FIELD TRIP: Louisa and I recently took a trip to the Northwest, meeting with many growers, customers, suppliers and old friends in Idaho who I saw again for the first time in 50 years. Two subjects, that we have never addressed before, became apparent as worthy of discussion. They are management and estate planning. These are discussed in articles in the “standard” farm press, but the trip showed us they are still a major problem.

Farm succession/inheritance issues are very complicated issues and usually emotional issues as well. However, failing to face them on a timely basis will result in far more time consuming complications accompanied by emotional trauma and immense economic damage. There are primary owners in their 80’s (past life expectancy?) without basic will, trust or other options clearly specified. This leaves the next 1-3 generations “hung out to dry”. I also heard of one situation where an attorney used the term “real property” when he meant real estate. Check everything twice! The only advice I can give is “get with it” since I am not qualified in that field. However, my excellent CPA is researching a new idea for asset protection that I heard about. It can apply to sole proprietorships and C and S Corps. I’ll let you know the final results.

The above issue is related to the management issue in that they both get pushed aside by the time constraints. Growers are so busy working in the business, they don’t get around to working on the business. They fail to plan and manage fertility, finances, herd health, marketing, succession, etc. In Australia, growers of all sizes and crop types attend 7 day long planning/management seminars offered by a private company called RCS. Yours truly teaches two days of basic and advanced agronomy as part of the seminar. The other 5 days are spent on finances, personnel, equipment, marketing etc. Not only do growers make the time to attend they pay significant, but well worthwhile, fees to attend. When I ask them why they seem so eager to learn compared to US growers, they say: “Because we don’t have crop subsidies, we have to be on top of all new information and techniques that can possibly help our business succeed.”

Not only do they attend the 7 day course, many go on to “Executive Link” sessions that form them into groups of 5-7 farms that become unofficial boards of directors for each of them. No subject is off limits, including succession plans, family squabbles, divorces, etc. The farms are not neighbors, so you don’t have to worry about vying for the same parcel of land and those types of issues. All problems may not get “solved”, but at least the grower understands the issue, has “tools” to work with and peer pressure/support to get the job done. (I’ve suggested the RCS bring that kind of education to the US) (RCS already teaches the Grazing for Profit schools here.)

FALL SALES: Tenn. Brown Phosphate will again be on sale at $45/ton FOB till Dec 31. Most other commodities will have $5.00/ton discounts. Fall is the time to re-mineralize, bio-activate and turn any brown crop residue into long term humus. Call for quotes on materials or ideas on how to handle fall residue.

WEEDS: Weeds, rather than insects and diseases, continue to be the bane of most growers. Diseases and insects are directly related to the current pH of the plant sap and the external pH of the plant surface. Ideal plant sap pH is 6.4 (same as human urine and saliva). The higher the pH goes above 6.4, the greater probability of insect attack. The lower it goes, the greater probability of disease attack. When some insects attack high pH plants, they create local low pH spots that then allow diseases to start. The new meters available for farm use only require a few drops of plant sap. Combine the pH with the Brix and Ergs (E.C.) readings and you can easily manage the fertility and health of any crop. This assumes that you can apply materials after planting by foliar, drip, overhead or flood irrigation. Call Pikes Lab Supplies at 207-897-9269. They furnish “interpretive” guidelines with the meters. Call us if you have trouble with the interpretation.

Weeds are functions of the soil’s physical, chemical and biological conditions. If you don’t like the weed pattern or pressure, change one or more of the “conditions”. CSI has always stressed re-mineralization/fertilization accompanied by bio-activation. However, we also are aware that part of the physical conditions include physics conditions, i.e. subtle energy forces that are part of each weed seed and subsequent plant. These “auras”, for want of a better word, are filling in spaces in the in the energy patterns above your field by natures design. “Nature abhors a vacuum.” Being able to influence the energy patterns above your soil gives you another tool to deal with Nature’s response to the conditions you have created/provided.

Of course I’m referring to the use of Quantum Ag towers such as manufactured by Hugh Lovel and Bob Benson and offered by CSI. Using this technology, the weed aura is slowly weakened and the space it previously occupied is filled in with beneficial, resonant energies. Even though physical “peppers” are prepared from weed seeds or plants, the peppers are translated into pure energy patterns for broadcasting.

Written intentions help nature to understand what you’re trying to accomplish whether it be about weeds, insects, diseases, fertility, or weather. As an example of the use of intentions, some growers have designated certain rows to be given to the insects in each field. The insects are “informed” that if they go to any other rows, they will be killed.

While you’re waiting for nature to straighten things out, SAR researches have proven that vinegar kills weeds. 5 and 10 % vinegar solutions killed up to two week old weeds very effectively. Organic growers may have to use organic vinegar, so costs and availability may be a factor. Other growers can use white or brown vinegar or try glacial acetic acid, a commercial form of the acid nature makes by fermentation. You can add a few gallons of 28 % N and a spreader to enhance kill. It will act like a non-translocating contact herbicide, so try not to get much on your economic crop. You might be able to kill very young/weak weeds in the row with out hurting a hardy, bigger economic crop if you stay at the 5% acid concentration level. Store vinegar is usually 5% strength. That means you would use in “straight”, spraying enough to wet without wasteful run-off.

