May 2019 Converte Newsletter
May 2019
CONVERTE NEWSLETTER
A Message from the Managing Director
Finally some good rains across the country and in most areas farmers are off to a reasonable start to the broad acre season. Some are sowing into in-ground moisture for the first time in many years. So we are feeling quietly confident that 2019 might in fact turn out to be a good year for growers, fingers crossed.
For us it has been a busy few months. As you can see from our activity below, we are a local company with a global outreach. Some of our recent highlights include:
- international workshop with the European Microbiome Support Group, Vienna, Austria
- a Farmer meet up and seminar in Mendooran, NSW
- the Leeton Easter garden festival
- a 10 day Agtech trade mission to Telaviv, Israel with support from the Bridgehub based in Wagga Wagga NSW and Austrade
Now its mid May and we have been exhibiting at the Riverina Field Days in Griffith which is always a good chance to catch up with local customers and to meet farmers wanting to discuss issues relating to regenerative agriculture or the soil microbial world.
Our Mendooran seminar entitled "Microbiome thinking!", was a great April evening up in the Mendoran bowling club with about 40 local farmers. After a presentation to set the scene, we had plenty of time for questions and discussions which continued to the bar. This is something we are keen to do, so if you have a grower group, corporate entity or just want to get some farming mates together and are interested in a talk and discussion on soil microbiome health, get in touch and we will do our best to either organise a specific event or participate in your event.
The take home message is that a functioning soil microbiome builds soil function and soil-plant communication, this drives input efficiencies saving $$$ inputs whilst adding to farm resilience.
Wishing all growers a productive Autumn season,
from all the team at Converte
Pre-biotic / Pro-biotic Soil Health
Our recent international travel has taken Converte to some interesting meetings with businesses and investors involved in soil and plant productivity and health. Whilst our products focus on feeding existing microbial populations in the soil, there are many new products that are introducing live bacteria either to the soil, plant or inoculated on the seed. This is an area of rapid growth and development largely driven by the low cost of DNA sequencing work which means that it is cheaper to isolate bacterial strains and investigate their mode of action.
Whilst we are seeing excellent results with our pre-biotic approach we will continue to focus our attention on this area. Our research shows that there are big gains in soil function and plant productivity to be had from adding our pre-biotic - bio-stimulants to the soil. This in many ways provides an excellent base and functional soil upon which to add another layer of innovation. Future innovation for Converte and others in Agtech will include the introduction of single and multi-strain bacteria and fungi and more data is being gathered in this area daily.
The result above on a recent vineyard trial with our plantfood shows the jump in Mycorrhizal fungi, which are critical for nutrient availability and cycling in the soil. In just 5 months post treatment, the fungal mass is 100% greater in the organic vineyard and 10% in the conventionally treated vineyard. This is due to the chemicals applied having a negative impact on fungi in the soil. So whilst feeding microbial life with Converte Plantfood, the microbial community is also being undermined by chemical inputs that limit their growth. So its a question of balance - today Ag is too chemically oriented and re-balancing with a focus on the biology of the soil will result in significant cost savings and improved health.
Converte Featured Product
Converte Plantfood is a biostimulant PLUS and works by a combination of biological and chemical actions simulating the effect of root exudates. This results in an increase in microbial abundance which helps improve soil structure and makes soil nutrients plant available at optimum levels. The liquid plantfood super concentrate is applied at 250ml/ha at a cost of between $15 an $18/ha. It functions largely from the soil upwards but can also be partially applied to the plant. The product is balanced to feed and support soil microbiology. It is also formulated to provide important trace elements and nutrients for plant and animal health higher up the food-chain.
Plantfood can be applied with other inputs and will help to improve the efficiency of NPK applications, reducing the amount of fertiliser lost to the environment or locked up in the soil. So whilst improving soil health and function, you can save on your bottom line.
The Universal Natural Plantfood is a product of 10 years of research and field testing by inventor David Martin Menne and subsequently by Converte.
Call Julie on 1800 108 940 to order today and receive a 20% discount on your order when you mention the newsletter.
The Power of Fulvic Acid
Fulvic acid is a super soil food balanced with vital earth minerals and molecules that drive soil health and function.
