We, as humans, don’t give enough credit to the sophistication of the natural world around us. It’s important for us to place significant weight on our friendship with nature. Complementing natural processes in our agricultural pursuits will accelerate our success as...
It’s our human activities that have created weed problems since no plant is a "weed" in nature. Weeds compete with our crops and so have become an enemy to farmers. And as farmers have piled on the herbicides to address the problem, they have complicated things,...
It’s a New Year and with it brings an opportunity to consider new outlooks and new ways to do things, to rethink how we’ve done things in the past and how we might improve upon them. For those that have followed our newsletters, you’re aware of our position – it’s all...
It’s important to understand nutrient mobility and relationships, to be able to apply supplements in the correct way and the proper quantities for maximum benefit. While all nutrients can translocate through the xylem – the channel from the root to the plant -- the...
I sent out this newsletter in early September. Given the lack of rain, it's enormously important to reemphasize the importance of POST-HARVEST applications. Post-harvest can account for 30% of the plant’s total nutrient uptake for an entire season. It’s a window of...
All plants require 17 elements to complete their life cycle. Carbon, hydrogen and oxygen are obtained from the air and water. Plants derive the remaining 14 elements from the soil, which is often enriched with fertilizers and amendments. Plant growth and development...
The C:N or Carbon:Nitrogen ratio can be a little confusing, but it’s very important to overall soil health. More than anything else, the C:N ratio is all about microbial activity in your soils. It’s important to first understand that soil microorganisms’ bodies have a...
My past couple of newsletters have focused on the importance of post-harvest applications, given our perennial crops’ need to recover and store nutrients in their woody parts after harvest so they can then access them during early spring growth. The practice of...
For nature to remain stable, it must constantly change. Our world is changing. Our world has always been changing. Today, we’re witnessing changes in technology, weather, farming practices, and countless other areas. Nature is always changing and adapting. For...
How do we prepare our “exhausted” crops for next season? It’s important to do all that you can to continue photosynthesis, as this allows perennial crops to store carbohydrates and increase nutrient reserves for use in the next season. This requires maintaining the...