Biofarm 2020

Pinsnbushings

Water John wrote: »

SMN, do you bathe if the tub first?

Would that upset the fungal bacterial balance too much I wonder?

Say my name

Pinsnbushings wrote: »

ha very good and the forklift is a handy tool for the job too.

What are you applying?

I'm applying Jadam Microbial Solution (JMS). It was thought up by a son of originator of Korean natural farming. What Chris Trump gave the talk on.
This is anaerobic whereas Knf is mostly aerobic.
Truth be told I didn't watch the weather forecast so I was a little caught out by today. I made a previous batch which went into the slurry tanks as bugs and this today went out to be washed into the soil.
It takes three days to when it foams a ring in the round water trough and then it must be used as any longer and the microbes will die.

(Just as an aside I watched a clip on fb of someone TB testing and it brought back how the test must be read on the third day as the lump goes down after..just like the foam ring disappearing on the solution surface with the JMS. All bacteria/biology.)

Haven't the foggiest if it'll make a difference. But it smells nice.

Made from deciduous forest soil, estuary water, mashed potatoes and kept at 19 - 20c.

I'll start off another batch tomorrow and spray Thursday afternoon.

The water trough was made redundant so it's enjoying getting used again.

White Clover

Say my name wrote: »

I'm applying Jadam Microbial Solution (JMS). It was thought up by a son of originator of Korean natural farming. What Chris Trump gave the talk on.
This is anaerobic whereas Knf is mostly aerobic.
Truth be told I didn't watch the weather forecast so I was a little caught out by today. I made a previous batch which went into the slurry tanks as bugs and this today went out to be washed into the soil.
It takes three days to when it foams a ring in the round water trough and then it must be used as any longer and the microbes will die.

(Just as an aside I watched a clip on fb of someone TB testing and it brought back how the test must be read on the third day as the lump goes down after..just like the foam ring disappearing on the solution surface with the JMS. All bacteria/biology.)

Haven't the foggiest if it'll make a difference. But it smells nice.

Made from deciduous forest soil, estuary water, mashed potatoes and kept at 19 - 20c.

I'll start off another batch tomorrow and spray Thursday afternoon.

The water trough was made redundant so it's enjoying getting used again.

Do you use the forklift around the farm?

Say my name

White Clover wrote: »

Do you use the forklift around the farm?

Ah I only got it it the last few weeks.

It has sideshift so I'll get hydraulics plumbed from there and also put channel iron on a few other tractor implements.

Me small yards are looking bigger again.

Water John

https://www.agriland.ie/farming-news/herbal-leys-can-make-a-significant-contribution-to-beef-output/

'Results from a five-year trial, carried out by scientists at Reading University, confirms that dry matter output from diversified swards will out-perform that achieved by a perennial ryegrass (PRG) leys – receiving 250kg of nitrogen (N) per annum – three years after all the swards were established.'

“Research trials have also confirmed that certain forms of silvo pasture will act to improve soil health further still,” Lukac concluded.

Two elements of Biofarm 2020 get further scientific endorsement.

Chisler2

Pinsnbushings wrote: »

Finally got to finish all the videos last night..no doubt I'm going to have to start at the beginning and watch again, so much information to take in most if it new to me.really enjoyed it though and only for this forum I wouldn't have signed up , so big thanks ha.

The talks that engaged me most I suppose would have been around working farms, purely because I could understand them better. Greg Judy, Richard Perkins, Hamish bielska, the base and danu group talks etc John kempf and John geragthy very good on the last day too.

Now 2 weeks to come up with some excuses to explain to the father why I intend spending the Christmas walking the farm digging holes, Burning biomass in whatever old vessel I can come up with, buying a sprayer that I have no intention of putting herbicides in, putting skids on an old rotavator, lining out in rows turning and covering the dung heap, building some mobile housing for the pastured poultry and getting the haggard lined up for our no dig garden. And if he's ok with that I might even get going on signing up for the organics scheme opening up this year......
Whatever about lockdown in January, I could be locked up I think haha.

Maith Thu!!

Chisler2

Say my name wrote: »

I'm applying Jadam Microbial Solution (JMS). It was thought up by a son of originator of Korean natural farming. What Chris Trump gave the talk on.
This is anaerobic whereas Knf is mostly aerobic.
Truth be told I didn't watch the weather forecast so I was a little caught out by today. I made a previous batch which went into the slurry tanks as bugs and this today went out to be washed into the soil.
It takes three days to when it foams a ring in the round water trough and then it must be used as any longer and the microbes will die.