Originating from the word fulvus (Latin for yellow), fulvic acid is named for its natural honey color. It is a natural acidic organic polymer.
Fulvic acids are compounds found in humus— organic material that was metabolized by fungi and microorganisms over extended periods of time up to millions of years—and are some of the most biologically rich substances available.
Fulvic acid acts like a natural chelator and can assist larger molecules to permeate cell walls and enter the plant. Once minerals fuse with the fulvic acid, they become bioactive and chemically available to the plant where they are needed most.
Low molecular weight Fulvic acid can penetrate cell walls of plant tissue and also carry other larger molecules into the plant. Once inside the plant, fulvic acid also acts as a delivery system transporting nutrients to where they are needed most.
One fulvic acid molecule can large numbers of minerals into the cells of a plant, therefore a small dose can be highly effective when added to fertiliser.
The quality and effectiveness of fulvic acids vary widely depending on the source of the material. Lower quality fulvic's require higher inputs and are significantly less efficient in activating nutrient transfer.
What to know more - drop us a line, 1800 108 940 or email at info@converte.com.au
Telaviv Bootcamp, Israel : Agtech Trade Mission 28th April - 5th May
Supported by theBridgehub and Austrade 's Telaviv Landing Pad
Australian Agtech companies present included Converte, Thinkbio, Farmwall, MPT Technologies, AgriAce and FarmLab
Converte was one of six Agtech companies lucky enough to be awarded a place on this boot camp run by Bridgehub and Austrade's Telaviv Landing Pad. It was a first-hand insight into Israeli Agtech with over 500 start-up's offering a range of solutions across the Ag supply chain. A shortage of natural resources and difficult environmental conditions has lead to Israeli innovation in agriculture by necessity.
Israel is a world leader in Agtech with a thriving inter-connected ecosystem from university innovation, start ups to topend investors. Agtech is well supported in incubators and accelerator programs backed by significant Government funds.
"if you throw a stone in telaviv, it would probably hit a high tech entrepreneur"
Mike Butcher, Techcrunch
More information on Bridgehub here: https://thebridgehub.co
Featured Farmer: Geoff Langford, Mendooran NSW
Geoff has been using Converte now for about 3 years and has started to see big changes on his 3000 acre mixed farming property west of Mendooran NSW. 2018 was a tough season with low rainfall yet Geoff was still harvesting a crop which was a surprise to him and his sons. They put this down to improved soil structure and additional moisture retention and nutrient cycling. Recent tests with the soil penetrometer showed a full profile of un-compacted soil. Geoff has been able to reduce his input costs and maintain his yields by having extra focus on soil biology and soil health.
Visit Converte at These Upcoming Events
Central West Landcare Annual Conference - Managing Carbon in the Landscape 4th June Dubbo Zoo, NSW
Mudgee Small Farm Field Days
12th & 13th July
Mudgee, NSW
Vic No Til Annual Conference, Getting Fair Dinkum About Soil Health, Shepparton VIC, 18th and 19th July
Bendigo Sheep and Wool Show, Bendigo VIC 19th and 20th July
Sheep Vention Hamilton VIC 4-6 August
Mallee Field Days, Speed, Victoria 31st July - 1st August
#ConverteAU Photo Sharing
Share your best photos of results from using Converte on your social media with the hashtag #ConverteAU .
At the end of each month we will award a Converte gift pack for the best photo posted with the #ConverteAU hashtag.
For more information, please contact Julie on 1800 108 940 or email us on info@converte.com.au
Don't miss a quarterly newsletter! Read our current and recent issues online anytime.
Your Converte Support Network
Julie Vereker – Griffith, 1800 108 940, julie.vereker@converte.com.au
Mark Vereker - Griffith 0412 420 103 Product Enquiries and Orders NSW
Greg Thompson – Yoogali 0429 623 824
Andrew Nelson – Wagga Wagga, 0427 551 160
Grahame Routley – Narrandera / Lockhart 0428 271 550
Luke Peacock – Perth WA 0427 080 052, luke.peacock@converte.com.au
Geoff Peacock – Lake Bolac, Victoria, 0408 364 526, geoff.peacock@converte.com.au
John Ridley – other areas and international, 0419 120 447, john.ridley@converte.com.au
For information on Converte distributorships in your local area, please contact John.
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