Bringing Horsepower Back to Vineyards, Corn Boosts Soil Carbon, Soil Biology Boosts Disease Protection,  Soil Health and Community Health, Back to Basics - Plant and Soil Nutrition, Closed Loop Farming, Floating Wetlands, Systems Thinking for Agriculture, Costs and Benefits of Organic vs Conventional Growing,  Dealing With Locusts Energetically, Tapped, Thirst, No to Population Growth, De-Contaminating Naturally, Using Microbes to Mop Up Underground, Prove Chemical Safety First, Uncertain Future Benefits for GM Crops, Conclusions of GM Eggplant Moratorium, Monsanto's GM Meltdown, EU Won't Buy WA GM Canola, Monsanto Price Cut?, Gene Wars, Missing Global Heat, Glues from Nature, Dutch Linear Clock, Biodynamic Agriculture Australia Update, Soil Foodweb Institute Newsletter, National Farmers Federation Conference, Canadian Organic Newsletter, Say No to Voluntary EI Vaccination, Weeds in the Spotlight, Composting On-Farm Workshop, Soil Foodweb Institute Workshops, Eco Smart Building Expo, Health (paracetamol lowers vaccine effectiveness, acceptable melamine levels lowered, Pfizer to big to nail, antibiotics leading to recurring ear infections, fluoride not helping teeth, vaccines contaminated with pig virus, removing HFCS from foods, osteoporosis drugs causes leg breaks, reviewing triclosan safety, beetroot takes on Red Bull, probiotics for oral health, new links between MMR and autism, fructose, uric acid, kidney disease), Quote, Cartoon, Miscellaneous, Events, Postscript 

 Bringing Horsepower Back to Vineyards

Horses disappeared from French vineyards more than half a century ago, but now they are being reintroduced. The horses are part of an experiment by Pontet Canet, which uses horses pulling carts fitted with solar panels instead of noisy tractors, and uses no artificial fertilisers or pesticides.They have "... taken a decision to trust the soil."

Corn Boosts Soil Carbon

Research conducted by Industry & Investment NSW (I&I NSW) has revealed that corn has great potential for building soil carbon levels. Dr Hulugalle said previous soil organic carbon dynamics in these farming systems have been analysed primarily in terms of inputs of above-ground material. “Addition of root material to soil carbon stocks either in the form of roots dying and decaying during and after the crop’s growing season are, however, significant." [once again only decomposing biomass is analysed, yet the measurements were taken during growth, ie much of what they would have been measuring was the liquid carbon deposited from the air to the soil via the living plant. And perhaps the difference found between the rotations is also related to C4 (corn) vs C3 (cotton) plants and their abilities to deposit carbon] 

Soil Biology Boosts Disease Protection

Soil biology really is entering mainstream conversations! Farmers are being warned by the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) that years of intensive cereal rotations could have a negative impact by increasing the risk of root-borne diseases, in particular rhizoctonia bare patch. Disease severity depends on the amount of rhizoctonia inoculum, along with a range of other soil factors, such as soil nitrogen and biological activity. [It's a pity that none of the solutions involve soil biology though!]

Soil Health and Community Health

Graeme Sait of Nutri-Tech Solutions, chronicles the decline in human nutrition over the past three generations and the powerful link to the current plague of degenerative diseases. He offers a game plan to reclaim this lost vitality utilising cutting-edge soil science research combined with strategies for home gardeners to use food as medicine.

Back to Basics - Plant and Soil Nutrition

In a world of corporate enterprise where the next “miracle cure” is promoted on a daily basis, how do us mere mortals know what is best for healthy plants, crops or for ourselves for that matter? When it comes to plant nutrition, we have all heard “keep your plants healthy and they resist pest attack” but how can we do this, how do we know what is required and what determines “healthy plants”? Blind faith in fertiliser suppliers for advice is inherently flawed when commercial reality generally overrides social conscience or environmental concerns. [Plant of Health Fertilisers based in Brisbane have other interesting articles on growing too and is taking these messages to Japan, Korea and India]

Closed Loop Farming

The concept of Rawganics Farm is that of as closed a loop as possible. Their aim is to develop a small biological circuit within what is obviously the larger one around it, and so on to infinity. Any cell in the collective web of life has effect on the rest of the collective web, however it does not have to damage the collective web further than what the collective web has been designed to cope with, integrate and use. Rawganics is an organic farm with diverse plant species, depending on fertility managed primarily by adequate soil nutrition balanced by the incorporation of ruminants and poultry into the cycle. [What a lovely way to set your goals]

Floating Wetlands

Baltimore's Waterfront Partnership, a nonprofit group funded by a tax surcharge on commercial properties along the harbor, plans to unveil its proposal this week for "floating wetlands" that filter and oxygenate polluted water and other projects from installing urns for cigarette butts to adding trees and native plants.

