Biological Q & A

Q:Who is Midwestern Bio-Ag?

A: A biologically-based consulting company that deals in advice and recommendations -- supported by a supply and delivery system for an array of helpful and effective products. We provide a biological farming program for all aspects of your farming enterprise -- from the soil to crops and livestock nutrition. We provide consulting, testing, and balancing from soil to silo to stomach. We use the highest quality, most easily available, least toxic materials to formulate balanced soil correctives, plant food fertilizers, biological stimulants, and a complete line of minerals, pre-mixes, and proteins for livestock nutrition. We are a company dedicated to (1) helping your farm or ranch become more productive and profitable, and (2) helping you learn safer, healthier, and more reliable methods of crop, forage, and animal production so that future generations will live better.

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Q: What's the history behind the company name?

A:Bio-Ag stands for Biological Agriculture, as contrasted to "conventionial" or "assembly line" agriculture. BIO stands for "life." LOGICAL stands for common sense. Therefore, "Bio-Logical" farming is working with the life in the soil, with plants, and animals -- using a common sense approach that embraces, rather than dominates, nature. We do everything we can to promote life. And, while quantities of commodities produced on your farm remain important, we place equal importance on wholesomeness and quality. Knowledgeable consumers are demanding natural, unadulterated foods, and our goal is to help you profitably tap into that ever-growing market.

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Q: How can I learn to become a successful biological farmer?

A: As a consulting company, our job is education and information. To that end, we offer on-farm, face-to-face consultations, winter seminars and round-table meetings, summer field days, booklets, videos, a newsletter, product information brochures, and now our Internet website. We operate our own research farm and learning center near Lone Rock, Wisconsin. We pass along solutions that work on other farms so that you can try them yourself.

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Q: Biological, Sustainable, Regenerative Agriculture: Explain these terms and what they mean on my farm?

A: The terms overlap. All refer to working with nature. They are farming systems that take advantage of natural processes, which promote good soil, healthy crops, and healthy animals. These natural processes include: crop rotations; best tillage methods; growing green manures; proper livestock manure use; reducing toxins; promoting soil life, and balancing the soil's minerals. These terms mean using natural systems to improve soil structure; control weeds, pests, and diseases, and improve crop quality. Quality is health and balance -- watching the excesses as well as the deficiencies. The terms encompass a truly common sense approach to agriculture: spending dollars where they do the most good, improving quality, reducing long-term input costs, and promoting a cleaner environment all add up to profitable, successful farming.

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Q: Why the constant reference to "Balance" and "Limiting Factors?"

A: The terms are related. An optimally productive soil contains a perfect balance of inorganic minerals, organic (carbon-based) materials, and living organisms, all contained within a physical structure that absorbs and holds water to facilitate natural chemical reactions that feed plants perfectly. The above mix is different for each soil. When the soil is out of balance, the crop is too. If the crop isn't in balance, the livestock feeding program isn't balanced in minerals and other nutrients. It all comes back to affect your financial balance. To put a soil in balance, we take samples to determine corrective products and actions that work in harmony. We use only natural-based fertilizer materials that are non-toxic and live-promoting. They contain not only nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, but also calcium, magnesium, sulfur, zinc, manganese, iron, copper, and boron. Balancing a soil includes changing the calcium/magnesium ratio towards 70-75 saturation of calcium and 15 percent magnesium. That ratio creates a more favorable environment for soil life and gives better soil structure as well. Given time, when your soils achieve balance, you buy fewer crop nutrients, which lowers input costs. We encourage using animal manures and "green manure" cover crops. These add organic matter to soils, which provide food for helpful micro-organisms like bacteria. When the bacteria complete their life cycle and decompose, they become food for crops and forages. When we speak of "Limiting Factors," we mean the productivity of a soil can never be greater than the plant food element in least supply -- just like a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. Our job as your consultant is to find your limiting factors, including management practices and equipment, and correct them. Common limiting factors are plant nutrient levels, tight, hard, compacted soils, hardpans and lifeless soils. Others are stray voltage, tillage equipment and methods, tillage timing, and marketing strategies.

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Q: What is a "living soil?"

A: One that teems with microbial life and earthworms. It is sustainable and supports heavy yields of nutritious crops and forages. Midwestern Bio-Ag's products work to build a healthy soil environment for a "micro-herd" of organisms like bacteria, fungi, etc. We call them the "good guys." They in turn feed and build strong, healthy plants that resist the "bad guys" which are diseases, pest insects, and weeds.

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Q: How do fertilizers differ?

A: Some promote life; others don't! For example, potassium chloride (0-0-60) contains 47% chloride. So when you apply 100 pounds of 0-0-60, you also apply 47 pounds of chloride. Excessive chloride is not a life promoter. It can destroy soil life forms and is hard on plants. We use potassium sulfate (0-0-50-17S) as a potassium source. It makes a lot of difference.

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Q: Why all the emphasis on testing?

A: You can't fix an unknown problem. We are your "right hand man." You may be so busy with your everyday chores and management that a problem goes unnoticed. Our tests "notice" those problems. Then we recommend a specific solution and we inform you why. Soil testing is the backbone of our business. Without it, we have no defined starting point to measure progress from.

