Afleveringen
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There’s a way to further maximize farm production and do it sustainably. It involves understanding redox potential and how it helps plants focus on growth, health and quality.
Dr. Olivier Husson, a world-renowned expert in plant and soil health, has identified a revolutionary approach of analyzing the pH and Eh of plants, to ensure they are in proper balance.
He said this critical analysis means stronger plants, less insect and disease pressure and, ultimately, healthier food for consumers.
“If you don’t know where you are, and if you don’t know what your practices are doing and where they bring you, there’s almost no way that you can be at the right, balanced position,” Husson said.
He said the good news is there is ample evidence that keeping the right pH/Eh balance in fields is achievable and bolstered by new technology including handheld devices from Senseen that provide immediate analysis of plant nutrients, pH and Eh.
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Innovation is a cornerstone of successful farming, and no one knows that more than grower Glenn Noma.
After a long, successful career with the large California vegetable farm, Tanimura & Antle, he has a creative new endeavor in the Salinas Valley – hydroponic strawberries.
Growing them in this unusual way provides many benefits, including providing berries to consumers during times when conventional operations are unable to fulfill.
Noma said Redox Bio-Nutrients has long been a key to his success, with diKaP™, Mainstay™ Calcium 2.0 and Mainstay™ Si among his proven winners.
“In my overall fertilizer budget, I was actually spending less per acre per year and getting better and higher quality yields,” he said. “Now I’m using it for hydroponic strawberries, and it has worked extraordinarily well.”
Glenn is a third-generation produce grower, and his past innovation includes designing a solar powered harvester.
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American farmers continue to set productivity records, although they face many impediments to success. Pam Lewison in Washington State knows those struggles personally, and she’s working to keep agriculture vital and viable.
Lewison is research director at the Washington Policy Center’s Center for Agriculture. Her mission includes making sure their elected officials understand how legislation and regulation impact those growing their food. She also works with the media, providing articles that educate the public about why agriculture matters.
“If we use our words and share them appropriately with the media, we have the opportunity to make sure that people see us as who we are,” Lewison said. “I think that’s probably the most powerful avenue that we have available to us.”
Lewison and her husband operate JP Ranch, a forage farm in Moses Lake. They have been Redox customers for the past five years, including helping combat salt buildup in their soil, as well as nutrition for their alfalfa crop. As for diKap™, Lewison said “It’s fantastic. We get some extra tonnage, and it makes for some really beautiful bales of hay. We have nothing but good things to say about it."
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California avocados are a quintessential high value crop. They are beloved by consumers and a big part of Cinco de Mayo celebrations, with 80 million pounds of fruit sold.
Grower Jason Cole in Santa Paula, California, said quality and sizing are vital for success, and he spends great care in the nutrition he uses to achieve that.
“We run a lot of humics and fulvics,” Cole said. “We use a ton of H-85, plus Rx Platinum, diKaP and Rootex…. Anything I’ve found spending on nutrition, as long as that fruit keeps coming in above industry average, I think it’s money well spent.”
Cole is Chair of the California Avocado Commission and said the industry expects another abundant avocado crop weighing about 375 million pounds. Future crops could be even heavier with new plantings throughout the state.
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Growers can be poised for abundant crops, only to see their production take a major hit due to a stress event like a heatwave or cold spell.
Abiotic stress can be detrimental to any crop. A weakened plant can also be more susceptible to biotic stresses like pests and disease.
Redox Corporate Agronomist John Kelly said stress losses can be lessened when fields and orchards have proper nutrition that encourages strong plants, soil health, root growth and abiotic stress defense. He said diKaP™ has long proven itself as a tremendous boost in this area.
“It’s a powerful biostimulant that also includes phosphorus and potassium nutrition,” he said. “diKaP™ stimulates the plant for better respiration. With better respiration, there’s more energy ultimately coming into the plant, which means that plant now has resources to withstand stress.”
He said advancements in Redox technology can help growers succeed.
“I’ve never been more enthusiastic,” Kelly said. “Where there’s a motivation for change. Where there’s motivation to improve for higher crop performance, that’s where the opportunity is for Redox, to help identify what can be done to improve the bottom line.