Systems Thinking for Agriculture

We have been lulled into accepting beef and grain as the 'product', when really they are the link in the system of getting nutrition into humans… but you don’t get paid for nutrition do you? Product focus doesn’t ensure survival, systems thinking does. Look at IT, and software manufacturers. Those with a winning system win. [Bart Davidson of Bionutrient Solutions continues to outline a systems approach to agriculture, and includes a good summary of biological farming using chemical, physical and biological principles]

Costs and Benefits of Organic vs Conventional Growing

It is often assumed that a move to organic growing involves a sacrifice. There is an expectation that yields will drop and you will fall in a financial hole for 2 or 3 years until lower input costs and higher premiums for your produce help to compensate. That may have been the case with ‘organic by neglect’ but ‘informed organics’ should never involve sacrifice. In fact, the opposite is often true as these real life stories (with recipes) show.

Dealing with Locusts Energetically

Hugh Lovel was recently alerted to the emerging locust plague on some friends place in central western NSW and set out an approach using an non-conventional energetic approach. I felt that some of you might also be interested.

Tapped

Even beyond the issues of your health and the environment, bottled water represents a novel form of privatization, in which private corporations have succeeded, and quite successfully, at making water a commodity. Private corporations should have no more control over the selling of water than they do the selling of our air supplies. [Though you could argue that that is now starting with carbon trading!] Check out the trailer for the new film 'Tapped'.

Thirst

Both in a movie and book format 'Thirst' investigates water. Is water a human right or a commodity to be bought and sold in a global marketplace? “The fight for the right to water has hit the U.S. heartland and this passionate, information-packed book tells the story of ordinary Americans engaged in extraordinary struggles to save their water heritage for future generations. Every American should read it.”

No to Population Growth

More than two-thirds of Australian voters do not embrace population growth, according to a national survey of social attitudes. While 73% of Queenslanders surveyed were likely to say ''no'' to growth, residents of the national capital had the most sanguine views. The survey found that 50% of ACT residents were pro-growth.Strikingly, the survey also detected gender differences in attitudes to population growth - with more men than women favouring increases.

De-Contaminating Naturally

On land that launched the testing of nuclear reactors and rocket engines, scientists use molasses and soybean extract to draw chemical waste from soil and stone. The methods may seem homemade and low tech, but the scientists say the "biomediation" experiments could lead to greener ways to clean and preserve.

Using Microbes to Mop Up Underground

Hanford, US, is the site of the “world’s largest environmental cleanup project.” One environmental biologist plans to cultivate an army of microbial janitors that will use evolved alchemy to convert hexavalent chromium that played co-villain in the film Erin Brockovich — into chromium III, a benign form of the element. Pipes are used to deliver microbe food underground to build up the microbe populations. Then when chromium-contaminated water in the aquifer flows through the zone, the microbes will pluck out the toxic chromium VI and convert it. [Wow, this really is the future I reckon]

Prove Chemical Safety First

A plan to remake the nation's chemical laws has just been released. The plan would require manufacturers to prove the safety of chemicals before they enter the marketplace. That would be a significant departure from current laws, which allow chemicals to be used unless the federal government can prove they cause harm to health or the environment. "We're saying those who make the chemicals -- and there are 700 new ones that come to market each year -- ought to be responsible for testing them first before they're released to the public, instead of having the EPA play detective to search and try to find problems." [What a radical idea - proving safety first!!]

Uncertain Future Benefits for GM Crops

Genetically engineered crops have provided “substantial” environmental and economic benefits to American farmers, but overuse of the technology is threatening to erode the gains, a national science advisory organization says. “Farmer practices may be reducing the utility of some G.E. traits as pest-management tools and increasing the likelihood of a return to more environmentally damaging practices.” The report relied mostly on data from the first few years, before prices of the biotech seeds rose sharply and the glyphosate-resistant weeds proliferated.

