10th Feb 2009

Welcome to the 1^st edition of the BNS Catchup. Simply our way of letting our more advanced customers know what's going on, what's coming up and what's exciting of late in a world full of bad news lately. This will hopefully allow us to speak at your level and keep it interesting. Please continue to challenge us with ideas, questions and opportunities to grow!

What's New...

• New CEO! Some may not be aware we recruited a new CEO, to take us forward. Bernie O'Brien has been with us now 8 busy weeks and making a serious difference to BNS operations and capacity. Bernie is well qualified for the role and comes fresh from a break after a successful stint as CEO of Norco, the large milk Cooperative in eastern Australia.

• New Liquids Development...

            Simplified liquid inject and seed dressing products are underway

• 14% ZincSEED dressing for application at grading option
• Legume Seed dressing nutrient pack to specifically support Rhizobia inoculant (with P, Zn, Mo/Fe/Cobalt) and another for Cereal nutrition with P, Zinc, Calcium, VAM, enzyme catalysts and carbon
• Legume Liquid Inject row support nutrient & inoculant pack
• Cereal Liquid Inject hybrid pack combining

     -  1/3 nutrient regulant for root growth and N efficiency (CalPLUS)

     -  1/3 biological base with humate, guano, kelp etc (BioInnoc)

     -  1/3 high analysis N-P-K-Ca and Zinc (JumpStart)

•  New Soil Sampling Service for fertiliser planning - simply email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for details. We have installed a deep core sampler for standard soil tests and deep Nitrogen tests ahead of winter crop, which along with other Sap/Leaf/Biology testing data will be accessible on the Website. Costs for samples will be $60/sample + lab fee at cost.

What's Working...

• CalPLUS experience seems to be good so far with a perfect example of the conditions it was designed for occurring at ‘Miralwyn', Walgett in Januray. The cotton concerned had waning plant Nitrogen levels, though good soil levels and high soil Sodium and salt levels. CalPLUS was applied at 12L/ha as a regulant to sap electrolyte flow. The result was a greening up of the crop and a cost saving compared to putting N on a crop that would not have taken it up. The crop water take-up also improved according to Michael Josh of PJ Harris & Sons.

• Stingweed into Sorghum sprayouts has had a positive response with many reducing rate to 1.2L/ha glypho and quicker than normal brown outs.

• Compost (at 300kg/ha average) over the last 3 years at ‘Shanonvale', Glen Innes, with Greg & Sally Chappell, has been the only input in a successful pasture system and soil test results indicate...

- Average Soil Carbon level increase from 1.01% to 1.40% in 4 years

- Increased available Phosphate from 31ppm to 35ppm during a time when production has outperformed neighbouring properties to the extent that between Landcare groups and the Beef Improvement Assoc there are regular visitors and significant interest in pasture performance and output compared to conventional superphosphate practices

What To Consider...

• Stubble Digest is still being applied to heavy cereal trash loads to make use of the recent rain and humidity conditions. Some get it and some don't... the application is all about soil Carbon to Nitrogen ratio's and reducing the N requirement to go back into the next crop. Stubble Digest is to establish the appropriate fungi and Fungal Fuel is a nutrient concentrate to fire them up (where good fungal levels exist). Both are compatible with Glyphosate (as independently assessed by Peracto Research in Goondi).

• PhosLogic is an acidic liquid calcium phosphate to finish cotton and sorghum. It is designed to tighten up the finish on indeterminate Cotton varieties with a pix effect whilst the unique calcium and phosphate combination provide a fibre strength & quality response. Timing is crucial, with end of flowering in sorghum the optimum time for increased test weights and February cut-out for cotton.

• We are offering liquid K-Nite at below cost to clear it before end of summer if you have any Cotton with heavy boll load and small frame. Email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for a price.

What's Coming...

• Winter forecasts are needed for those planning liquid inject so that bulk storage and product requirements can be established in February

• We are preparing details on our granular starter offer for winter crop. It will comprise Guano and MAP blends, likely to be 70/30 blend, with humate addition. Details available soon.