Biological Agriculture Uptake in New Zealand
January 2008
In the last several months I have had various people involved in agriculture question me on the extent of biological agriculture farming in New Zealand. The description below is written to give you a perspective on the extent to which Dr Arden Andersen's biological agricultural presentations and "Balancing Soils for Profit" courses are having an impact on quality farming.
On-farm implementation of the science underpinning biological agriculture promotes rapid humus formation and carbon sequestration with reduction of leachate and erosion. The production results are high yields of nutrient dense, pesticide-free products for a market clamouring for quality food. Experience in the USA and Australia shows double to quadruple premiums for tasty, long storage biological produce.
Through Biological Agriculture, New Zealand has a tremendous opportunity to capitalise on our market differentiation while providing real solutions to climate change, environmental challenges and our relationship to the land. This is a comprehensive approach that answers the issues vexing our environment and economy.
What is Biological Farming?
· Combining chemistry, physics, biology, and microbiology concepts with sound farm management practices.
· Addressing and solving weed, disease, and insect pest problems at their root causes rather than masking the symptoms with poisonous chemicals.
· Maximising yield, quality, food nutrition, and profit potentials.
The dual goals and indicators of success are steadily increasing soil humus and product nutrient density levels.
"Biological farming is a ‘best of both worlds' mix between organic and conventional farming practices, involving careful monitoring of crops and soils to ensure production is of high quality." Dr Arden Andersen
Biological agriculture emerged on the national level in New Zealand in March 2005 with Dr Arden Andersen's first three-day course. He has been brought back to deliver a total of 12 courses attended by around 900 people, including a Zespri one-day workshop attended by 120.
The courses reach a wide audience from farmers to PhDs in soil chemistry. The principles of accelerated humus formation and soil energy manipulation through enhanced microbiology are applicable to all agricultural sectors. Uptake here has been particularly strong in the wine, kiwifruit and now dairy sectors.
Dr Andersen has met with the Honourable Jim Anderton, Dr Morgan Williams, then Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia and John Hutching, Head of Sustainability Fonterra. He has made presentations to the Parliament Select Committee on Primary Produce, Ballance Fertiliser Co-operative, the eCOGENT National Conference and gave two talks at the OANZ conference in August 2007.
He is a very able lecturer and excels at making science concepts accessible to farmers while simultaneously exciting agricultural science PhDs. The courses he presents are paradigm shifting, solidly science-based, and provide practical recommendations for successful application of the biological agriculture approach in the field.
Uptake by New Zealand farmers
The following are some of the companies and consultants who have attended courses and who now provide biological agriculture advice, product and research services:
- Abron
- Aer8tors
- AgriEssentials
- Ag First
- Ag Research
- AgriSea
- ARGOS
- Asura Fertiliser Ltd.
- Ballance Agri Nutrients
- BioAg Ltd
- Bio Ag NZ
- BioFert
- BioSea
- Bio Soils
- BioStart
- Chaos Springs
- Crop Health Services
- Dynamic Compost Tea
- EcoAgrilogic
- Eco-logic Concepts
- Environmental Fertilisers
- Fertiliser NZ Ltd.
- Gavin Grain Ltd
- Healthy Soils
- Hort Max
- Lifeformnz
- Living Soils
- Mainland Minerals
- NZ Humates
- PGG Wrightsons
- Revital Fertilisers
- Soil Foodweb Institute NZ
- Soil Tech
- Superior Minerals
- Sustainable Growing Solutions
Major Ag Sector / production firms who have attended the courses:
- BEL Group
- Corbans Viticulture
- Hills Laboratory
- Villa Maria Winery
- CJ Pask Winery
- Five Star Beef
- Green Planet Ltd
- GroPlus Ltd
- John Austin Ltd
- Zespri
- Seresin Estate
- LandCorp
On the ground
Uptake by the more intensive horticultural sectors has been pronounced with wineries and kiwifruit growers leading the way. Use of biological agriculture approaches in dairy farming and cropping is rapidly expanding with an estimated half of Hawke's Bay's milk production under the regime.
The two largest consulting and supply firms, Abron and Eco-logic Soil Improvements Ltd alone are supplying product and advice to roughly 30,000 hectares in both the North and South Islands. The other firms listed above and farmers who have attended probably account for another 40 to 50,000 hectares using bio-farming practices to substantially reduce chemical fertiliser and pesticide use while improving production.