(Just as an aside I watched a clip on fb of someone TB testing and it brought back how the test must be read on the third day as the lump goes down after..just like the foam ring disappearing on the solution surface with the JMS. All bacteria/biology.)

Haven't the foggiest if it'll make a difference. But it smells nice.

Made from deciduous forest soil, estuary water, mashed potatoes and kept at 19 - 20c.

I'll start off another batch tomorrow and spray Thursday afternoon.

The water trough was made redundant so it's enjoying getting used again.

Did you do Chris Trump's online course? I'm thinking of signing up and wondered if its worthwhile?

Chisler2

Say my name wrote: »

I'll blow your mind even more.

Paramagnetic stone dust applied to soil is said to give it's own light/energy to soil and soil life. This in itself can raise the brix of plants even in the depts of winter.

Maybe that's too far down the rabbit hole bordering on insanity..

Would this help my 3 hectares of newly-planted native woodland on the Atlantic coast?

Say my name

Chisler2 wrote: »

Did you do Chris Trump's online course? I'm thinking of signing up and wondered if its worthwhile?

No i haven't done it.
So can't comment on it.

Say my name

Chisler2 wrote: »

Would this help my 3 hectares of newly-planted native woodland on the Atlantic coast?

Someone takes me seriously?

I've heard it said in basalt. Felsic for fruit trees, Mafic for agri crops.
There's a guy in Kerry I believe used basalt dust on his farm and he had purposely grown silvopasture. Looked like was getting on well. He was on Ear to the Ground I think.

For what you're wanting though farm yard manure would help. And the above Korean natural or jadam microbes wouldn't harm either. You'll get a better understanding of microbes by giving it a go anyway so no loss.

Edit: have you a nurse crop of evergreens around the natives to get them established on the Atlantic coast?

Capercaillie

Chisler2 wrote: »

Would this help my 3 hectares of newly-planted native woodland on the Atlantic coast?

what did you plant, sounds brilliant?

Pinsnbushings

Chisler2 wrote: »

Maith Thu!![/QUOTE

I achieved the lockdown and I dug plenty of holes around the place but im afraid I didnt make much progress on the rest of that list.

Chisler2

Say my name wrote: »

No i haven't done it.
So can't comment on it.

I've decided to sign up to the David Trump for the practical, hands-on detailed info.......though there is so much to process from the BioFarm presentations. Will post here when I've completed it.

Chisler2

Capercaillie wrote: »

what did you plant, sounds brilliant?

Hi Capercaillie - alder, birch, pedunculate oak, hawthorn, Scots' Pine, rowan and hazel. It was planted November 2019 on steep south-facing mountainside behind The Reek. It is doing well despite the inevitable hare nipping-off of growing tips. I have around 100 holly plants ready to go in and plan to introduce more fruit and nut as time and money allows.

No shelter-belt and elevated site but my dry-stone walls gave some protection.

Aside from those hectares I planted 50 whips of the above species into a green manure (one of Fruithill Farm's organic mixes) end-December as an experiment. The result is spectacular in size, health and strength of the young trees.

Birdnuts

Chisler2 wrote: »

Hi Capercaillie - alder, birch, pedunculate oak, hawthorn, Scots' Pine, rowan and hazel. It was planted November 2019 on steep south-facing mountainside behind The Reek. It is doing well despite the inevitable hare nipping-off of growing tips. I have around 100 holly plants ready to go in and plan to introduce more fruit and nut as time and money allows.

No shelter-belt and elevated site but my dry-stone walls gave some protection.

Aside from those hectares I planted 50 whips of the above species into a green manure (one of Fruithill Farm's organic mixes) end-December as an experiment. The result is spectacular in size, health and strength of the young trees.

Good stuff - I went on a hedge laying course on Tommy Earley's organic place in Leitrim back in late 2019 and was well impressed with the growth rate and stature of his native woodland plot planted just 10 years previous. Its such a pity our state forestry service hasn't done a tap in this area for the past 70 years or so:rolleyes:

Capercaillie

Chisler2 wrote: »

Hi Capercaillie - alder, birch, pedunculate oak, hawthorn, Scots' Pine, rowan and hazel. It was planted November 2019 on steep south-facing mountainside behind The Reek. It is doing well despite the inevitable hare nipping-off of growing tips. I have around 100 holly plants ready to go in and plan to introduce more fruit and nut as time and money allows.

No shelter-belt and elevated site but my dry-stone walls gave some protection.

