Summer 2016 Archives | Midwestern BioAg

Cover Crop Basics: A Q&A with Gary Zimmer

By: Caitlin Roberts · Cover Crops, Soil, Water, Tillage, Crop Rotation, Erosion, Nutrients, Soil Capacity, Weed Control

Midwestern BioAg President Gary Zimmer has planted cover crops on his farm for years. In this Q&A, we sit down with him to learn the basics of cover crop management and the resulting benefits they bring to the farm.
How do I select a cover crop for my farm?
Zimmer: First, identify the purpose for your cover crop. Will it provide nitrogen or scavenge it? Do you want to use it for grazing? How about to build organic matter?

L-CBF Research Study: Stronger Starts, Drier Grain

By: Christopher.kniffen@midwesternbioag.com · Nitrogen, Season-long performance, Soil Biology, Nutrient Efficiency, Starter Fertilizer, L-CBF, Newsletters, 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 · Fertilizer, TerraFed, WinterKing, OrganiCal™, Alfalfa, Weed Control, Calcium, High-Production Organic Agriculture, L-CBF, Forages, Newsletters, Organic, Livestock Nutrition

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.