Sympathetic Farming Systems

Sympathetic Farming Systems

Peter Burton
18th February 2009


The vast majority of farmers appreciate the privileges of land ownership are balanced equally with the responsibility to nurture that fragile resource, and manage their farms accordingly.

Eco-Logic Soil Improvement have developed products and systems that enable farmers to enhance the effectiveness of applied nutrient, reduce leaching losses, and sequester carbon, while steadily increasing pasture and animal production.

The notion that maximum production can only be gained at the expense of land and water quality is incorrect.

Long-term data clearly shows that pastoral systems of twenty years ago were able to produce at least as much dry matter without the use of fertiliser nitrogen as present intensive systems dependent on nitrogen fertiliser.

The incorporation of DoloZest and CalciZest into conventional nutrient programmes results in increasing production from day one.

Pasture monitoring since September 2003 clearly shows steadily increasing production each year. This is as a result of increasing humus formation and improving physical soil structures.

With increased humus comes increased nutrient and moisture storage capacity. Improving physical soil structures allow plant roots to penetrate further into the soil, up to 0.8m in the best situations.

The percentage of clover content during the active growing season is enhanced leading to more nitrogen fixed naturally and a decrease in the quantity of nitrogen fertiliser required to maximise production.

Measurement has been a cornerstone of the development of ESI’s products and systems. One highly useful measure gaining rapid popularity with farmers is the measurement of plant ‘energy’ with a handheld refractometer.

Brix is a much-used measure in horticulture and is equally useful with pasture. Many properties prior to the use of CalciZest and DoloZest have brix levels of 6 or less.

Within three years, and often sooner, brix levels of 9+ are common. With increased brix comes improved animal performance and markedly reduced requirement for animal health remedies.

It is possible to maximise farm output while steadily improving soil, plant, animal, and human health. Sympathetic treatment of the soil is where it all begins!