Aside from those hectares I planted 50 whips of the above species into a green manure (one of Fruithill Farm's organic mixes) end-December as an experiment. The result is spectacular in size, health and strength of the young trees.

Excellent work!

Say my name

I'm reading lots of pontificating about ryegrass and biodiversity.
Mostly done by those with ms swards or tillage or mixed farming or non farmers.

When will the day come when ryegrass and soil biodiversity gets talked about in the same breath and recognized favourably?

And interesting tweet.

https://twitter.com/niels_corfield/status/1360654574709784580?s=20

Take a look at the nitrogen available after that application too. Life is nitrogen. The higher numbers of life in the soil the more nitrogen available to the plant.
Perhaps we'll get to a stage of being graded for the amount of life in per square inch of soil.

Water John

The guy that Christine Jones showed getting the first carbon payment in Australia had made the machine that stitched in about 23% diverse plants but it left the rest 77% of the strip which I presume was ryegrass.
That looks a more realistic model for the next move on commercial farms. Would suggest for example that a dairy farmer would initially do that in the paddocks grazed by the replacement calves. They certainly would benefit from it.

Say my name

Water John wrote: »

The guy that Christine Jones showed getting the first carbon payment in Australia had made the machine that stitched in about 23% diverse plants but it left the rest 77% of the strip which I presume was ryegrass.
That looks a more realistic model for the next move on commercial farms. Would suggest for example that a dairy farmer would initially do that in the paddocks grazed by the replacement calves. They certainly would benefit from it.

Nothing personal WJ but this is what gets my goat.

People here always have to look to ms swards and they're always considered the panacea.
Maybe it's because I haven't got them but I feel the ryegrass is being overlooked needlessly.

You can have the low worm burden, full of minerals, low nitrogen growing ryegrass.

It seems it's too much of a hard work for farmers to go that route than the simple buy the bag of seed and sow.
I've seen ms swards only last two years so it's not the whole panacea either. The whole shebang should be looked at which would include the soil fungal bacterial soil management that the ryegrass would need too.

Say my name

Water John wrote: »

The guy that Christine Jones showed getting the first carbon payment in Australia had made the machine that stitched in about 23% diverse plants but it left the rest 77% of the strip which I presume was ryegrass.
That looks a more realistic model for the next move on commercial farms. Would suggest for example that a dairy farmer would initially do that in the paddocks grazed by the replacement calves. They certainly would benefit from it.

Do you not have ms sward planted Water John?

How is that doing and grazing since planted?

Water John

No, not yet. However it's in the Plan. I have a good bit of organic sward. Alan Savoury would be saying that its process of natural selection over time should be the correct sward. Don't think I wholly agree with him on that. Started a type of mob grazing on it last year so we'll see where that goes.
I have a bit of silage ryegrass as well, which I mob grazed also last year. May stitch in to that.

alps

Water John wrote: »

The guy that Christine Jones showed getting the first carbon payment in Australia had made the machine that stitched in about 23% diverse plants but it left the rest 77% of the strip which I presume was ryegrass.
That looks a more realistic model for the next move on commercial farms. Would suggest for example that a dairy farmer would initially do that in the paddocks grazed by the replacement calves. They certainly would benefit from it.

Any chance you'd have that guy's name...could do with it for a "project"😉

alps

https://www.maiagrazing.com/wilmot-cattle-co-sells-carbon-credits-to-microsoft-for-500000/

Dont think this was it

alps

alps wrote: »

Any chance you'd have that guy's name...could do with it for a "project"😉

Niels Olsen, SoilKee Renovator

alps

Deleted User wrote: »

Niels Olsen, SoilKee Renovator

That's fantastic...thanks a million

Water John

His design is basically a strip planter with an exotic price.

SouthWesterly

endainoz wrote: »

Ah yeah same book alright! So much information on each enterprise.

Theresa a nota course running this year with perkins. It's 30 e extra for the pdf version of the book or 60 extra for the hard copy.

Castlekeeper

https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy8zNDQ3ZWY4L3BvZGNhc3QvcnNz/episode/MTNkOTRmMWQtMzFjNy00ZDAzLThjMmEtMjkwOTI2NmJiOGU2?sa=X&ved=0CAYQkfYCahcKEwiQ7b2ptvTuAhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQAQ

Most on here might be familiar with his pieces but I only came across them lately. I found them very accessible anyway.
Ps Graeme Sait.

