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These are some places you might go to get some serious soil testing done and
advice on what to do to correct deficiencies organically. For more complete
listings check out this page from ATTRA: http://www.attra.org/attra-pub/soil-lab.html
Brix Testing
Raising Brix levels
Refractometers
Pike Method
Agricultural
Consultants
AgriEnergy
Resources (Illinois )
BeyondOrganix.com (California)
Cropservices International, Inc. (CSI, Inc. - Michigan)
GoBeyondOrganic.com (Florida)
HighBrixGardens.com (aimed at
gardeners - Minnesota)
International Ag Labs, Inc. (Minnesota)
Kinsey's Agricultural Services (Missouri)
Lancaster Agriculture Products (Pennsylvania)
Midwestern Bio-Ag, Inc.
(Michigan)
Introduction to Biological Farming
T&J Enterprises (aimed
at gardeners - Washington)
Fertilizer sources
Soil Foodweb, Inc.
Soil Testing
Soil sample techniques
AgriEnergy
Resources
Cropservices International, Inc. (CSI, Inc.)
International Ag Labs, Inc.
Morgan weak acid test
Kinsey's Agricultural Services
Logan Labs
Alternative Soil Testing
Laboratories
Consultants for high quality agricultural production:
ä
AgriEnergy
Resources,
Princeton, Illinois
Ph: 815-872-1190
Goals: to develop Renewable Farming systems and assist with their implementation
for healthier soils producing balanced, high-nutrient-density plants resulting
in healthier livestock and people.
Healthy Soils, Healthy
Livestock, Healthy People, an interview with
Dean Craine
http://www.agrienergy.net/Dec05_Craine.pdf
(PDF file)
One of their consultants
recommended using very carefully prepared foliar
sprays (based on leaf
tissue analysis) on pasture to improve not only the pasture (as evidenced by the
high brix levels of the grass), but also the health and nutrition of the animals
and hence the flavor and healthfulness of the meat and dairy. He figures this is
more economical than trying to fine tune the minerals in the soil (which the
foliars gradually improve) or using mineral supplements for the animals (which
are only minerals and not the valuable mineral containing nutritional compounds
in the grass when it gets all the minerals it needs in the foliar spray). This
concept would apply to other plants beside pasture grasses and their influence
on human health.
ä
Cropservices International, Inc. (CSI, Inc.)
1718 Madison SE
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49507-2518
Ph: 616-246-7933
Fax 616-246-6039
1-800-260-7933
drdirt@cropservicesintl.com
www.cropservicesintl.com
Consultant: Dr. Phil Wheeler
We integrate Albrecht, Reams, Callahan, and radionics.
ä
International Ag Labs, Inc..
headed by Dan Skow
800 W. Lake Ave.,
PO Box 788
Fairmont, Minnesota 56031
Tel: (507) 235-6909
Fax: (507) 235-9155
Email: info@aglabs.com
www.aglabs.com
Uses the Carey Reams BIOLOGICAL APPROACH TO AGRICULTURE
"The purpose of our Company is to make soil better as we grow quality crops
Laboratory testing (Morgan soil test), organic fertilizers and soil amendments."
Advantages
of Morgan (weak acid) Soil Test
ä
www.HighBrixGardens.com
- Jon Franks - specializing in home gardens. Part of International
Ag Labs
ä
Midwestern Bio-Ag, Inc.
President, Gary Zimmer, author of "The Biological
Farmer"
Bio-Ag
of Michigan
Kinde, Michigan
1-888-825-9373
http://www.midwesternbioag.com/
A new consulting program to help you become a successful and profitable
biological farmer -
Intro
to Biological Farming
ä
Lancaster
Agriculture Products
Naturally
Interested In Your Future
NATURAL & ORGANIC PRODUCTS
60 North Ronks
Road,
Ronks, Pennsylvania 17572
http://www.lancasterag.com/
E-mail: sales@lancasterag.com
Fax: 717-687-9355
Phone: 717-687-9222
ä
Kinsey’s Agricultural Services
–
Soil Fertility
Consultants
President: Neal Kinsey, author of HANDS-ON AGRONOMY
www.kinseyag.com
We specialize in correcting soil fertility problems of farms, ranches,
vineyards, orchards, gardens and lawns... The recommendations will utilize the
proven principles of the Albrecht system of soil fertility management.
ä
GoBeyondOrganic.com, Clearwater, Florida - another consultant claiming high quality, pest free techniques
http://www.gobeyondorganic.com/
ä Beyond
Organix (BYO)™ BeyondOrganix.com
X
Beyond Organix is an association of grower-members who are committed to a food
quality standard defined by high natural flavor and nutrient density...
We nurture a living soil because we have experienced that a healthy,
biologically active soil produces plants and crops that consistently taste good,
tests high in brix and suffers less from the stresses that bring on insects and
cause disease.