QUANTUM AG RESULTS: Here is a sampling of results using Quantum Ag techniques, equipment and materials: An Oregon farm produced 302 bu./acre corn on one field and averaged 273 bu. in 01. (Used a Benson tower, Veges Sound Machine and natural fertilizer materials from CSI deposits.) An Idaho grower with several years of tower and water treatment technology use harvested 3 ton/acre alfalfa from a planting 63 days earlier. They plan on using the minerals this fall. A grower in Wyoming did corrective fertilization in 01 and now has the only alfalfa in the area not pressured by insects. An organic Iowa grower has been using a Veges Sound machine for the last 2 years. He reports bigger soybeans, corn ears filled out to the end and no insect pressure on corn, beans and alfalfa. His neighbors are spraying everything and they can’t bring themselves to ask them for help in changing things on their farms. An Ontario grower put a Lovel tower in this spring and reported weeds were easier to kill. He also seems to have been successful in dealing with a persistent rain pattern that always seems to skirt his area. A Mich. grape grower was “awestruck” when her old vines started budding this spring. The vines are now supporting the largest crop ever. We put a Lovel tower on her property last fall.

WHEN THINGS AREN’T WORKING: An Iowa grower called while I was composing this and reported he had insect problems in alfalfa. Although he has done some of the right things, the net result was an alfalfa crop that was strongly attracting insects. How do you know, WHAT TO DO? He did not have sap reading instruments to work with and did not have a tissue analysis. Soil test data from CSI this spring showed reasonable calcium and slightly under performing phosphorous. Some potash ,DAP, ammonium sulfate and trace minerals were applied last fall or this spring. First crop was good, but second cutting was immediately attacked. ANALYSIS. Sap pH certainly too high. Elements to lower pH would be sulfur and phosphorous or vinegar. Sulfur in soil was higher than usual. Brix of sap probably too low. Phosphorous was logical culprit, since DAP probably ran out of energy by second cutting. Recommendation: Apply 1 pint/acre phosphoric acid with fish and seaweed by foliar as soon as possible. A little sugar or molasses is OK too. If organic, 1-2 quarts of apple cider vinegar and do something to apply or activate P as soon as possible. Better solution (?). Get some meters and “Manage” fertility on an ongoing basis. The rescue type repelling/killing materials couldn’t overcome nature’s response to the conditions at hand. Management is always cheaper than rescue.

RAIN MAKING: Although Hugh Lovel is working on a booklet on Rain Making, let’s start talking about the basics now. The main focus is on creating formative patterns in the atmosphere that cause clouds to come together and water to condense as rain. Lots of other subtleties come into play, including breaking up congestive smog and pollution. Currently, the three main methods of trying to accomplish this are: Radionic broadcasting, quantum tower and radionic devices combined or Malcolm Rae broadcasting devices alone. A radionics device alone can be useful, but those with Lovel towers can have the advantage of using the preps (energy patterns) from the tower in the radionics device. The tower preps will have programmed, appropriate patterns for that locale. Owning and operating a radionics device can be relatively expensive and time consuming. Operator confidence is also a factor. To simplify matters, CSI is offering a small Malcolm Rae device and a set of color cards for about $515 for broadcasting with or without a Lovel tower. I say “about” because final price is based on the British pound that fluctuates against the dollar. You do not have to be able to get a “stick” to operate, but you must be able to douse the right color cards and one numerical setting. Dousing is so useful in so many areas of farming. All living things are bio-detectors [dowsers], but some of you just haven’t tried or practiced enough.

UPCOMING EVENTS: Jayne Walker will be sponsoring another BD/Quantum Ag weekend in Traverse City, Michigan on Oct 18-20. Hugh Lovel will be presenting and Louisa and I will be there assisting. You will get to see the grapes that got a whole new lease on life when the tower went in. Call Jane at 231-620-4775.

The CSI office will be closed from Sept. 25 to Oct 3. Phil & Louisa will be putting up a tower on Kauai on our friend’s tropical flower farm. You can view their farm at BobsTropicals.com. Please try to coordinate your orders around that time.

Phil will be putting up towers and lecturing in Australia the last week of Oct and the first week of Nov. Louisa will be in the office during that time.

Acres convention is Dec. 12,13,14 at the Adam’s Mark Airport Hotel in Indianapolis, IN. CSI will have 2 Ag booths and 1 Human Health booth. Phil will be presenting on as yet un-chosen topic. Don’t miss this opportunity to listen and learn. Hope to see you there!

NEW ADDITION: Since I know that all diseases and conditions are mineral deficiencies, complicated by several other factors, it always disturbs me when I hear about illnesses affecting people I know. This is especially true when they are of a relatively young age and have a disease or condition that used to be a disease of the aged. Therefore, I am enclosing a separate page on health. Having just returned from a weekend conference on nutrition, I am now very confident that the technology and techniques are available for any human to correct/adjust their body chemistry/physics to a state where the body can balance/heal itself if given a chance. Read as you see fit.

HUMBLE SUGGESTION: Learn or review a little basic chemistry, biology and physics so you can mange your crops. Having a head full of chemical product names to rescue your crops is not exactly what I have in mind. As a minimum, knowing the chemical symbols for the six major nutrients [Ca,N,P,K,Mg,S] and which are acid or alkaline would be very helpful and knowing the traces [Zn,Fe,Cu,B,Mn,Co,Mo,Na,I,Se] and their major function(s) would also be useful. Nature works according to precise rules, when you know and understand the rules, farming is a lot easier. Acres USA has books on every aspect of sustainable farming. Call if you want some suggested reading or help with any scientific explanation. That’s what CSI is here for.

Yours, Phil & Louisa Wheeler