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Q: Why the emphasis on individual consulting?

A: Every farm's mix of soil, crops, rotations, livestock, equipment, workload, management, and cash flow is different. Your farm is a unique, individual ecosystem. No other is like it. Therefore, we tailor a "whole system" program to your specific needs -- including management and budget. The whole idea is to gradually build fertility levels so that in three to five years quality increases and input costs decrease. You'll notice improvements every year without losses in production commonly expected from lower input farming systems.

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Q: What is a balanced, high quality, non-toxic fertilizer from Midwestern Bio-Ag's perspective?

A: Fertilizer is sold by its content of soluble nutrients. That's the numbers on the bag. But the plant uses available nutrients, and some soluble nutrients quickly become unavailable before the plant can use them. Fertilizer quality is also important. Poor quality fertilizers can damage soil structure, soil organisms, and plant roots. They contain high levels of chloride, salts, and ammonia. High quality fertilizers include ammonium sulfate, monoammonium phosphate (MAP), potassium sulfate, calcium sulfate, mined phosphates, and sulfate, and chelated forms of trace elements. High quality fertilizers are also high in crop availability. Remember, a fertilizer program needs to be balanced. A plant needs at least 16 elements for normal growth and reproduction, but the elements are needed in balance. Limiting fertility factors cause deficiencies, imbalances, weed problems and crop and livestock diseases. That's what's really costly. A balanced, complete fertilizer program reduces or eliminates these unwanted side effects. Midwestern Bio-Ag manufactures its own homogenized trace mineral fertilizer. We call it WEE MIX. It makes up about one-fourth of all our fertilizer blends. Our fertilizers are: balanced with a proper hmogenous blend of needed nutrients; balanced with both soluble and slow-release nutrients; non-harmful to plant roots and soil life; pH balanced for greater, longer-lasting nutrient availability.

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Q: How does Midwestern Bio-Ag evaluate a fertilizer program?

A: We analyze these factors on your farm: soil structure; earthworm population; plant root size and health; tissue tests; crop growth and vigor; insect damage and crop diseases; weed mix and pressure; livestock health and production and changes over time. We make sure your tillage procedures properly aerate the soil and make it easy for water to penetrate and hold in place for plant use. On your crops, we check for: sugar content; color and structure of stems and roots; feedstuff mineral balance, watching for excesses and deficiencies; and quality. Remember, a better pile is superior to a bigger pile.

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Q: Does Midwestern Bio-Ag use "Extras" like biologicals, seed treatments, soil conditioners, etc.?

A: When needed. Proper fertilizer use and tillage gets your farm headed in the right direction. Sometimes the "extras" speed up the process by aiding nature's activities. They might aid or stimulate a key bacteria; stimulate seed germination, root growth and plant development; add some elements in very small amounts to achieve balance. Some materials help release and chelate elements that are already tied up in your soils. So, the "extras" do have their place. But when we recommend them, they don't cost -- they benefit you. Results aren't always noticed from the road and it may take time. How well your soil is balanced and how well all the factors are working together affect the results.

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Q: What about fermentation products? Might they have a role on my farm?

A: You grow and harvest the crop, then fermentation products can maintain harvest-time quality while in storage. Fermentation products do work and can save you a lot of money in the long run. A good fermentation product contains: a fresh, live supply of beneficial organisms; a proper balance of these organisms and enzymes to release sugars to feed the organism.

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Q: How does biological farming keep my livestock healthy and productive?

A: Here again, we strive for balance with high quality feeds, supplemented with available high quality minerals and vitamins. High quality feeds have more minerals in balance along with more animal usalbe energy. High quality forages are a result of mineralized healthy soils. The "extras" also have their place in livestock nutrition. They include: kelp, yeast, chelated trace elements, vitamins, probiotics, bacterial stimulants and enzymes. When it comes to livestock health and productivity, using an ounce of prevention gives you fewer problems, more profit, and puts the fun back in farming.

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Q: How can I measure success?

A: Many ways. With technology, we can measure the numbers. Soils tests yield measurable numbers. A penetrometer measures soil condition. A refractometer measures plant health. But more important, with your farmer's common sense and stewardship ethic, you smell it when you work the soil and inhale that earthy aroma resulting from the respiration of more than 1,000 pounds per acre of actinomycetes. You feel it by digging. Healthy soil is crumbly to the touch. Get on your hands and knees and count your "earthworm herd." Your soil stays in place, rather than wash downstream. You see it in the rich darkness and in the way your soil absorbs up to twice its weight in water. You see fewer weeds, fewer insects, and fewer diseases. You see it in the sheen of your animals' hair coat, bright eyes, healthy demeanor, high productivity and reproductive efficiency. You stop chasing problems with a needle and a sprayer. You'll taste the difference in the sweetness of your corn and alfalfa and the flavor of your beef, pork, lamb, poultry or whatever animal you produce. Very important, you see it in your positive cash flow, improved net income, and increasing asset value that means a better retirement. And, lastly, you measure your success in pride and peace of mind -- knowing you'll leave your farm in better condition than when you came; knowing you didn't exploit your land, but borrowed it for a short time and improved it for the next generation.

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