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.
(to read the full story, click the pdf link below)
Last Updated (Tuesday, 02 March 2010 14:13)
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Nothing can control or eliminate weather-based challenges but better soil management will increase the crop’s ability to handle weather-related stress. By using humic-based soil conditioners farmers could notice a difference in the impact weather has on soils, and ultimately their crops, whether they are raising hay, pasture, row crops or fruits and vegetables. These products are designed to rebalance, or create a new mineralization, in soil.
“They work to free up nutrients that are currently bound in unusable forms within the soil profile,” according to Dennis Stephens of Monty’s Plant Food Company. “Humic technology will create more pore space, improve the organic structure, and boost microbial activity. f applied in the fall, you allow time for maximum effectiveness within the soil profile, allowing results in subsequent seasons.”
The inability of soils to adapt to changing weather conditions relies largely on the 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 four inches of the soil profile, even the slightest of droughts can have a big impact.
(to read the full article, click on the PDF link below)
Last Updated (Monday, 01 March 2010 20:22)
Farmers Boost Bottom Line with Efficient Soil Management
Monty’s Humic Technology assists in unlocking nutrients already present in soil
Louisville– Modern agriculture needs to be aware of what nutrients are available, not just what is present; often many of the nutrients needed to grow crops are already in the soil, they just are not available or in usable forms. In his article “Sustainable Soil Management,” Preston Sullivan points out that, “Soil containing 4% organic matter in the top seven inches has 80,000 pounds of organic matter per acre. Those 80,000 pounds of organic matter will contain about 5.25% nitrogen, amounting to 4,200 pounds of nitrogen per acre. Assuming a 5% release rate during the growing season, the organic matter could supply 210 pounds of nitrogen to a crop. However, if the organic matter is allowed to degrade and lose nitrogen, purchased fertilizer will be necessary to prop up crop yields.” Farmers hold “the very real potential to control those purchases if they are willing to step out and investigate a new way of managing their soil.” According to Joe Dedman, Certified Crop Advisor. If needed nutrients are present, but unavailable, the question becomes how can they be made accessible to plants? One answer is the application of Monty’s Soil Conditioner. According to Dedman, utilizing Monty’s proprietary humic technology frees these elements allowing them to contribute to the overall impact on the soil and ultimately your desired crop.
(to read full article, click PDF link below)
Last Updated (Tuesday, 02 March 2010 14:45)
FFA and Local Farmers Benefit from Bold New Initiative
Fleming County Farm Supply teams with manufacturer to provide products to farmers, windfall for students
Louisville– Fleming County Farm Supply is hosting a cookout this Friday to introduce area tobacco, hay, and alfalfa producers to a new product and a new plan for getting much needed financial assistance to the local FFA chapter. The store, which provides needed products and services for area producers, has enlisted the assistance of Monty’s Plant Food Company to provide twenty-five cents per acre for every acre of farmland treated with the foliar fertilizer.
Adam Hinton, partner of the company, began stocking the fertilizer late last summer. “We knew that farmers would have a tough time this year because of the rising cost of fertilizer. When we heard how affordable Monty’s was, then had a chance to see how effective it was, we knew it was a product that we needed to offer.” Hinton is hoping that the FFA donation program will encourage farmers to at least try the new product, but knows that they will return because “It Works!” Area farmers are reporting dramatically lower input costs and higher yields with better quality crops. Garry Rutledge who used the product last year stated that “My alfalfa stayed green all summer; because of the quality, I received $1 more per bale than usual and I sold out!” Worth Brown used the fertilizer and saw a consistent yield increase on his tobacco. Western Kentucky Wheat growers like Mayfield’s Chuck Bugg said “Not only am I getting to help FFA in a real way, but the product has increased my yield, lowered my costs, and improved the overall quality of my crop.”
(to read the full article, click on the PDF link below)
Last Updated (Monday, 01 March 2010 20:50)
Farmers and Local FFA Benefit From New Technology
‘Shelbyville FFA Chapter benefits from ‘grass roots’ movement.
(Louisville) – The Shelby County FFA chapter just harvested what may be a record cash crop. During a local meeting and dinner for area farmers Thursday at Claudia Sanders, Monty’s Plant Food Company presented the Shelby County FFA chapter a check for over $3500. Company President Dennis Stephens was on hand to deliver the check to V.P. of the local chapter, Debra Jenkins, who received the funds on the organizations behalf, along with ag teachers, Todd Stephens and Kerwin Ewing. This is the second year for the donation program, which netted the chapter $1294 last year and according to Stephens “We hope we are back next year with a check for over $5000.” Sonny Malone, a local resident and VP of Sales for the Louisville-based fertilizer company, indicated that one day, if every acre of farmland in Shelby County was treated with Monty’s products, the chapter could see a 5-figure windfall.
(to read cull story, click PDF link below)
Last Updated (Tuesday, 02 March 2010 14:54)
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