A farmer and sheep grazier who’s farm is located at Dowerin, in the Central Wheatbelt Region of Western Australia, has been using TM Agricultural (TM Ag) for the past three years and in that time has noticed improvements in his wool and grain quality and the crop’s resilience, which was tested with a dry finish and severe frosts that affected the whole WA Wheatbelt in 2018.
Rodney Job, owner of ‘Condamine’ Tooraweenah was one of the very few farmers to harvest a crop in 2018. The crop yielded 1.1t/ha and despite only receiving between 60 and 75mm of in-crop rain. The Spitfire wheat crop was 13.8% Protein, 1.4% Screenings and 82.4% test weight. The paddock was sprayed with TM Agricultural back in March 2018 then dry sown at the end of April. A storm on 30th June that produced 30mm of rain across the paddock germinated the crop in July. Rodney also applied 1kg/ha of Best Foliar Fertiliser to the crop along with the second TM application in September. READ MORE
A biostimulant has proven to be the “silent achiever’’ for Terry who harvested one of the few barley crops in drought stricken northern NSW. At harvest in November, Terry Blanch was thrilled to find his162ha barley crop yielding an average of 1.5 tonnes/ha off the header. With screenings of less than 1%, test weight of 67 hectolitres and 11.5% protein. The result was achieved on just 37mm of in-crop rainfall. Since switching to a minimum till and biological system, Mr Blanch has reduced fertilizer rates by 30% and no longer uses fungicides. Yields, test weights, protein and oil content have all increased while screenings are down.
The agostinelli family have been using TM Agriculture on their fruit and nut tree crops since 2013 and have noticed dramatic changes since doing so. See their history below.
From producing among the worst crops to a yield of 14 bales per hectare in a tough growing season. The 60,000 ha aggregation, Avondale, at Rowena, has kick started soil biology to improve soil structure and root growth. To result in high retention, reduced insect pressure, and improved water usage and yields. This was achieved in a hot, dry year on just 100mm of growing season rainfall aside from irrigation. Farm manager and 2018 Australian Cotton Grower of the Year finalist, Bernie Bierhoff, uses microbial stimulant, TM Agricultural, across the irrigated and dryland cropping areas. Grain grown under the TM regime is value added through the 5000 head on-farm feedlot. TM Agricultural uses plant extracts to stimulate indigenous soil microbes. One of the irrigated fields on Avondale, Field 103, had continually suffered from poor plant establishment and had lagged behind the other cotton fields in performance and yield.
Stuart Volmerhausen made contact, very concerned about the spread of pasture dieback across his grazing country at Theebine. Stuart was aware of TM Agricultural and had considered trying it for some time. To try to improve country which had been worked hard for decades. The expanding devastation of prime graze with the mystery dieback galvanised him into action. He began a program immediately.
It was decided to apply 250ml TM per ha, combined with 500ml per ha of either kelp or fish product to assist with root stimulation once TM activated the indigenous biology. Weather conditions were perfect during the period and approximately 80 hectares were treated. Good soil moisture and for the most showery conditions ensured rapid delivery to the soil and optimum uptake.READ MORE
A Western Australian grazing family has doubled their carrying capacity and tripled soil carbon levels. Just by switching to a biological soil treatment. The program over the last eight years on the Thexton’s Northcliff property has resulted in reduced soil acidity and compaction, and increased soil aeration, boosting pasture growth and animal productivity. Colin, Kerry, Anthony and Kate Thexton have cut fertiliser costs by two-thirds, done away with insecticide applications. Aan have achieved year round ground cover and increased stocking rates.
Colin puts the productivity increase down to the use of TM Agricultural. An organic soil activation product produced by Best Environmental Technologies. So by paying close attention to root growth and biological activity. Mr Thexton has been able to turn off steers six to eight weeks earlier than a conventional system under high rates of chemical fertilisers.
This enterprise is observing the first crop cycle involving TM Agricultural. The farm is blessed with deep, high quality black soil and has been farmed by the Riter family for three generations. TM has been trialled on Suntop Wheat this season. Rainfall has been of concern but just adequate to this stage of the crop. In the treated paddock, a boom width strip has been left untreated to enable crop comparison to be made. Some examination showed potential benefits of TM, even at this early stage.
Mike Cooper took his first step toward TM Agricultural during the 2014 season. Based on the early trials carried out on Gympie orchards and results on other crops. He purchased sufficient TM to apply 1 ltr/ha across the planted area, in three applications. The Mr Macadamia enterprise is made up of five orchards, some separated by up to 10kms distance. The trees are all approaching thirty years. The orchards are non-irrigated. When Mike took over the orchards about twelve years ago. The general condition of the orchards, tree and soil health was poor. Mike monitors every aspect of activity in the orchards, leaving nothing to guess work. This practise has paid dividends and it would be fair to state that few have a greater understanding of the idiosyncrasies of macadamias.
Both paddocks were planted with durum wheat in the first week of June. Both grew chickpea crops in the previous year and wheat the year before that. The non-TM treated area received 100kg/ha Urea pre-seeding. The TM Agricultural treated area received its first TM application 8 weeks prior to planting and the wheat seed was treated with TM Germination. Since seeding both areas have received 35mls rain. Soil and plants from both areas were examined by Dr Maarten Stapper and Agronomist Keiran Knight.