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Sustainable growing methods are garnering more attention and application in agriculture. Increased emphasis in Washington, D.C. on healthy eating could spur even more growth.
Amy Bruch of Cyclone Farms in Nebraska is helping interested growers shift from conventional to organic farming. Named Organic Farmer of the Year by a leading trade organization, Bruch runs AgriSecure, a consulting company to assist farmers.
“Our farm has adopted a lot of technology and a really interesting take on how to grow organic crops,” she said. “ We do it with a high level of management, agronomic focus, and marrying a nostalgic way of organic production with the latest and greatest in technology. That’s our bread and butter – helping others adopt some of those interesting techniques, and it has really been exciting for us.”
Since 2000, certified U.S. acreage for growing or livestock has nearly tripled. Organic sales account for about 3 percent of U.S. farm receipts, on less than one percent of the farmland.
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Vernon Jones saw firsthand the power of Redox TurfRx® technology as a superintendent before his current position as an agronomist and account consultant for Plant Health Solutions.
As superintendent of The Polo Club in Boca Raton, Florida, he saw amazing results from a trial program on a struggling fairway. He expanded his use of TurfRx® products and has become a huge fan of the results.
He now helps superintendents save heartache and labor by helping their courses stay pristine, even when battling rain, insects, disease, cold spells and oxidative stress pressure.
“When you’re dealing with something that’s your livelihood, the way you put food on your table, you really can’t put a dollar amount on that,” he said. “The greens need to come first, regardless. If you can grow a healthier plant, it’s just a no brainer. It’s definitely worth the investment- it’s just shifting that mindset and those dollars to focusing on nutrition, instead of medicines.”
Florida golf is an $11 billion industry., with nearly 48 million rounds played each year.
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Fifth-generation grower Brandon Hunnicutt is passionate about making a positive impact well beyond his farm in Giltner, Nebraska.
Hunnicutt is involved in leadership of many organizations, as he tries to best understand new technology and how he and other growers can improve in areas like synthetic nitrogen use, which has caused concern over impacts on groundwater and community health.
He said a key is for growers to understand and adopt new technology that helps both farm environment, providing it makes economic sense.
“If we start mixing certain tools together, we can maybe not get all of the answers, but we will start unlocking some things that will really change what we can do in production agriculture,” Hunnicutt said.
Hunnicutt serves as chair of the Nebraska Corn Board, is a board member of the National Corn Growers Association and the U.S. Grains Council. Additionally, he’s chair of Field to Market, works with the USDA on greenhouse gas studies and is helping African farmers better feed their population.
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When near the nation’s capital, Richardson Farms is a must stop for many. This family owned and operated farm in White Marsh, Maryland is well known for its fantastic produce and amazing meals in their market.
The foundation of the business remains several hundred acres of vegetables, and Redox Bio-Nutrients is a big part of their quality harvests.
“Awesome track record,” said Brian Richardson, who manages their farm with his two uncles. “Our tomatoes and our melons – the dry fertilizer that we broadcast underneath the plastic culture has been reduced by 40 to 50 percent. I feed all of that with Redox products, and we’ve never had better results and better fruit than what we’re getting now.”
This fifth-generation grower said growing premium quality is mandatory for their success.
“In the vegetable and produce industry, quality sits at the top of the list above anything else,” he said.
Richardson Farms started in 1930. Find out more at: https://www.richardsonfarms.net.
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Restoring our environment is as major focal point throughout the country, with billions of dollars spent each year. Soil reclamation projects are on the rise, including promising work being done in North Dakota with the help of Cody Hatzenbuhler of Pan Ag.
These projects involve restoring soil health in areas where degradation has occurred from numerous of factors, including excessive salt build up.
“For the state of North Dakota, it’s costing them probably $15-18 million per site to clean up,” Hatzenbuhler said. A dump and haul of the ailing soil is the usual tactic, which is costly and doesn’t allow for the virgin soil to remain.
Hatzenbuhler is using Redox Bio-Nutrients products Soilex and Mainstay ™ Calcium 2.0, along with an additional product from his home state that helps consume excessive salt. He said this combination is having a very positive impact, not only in reducing salt levels but making progress without massive dirt removal.