Water John

Now here's an interesting one, McDonalds are looking into Regenerative Farming as an option for its beef supply chain:
https://www.farminguk.com/news/mcdonald-s-uk-launches-regenerative-grazing-project_57616.html?fbclid=IwAR1LMIbg9Itb3jPOtE2I9PfPV4QCp7j6t7CgxeDocC4n1gfWd8HOUfo2Xac

Markcheese

How does regenerative grazing systems and its pasture management ( higher covers ect) work with a clover system ? It seems like it's the opposite with longer grass ect , ( although the longer grazing intervals in summer would help with the clover flowering ,which seriously improves it's persistence )

I'm assuming most regenerative systems are either low added nitrogen or no added nitrogen ?
( Which also suits clover )

Markcheese

Water John wrote: »

His design is basically a strip planter with an exotic price.

So you could probably just use a guttler or one of the other direct drills ?

Water John

Markcheese wrote: »

So you could probably just use a guttler or one of the other direct drills ?

You'd have to knock back what's there a good bit, to give the seeds a chance.

The clover one is a bit of a puzzle. Red clover would certainly be happy. Don't know how well/poor white clover would do? Other nitrogen fixing plants?
Used a 40day+ rotation last year and I think the clover survived. Will know more in about 2 months.

endainoz

Has anyone heard of hemp fibres being used to bedding. Saw an article about a guy in the southeast doing it for his organic stock after harvest but haven't seen any examples of it. I'd assume it would need to be broken down a bit to not get stuck in the baler.

It would be a perfect use for the fibres which have little value due to the lack of processing facilities in Ireland currently. They have potential to have enormous value of course.

Markcheese

Water John wrote: »

You'd have to knock back what's there a good bit, to give the seeds a chance.

The clover one is a bit of a puzzle. Red clover would certainly be happy. Don't know how well/poor white clover would do? Other nitrogen fixing plants?
Used a 40day+ rotation last year and I think the clover survived. Will know more in about 2 months.

I assume if you lay off the nitrogen for a bit , then graze it hard a couple of times in spring and stitch the newer species at start of may ,you'd be away ...
But you'd need to change your grassland management to suit the new species and system ( but that's the whole point anyway )

Markcheese

endainoz wrote: »

Has anyone heard of hemp fibres being used to bedding. Saw an article about a guy in the southeast doing it for his organic stock after harvest but haven't seen any examples of it. I'd assume it would need to be broken down a bit to not get stuck in the baler.

It would be a perfect use for the fibres which have little value due to the lack of processing facilities in Ireland currently. They have potential to have enormous value of course.

What would it chopped with ?? ,It'd take sharp blades ... Baling mightnt be too bad (depending on the baler ) if it's already chopped ,
Even spreading it after could be a pain if it wasn't chopped / cut properly. .
They used to reckon a sharp cutter bar was the best to knock it ,
Would it take a lot to dry it ?

Water John

Markcheese wrote: »

I assume if you lay off the nitrogen for a bit , then graze it hard a couple of times in spring and stitch the newer species at start of may ,you'd be away ...
But you'd need to change your grassland management to suit the new species and system ( but that's the whole point anyway )

Let in the sheep. I know a guy who gives it a couple of runs of a leveller. After a bit cut of silage, when the ground is white.

endainoz

Markcheese wrote: »

What would it chopped with ?? ,It'd take sharp blades ... Baling mightnt be too bad (depending on the baler ) if it's already chopped ,
Even spreading it after could be a pain if it wasn't chopped / cut properly. .
They used to reckon a sharp cutter bar was the best to knock it ,
Would it take a lot to dry it ?

Well I'd probably chop it with my major cyclone, would definitely be strong enough to do it, blades would be strong enough for sure. I'm not sure about the spreading it part but if composted correctly it shouldn't be a problem. Drying I have no idea, be nice if it could be saved like hay, but who knows?

What I do know is that is supposed to have serious absorbing abilities compared to straw so I do think it's worth looking into.

Say my name

endainoz wrote: »

Has anyone heard of hemp fibres being used to bedding. Saw an article about a guy in the southeast doing it for his organic stock after harvest but haven't seen any examples of it. I'd assume it would need to be broken down a bit to not get stuck in the baler.

It would be a perfect use for the fibres which have little value due to the lack of processing facilities in Ireland currently. They have potential to have enormous value of course.

Haven't heard that one but just read about Kenaf ( Hibiscus cannabinus ) on another forum. Apparently that's used for bedding.

Water John

Say my name wrote: »

Haven't heard that one but just read about Kenaf ( Hibiscus cannabinus ) on another forum. Apparently that's used for bedding.

