SURPRISE: I certainly did not want to produce a second, time consuming and costly mailing, but too much has happened since early January for me not to keep you informed. The three most significant events concern: Our Trip to Tainio Technologies in WA; Soybean Rust (SR) and Soybean Aphid (SA); and Solving the Grassfed Finishing Problem.

TAINIO TECHNOLOGIES: Louisa & I attended the two day class along with an overflow group of over a hundred. The main impact on me was the strength or energy impact of the microbe packages that Bruce Tainio has developed. The second impact was from the grower users and their testimonials. One grower from Calif. brought several boxes of apples labeled a seconds. SECONDS? The apples were huge, heavy (nutrient dense) and sweet. The operation growing these and other fruits for specialty Asian buyers were grossing a million off of less than 100 aces of mixed fruit using Tainio Tech. programs and products and filling niche markets in Asia.

There were also grain, potato and other crop growers as well as people dealing with pond and lake water problems. The growers are doing what I have written about for the last 25 years, they were tapping into the genetic potential for the current seed or root stock or variety they already have. Are the programs a little more costly to apply? Of course, but would you spend $13/acre for excellent bacteria instead of $7-9 for good bacteria on an organic commodity if it meant picking up 10 or more bushel per acre of speltz or soys or dry beans? If you’re a fruit, berry, grape, etc. grower, would you spend $45/acre to have a grape vine produce in 18 months after planting and have a trunk that looks 4 years old. Would you spend the same amount to have sick or dying tree, vines etc. come back to production instead of pulling, replanting and waiting for marketable production. What’s the catch? YOU STILL HAVE TO ACHIEVE A REASONABLE ALBRECHT TYPE SOIL NUTRIENT BALANCE, use some supporting enzymes and foliar feed products with reasonable/normal costs.

How do I know the bacteria work, other than other people’s experience? Before going to Spokane, we treated a six foot potted Hibiscus tree that we keep in our house during the winter and put back out side in the summer. It always looks pretty ragged by the time it gets back out in the spring. We inserted two capsules of Tainio type bacteria mixtures [Bio-Caps] six to eight inches into the pot in January. The sun starved tree is now producing huge new leaves on the top branches with bright green glossy shine without the addition of any fertilizer! CSI has been given a distributorship on all the Tainio agricultural products and pond/water products. CSI already has 3-4 dealers picking up on the line throughout the US.

SOYBEAN RUST (SR): It seems to have standard growers scared to death, so I assume organic growers are even more worried. SR can have a dramatic effect on yield by reducing the size and weight of the beans. Soys begin senescence right after flowering. Minerals are diverted to the reproductive parts and leafs are left with mineral deficiencies and dying cells. Fungus thrives/needs dying cells to live on. However, SR has trouble getting started if the cuticle or outside of the leaf is thick and tough [rich in silica]. Once SR gets started, it moves very rapidly. If you don’t have fungicidal sprays (organic or otherwise) on hand or available to purchase and use within 24-48 hrs after noticing any symptoms, you will probably take a bad hit.  So obviously, the best approach is, as always, nutritional preventive. Most of the bulk minerals we sell are rich is silica. That may not help you this year, so let’s look at the several approaches.

STEINER ENERGY: The mainstay of Steiner atmospheric manipulation is a homeopathic silica remedy which is commonly known as 501 in that paradigm. CSI offers very “powerful” sets of liquid homeopathic remedies that cover all the soil and atmospheric Steiner energies as well as new ones, all made by Greg Willis, previously mentioned as Agri-Synthesis and now labeled as GW Agriculture. Greg has been able to combine all the ground sprays and the atmospheric sprays so one pass across the field with two tanks and two spray outlets can cover the soil and atmospheric sprays up front and the fungus spray in the second tank out the back. To do this correctly the first year and in order to get anywhere the desired response, the treatment will require a “pre”, a # 1, a # 2, a “booster” and the “fungus interruptus” spray. Each spray costs $7.50/acre, so that’s $37.50 and acre minimum to get improved quality and yield and hopefully, SR protection. Additional sprays are used if needed as well as a second set of seasonal sprays after June 21, the Summer Equinox. Greg has agreed to “work with” anyone, through distributors like CSI, who wishes to get started by offering to supply as many sprays as necessary to achieve results on a given property for a fixed per acre fee per year. You will have to pay for the shipping. I’ve already told you my good experience with the Fungus Interruptus last year on my Phlox. You are still expected to be working on your mineralization and bio-activation.

SOMATIC CELL COUNT CONTROL: GW Agriculture is also reporting that direct spraying of their remedies on cow or goat udders is dramatically reducing somatic cell count and mastitis in TX. According to the Co., the TX ag people are referring dairies to them that have excess somatic cell counts! Milk can also be affected after it is in the tank as the remedies change molecular structure. So———,

If you are serious about getting into Steiner energies, I strongly suggest that you purchase a small starter kit that contains 2 or 4 oz bottles of a variety of his remedies. You can then “prove it to yourself” by experimenting with beverage tastes and other uses such as house plants, field crops or livestock. His sprays are capable of changing the molecular structure right through a glass or plastic bottle or glass. Since wine is one of the most distinct taste beverages, you or a friend may try a taste test by sipping before spraying and then taste a few seconds after the outside of the bottle or glass has been sprayed. If wine isn’t something you wish to use, try using some other natural products such as cider or milk. You can also spray udders and milk already in tanks and do before and after test. The smaller kit contains $200 worth of 2 oz remedies for $135. The larger kit with a wider variety of 2oz remedies worth $300 is available for $165. Both are FPP if payment to CSI is included with order.

