ABOUT

ABOUT BIOLOGICAL FARMING

Biological farming is not a new concept and in some cases generations of farmers have successfully followed this farming method with excellent, sustainable results. Before the advent of some of our modern farming practices, farmers knew how to work the land and understood the process of utilising what was on offer due to the natural processes that had been in place for many thousands of years. Modern biological farming is a system that uses nature and science to build the quality of the soil with the understanding that healthy soil will be able to support healthy crops and livestock. This takes advantage of the natural processes, which promote good soil, healthy crops, and healthy animals.

PRODUCTIVE SOIL IS ACHIEVED BY:

• Balancing the soil by applying the correct volume and type of minerals after soil analysis
• Promoting soil life by the addition of fungi and other micro-organisms.
• Providing a food source for the biology
• Adopting best farming practices – stock rates, crop rotation, tillage method

These practices allow the natural system to:

• Develop superior soil structure and microbiology
• Improve crop quality
• Increase stock yields and improve animal health
• Reduce negative environmental impacts by controlling waste (eg leaching or effluent)
• Control weeds, pests, and diseases
• Increase moisture content in the top soil
• Improve drought resistance
• Improve the uptake of nutrients into the pasture, crop etc.

Soil that is healthy firstly has a balance of minerals that ensure a favourable environment to house micro-organisms. This coupled with the addition of organic particles serve as nourishment for plants by also providing food for bacteria, actinomycetes, yeast, fungi, algae, protozoa’s etc. and the larger creatures including earthworms. These organisms process and decompose the inert mineral and organic materials, thereby feeding the plants. A naturally productive soil contains a perfect balance of inorganic minerals, organic (carbon based) materials, and living organisms, all contained within a physical structure that absorbs and holds water to facilitate natural chemical reactions that feed plants perfectly.

Excessive use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides can upset this balance in the soil, the exact opposite of what is required.

Many more farmers are beginning to understand that natural fertilisers along with best practice production methods result in higher profitability of their farms. Farming practices that ensure a balance of the minerals required along with recognition of the importance that the soil biology plays, will be more cost effective overall than farms that ignore this approach. Reduced damage to the environment and improved animal and plant health are also natural outcomes from this approach. Long term sustainability is now a focus of many modern farmers.

Biological farming also makes economic sense. Fertiliser is often wasted because the imbalances in the soil fail to allow minerals to be utilised, they become ‘locked up’ or often lost due to leaching. Pesticide use is greatly reduced (or eliminated) as the healthier plants are more disease and pest resistant. Stock should become healthier resulting in improved yields and reduced veterinary expenses.

The biological approach to farming will result in soil that is balanced, healthy and able to support healthy crops. These crops should be nutrient dense – meaning that they contain higher concentrations of plant sugars, minerals and amino acids and therefore have a higher nutritional value. They also exhibit other beneficial traits such as a longer shelf life and greater sustenance for grazing animals.