and 29 2008 call 870-749-8112 (ask for Duane) for more information.

Jon C. Frank



  -----Original Message-----
  From: terrapreta-bounces at bioenergylists.org
[mailto:terrapreta-bounces at bioenergylists.org]On Behalf Of Sean K. Barry
  Sent: Thursday, September 13, 2007 6:05 PM
  To: Jon C. Frank
  Cc: terrapreta
  Subject: Re: [Terrapreta] You Are What You Grow


  Hi Jon,

  Government subsidies that keep prices low is truly a problem for farmers.
It is not a problem for consumers (yet?) and I think the fertilizer
manufacturers and dealers actually eat it up.  Clearly, corn growers are
hooked on subsidies and fertilizer.  Just ask any corn grower if he wants to
try it this year without industrial fertilizer.  Oh yes, but you do know the
answer to this, don't you.   Corn is "THE" cash crop.  Ethanol has driven
prices up.  The subsidies support the ethanol manufacturers.  And they turn
around an "beg" for local farmers to grow and sell corn to the the
distilleries.  This is ramping up.  You know it, too.  You will sell
fertilizer to the corn growers and/or scare the hell out of them by telling
them that they will go bankrupt if they do not buy (and you would likely be
right).

  I would like to ask if you would think about some things.  If it is
possible that charcoal in soil will help soil retain its plant nutrients,
then this will eventually mean that you will sell LESS fertilizer to your
customers who use charcoal amendments to their fields.  This may at first
seem like a threat to your business.  Nonetheless, do you realize that you
could possibly parley this into "providing your customers BETTER service"?
What farmer would not be grateful, if you could show him a way that he will
need less fertilizer from you next year than this year?!  What farmer would
not be very grateful that you have helped him IMPROVE the qulity of the soil
on his land, rather than get him more "hooked"?  What farmer would not be
grateful that you could help them kick the subsidy and fertilizer habit?

  Is it possible that that ag chemical suppliers could embrace the Terra
Preta phenomenon and use it to turn your industry in to one which does more
help than harm?  You might still make money (after fossil fuel prices have
driven your costs through the roof), if you had a healthy business in
charcoal manufacturing and remediation of soil and the atmosphere.  Just
think about it, ok?

  Regards,

  SKB
    ----- Original Message -----
    From: Jon C. Frank
    To: Terrapreta
    Sent: Thursday, September 13, 2007 3:43 PM
    Subject: Re: [Terrapreta] You Are What You Grow


    Peter> Corn is such a heavy feeder and we know what it will be eating
and the soil poverty it will be leaving behind.

    Corn is excellent for building humus and biomas in the soil.  The
problem is not raising corn--it is how it is raised.  The deeper problem is
goverment policy that pushes the price low with subsidies.  A hands off
approach would be much better.

    Jon
      -----Original Message-----
      From: terrapreta-bounces at bioenergylists.org
[mailto:terrapreta-bounces at bioenergylists.org]On Behalf Of PurNrg at aol.com
      Sent: Tuesday, September 11, 2007 4:36 PM
      To: sean.barry at juno.com; MMBTUPR at aol.com; lou.gold at gmail.com
      Cc: Terrapreta at bioenergylists.org
      Subject: Re: [Terrapreta] You Are What You Grow



      In a message dated 9/11/07 2:04:04 PM, sean.barry at juno.com writes:



        The use of industrially made, fossil-fuel based fertilizers is a
shameful gluttony that Industrial Agriculture has done for this country.
        It may be one of the worst things that we have ever done to the
land.





      And the advent of growing millions of tons of extra corn to turn into
ethanol isn't going to help matters one bit! Corn is such a heavy feeder and
we know what it will be eating and the soil poverty it will be leaving
behind. It's really like robbing Peter to pay Paul, but typical of
'addicted' behavior; no thought really of anything beyond the continued flow
of the substance we love so much. We need an intervention! Anyone else read
Asimov's Childhood's End? We can hope, because that's what it's apparently
going to take to change our wicked ways!

      Sorry for wandering off topic :-/>.

      Peter :-)>


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