Low input fertility strategies: Case study with Joel Williams and Axten Farms, Canada

VicNoTill hosts Canadian farmers Derek and Tannis Axten along with soil health Joel Williams, independent plant and soil health educator and soil biologist.

This webinar is a 3-part case study demonstrating strategies to integrate low input fertility, compost biofertilisers and intercropping.

Derek & Tanis Axten own and operate Axten Farms Ltd, a 6000 acre grain farm in Southern Saskatchewan. They are focused on improving soil health with diversity through rotation, intercropping, cover crops and composting. Improving soil health has meant higher water infiltration, plant health and biological diversity within the soil.

[turbine]

Great presentation, thanks to all who contributed

[chrismcdonald]

This is amazing and the future I hope more farmers watch and make a start

[beeeunicorn]

I am looking forward to joining the movement ad becoming a VicNoTill member !

[paulbraga]

there is an issue with iron and manganese that most do not know. this is revealed by sap analysis. this is discussed by John Kempf in a number of webinars/podcasts. when you use manganese sulfate to spray, it does not properly get into the plant which sap analysis show. this goes to the reduce versus oxidized state of minerals. manganese should be in the reduced form. manganese sulfate is in the reduced form but when it is then foliar-sprayed, it becomes oxidized from contact with air and is oxidized. also, we should look more closely into our composting systems. there is valuable stuff lost to the air with the composting processes that involve turning, adding to the greenhouse gases...this is not to discount the work of these guys. it is absolutely true that most of agriculture dumps way too much soluble stuff into soils which is a waste and at the same time contributing to poisoned waters - rivers and seas