Technology Lessens Weather’s Impact on Area Farms

Humic adds new set of tools for farmers dealing with weather extremes

Louisville– Nothing can control or eliminate weather related challenges; farmers, though, may soon be able to remove the stress these problems cause for their crops.  By using humic-based soil conditioners farmers can notice a dramatic difference in the impact weather has on soils and ultimately their crops whether they are raising hay, pasture, row crops, or fruits and vegetables.  Dennis Stephens, President of Monty’s Plant Food Company, says these products are designed to rebalance, or create a new mineralization in, your soil.  Defined, that means that they “Work to free up nutrients that are currently bound in unusable forms within the soil profile.”  Additionally they “Will create more pore space, improve the organic structure, and boost microbial activity.”  Applying these products in the fall creates dramatic changes within the soil profile allowing for maximized results in subsequent seasons. 

            The inability for our soils to adapt to changing weather conditions relies largely on their ability to process water, air, and nutrients; compacted soils can prohibit all of these from occurring.  At levels as low as 200psi, according to Certified Crop Advisor Joe Dedman, soils cannot support any but the hardiest of plants. In a drought year, the roots are not able to penetrate deeply enough to access nutrients and moisture that may be available.  With the plant roots bound in the upper 4” of the soil profile even the slightest of droughts can have a big impact.  Compacted soils can also cause crop loss in a wet year because the moisture is trapped between the surface and the hard pan layer.   Whether the source of your compaction concerns are chemical or mechanical, products like Monty’s Soil Conditioner can help.  Using a plow, sub-soiler or similar methods to break through the hard pan does not eliminate the problem it only moves it deeper into the earth.  The latest independent lab results indicate that Monty’s, on the other hand, can lower compaction by up to 8% in fewer than thirty days.

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