Beyond Organix
P.O. Box 5594
Fresno, CA 93755
Dr. Arden Anderson
ä
Thomas Giannou at T&J Enterprises
- http://www.tandjenterprises.com
Spokane, Washington
Other fertilizer
sources
*****
Alternative Soil
Testing Laboratories http://www.attra.org/attra-pub/soil-lab.html
Logan Labs
184 W. Main Street
PO Box 1455
Russells Point Ohio 43348
Ph: 937-842-6100
Fax: 937-842-2433
www.loganlabsllc.com
Logan Labs is dedicated to the philosophies of Dr. William Albrecht and a true
base saturation soil testing methodology.
How
to Read the Logan Labs Standard Soil Test (text file)
Instructions for taking a soil sample:
http://www.kinseyag.com/SoilAnal.htm#TakingSample
http://www.loganlabsllc.com/
and click on "Sampling"
Soil
Foodweb, Inc.
To grow healthy, productive plants
you need healthy, productive soil. It is the organisms in the soil that provide
the food plants need, in the form they need, when they need it.
At Soil Foodweb, we measure the quality and
quantity of these vital organisms and provide guidance in how to build your soil
so your soil can build your plants.
Brix
Testing to reveal the best produce
The Brix meter is a small
refractometer that is used to evaluate the quality of produce and the health of
growing plants. It measures the content of solids in plant juices - sugars,
minerals, etc. To produce fruits and vegetables with excellent Brix readings,
the soil must be well balanced in minerals, organic matter, and microorganisms.
Well-made
compost teas and foliar sprays are often applied to the plant to provide needed
nutrients. (See Sources (below) and Gardening
for Maximum Nutrition) It is disappointing to measure the Brix
readings on typical organic (or non-organic) produce, as they are rarely in the excellent range.
There is much room for improvement in this expanding market!
What
is Brix? From
www.HighBrixGardens.com
Human Health Starts in the Soil http://www.aglabs.com/newsletters/human_health.html
Brix chart http://www.highbrixgardens.com/highbrix/Refractive%20Index%20of%20Crop%20Juices.pdf
In depth look at the issue:
USING A REFRACTOMETER TO TEST THE QUALITY
OF FRUITS & VEGETABLES by Rex Harrill
http://www.tandjenterprises.com/brix_equals_quality.htm
OR - also a raw foods
site:
http://www.living-foods.com/articles/fruitquality.html
or http://www.crossroads.ws/brix/
Rex Harrill's Website
How to grow
superb biological produce above & beyond ordinary chemical OR
organic agriculture - Pike
Method of
soil testing & monitoring - using brix, electrical conductivity and pH.
http://crossroads.ws/CRActive/PikeAg.htm
New Life Soils http://www.newlifesoils.com/
(an Australian company) with much info - not available Jan. '07
BrixTalk Yahoo group - source of
much info http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BrixTalk/
Sources
of products claiming to raise brix levels:
List
of foliar fertilizers
Peaceful Valley Farm Supply, www.groworganic.com, which offers foliar products
for raising brix and some helpful info. For example, see http://www.groworganic.com/item_F235_BrixMixPowder3Lb.html
Perfect Blend Organic Fertilizers - www.perfect-blend.com
For their story see The Symphony of Soil (below) and also The
Path to High Brix
Unfortunately now yet available in NW Ohio, but here is a
mail order source: http://www.organickingdom.com/gp003.html
The Symphony of Soil, - Story of a new type of
organic fertilizer (a special way of processing manures to
maximize it's value) that claims to raise brix levels
consistently
http://www.perfect-blend.com/Symphony.pdf
JungleFlora (http://jungleflora.cpbweb.com/
), a Certified Organic Soil Conditioner
and Plant Growth Accelerator.
JungleFlora is a fermented blend of
Composted Cow and Chicken Manures, Vermicast, Acadian kelp, Fish
emulsion, Volcanic rock dust, Yarrow Prep 502, Chamomile Prep
503, Stinging Nettle Prep 504, Oak Bark Prep 505, Dandelion Prep
506, Valerian Prep 507, Humic Acid and Filtered Rain Water.With JungleFlora™
you will benefit:
- Larger, healthier blooms
- Faster growth
- Revives tired or sick plants
- Naturally reduces pests
- Conditions your soil
- Promotes worm populations in outdoor use.
International
Ag Labs and their related site http://www.highbrixgardens.com/
Refractometer sources -
Be sure you get 0-32% Brix range, not 0-100%, which will
be hard to read accurately
Pike Agri-Lab Supplies - call them for a catalogue
866-745-3247 (toll-free)
http://www.pikeagri.com/
Or inquire of Charlie Downer at chardowner@yahoo.com
- National Industrial Supply.
He has Chinese Westovers with quite good optics, a two year
guarantee, and at rock bottom prices - find them on Ebay:
National Industrial Supply
2767 Maricopa Street
Torrance, CA 90503
Phone: 310.748.6858
Fax: 310.833.7306
Another source:
If you need a great 0-32 brix refractometer, please contact me. I have
RHB32-ATC brix meters available for purchase for $45.
Luke Lemmers
2141 Staghorn Dr
Shakopee, MN 55379
952-239-2042
luke@cutfill.com
Peaceful
Valley Farm Supply - lots of info on foliar solutions,
raising brix, etc. Worth asking for a catalogue.
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