Eco-logic Soil Improvements Ltd has sponsored two Dr Andersen workshops for its client base and derived great benefit in farmer understanding of the science underpinning biological approaches.
The eCOGENT farm strategic business process has made biological agriculture the fertiliser basis for the 200 clients of its profit-focused programme who are documenting the decrease in costs and increases in profitability from the bio ag approach.
Clarrie Head, Katikati, has been implementing a bio ag programme on three kiwifruit orchards for two and a half years and has doubled production, topped the fruit quality parameters, advanced harvest, and eliminated fungicide use and summer pruning to produce stunning results on two-thirds of the industry average production costs.
We see deepening of soil profiles and root depth, doubling of worm numbers, reduction in water puddling and doubling of grass brix within a few months. Pastoral changes can occur quite rapidly depending on the approach taken, with dairy farmers usually reporting more placid cows, reduced SSC, no lameness, reduced empty rates, reduced topping, reduction in weedy species, increased fat and protein content, reduced need to worm calves, and increased milk solids production.
Kevin Davidson, operating a 1500 cow intensive dairy in Hawke's Bay, within 10 months reversed a three year decline in MS, eliminated puddling on paddocks, stopped topping and reduced urea use by nearly a third. His fertiliser expenditure increased by $81 / ha while his net profit increased $986/ ha. He plans to enter the Farmer of the Year competition.
The basis of the programme is re-establishing mineral balance through calcium availability and microbial strengthening. There is a focus on soil monitoring of plant available nutrient levels and tissue brix readings. The approach uses small, frequent applications of fine lime, RPR, foods for the biology such as humic acid and molasses, trace minerals through concentrated and fresh seawater, and water-soluble technical fertilisers with carbohydrates.
This results in a diversification and strengthening of the soil foodweb, a deepening of the carbon profile and a consistent level of energy release for plant growth. Optimum crop residue management and green manure cropping is a key aspect of the programme. The aim is to achieve continuous plant brix levels in excess of 12, which tends to eliminate insect and disease susceptibility and ensure higher vitamin and mineral content in the plant.
Monitoring being undertaken
The following biological agriculture monitoring and trials are the ones I have information on or direct involvement with. These generally involve adjacent blocks with monitoring for soil chemistry parameters, microbiology, brix, complete pasture profiles, yield, etc. I am aware there are other trials but do not have details.
J Bostock, Hawke's Bay - 1 ha organic apple trial Dr. Greg Tate- 2nd year
5 ha squash - 2nd year Dr. Phil Schofield
8 ha squash, two sites - 1st year
.5 ha onions - 1st year
Gavin Grain, Hamilton - Replicated trials biological stimulants on grass and maize Dr. Henrick Venter - 1st year
Eco-logic Soil, Rotorua - Monitoring work, including monthly pasture cuts, Improvements Ltd on properties now into Year 5 show steadily increasing pasture yields and clover content
BEL Group, Hawke's Bay - Whole scale conversion of 2,000 ha dairy and cropping, 7 farms
4 ha cage cut compar. w/ conventional- 1st year
6 ha 3 varieties of potatoes - 1st year
Greg Wilson, Hawke's Bay - 5 ha each maize, pasture, peas, triticale -1st year
Villa Maria, HB / Marlborough - 6 matched vineyards, 3 varietals - 1st year
CJ Pask, Hawke's Bay - 13 ha various bio ag approaches - 1 - 3rd years
Tuki Vineyard, Hawke's Bay - 1 ha - 1st year Abron BioPlex Hort
Peter Hyslop, Hawke's Bay - 3 ha - 1st year Abron BioPlex Hort
Scherer Bros, Waikato - 50 ha - cage cut compar. w/ conventional 2nd yr
Wilson & Robertson, Hawke's Bay - 3 ha - cherries, apples, pears Abron BioPlex
E. Hutchison, Bay of Plenty - 4 ha - replicated kiwifruit trial
Don Hart, Canterbury - Various blocks w/in 100 ha cropping farm
Auckland Regional Council - 200+ hectares pastoral parks
Tim Oliver, Bay of Plenty - Kiwifruit green and gold trials
I hope this has provided you with a stimulating overview of the rapid uptake of biological agriculture in Aotearoa. Bio Ag NZ is presenting two Dr Andersen courses in the North Island in March. I am happy to answer questions or clarify aspects of the approach.
Regards,
Phyllis Tichinin
Bio Ag NZ
PO Box 8055 Havelock North
06 877 1565 phyllis@bioagnz.com