Conclusions of GM Eggplant Moratorium

India's Environment Minister achieved the status of a national hero for standing up to intense pressure from the USA and its agents that had already manipulated India’s national Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) to approve commercial planting of Bt brinjal. But the fight continues with a new bill being drawn up to transfer control of making decisions on genetic engineering from the Ministry of Environment to the Ministry of Science and Technology. One of the most draconian features of the bill is the right to imprison and fine critics of biotechnology.

Monsanto's GM Meltdown

Pest replacement means that new ecological niches open up which other competitors then occupy. In this case, a naturally occurring competitor of the western bean cutworm has been intentionally suppressed by the extensive cultivation of Bt maize plants, thus allowing the new pest to spread on a large scale and heavily infest the crop. A whole arsenal of insecticides - some of them highly toxic - and genetically engineered multi-stacked maize are recommended for controlling the pest. Syngenta has come the resuce with a GM corn that works against the western bean cutworm - but is this just part of the profit treadmill?

EU Won't Buy WA GM Canola

WA Premier Colin Barnett has been accused of hiding damaging letters from European grain traders in the lead up to last month's vote on genetically modified crops, which state that they would not be willing to buy grain from Western Australia if GM crops are grown. And in another letter to the Premier sent last week Japanese buyers have renewed their commitment to buy GM-free canola.

Monsanto Price Cut?

One market analyst has trimmed his earnings estimates for the next three years (fiscal 2010, 2011 and 2012) based on his belief that Monsanto will be forced to reduce the prices of their newest genetically tweaked corn and soybean seeds, called Smartstax and RoundUpReady2 Yield in a bid to entice farmers to buy. It appears that Monsanto overpriced its corn and soybean seeds, given the fact that both showed "less-than-stellar" yields.  

Gene Wars

Patents are at the heart of Monsanto profits. Patents drive innovation. But there's growing concern that powerful companies are now moving beyond patenting inventions to patenting nature itself. Two weeks ago, a United States court decision shook the patent world. The court ruled that a gene signalling breast cancer could not be patented. It was part of nature. Will it affect plant genes as well? 'Of course it will. Of course it will. Genes are genes.' ABC has put together a range of thought-provoking news items on this topic.

Missing Global Heat

The rise in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere means far more energy is coming into Earth's climate system than is going out, but half of that energy is missing and could eventually reappear as another sign of climate change. "It is clear however that the system cannot sequester heat indefinitely without a surface temperature response." [Goodness, see if you can get your heads around this one - one thing that is clear is they don't know much about climate change in the first place!]

Gary Novak certain raises a lot of interesting ideas about where that heat might be hiding...

Glues from Nature

Dr. Stewart is one of a handful of researchers around the country who are developing adhesives that work in wet conditions, with worms, mussels, barnacles and other marine creatures as their guide. The biggest goal is to make glues for use in the ultimate wet environment: the human body. They are testing adhesives on animal bones and other tissues and are optimistic that their approaches will work.

Dutch Linear Clock

Most of us learnt to read time using the round faced clock (though digital simply puts it into illuminated numbers now!) - but this is a fascinating linear clock where the seconds are at the top, and the year down the bottom. Just read the green line - everything else is automatically corrected for your timezone.

Biodynamic Agriculture Australia Update

Some of those who called for an EGM were served an injunction order which resulted in an out-of-court settlement. Since then the latest NewsLeaf letter has arrived with some more misinformation from the BAA Board. I would encourage any BAA member to take the time to read the updates and prepare for the AGM in June.

Soil Foodweb Institute Newsletter

This month's newsletter includes articles on: managing pests with vermicompost, reduction of yield in some legume crops by pesticides, benefits of retaining crop residues, making fertiliser from urine and wood ash, and some key soil biology facts.

National Farmers Federation Conference

This year the conference theme is 'responding and adapting to change'. The speakers have not been announced, but the program looks like it will debate a number of interesting topics: water, land rights, on-farm climate action, feeding the world. Melbourne 5th - 7th September.

Canadian Organic Newsletter

The latest newsletter is online and includes: Effects of land application of municipal biosolids on nitrogen-fixing bacteria in agricultural soil; Influence of biodynamic preparations on compost development and resultant compost extracts on wheat seedling growth; The efficiency of a durum wheat-winter pea intercrop to improve yield and wheat grain protein concentration depends on N availability during early growth; Factors affecting soil microbial community structure in tomato cropping systems; and much much more.

