The companies and consultancies listed in this section have been generous enough to support the on-going running of this website and newsletter*. Their products and services work with nature and support the philosophy of this site. I encourage you to take the time to seek them out and support them generously.

Derek & Fiona Smith - Proprietors

Soils Consultant BFM  

'Kenilworth', 134 Falconer Rd, GUYRA NSW 2365

Derek and Fiona have managed a 120 ha farm on the outskirts of Guyra on the northern tablelands in NSW for the last 24 years running prime lamb breeding and merino wethers, fattening and backgrounding beef cattle, as well as mixed vegetables - mainly potatoes and snow peas. They also host a farm bed & breakfast!

Derek teaches Certificate II Horticulture & Certificate IV Organic Farming at TAFE - Armidale Rural Studies Centre, and Fiona is company secretary for Holistic Management International/Australia office based in Guyra.

Derek has completed or attended the following:

• Degree in Business Management - Farm Business Sydney University
• Organic Agriculture & Soil Resource Management - Orange Ag. College
• Chris Alenson's Organic Soil Management
• Grazing for Profit School
• Gradlink & Executive Link Programmes - 4 years
• Holistic Management
• Neil Kinsey's Advanced Soil Management - USA
• Acres USA  Organic Conference
• Certificate in Sustainable Agriculture - Nutri-Tech Solutions (NTS) Yandina QLD
• Use of NTS products since 1994 - mostly with potatoes & snow peas

Services Provided

Derek has been teaching soil management and consulting to friends and students for the last 5 years and is now opening up his consultancy business to the public, with the business specialising in:

• Distribution/sales of soil fertility and plant nutrient products including the Nutri-Tech Solutions range of biological farming products.
• Comprehensive soil and leaf analysis
• Recommendations from soil and leaf analysis
• Holistic soil management consultancy for those in a wide range of agricultural pursuits.

Business services are open to all farmers and graziers, but primarily we focus on organic producers or those transitioning to organic, biological or simply a more sustainable production system.

Growers utilising our programs report noticeable improvements in their general soil fertility with such things as improved structure/softer soils, quicker trash/stubble breakdown, improved water holding capacity and drainage, reduced disease pressure, reduced nitrogen requirement and increased phosphorus, calcium and zinc availability. This of course results in stronger crops grown for fewer dollars, meaning a better return per hectare.

We include specialised agricultural microbe species, microbe foods, chelation agents and plant stimulants in conjunction with nuturients that are compatible and useful to both the crop and soil biology.

Bionutrient Solutions offer professional agronomic programs, service and advice and focus strongly on building relationships with growers. 

Hybrid Ag is dedicated to providing the very best natural, effective and environmentally safe soil and plant nutrient products. We aim to help growers succeed profitably, and in a manner that is compatible with the production of naturally nutritious and safe food.

The numerous options we now have using 'biological' inputs (inputs which nurture microbe activity), combined with more 'conventional' methods, means we are now able to share with growers what is being continually proven to be a more sustainable, cost effective approach to soil and crop nutrition, suited to the production of high quality, high value produce.