News

Our local newspaper recently ran an article about local farmers and the problems they are having. Here are a few sentences from that article: About 70 to 90 percent of the cost to produce nitrogen-based fertilizer is directly related to natural gas prices. The cost of such fertilizer has doubled in the last six years, from $225 to $550 per ton. One Central Oregon farmer said he and others have felt the pinch. "We're squawking-mad because we've got fertilizer costs going double on us, and we've got diesel costs going double on us... The future is not very bright for...

The modern grower who really understands plant physiology knows that plants have evolved close partnerships with many other organisms - some above the ground like pollinating honeybees, and some under the ground like mycorrhizal fungi. Without their natural symbiotic partnerships, plants are incomplete and may have low yields, be subject to diseases, or may even fail to survive. The important role of pollinating insects is relatively well-known, in part because of their visibility at flowering time, but the benefits that plants receive from living organisms in the soil is hidden from sight. It also doesn't help that some of the...

OK, so you have been reading more and more about using soil biology instead of chemistry - letting mycorrhizal fungi, beneficial bacteria, earthworms, etc. nourish and protect plants. Are you ready to give it a try, but not ready to make a complete commitment with your farm, nursery, landscape business, or garden? Fair enough. Let's look for ways to put your toes into the water instead of going off the high board into the pool. The first step is to stop and think about how to set up a valid comparison. You need the same type of plants growing in...

Those of you who have been receiving these newsletters for some time know that many of them have dealt with big general issues relating to agricultural growing methods. Such topics have included the depletion of crop soils by overuse of chemical fertilizers, increasing problems with soil compaction and salt buildups, fertilizer runoff into streams and underground drinking water, the relative absence of research funding to explore biological alternatives, and whether current soil chemistry practices are sustainable. You also know by now that I'm rather pessimistic about anyone actually doing anything about any of the above, at least until situations reach...

I promise that upcoming newsletters will focus on the practical uses of biological methods for growing crops, gardens, and ornamentals; but let's do just one more on big-picture issues. We the people, collectively,don't worry muchaboutworld problemsbecause it isdifficult to relate them to our individual day-to-day lives.Topics such as global warming, energy supplies for the future, trade imbalances, atmospheric ozone layers, bird flu pandemics, anda host of other such great issues generally take a back seatto more immediate problemslikepayingfamily bills. That's just the way we are. However, I think that an article in today's morning paper is worthsome attention, even if...