Western Growers Science’s Post

🌱 Nematodes: The Hidden Heroes of Agriculture 🐛 Nematodes, tiny organisms living in the soil, play a vital role in both improving soil health and controlling pests. While some are harmful, many nematodes are key to sustainable farming practices. Here’s how they make a difference: 🔹 Soil Fertility: Beneficial nematodes like bacterivores and fungivores speed up the decomposition of organic matter, releasing essential nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus, boosting plant growth.  🔹 Natural Pest Control: Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) naturally target harmful crop pests, reducing the need for chemical pesticides and promoting eco-friendly pest management.  🔹 Sustainable Agriculture: By harnessing the power of nematodes, farmers can enhance crop yields, reduce costs, and cultivate healthier, more resilient crops. Nematodes are truly the unsung heroes of soil health and sustainable farming! 🌍 #Nematodes #SoilHealth #SustainableFarming #NaturalPestControl #AgriInnovation

US$700 billion... That's how much governments spend on agriculture subsidies every year.* US$451 billion... That's the portion of agricultural subsidies that actively incentivises deforestation, fertiliser use, pesticide use, overfishing, overgrazing and pollution.** The basis of this misalignment is the idea that farms and forests are separate, that you farm over here, and forest over there, and never the twain shall meet. But this isn’t how nature works. Farms and forests might be housed in different government departments, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t forever entwined. After all, birds, bees, earthworms, beetles, fungi, wind, rivers and rainfall don’t adhere to fencelines. Learn more: https://buff.ly/4d7ckaP 📸: RicAguiar *Source 1: https://buff.ly/46a96B0 **Source 2: https://buff.ly/3y4fnl5

Incorporating biochar into soil management practices can lead to long-term economic benefits. Improved crop productivity and reduced need for fertilisers and water mean lower costs and higher profitability for farmers. #ANZBIG #anzbc21 #biochar #bioenergy #carbondrawdown #circulareconomy #environment #sustainability #organicfarming #agriculture #organicagriculture #regenerativeagriculture #animalhealth #farmingtechnology #climatechange #ANZBiocharIndustryGroup #BiocharBenefits

🌱 **Why do we care about agriculture?** 🌱 In your opinion, is it for... - Growth of agriculture - Development of agriculture - Earning more from per unit land - Producing more from per unit land - Generating more employment per unit land - Protecting biodiversity - Minimizing external inputs - Producing food, fiber, and other non-food products - Commodity as any economic activity - Or something else? Share your thoughts! Let's discuss the importance of agriculture and its impact on our lives. 🌾🌍 #AgricultureMatters #SustainableFarming #Biodiversity #FoodSecurity

In November 2021, the tomato production hub in southern Spain faced another ToBRFV outbreak. Though smaller than previous ones, a neighboring farm of one of my clients was hit hard, nearly wiping out their entire crop. It was devastating to see. Understandably, my client was worried he’d face the same fate. I told him: "You don’t need to rely on luck. 🍀 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐓𝐨𝐁𝐑𝐅𝐕." We recommended our 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐫 system to limit plant contact and improve drainage, and the results were clear—his crops stayed healthy and productive with just a 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐥 𝐮𝐩𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞. 🌱 The right combination of solutions can safeguard your entire season's work. Got ToBRFV concerns? Let’s talk. https://lnkd.in/eyRR-cUr antonio.export@hydroponicsystems.es info@hydroponicsystems.es #Agriculture #Hydroponics #ToBRFV #Greenhouses

Understanding the intricate role of soil health, especially its carbon content, is crucial for promoting sustainable farming practices. Farmonaut's satellite-based crop health monitoring platform provides accurate insights into soil organic carbon (SOC), a critical measure of soil health and fertility. But why is SOC so important? Soil organic carbon (SOC) plays a pivotal role in agriculture. During decomposition, SOC releases essential plant nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur. Moreover, it also plays a key role in optimizing resource use and boosting sustainability. Maintaining robust SOC levels is crucial for preserving fertile soils and minimizing environmental impacts. Farmonaut provides: 🎯Real-time data insights on soil conditions. 🎯Comprehensive reports on soil health. Farmonaut® platform supports farmers to make strategic, informed decisions that foster sustainable farming practices and maximize resource efficiency. Learn more - https://lnkd.in/edv_PHBc #SoilHealth #SoilCarbon #SoilOrganicCarbon #SustainableFarming #Farmonaut #GreenFarming #ResourceEfficiency #AgricultureInnovation #FutureFarming #PlantGrowth Ankur Omar | Akash Omar | ASHISH KUMAR | Saumitra Awasthi | Shivani Dudhatra | Kapil Sawant | Dipanker Gyan | Kanu Priya Kumawat | Garima Upadhyay | Sejal Gawas

"There is an urgent need to accelerate the pace of change to embrace more #sustainablefarming practices." writes NIAB's CEO and Director Mario Caccamo. "We need to produce more and better #food, with less pesticides and fertilisers, while improving soil health and responding to #climate and #biodiversity goals. To meet these objectives, we need to address the UK’s funding gap in applied agriculture-related #research. This also calls for a strategic review of whether the current structure of the country’s applied crop science capabilities is fit-for-purpose." https://lnkd.in/ebtGgafn

Glyphosate has always been essential in agriculture but, with increasing calls for integrated practises, what alternatives exist? Join Ian Graham at BCPC Congress 2024 next week, as he breaks down the alternative to glyphosate and the challenges that they bring. Discover the factors driving the shift away from glyphosate and explore the sustainability of a future without it. For all of this and far more, sign up for BCPC Congress 2024: https://lnkd.in/gBQjRKy #cropprotection #sustainability #sustainablefarming #bcpccongress2024 #bcpc #agriculture #agricultureandsustainability #crops #ukfarming Complete Weed Control

The Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils #VACS Initiative addresses agricultural challenges by revitalizing soils and advancing nutrient-dense, resilient opportunity crops. As a VACS Champion, the Crop Trust is committed to building a food-secure future: https://buff.ly/408IdfW

Kaolin, a type of clay mineral, is utilized in agriculture for several beneficial purposes. It is primarily used as a soil amendment to improve soil structure and fertility. Kaolin enhances soil aeration and water retention, which helps in optimizing plant growth. It also acts as a natural pesticide, protecting crops from pests and diseases by forming a protective barrier on the plant surfaces that deters insects. Additionally, kaolin is employed in crop protection strategies as a component of foliar sprays. These sprays help reduce the impact of sunburn and heat stress on plants by reflecting sunlight and lowering leaf temperatures. Kaolin's use in agriculture contributes to more sustainable farming practices by improving soil health and reducing the need for synthetic chemicals. Read more: https://lnkd.in/dsvhdarJ #KaolinInAgriculture #SoilAmendment #SoilFertility #SoilAeration #WaterRetention #NaturalPesticide #CropProtection #PlantGrowth #ToomaMinerals #PestControl