Say No to Voluntary EI Vaccination

Unfortunately I cannot form an opinion either way on this topic - I have little to no contact with horses. But it is obviously a topic of concern to many others. Apparently there is scientific evidence to support the view that voluntary vaccination will lead to Equine Influenza being re-introduced to Australia.  Not only will we have wasted millions of dollars to eradicate it but will adversely affect the health of our horses, our industries and our pockets. [It is perhaps an idea to read the information, inform yourselves, then decide whether you would like to add your support to this]

Weeds in the Spotlight

Glenrac and Gwymac Landcare are hosting an open field day on identifying weeds, pointing out weeds of national significance and the impact of weeds on farm profit. Chilean Needle grass and toxic weeds are discussed along with exploring whether weeds can work for you. Swan Vale (between Inverel and Glen Innes) 6th May.

Composting On-Farm Workshop

Gwymac's latest newsletter has been published and includes a composting on farm workshop 29th April outside Barraba (with Break-It-Down Composting). Luke Bowman will outline the process involved with producing commerical scale compost.

Soil Foodweb Institute Workshops

The following workshops are being held around Australia.

Eco Smart Building Expo

TamworthManilla Landcare is organising an Eco Smart Building Expo in Tamworth 8th - 9th May. It will include exhibits, workshops, 3 property tours, solar hot water, pv/solar grid connect, waste water treatment, insulation, landscaping, water tanks, skylights, blinds and awning, eco friendly  products. [And guess what? I get to resurrect and talk through some of my strawbale house planning ideas, as well as doing brief overviews on soil health and human health, rehydrating the landscape, and experiences growing and selling local and organic produce]

Health

Paracetamol Lowers Vaccine Effectiveness

Giving paracetamol to babies after vaccinations as a precaution against fever may lower the effectiveness of the immunisation. Paracetamol is sometimes given prophylactically to allay parents fears of high fever in children after a vaccination. But the trial, which included children having routine immunisations and booster vaccines, found that the practice may actually do more harm than good.

Acceptable Melamine Levels Lowered

The tolerable daily intake (TDI) for melamine has been cut by 60% after new research suggests the chemical may pose health risks at lower levels than previously thought. Mmigration of melamine into food was reconsidered because food was not the only source of exposure. Melaware food contact materials – such as plastic cups and dishes – were identified as a further source of exposure.

Pfizer Too Big To Nail

Imagine being charged with a crime, but an imaginary friend takes the rap for you. That is essentially what happened when Pfizer, the world's largest pharmaceutical company, was caught illegally marketing Bextra, a painkiller that was taken off the market in 2005 because of safety concerns. Just as the giant banks on Wall Street were deemed too big to fail, Pfizer was considered too big to nail. Instead of charging Pfizer with a crime, prosecutors charged a Pfizer subsidiary, Pharmacia & Upjohn Co. Inc. The CNN Special Investigation found that the subsidiary is nothing more than a shell company whose only function is to plead guilty.

Antibiotics Leading to Recurring Ear Infection

Acute otitis media (middle ear infection), one of the most common infections in childhood, remains the leading cause of doctors’ consultations by children and the most common reason for children to take antibiotics. Research suggests that recurrent acute otitis media occurred more often in children originally treated with amoxicillin (antibiotic), which provides another argument for judicious use of antibiotics in children with acute otitis media.

Fluoride Not Helping Teeth

Ontario has Canada's highest rate of adding the tooth-enamel-strengthening chemical into municipal supplies, while Quebec has one of the lowest, with practically no one drinking fluoridated water. But surprisingly, the two provinces have very little difference in tooth-decay rates.

Vaccines Contaminated with Pig Virus

One million U.S. children, and about 30 million worldwide, have already received GlaxoSmithKline’s Rotarix vaccine. Now a research team has discovered it is contaminated with “a substantial amount” of DNA from a pig virus. Other vaccines were surprisingly found to contain other contaminants as well. It certainly makes you wonder what other “unknown” contaminants are lurking in vaccines - and worrying when the vaccine manufacturers were just as surprised as the researchers to find the contaminants.

Removing HFCS from Foods

PepsiCo has realized the way to keep its market share is to yield to consumer demand and honor people’s health by removing high fructose corn syrup – an ingredient that is in large part responsible for the out-of-control obesity epidemic in the US, and across the world. Con Agra is also removing HFCS from Hunt’s ketchup, and Kraft is taking it out of its Wheat Thins. Snapple drinks will also become HFCS-free.

