Farm For Profit
The Nation's Leader in Sustainable Agriculture
Questions and Answers
Taken from various issues of our newsletter
Question:
Has FFP helped eliminate my problem with the corn borer?
I have been on the Farm For Profit Program for two
years and I seem to have eliminated the corn borer. Is this an accurate
perception or do I need new eyeglasses? Have other farmers reported the
same thing?[From Central Iowa]
Answer:
It often takes more than two years on the program, but yes,
there is a reason why you are reducing insect damage in your corn. The
long and short of it is that an insect will not attach and digest a
healthy plant! A plant under stress for whatever reason is a sick plant.
When this happens, the sugar level in that plant drops considerably. At
reduced sugar levels, the insect will attack and feed on the unhealthy
plant. A healthy plant retains a higher sugar level throughout the growing
season. When the healthy plant is eaten by the insect, the sugar turns
to alcohol and will kill it. We have pictures showing our corn with corn
borers on the stalk, and you can see where they attempted to penetrate
the healthy corn stalk and then died right on the spot.[Answer
provided by Doug Lashmett in the January-February 1996 Newsletter]
Question:
Will FFP work in Canada too?
As the old saying goes, everything is different in
Canada. I grow potatoes, and wonder if Step One® work in Canadian soil,
weather, and temperature conditions as well as it works, say in Illinois?[From
Canada]
Answer:
Yes, the products and program work as well in Canada. Again,
circumstances may be different and certainly are, but that doesn't prevent
the progressive Canadian farmers from practicing good farming techniques.
Step
One ® will work very well on potatoes, and we have several potato
growers doing very well in the U.S. Step One will help you tremendously
to reduce input costs and counter the outlandish fertilizer and chemical
recommendations that AG Canada and industry recommend for agricultural
production. [Answer provided by Doug Lashmett in the
January-February 1996 Newsletter]
Question:
Please explain what wetting agents and surfactants are;
and why they are used and promoted? .[From Illinois]
Answer:
A wetting agent/surfactant is a soap compound. It is used
to make water wetter, or theoretically more efficient. It is passed off
by some unscrupulous dealers who want farmers to believe that it will help
to increase production. Extended use of wetting agents/surfactants can
actually wash the soil of its nutrient glue . . . example, Basic H®,
Ivory®,
Dawn® and any other liquid soap compounds are frequently promoted
by the snake oil salesmen to perform miracles. Be cautious when approached
by these people. [Answer provided by Doug Lashmett
in the January-February 1996 Newsletter]
Question:
What is the bottom line purpose of Step One®?[From
Southern Minnesota]
Answer:
As LIFE comes back into the soil, it helps to create a natural
balance within the soil structure. As this happens, more nutrients and
micro-nutrients are made available to the plant that may not have been
available before. This in turn reduces the need for available N-P-K over
fertilizing and a resulting cost savings. [Answer
provided by Doug Lashmett in the January-February 1996 Newsletter]
Question:
Can I put Step One® on the ground when the ground
is frozen? [From Colorado]
Answer
Yes, Step One® may be applied to frozen ground.
Then can be applied up to the point where the liquid in the spray tank
starts to freeze. Freezing will not change the efficiency of either product.
[Answer
provided by Doug Lashmett in the January-February 1996 Newsletter]
Question
It is winter now, but the snow has melted off, and I can
get into the field. Can I apply Step One® today instead of waiting
for the spring thaw? [From Colorado]
Answer
Again, yes you can apply the products today . Your inhibiting
factor is simply the performance of your spray tank and nozzles. If the
equipment freezes up, then you are out of luck. [Answer
provided by Doug Lashmett in the January-February 1996 Newsletter]
Question
I've been using oil for 3 years now, and feel that "oil
is oil". I might try your product if you can tell me the difference between
Farm For Profit oil and what I've been using. [From
Ohio]
Answer
Some competitors oils are refined 2 or 3 times, and this
brings out or separates more of the fatty acids. Some are bleached, and
some are not de-gummed properly. These procedures are all done to create
profit margins for the producers for the sake of quality. The Farm For
Profit Step 3 ®Oil is always a consistent product of the highest
quality, and we believe that farmers need quality first. Our oil is once-refined,
degummed 100% soybean oil. One of the keys that makes FFP Step 3®
Oil work is the emulsifier performance characteristics. Then add to
this our counseling know-how that we provide to you on how to properly
apply the product and you have a winning combination.[Answer
provided by Doug Lashmett in the January-February 1996 Newsletter]
Question:
We've got very sandy soil on our farm in the tidewater
area . Will the Step One® work under these sandy conditions? [From
Virginia]
Answer
Yes, sandy soil is no more a problem than other soil types
for our total program. Circumstances are always different, and soils may
vary, BUT remember that we are dealing with the basics of good farming.
