Should we farm without N?

[The Ruminant]

A really interesting podcast here about the use of N and K and how soils and organic matter responds.

Really thought-provoking and confirms a lot of anecdotal things we and other farmers find.

 

[M-J-G]

It's the couple of years where the ground goes cold turkey that is the issue for many.

 

[Kiwi Pete]

It's the couple of years where the ground goes cold turkey that is the issue for many.

And in some respects, while the business adjusts, as well good call.

 

[Chae1]

We have a neighbour who doesn't apply N. I'm not tempted to stop after seeing the output he gets from his grass without

 

[Henarar]

We have a neighbour who doesn't apply N. I'm not tempted to stop after seeing the output he gets from his grass without

what do you mean by output ?
amout of grass or amout of profit ?

 

[Chae1]

what do you mean by output ?
amout of grass or amout of profit ?

Grass.

None of my business what his profit is.

I'd like nothing more than to get off the hamster wheel that is N on grass. But he is a example on my doorstep of what happens when you do. We rent some of his grass fields now.

 

[Hilly]

Can I stop using bagged stuff an use hen nitrogen ? Would that count or is that cheating ?

 

[Henarar]

Grass.

None of my business what his profit is.

I'd like nothing more than to get off the hamster wheel that is N on grass. But he is a example on my doorstep of what happens when you do. We rent some of his grass fields now.

the amount of profit would be far more important than the amount of grass wouldnt it ?
your naighbour maybe making more than you on his grass even the bits he rents out

I do know what you mean about the hamster wheel though but to my way of looking at it the hamster wheel is about more than just putting on N or not, its what your growing and how you treat the land,

 

[BRB John]

I think he just meant the hamster wheel as far as having to put Nitrogen on every year.
Nobody likes using Nitrogen but no one can question it's results easily quadrupling yields and until someone comes up with a cereal or ryegrass that can fix their own nitrogen like clover can then we are stuck with spreading nitrogen. Assuming that you want to grow enough food to feed people that is...

 

[Rainmaker]

Azotobacter in a bottle might be part of the transition from bagged urea, to make the turkey alittle less cold.

I've been concerned for some time noticing the way the land seems to get addicted to urea. Harder to get away from than talk about though.

 

[Kiwi Pete]

A really interesting podcast here about the use of N and K and how soils and organic matter responds.

Really thought-provoking and confirms a lot of anecdotal things we and other farmers find.

I finally got an hour to listen to this podcast today, thanks for bringing it to my attention I found it really interesting.
See so many links to podcasts that I really need it "shoved up my jumper" to listen to one ?

 

[Henarar]

I think he just meant the hamster wheel as far as having to put Nitrogen on every year.
Nobody likes using Nitrogen but no one can question it's results easily quadrupling yields and until someone comes up with a cereal or ryegrass that can fix their own nitrogen like clover can then we are stuck with spreading nitrogen. Assuming that you want to grow enough food to feed people that is...

I am only interested in feeding myself and my family anyone else who can't get food should think long and hard afore having kids at the very least
would nitrogen quadruple profits as well ?

 

[7610 super q]

Is FYM allowed ? How long is cold turkey ? I farmed organically for 25 years. Without FYM, or artificial N you end up with pish poor yields. ?‍

 

[SilliamWhale]

You need N at some point.

Sure clover and grass go well and less need for N there.
You can probably get 2t acre of wheat after beans.
You probably struggle a bit with a crop after that.

Artifical N is still cheap for what it does.

I raise you Alchemy of Air.

 

[SilliamWhale]

I think he just meant the hamster wheel as far as having to put Nitrogen on every year.
Nobody likes using Nitrogen but no one can question it's results easily quadrupling yields and until someone comes up with a cereal or ryegrass that can fix their own nitrogen like clover can then we are stuck with spreading nitrogen. Assuming that you want to grow enough food to feed people that is...

Western diets probably don't make enough use of legumes for nutritional purposes to the benefit of cereals

 

[Hilly]

I think he just meant the hamster wheel as far as having to put Nitrogen on every year.
Nobody likes using Nitrogen but no one can question it's results easily quadrupling yields and until someone comes up with a cereal or ryegrass that can fix their own nitrogen like clover can then we are stuck with spreading nitrogen. Assuming that you want to grow enough food to feed people that is...

Do farmers actually want to grow things to feed people ,

I think he just meant the hamster wheel as far as having to put Nitrogen on every year.
Nobody likes using Nitrogen but no one can question it's results easily quadrupling yields and until someone comes up with a cereal or ryegrass that can fix their own nitrogen like clover can then we are stuck with spreading nitrogen. Assuming that you want to grow enough food to feed people that is...

I only want to feed my family and myself.

 

[Henarar]

I only want to feed my family and myself.

Mr Ford or Mr Honda are not rushing round to produce as many and as cheap cars so everyone that could posibly want one could have one are they ?

 

[Bury the Trash]

You probably struggle a bit with a crop after that.

Have you listened to the podcast?

 

[Bury the Trash]

Good rotation on a mixed farm is best .


and What's the point of producing more cheap food for the masses if all they do is get fatter or throw it in the bins ...

 

[SilliamWhale]

Have you listened to the podcast?

No.