Evening MA,
Well, I guess the 74th Congress could have been wrong in 1936, but in all
the years of my life, I've never heard of a farmer putting minerals back
into their farmland in order to improve the quality of the food
produced. I have certainly heard of farmers putting fertilizer and
weed-killer on their farmland in order to improve the QUANTITY of the food
produced. Sounds like a money-trail to me.
Basically what you are saying is true. Nevertheless, some farmers do
things to improve the soil.
The large commercial farmers often have financial pressure that
overrides any thought of tomorrow. In this case, tomorrow is next year,
and years after that.
The smaller farmers can do soil restoration easier than the larger
ones. We have many commercial chicken growers in our state. This chicken
litter waster is distributed over the fields.
Many farmers will give you stable litter free, if you have the energy and
determination to remove and distribute it.
Cotton Gin Waste is free and when well composted is suitable for scattering
over the fields.
Some farmers plant cover crops to stop soil erosion. The crops are cut
into the soil in the springtime.
In some areas, depending on the crop, several months of growing season
exists after the harvest. I like to see the grass and weeds 3 to 5 feet
tall before winter. Some burn this litter, but I do not. I grind it up and
disk it under. Of course I have more grass and weed seeds sprouting during
the growing season.
Not all farmers are idiots and unconcerned. We eat the produce ourselves.
This is not to say that we can in any way supply all the nutrients that
have been removed.
Few people realize that Hay and Foliage crops have the worst effect on soil
depletion. Many tons of organic material is removed in this manner.
Finally, some form of man made chelated nutrients will be used to produce
large healthy plants.
More on healthy plants using man made chelated nutrients later.
Wayne