The basics are managing the plant nutrients, the soil life, and chemical
usage levels. By following the total program and returning life to the
soil, managing the nutrients, creating soil balance, and properly applying
chemicals, you will have good production no matter what type of soil you
have.[Answer provided by Doug Lashmett in the January-February
1996 Newsletter]
Question:
Once the microbes are in the soil and have cleaned up
the chemicals like aldrin and DDT, what prevents the microbes from running
wild ? Is there a danger to humans being exposed to microbes? Or have I
been watching too many science fiction movies? [From
Pennsylvania]
Answer
First, your operating under a misconception. Natural micro-organisms
do not "run wild". They are essential to good soil life and feed upon the
contaminants in the soil and metabolize the contaminants into carbon dioxide,
water, and fatty acids which are all natural by-products in good soil.
When they complete their work of digesting the chemicals, the natural micro-organisms
go dormant or die off, they do not continue to "go wild". On your body,
you have tens of thousands of healthy microbes at work. If you didn't have
these microbes, you would get sick. Dangerous microbes are called pathogenic
or disease causing. Farm For Profit micro-organisms are non-pathogenic.
There are university and industrial scientists who are trying to introduce
"genetically altered" microbes into production. We do not believe that
genetically altered microbes belong in mother nature. The law prohibits
the introduction of genetically altered microbes and we heartily concur
with that position. Farm For Profit produces natural micro-organisms
made from food grade materials for every batch that insures quality, safety,
and consistency. [Answer provided by Doug Lashmett
in the January-February 1996 Newsletter]
Question
I am an agronomist with 20 years of professional service
to the farming community and want to know why Farm For Profit isn't used
by every farmer in America if it is such a wonderful program. [From
Minnesota]
Answer
I am assuming that you want a candid and honest response,
and are not trying to set me up. I could expound on this question for a
week, but let it suffice to say that the reason is because we will not
pay the respective state agricultural colleges to conduct their evaluation
of our program in return for their endorsements. Remember, that we are
a "farmer to farmer program!" Farm For Profit IS growing every year
and that is scaring you and other agronomists who have not been able to
keep pace with changes in agriculture and listen to farmers needs. The
basic philosophy difference is that you would rather TELL the farmer what
to do, and we believe in empowering the farmer to manage his own soils.
Further, there is a program of "disinformation" being voiced to farmers
based on what is currently being taught in state agricultural colleges.
Example: the agriculture grads are being taught outdated information concerning
fertilizer usage and chemical rates, tillage practices and erosion control
to name but a few. We do not subscribe to the agriculture colleges party
line, but listen to farmers and provide them with management tools and
products that save farmers money and sustain or improve yields. We are
not going away, and intend to expand yearly to as many farmers as we can.
The state grants and financial assistance programs that the colleges and
agricultural programs dole out each year are not needed by Farm For
Profit, because we don't want anyone in our pockets or to owe favors
to any group or organization with an ulterior motive. Our motivation comes
when we see the end of year increased production and reduced costs that
farmers get each year on our program. [Answer provided
by Doug Lashmett in the January-February 1996 Newsletter]
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This page maintained by CM
,lastest update 11-07-97.
This page copyright Farm For Profit Research and Development,
Inc., January and June 1996.