Fertilizer | Page 2 of 4 | Midwestern BioAg

L-CBF Research Study: Stronger Starts, Drier Grain

By: Christopher.kniffen@midwesternbioag.com · Fertilizer, Newsletters, L-CBF, Nitrogen, Season-long performance, Soil Biology, Nutrient Efficiency, Starter Fertilizer

Now in its second year, Midwestern BioAg’s liquid carbon-based fertilizer (L-CBF) study at the University of Illinois is once again showing positive results. In early June, Midwestern BioAg scientist Bill Petersen traveled to the University’s research farm and reported back visible improvements in plant height. “Early plant response to L-CBF treatment was consistently positive,” said Petersen. “Plants in treated plots were noticeably taller, validating for the second year that L-CBF application gives plants an early season advantage.”
Derived from cane molasses, L-CBF delivers quality plant nutrients …

Growing Farm Margins with High-Quality Forages

By: Mary Pohlman · Calcium, Fertilizer, Livestock Nutrition, Organic, Newsletters, Forages, L-CBF, High-Production Organic Agriculture, Weed Control, Alfalfa, OrganiCal™, WinterKing, TerraFed

Ten years ago, Plaetz Dairy came to Midwestern BioAg looking to improve their conventional dairy farm. Farmers Bruce and Sherry were struggling with feed quality, a problem they hoped Midwestern BioAg’s forage program could help them solve.
“Everything we grow is fed to the cows,” Bruce said. “Before switching to BioAg, we spent a lot of money on feed, protein and minerals trying to keep cows healthy. A big problem was that our cows didn’t like their hay.

Focusing on Efficiency

By: Caitlin Roberts · Fertilizer, Grazing, Cover Crops, Forages, Bio-Cal®

Needing more hay for his beef cattle, northwestern Illinois beef producer Randy Adolph was ready for a different approach. “I wasn’t happy with what I was currently doing and wanted to try something new,” said Randy.
Four years later, he’s a lot happier with his fields — his alfalfa yields are up to 7 tons from the 5 he was getting back in 2012.
That was when he learned about Bio-Cal® from his cousin, Midwestern BioAg Certified Crop Advisor Ben Adolph.

Start Strong, Finish Strong

By: Christopher.kniffen@midwesternbioag.com · L-CBF, Fertilizer, Nitrogen, Season-long performance

You never want your crop to have a bad day, said Alan Kauffman, Ohio-based Midwestern BioAg sales consultant. “Marathon runners don’t skip breakfast the day of a big race. That’s why we put down starter fertilizer in the spring — to get those plants off to a strong start.”
Midwestern BioAg scientist Bill Petersen agrees. “Our 2015 studies with Dr. Fred Below of the University of Illinois looked at early-season advantages of starter application. In the study, we added L-CBF BOOST™ and 10-34-0 to corn.

Going for More

By: Jan Shepel · Fertilizer, Soil, Organic Matter

Phil Schwantz is a third-generation farmer who’s proud to be the steward of his grandfathers’ farmland. He lives on the farmstead where his paternal grandfather and father farmed and rents land from his aunt that was once farmed by his maternal grandfather.
He also feels fortunate to be working with Midwestern BioAg on a program that has created “an explosion” of earthworms on his 500 acres of tillable farmland. A leading indicator of soil health, earthworm activity can increase soil infiltration and improve water-holding capacity, help …

Improving Yields & Quality

By: Christopher.kniffen@midwesternbioag.com · Fertilizer, Economics, Crop Yields

The first year of using Midwestern BioAg (MBA) fertilizers led to a 15 percent yield increase in soybeans, while oats grown on soils that had used MBA fertility for multiple years saw significant gains in nutritional values, according to two studies done in concert with a large food company (LFC). In both cases, the BioAg fertility program outperformed industry-standard recommendations.
The soybean results come from the first year of a six-year study designed to analyze how Midwestern BioAg fertilizers and practices affect soil biology, crop yields …

Better Soil, Bigger Yields

By: Jan Shepel · Soil Testing, Organic Matter, Forages, Bio-Cal®, Fertilizer

Shullsburg, Wisconsin, farmer Chad Gleason is enthusiastic about everything he does — from managing his 400-head steer finishing operation, to growing corn and hay for his livestock with help from Midwestern BioAg.
Gleason farms on a wide variety of soil types — some of them are great like his Tama soil (reputed to be the best soil in the world), and others that are not so great in the hills.
But all of the fields are going gangbusters since he decided to utilize the products and …

From the Farm of Gary Zimmer

By: Gary Zimmer, Founder · Fertilizer, Soil, Dairy Production, High-Production Organic Agriculture, Field Day

Dear Farmer/Agribusiness person,
Field Day at Otter Creek is coming soon and what do we have to show you this year? In the past year, many changes have been made to our 1,000-acre operation — we have a lot that’s new in 2015.
The dairy herd grew too large for our facility, so we sold half of our cows early this year. My daughter Sadie bought the remaining herd and manages them here on the farm.

Celebrating Our Soils

By: Holly Henschen · Sustainability, Soil, Fertilizer

During the International Year of the Soils, the United Nations is spreading a message similar to what Midwestern BioAg has been practicing on its research farm for over a quarter of a century.
But this 2015 celebration of soils is missing a crucial element, said Midwestern BioAg Co-Founder and President Gary Zimmer.
The UN Food and Agriculture Organization’s International Year of the Soils campaign was initiated to raise awareness and educate society, decision makers, and the public about the crucial role of soils.

Midwestern BioAg Expands South and East

By: Mary Pohlman · Fertilizer, Livestock Nutrition, Sustainability, Economics, Crop Yields

Two new regional Midwestern BioAg facilities, one in Ohio and the other in Illinois, will improve customer service and make more product locally available as Midwestern BioAg continues to grow and expand.
At Bellefontaine, Ohio, approximately 60 miles northwest of Columbus, the new BioAg facility includes 5,000 square feet of warehouse space and 2,500 square feet of office space. The warehouse provides on-site storage, improving product availability as well as serving as a clearinghouse for organizing small loads.