Osteoporosis Drug Causes Leg Breaks

I had to include this article as I coincidentally spoke with a subscriber at a field day who spoke about a patient of hers that had this exact scenario play out. Both legs broke and will not repair - you can imagine what that has done to this patients life, particularly when before taking the drug (Fosamax) she was incredibly active.

Reviewing Triclosan Safety

Triclosan — as well as its cousin triclocarban — is found in liquid hand soaps, deodorant bar soaps, face washes, deodorants, toothpastes and mouthwashes, and as well as in germ-fighting cutting boards and socks. A national US health survey found triclosan in the urine of 75% of the 2,517 people who gave samples. The chemical can enter the body via absorption through the skin or the lining of the mouth. Research in animals has found hormonal effects of triclosan. In addition, it may encourage the growth and spread of antibiotic-resistant pathogens.

Beetroot Takes On Red Bull

The firm behind heart-friendly beetroot juice 'Beet It' is aiming to complete its first production run of a ‘one-shot’ 70ml version to provide a healthy alternative to drinks such as Red Bull Energy Shots and Lucozade Alert Plus. Unlike some other blood pressure reduction products, which contain dairy peptides, beetroot juice is naturally rich in nitrates, which bacteria in the mouth convert to nitrite. The nitrite is then converted into nitric oxide, which acts like a natural aspirin to prevent blood clots, protect the lining of the blood vessels and lower blood pressure.

Probiotics for Oral Health

Oral health is being tipped to be a big area for probiotics, but mainly in gum formulations. Streptococcus mutans is the main bacteria associated with tooth decay. Research has found found six strains of Lactobacillus which could bind to S. mutans. [Bye bye toothpastee, hello chewing gum?]

New Links Between MMR and Autism

New American research shows that there could be a link between the controversial MMR triple vaccine and autism and bowel disease in children. The study appears to confirm the findings of British doctor Andrew Wakefield, who caused a storm in 1998 by suggesting a possible link. This is the second independent study to back up Dr Wakefield.

Fructose, Uric Acid, Kidney Disease

Fructose elevates uric acid, which decreases nitric oxide, raises angiotensin, and causes your smooth muscle cells to contract, thereby raising your blood pressure and potentially damaging your kidneys. Fructose metabolism is very similar to ethanol metabolism, which has a multitude of toxic effects, including NAFLD (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease). It’s alcohol without the buzz. Note though that fruit fructose does not do the same damage as purified fructose.

Quote

"Do not value money for any more nor any less than its worth; it is a good servant but a bad master." -  Alexandre Dumas

Cartoon

Miscellaneous

This is a fascinating insight into the American public school system where competition is not encouraged, yet whenever competition steps in, children flourish. I found this so interesting in light of our own school system, which over the years has periodically herded children into geographical zones limiting parent choices. The alternative of allowing children to carry a school funding voucher like in some parts of Europe is interesting - it results in schools out-performing themselves to attract children in. Excellence suddenly flourishes. The other interesting insight was the poor correlation between more money and better education. There are some wonderful examples of less money translating to better education!

Events

* Composting On-Farm - Barraba NSW 29th April 2010.

* Weeds in the Spotlight - Swan Vale NSW 6th May 2010.

* Eco Smart Building Expo - Tamworth NSW 8th - 9th May 2010.

* National Farmers Federation Conference - Melbourne Vic 5th - 7th September 2010.

Postscript

Three mischievous old Grannies were sitting on a bench outside a nursing home when an old Grandpa walked by. One of the old Grandmas yelled out saying, "We bet we can tell exactly how old you  are."

The  old man said, "There is no way you can guess it, you old fools."

One of the old Grandmas said, "Sure we can!  Just  drop your pants and under shorts and we
can tell your exact age."

Embarrassed just a little, but anxious to prove they couldn't do it, he dropped his drawers.

The Grandmas asked him to first turn around a couple of times and to jump up and down several times. Then they all piped up and said, "You're 87 years old!"

Standing with his pants down around his ankles, the old gent asked, "How in the world did you guess?"

Slapping their knees and grinning from ear to ear, the three old ladies happily yelled in unison...

"We were at your birthday party yesterday!"