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What is Mineralized Balanced Agriculture?
The old adages about “starting with the basics,” “building a strong foundation first,” and “getting your priorities straight” all apply to the way we farm in an environmentally-friendly and sustainable way. The basic foundation and top priority for everything that happens on our farm (or any farm) is the land, so that's where we start. A biologically balanced healthy soil makes for healthy plants, animals, and humans. We call it the soil to silo to stomach connection.
An optimally productive soil contains a perfect balance of inorganic minerals, organic (carbon-based) materials, and living organisms, all contained within a physical structure that absorbs and holds water to facilitate natural chemical reactions that feed plants perfectly. The above mix is different for each soil. When the soil is out of balance, the crop is too. If the crop isn't in balance, the livestock feeding program isn't balanced in minerals and other nutrients.
To put a soil in balance, we take samples to determine corrective products and actions that work in harmony. We use only natural-based fertilizer materials that are non-toxic and live-promoting. They contain not only nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, but also calcium, magnesium, sulfur, zinc, manganese, iron, copper, and boron. Balancing a soil includes changing the calcium/magnesium ratio towards 70-75 saturation of calcium and 15 percent magnesium. That ratio creates a more favorable environment for soil life and gives better soil structure as well. Given time, when soils achieve balance, fewer crop nutrients must be added and the crops are healthy and strong enough to fend off disease and pests on their own. We encourage using animal manures and “green manure” cover crops. These add organic matter to soils, which provide food for helpful micro-organisms like bacteria. When the bacteria complete their life cycle and decompose, they become food for crops and forages. When we speak of “Limiting Factors,” we mean the productivity of a soil can never be greater than the plant food element in least supply—just like a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. Our job as your farmer is to find the limiting factors, including management practices and equipment, and correct them. We are constantly trying to improve our farm, our practices, and our soils.
For more information, please visit Gary Zimmer's business webside, Midwestern Bio-Ag