DIRECT SILICA APPROACH: Another approach is to use a soluble silica product for use in row or foliar. This has proven to be effective in Brazil on organic soys. However, the material is not accepted by NOP in the US yet, but may be in a year or so. For the non-organic grower, this may offer the best, least cost protection, other than buying a standard “rescue” fungicide. CSI is working with one of our manufactures, AgriGro, to have an Ag registered product containing soluble silica available soon. It may require 2-3 sprays pre-bloom in order to provide SR protection. Call for details and pricing. When you see a nice glassy, waxy shine on your crop leafs, you have probably achieved a great deal of natural resistance.

STANDARD NUTRITION: If you are an organic grower, and don’t want to work with the Steiner remedies, you will have to foliar spray and monitor sap pH and Brix as early as possible. I would strongly recommend the Tainio bacteria, enzymes and foliars in this scenario. I would also use Fish Agra and Nitrozyme in the row. If you can’t get and keep sap pH near 6.4 and the SR comes into your area, you will get hit. Luckily, there is a “rescue” organic fungicide.

BALLAD: Ballad is a new EPA & organically approved bio-fungicide available at $18/acre per application. It must be applied before you get hit, as SR is devastating once it gets in your crop. You may need 1-2 applications thereafter, depending how long the spores continue to come into your area. Ballad is a fermentation byproduct with some bacteria for colonization, but the main mode of action is the amino sugars that destroy cell walls of fungal diseases. It will only be available through ENVIROQUEST of MO.  Call them at 1-888-624-2420 and mention CSI. We will receive credit for the sale. (Thanks) There is limited production as of now. If you plan to plant organic soys and haven’t checked or been able to move the sap pH very near 6.4, and you are far enough south to be threatened, you may want to buy some Ballad soon. Current research has shown excellent control in South Africa and Argentina this season and final reports are due soon. Your organic soys may be worth a lot of money, so it is worth considering a little more investment in inputs and protection.

SOYBEAN APHID (SA): Research involving trapping in fall of 04 shows 2005 aphid populations may be huge compared to 04 and may be far more important to worry about than SR. Follow steps above concerning pH and Brix, but have Crop Guard on hand with a spreader sticker. To bring up a low sap pH if Brix is up, you probably will need a Calcium foliar spray. If you have both low Brix and low pH, you may need a liquid Potassium foliar spray. CSI has organic and non-organic liquid Calcium and Potassium.

SPREADER STICKER: Nu-Film 17 is an OMRI 2005 listed spreader sticker. It is highly recommended for use with both Crop Guard and Ballad. Ignore rumors of “OMRI delisting”. If that should happen due to “bureau-pathetic” delays of reviews in the future, Miller Chemical will publicly announce it. CCOF has stated that they will continue to approve it under NOP.

ACRES ARTICLE: Watch for my article on SA & SR in the May issue of Acres USA

GRASSFED FINISHING: Met with Allan Nation, editor of Stockman Grass Farmer, at an AGA conference in Ind. He finally realized what I presented in Atlanta to his conf. a few years back about Brix had a place in the grass fed system. It is easy to have growth gain on young stock by socking the N to grass or having good legumes as part of the mix. The catch comes when you try to finish/marble. That requires high Brix/carbohydrate/energy/hemi-cellulose instead of high protein (Real or Nitrates) and cellulose. Therein lies the rub. You have to use Albrecht and Reams technology [mineralization and bio-activation] to lower the fake protein and run the Brix into the upper teens or even high twenties as CSI growers have done with alfalfa since the 80’s. My article about that subject should be in SGF in a May. I will be at SGF pre-conf. Grazing Class on July 20-21 and on a panel at Grazefest in Jackson, MS on July 22. Will have a booth on 22 & 23. Call 256-845-3009 for information on Grazefest.

GREENSAND IS BACK! CSI has arranged to offer Greensand, a naturally mined, organic mineral, noted for its K and Silica content. Available in 24 ton bulk semi only. It will be damp and may need a wet lime spreader to handle properly. Call for Quotes on material and freight.

SILICON TESTING: Silicon or Silica (Si) soil test now available through CSI as part of a LaMotte Soil Test. Add $10 to the regular $22. Boron moves silica first and then calcium follows. Si is what puts the shine, protective coating and stalk length/strength into grains. Si may be your best protection against rust, fungus etc

AMMONIUM SULFATE: We now have several wholesale sources of ammonium sulfate in south & mid-west. Call for Quotes.

QUANITY BUYING: Dr. Wheeler’s Vinegar w/Garlic & Yucca or straight Garlic & Yucca now available in 270 gal poly tanks at a much reduced cost. Call for Quotes.Daylight Enterprises in MI “thumb” is not going to develop/continue his CSI dealership as they are too busy with their regular chemical business. Growers should contact CSI directly for their sustainable & organic needs.   

PLEASE PASS THIS LETTER ON TO FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS ANYWHERE. You may copy it or email it without fear of copyright laws. Thanks, Yours, Dr. Phil PLEASE PASS THIS LETTER ON TO FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS ANYWHERE. You may copy it or email it without fear of copyright laws. Thanks, Yours, Dr. Phil