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Agriculture has changed a lot over the generations. From the Industrial and Green Revolution to the use of digital technology, farming continues to evolve to stay competitive and meet customer needs.
The next revolution in agriculture may well involve farming for health –sophisticated inputs that have more profound impacts on plant yield and quality, leading to tastier, more nutritious food.
“We have to look to maximum output with minimum input,” said Redox CEO Darin Moon. “Not only is that the future from an environmental or world standpoint, it is the future from a human health standpoint, as well. That is, because we are doing that, we are growing healthier crops.”
Moon said there has never been a more exciting time for scientific discovery into plant nutrition. He said as growers understand and implement plant charge balance in their fields, the results will be positive for agriculture, our environment and consumers.
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Robert Masson had an unusual path to Yuma, Arizona, and growers in the desert southwest are glad he made it.
After time in the U.S. Navy, as a researcher for a Midwest popcorn company and soybean breeding technician in North Carolina, Masson has been an agricultural extension agent for the University of Arizona in Yuma since 2019.
Masson works in several ways to help growers succeed, including contract field research with companies including ours, covering soil health, efficient nutrient uptake and water use efficiency.
He said occasional failure is an important part of putting maximum effort into research.
“Setbacks are essential,” Masson said. “That’s one thing that defines the American culture. … You get wiser after a failure. If you’re not failing, you should probably be dreaming a little bigger, as long as you can get the recovery.”
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The Commodity Classic is one of the final shows in a very busy winter meeting season for growers.
This year’s activities in Denver once again attracted thousands of growers and industry officials, with hundreds of exhibitors and many educational sessions. The kickoff session featured a packed house to watch Redox CEO Darin Moon outline how growers can optimize their nitrogen use.
His message was well received by many, including Nebraska corn grower Brett Meyer.
“Darin is talking about doing things with less product with more efficiency,” Meyer said. “That’s where we’re going. Agriculture is heading that direction whether we like it or not, and Darin seems to be on the forefront of it.
Business of Agriculture host Damian Mason was among those who watched the Redox speech.
“There’s an openness to this information,” Mason said. “…these people understand this is the future and they’re embracing it.”
New USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins also attended the event. Her comments to the media included optimism to increase export opportunities for U.S. growers.
“I hope to begin making trade trips very soon across the world,” she said. “I’ve already begun conversations with several key, significant trading partners that I think will make a huge difference to our farmers and ranchers back home.”
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Business of Agriculture host Damian Mason puts in extraordinary air miles during the winter meeting season, and he made time to visit our headquarters in Burley for the second straight year.
He toured the Redox research farm greenhouse and met with our head of research, Dr, Gifford Gillette. He also interviewed company president, Colton Moon.
Recently named as Top Ag Influencer at the FarmCon Conference in Kansas City, Mason said he was impressed with the cutting-edge technology at Redox.
“There are two things that you guys are at the front of the pack on and it’s the right thing to do,” he said. “You have products that can allow producers to reduce applications of synthetic nitrogen and phosphorus, and that is absolutely where the future is going. The fact is I’m surprised the future is not here more rapidly than it is.”
Mason said he expects there will be greater emphasis on healthier eating in the coming years. He said growers for a long time have frequently prioritized bigger harvests, but he thinks food as health care with a higher protein content and nutrient density will gain momentum – especially if growers see incentives for more nutritious crops.
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Humic and fulvic acid are gaining popularity on the farm, and new scientific understandings should lead to an even brighter future.
“I think of humics and fulvics in agriculture as one of the greatest areas of opportunity for a farmer to bring biology into his system,” remarked Dr. Gifford Gillette, head researcher at Redox. “They really meet the needs placed upon us in agriculture right now from an efficiency standpoint.”
The two most documented benefits from these substances are an increase in root biomass and a boost in nitrogen uptake, but there are more than 60 different impacts that a humic substance can have on a crop.
Gillette said growers interested in humics and fulvics should look beyond a product label and ask questions to better understand benefits. Redox technology undergoes careful extraction and fractionation, so it provides consistent and highly targeted benefits.
