Cockroaches essential to our planet for converting nitrogen into fertiliser

London: They are the most despised of all insects, but an Indian origin biologist has said that cockroaches are essential to the survival of our planet's delicate ecosystem.
According to Srini Kambhampati, professor and chair of the biology department at the University of Texas at Tyler, the disappearance of cockroaches would play havoc with the nitrogen cycle.
“Most cockroaches feed on decaying organic matter, which traps a lot of nitrogen. Cockroach feeding has the effect of releasing that nitrogen (in their feces) which then gets into the soil and is used by plants,” the Daily Mail quoted Professor Kambhampati, a leading expert on roaches, as telling the Huffington Post.
“In other words, extinction of cockroaches would have a big impact on forest health and therefore indirectly on all the species that live there,” she stated.
The professor also warned that the Earth's 5,000 to 10,000 cockroach species are also an important source of food for many birds and small mammals like mice and rats.

In turn, these predators are themselves prey to many other species like cats, coyotes, wolves and reptiles, as well as eagles and other birds of prey.
Thus, any cut to the number of roaches would have a cascading effect on the wellbeing of all these species that could have a devastating effect on wildlife across the world.
Luckily, there's not much chance of a cockroach extinction level event happening any time soon.
Still, although it was once reckoned that they would be one of the few creatures to survive even a nuclear Third World War, that myth has since been debunked

Humate in Agriculture

Humic substances (humic and fulvic acid, for example), have been associated mostly with agriculture. They improve soil texture and water retention – think: compost. They are said to perform similarly to growth hormones, enhancing living cell metabolism and growth, and they act as chelating agents, meaning they can remove metals. OK so far, but then we find out where these particular acids come from.

Good spring

Press Release – Ministry Of Agriculture And Forestry

Favourable spring weather will help New Zealand livestock farmers capitalise on continuing strong in-market prices.14 December 2012

Favourable spring kicks off new pastoral season
Favourable spring weather will help New Zealand livestock farmers
capitalise on continuing strong in-market prices.

MAF has released a half-year update to the annual /Situation and
Outlook for New Zealand Agriculture and Forestry/ (SONZAF) report,
which was published in June.

The update shows the 2011/12 pastoral production season started with
generally favourable spring weather which has meant plenty of feed
for milking cows, ewes with new lambs and growing beef animals.

MAF expects overall pastoral production for the 2011/12 season to be
above average.

Prices for pastoral agriculture have generally remained at
historically high levels during the past half-year, despite the
deteriorating global economy and high exchange rates.

Emerging markets for food and other primary products continue to
grow, but the outlook is for weaker growth in many advanced economies
such as the European Union.

This will take some of the shine off, says Alan Hook, MAF Manager of
Sector Innovation, but prices are still generally well above average.

The dairy sector faces a squeeze between increased supply from other
major exporting countries and slowing demand from major importers
such as China. This saw the milk price for the current season revised
to $6.40 per kg milksolids, down $1.20 on the previous season.

However, the sector’s expected total earnings, at $13.6 billion for
the year to end of June 2012, will still be the highest to date.

The lamb schedule price for the year to September 2011 was the
highest in inflation-adjusted terms since 1977, due to reduced supply
on global markets.

New Zealand’s spring 2011 lamb crop is estimated to be 7 percent up
on last year.

MAF is forecasting weakening export lamb prices as global supply
increases over the next two years.

Wool export prices continue to rise, underpinned by strong Chinese
demand for raw product and demand for finished wool products in the
European Union and the United States.

However, MAF is forecasting that a weaker global economy will slow
wool demand and moderate pricing in the next two years.

In-market pricing for export beef has reduced from the record peak of
April 2011 but still remains relatively high.

This is fuelled by robust demand from Asian markets.

Over the next two years, a weakening global economy and slight
increases in exports from competing countries are expected to drive
New Zealand beef schedule prices downward.

But this will still be moderated by demand for animal protein in Asia
and other developing countries.

New Zealand beef production in the year ending 30 June 2012 is
expected to increase 2.4 percent due to a lift in carcass weight as a
result of favourable growing weather.

/For more information, go to the full half-year report in the
Publications section of the MAF website./

Content Sourced from scoop.co.nz

Country 99 TV - Fertco GM

Humates the Answer to Soil Exhaustion

Humates the Answer to Soil Exhaustion

25 October 2011

The amazing benefits of Humates in 'Exhausted soils'

New Zealand's market gardening history has evolved since the days that early immigrants post the Otago and West Coast Gold Rush made their way from the gold fields to settle around New Zealand leasing land to crop. Areas such as Pukekohe have been in intensive gardening and cropping for over 100 years.

With time and repeated cropping, soils can suffer from factors which can upset the natural balance vital to sustain good yields. Factors such as compaction and damage to soil structure, erosion, and depletion of the soil's microbial and other soil life lessening the uptake of nutrients and micronutrients held in the soil.

Using humates are increasingly attracting attention as a solution to restore the natural balance in soil necessary for optimal plant growth.

Humates have been shown to consistently improve the uptake of nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus and iron as well as innumerable trace elements essential for plant health. This is due to the biochemically active nature of Humic acid, and its ability to form both soluble and insoluble complexes with various metals, minerals and organics. Nutrients are mobilized in forms that the plants can accept.

Life forms such as bacteria and earthworms, which are dependent on humus content, contribute a lot to the maintenance of the soil structure. The use of Humates can prevent soil cracking, which exposes roots to the air and can cause crops to burn in severe heat conditions. Since organic matter is not water soluble, soil with high humus content is less likely to be subject to water erosion

Humates can hold up to 20 times their weight in water. By enhancing the soil’s ability to retain water, Humate usage can reduce the need for crop irrigation. This can be especially helpful with sandy soils, and contributes a large measure of drought resistance to crops.

Humates can improve the quality of fruit, vegetables, and flowers by improving their physical appearance, and in the case of food crops, their nutritional value.  Cereal crops for example have shown more balanced amino acid content, and higher protein content.  All of this can enhance their worth in the marketplace.

For more information on humates please call 0508 humates or visit www.humates.co.nz

Fonterra keep top spot

Fonterra lifts share to keep milk top spot [23 June/ NZ Herald] Fonterra has retained its position as the biggest milk processor
in the world, according to a report by the International Farm Comparison Network. New Zealand’s dairy giant was ranked the top
milk processor for 2011 with an intake of 20.5 million tonnes, equivalent to a 3 per cent market share of world milk production;
up from 2.7 per cent in 2009. Fonterra led Dairy Farmers of America and Nestle, which had market shares of 2.5 per cent and
2.2 per cent respectively. Strong milk prices could lead to global growth of up to 20 million tonnes a year in 2011 and 2012, the
research network said. Meanwhile, agricultural market analyst Agrifax reported that New Zealand milk output in April was 31 per
cent ahead of last year on a milksolids basis, reflecting excellent conditions for pasture growth during the autumn.

Fieldays Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPnQwXLqzB8&feature=email