Happy cattle.

endainoz

https://youtu.be/Bq9y4IIAH0c

Looks like it can be bales alright, but would need to be very dry. Like getting two weeks of sun for hay.

Say my name

Water John wrote: »

Happy cattle.

Hibiscus John. Hibiscus.

Probably couldn't grow it here anyway.

SouthWesterly

Water John wrote: »

John Kempf was very interesting.
https://johnkempf.com/#book
Quality Agriculture is the book.
https://johnkempf.com/the-challenges-of-managing-nutrition-with-brix-readings/




The talk on KNF was a general introduction to it, I would go to Chris Trump's youtube, these were put up by a poster on the livestream;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7N2PXBKf_GE

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCus0ZO165qzh

Has anyone read John kempfs book? Currently going through it. Some interesting stuff that can be applied to the small holding.

Was in the garden today and found loads of mycelium in the soil which had woodchip on the beds last year.

Say my name

SouthWesterly wrote: »

Has anyone read John kempfs book? Currently going through it. Some interesting stuff that can be applied to the small holding.

Was in the garden today and found loads of mycelium in the soil which had woodchip on the beds last year.

Yea have the book here.

He's not afraid to interview the 'out there' experts in farming and biology.

Water John

This book, Entangled Life, on fungi looks very interesting:
https://www.thejournal.ie/readme/fungi-merlin-sheldrake-5395758-Apr2021/

Great to have the name Merlin and be an expert on the magic of mushrooms.

endainoz

Water John wrote: »

This book, Entangled Life, on fungi looks very interesting:
https://www.thejournal.ie/readme/fungi-merlin-sheldrake-5395758-Apr2021/

Great to have the name Merlin and be an expert on the magic of mushrooms.

I worked with an English guy in Australia named Merlin one time. Interesting guy, he was raised in a traveling circus where his parents performed.

Water John

Had a look through the mob grazed pasture of last year and the clover looks fine. A bit of heat coming from Wed on will fire it up, hopefully.
Into this years rotation. Have about a 35 day rotation going but grazing back well in each day block. Wouldn't risk leaving half the feed behind. Maybe at some stage I'll take that step? If I was to do the purest regen mob grazing I should leave 50% behind.

Dinzee Conlee

Water John wrote: »

Had a look through the mob grazed pasture of last year and the clover looks fine. A bit of heat coming from Wed on will fire it up, hopefully.
Into this years rotation. Have about a 35 day rotation going but grazing back well in each day block. Wouldn't risk leaving half the feed behind. Maybe at some stage I'll take that step? If I was to do the purest regen mob grazing I should leave 50% behind.

Is it not leave a third behind?

Graze a third, trample a third and leave a third?

I only know from reading and listening to bits and pieces. I had the best of intentions this year, but in reality, my sheep are outside grazing to the ground

Dinzee Conlee

Dinzee Conlee wrote: »

Is it not leave a third behind?

Graze a third, trample a third and leave a third?

I only know from reading and listening to bits and pieces. I had the best of intentions this year, but in reality, my sheep are outside grazing to the ground

It depends.....

....on what your goal is.

Some advocate cleaning out a paddock. Some want 50% left. Others then are the 33/33/33. Then what time of year is it, do you want to build up grass to stretch as late out in the year as possible, then you might leave 90%.

Prescriptions won't work, the goalposts are moving all of the time depending on time of year, objectives, stocking density and rate.

Listen and read widely would be my 2 cents, get training if that's your thing, then figure out what suits you & your place.

Dinzee Conlee

[Deleted User] wrote: »

It depends.....

....on what your goal is.

Some advocate cleaning out a paddock. Some want 50% left. Others then are the 33/33/33. Then what time of year is it, do you want to build up grass to stretch as late out in the year as possible, then you might leave 90%.

Prescriptions won't work, the goalposts are moving all of the time depending on time of year, objectives, stocking density and rate.

Listen and read widely would be my 2 cents, get training if that's your thing, then figure out what suits you & your place.

100%

I would be fairly sure you shouldn’t be grazing as low as I am though

But, we’ll see how we get on when the weather changes...

Dinzee Conlee

Dinzee Conlee wrote: »

100%

I would be fairly sure you shouldn’t be grazing as low as I am though

But, we’ll see how we get on when the weather changes...

I'm pretty sure Johan Zietsmann advocates eating everything, or near as. But, it's the rest period afterwards and not coming back until the pasture is ready that's key to success in most scenarios.