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The Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) provides the biggest and what many feel is the best show of its kind in the world. This year’s events in San Diego attracted some 10,000 industry professionals from all over the world.
“I love seeing the new products that are coming out and being able to network with friends and other superintendents,” said James Rauhuff, Superintendent of Hawk’s Ridge Golf Club in Ball Ground, Georgia, which utilizes Redox TurfRx™ technology. “This helps me make sure we’re staying at the forefront of our industry.”
The golf industry has been on a growth clip in recent years, and there are positive feelings that this trend will continue. In fact, Jeff White, immediate past president of the GCSAA described the industries current growth streak as “rocket fuel,” with many booms in recent memory.
The GCSAA event wrapped up with a stirring account from industry leader Rhett Evans on his climbing Mt. Everest and baseball legend Ozzie Smith, known as “The Wizard of Oz” for his incredible defensive skill at shortstop, receiving the Old Tom Morris award for his work to help propel golf to even greater heights in the future.
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More than 10,000 turfgrass professionals are meeting in San Diego this week, for the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America Conference and Trade Show, the largest event of its kind.
The GCSAA show has been a staple for Dean Piller, longtime superintendent of Cordova Bay Golf Course in Victoria, British Columbia.
“Well, I think to be successful in anything you do in your life, you need to have connections and build strong relationships with friends,” he said. “People and companies that you can rely on. I’ve built those relationships coming to this show for 35 years, and I look forward to it every year.”
New technology is of interest of many attendees. Piller has long utilized Redox TurfRx™ products, and recently added TurfRx™ OsmoPro, which generated excellent results.
Longtime industry agronomist Scott Poynot attended along with two superintendents he works with in Louisiana – Kiwi Robinson of Pelican Point Golf Course and Scott LeBouef with Farm d’Allie Golf Club.
Like many superintendents in their region, Robinson and LeBouef needed quick action to deal with a rare heavy snowstorm early this year. They said the Redox TurfRx products they employed helped their greens come through the cold and snowy conditions without any significant issues.
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Weather can be friend or foe to farmers, and two hurricanes since 2023 have been disastrous for many growers in the southern US.
Two years after Hurricane Idalia wreaked havoc, Hurricane Helene packed an even more powerful punch.
Pecan grower Buck Paulk of Shiloh Farms lost 19,000 trees during Idalia, and 23,000 more with Helene. Georgia is the nation’s largest pecan-growing state, and their growers suffered nearly $700 million in crop losses from the latest hurricane.
“I have orchards that I planted when I was a young man, they’re gone,” Paulk said. He said it may take a generation for his region to fully recover. A week after the disaster, President Biden toured Paulk’s farm to see the damage firsthand.
Photo Credit: Georgia Pecan Growers Association -
Thanks to a program by The Fertilizer Institute, members of Congress are learning more about the essential elements to growing crops.
Allen Spray of Willard Agri Service and grower Bryant Lowe of Lakeside Farms in Delaware recently walked the halls of Congress, meeting with elected officials, their staff and Non-Governmental Organizations, to outline the importance of having sufficient tools to grow crops. They emphasized the Four R Program for fertilizer use – the right rate, source, placement and timing.
“It takes us as average everyday citizens to make the country what you want it to be, you have to get involved,” Spray said.
Both Spray and Lowe said the trip was worthwhile, with excellent dialogue. They mentioned following up with all parties in Washington, D.C. and being a future information source for them are critically important.
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Nitrogen has long been the engine that has propelled agriculture to productive new heights. It sparked an agricultural revolution, benefitting farmers and helping feed the world.
While nitrogen has many positives, concerns have been raised regarding overreliance and in environmental areas.Dr. Hugh Gorman of Michigan Tech is among those closely watching this situation.
Gorman said the process of producing ammonia from nitrogen and hydrogen is one of the great advancements in American history. He said he’s optimistic rewarding sustainable practices will help alleviate current areas of concern.Gorman authored the book, “The Story of N: A Social History of the Nitrogen Cycle and the Challenge of Sustainability.”
New technologies, including those at Redox, are poised to help growers optimize nitrogen use in the future.
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