HOW IT WORKS
The Three-legged Stool
Agricultural production can be likened to a three-legged stool. If one leg is unstable, it is easy to tip over, or fall off with little movement.
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The three legs of the agricultural production stool are the PHYSICAL characteristics of the soil (minerals and structure), BIOLOGY (micro- organisms, diversity and biomass) and ENERGY (required for interactions between the plant and soil micro-organisms, and all biochemical reactions to grow a crop or raise livestock). To place an equal emphasis on the three legs at the same time that achieves a BALANCE between them is the focus and art of BIOLOGICAL AGRICULTURE.
Conventional agricultural production has a strong bias towards managing the physical characteristics of the soil, largely ignoring the role of biology and the energy requirements; and managing this energy to maximise production efficiencies for yield, production costs and profitability.
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Soils are the real Capital Account of an agricultural enterprise. Machinery, infrastructure and financial capital are secondary inputs employed to make an income from the soil.
It matters not, whether the production system is no-till, low-till conventional, certified organic, bio-dynamic or biological, if there is not an equal focus on all three legs at the same time, it will become unstable and at some point in time be out of tune with the balance of nature; thus requiring chemicals and other measures to ward off plant, soil and animal pests and diseases that seek to remove that which is not in harmony with nature. It’s that simple!!
Minerals are the key to a truly resilient production system, as ALL maladies can be linked back to mineral deficiencies and imbalances. These mineral deficiencies can further be identified by investigating the causes, which may be linked to soil biology, the energy available for all necessary bio-chemical reactions, the mineral levels and physical characteristics of the soil.
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864 Connect Agricultural Services has more than twenty-five years’ experience in effectively managing the three-legged stool using the biological agriculture principles in food production.
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Our services are designed to manage and monitor the three-legged stool with simple, technically advanced tools to scientifically measure and verify “what are you looking at” in real time, for fast and effective management decisions to achieve the best outcome for the business and the farm eco-system.
"We don't live off the food we eat; we live off the energy IN the food we eat."
Dr. Carey Reams
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Step 1.
DISCOVER
It's designed and tailored for you to get a fresh perspective on the condition of your soils, plants and cropping performance. Soil and crop testing, Visual Soil Assessment (VSA), and current management practises are assessed and delivered with a comprehensive report.
Step 2.
PLAN
A face-to-face meeting to discuss the Discovery Review, the nutrition plan and set achievable goals for the actions undertaken. How to manage the the plan, resources needed, and changes in management required to achieve the goals you set.
Step 3.
IMPLEMENT
Take action with the plan and manage the operations and personnel involved to achieve your goals.
Step 4.
MONITOR
Take good records of the the whole plan, make keen observations on the changes. Monitor and adjust the plan based on the goals and any commercial impacts affecting the plan.
ian.golding@864connect.com / Tel: +61 459 557 068
225 Cragborn Rd, Katherine NT
PO Box 2181 Katherine, NT, 0851
We’re also available on Live Chat, during regular business hours on Australian Central Standard Time (ACST)
©2022 by 864 Connect Trust ABN: 21 739 725 669