Accountable Agriculture Australia in Willow Tree, New South Wales | Local service

Accountable Agriculture Australia

Locality: Willow Tree, New South Wales

Phone: +61 412 321 721

Address: 358 Cattle Creek Rd 2339 Willow Tree, NSW, Australia

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25.01.2022 A really great conversation from Steve Kenyon of Greener Pasture Grazing.

24.01.2022 Most #soilfungi seem deceptively placid as their hyphae meander through the pores of the soil, but they can be deadly to #nematodes that meander through the sam...e pores. Some of these fungi have sticky spores that latch on to the skin of nematodes there they germinate and their hyphae begin growing into the nematode. Once the hyphae have filled the nematode and digested its contents, they grow out og the mummified worm and produce more sticky spores that wait for a new nematode to pass by. Another group of fungi produce sticky hyphae rather than sticky spores and catch passing nematodes just as fly paper catches flies. Many of these fungi produce a scent that attracts nematodes and rotifers. #fungifriday

22.01.2022 Until recently #monotropoid mycorrhizae were thought to be part of the arbutoid mycorrhizae group. While arbutoid mycorrhizal hyphae penetrate and from extensiv...e structures within the cells of the host plant, monotropoid mycorrhizae do not penetrate the cell walls of the host plant. Monotropoid mycorrhizae are most commonly found in coniferous forests and tend to form their symbiotic relationships with pine, spruce and fir trees but they are known to form monotropoid mycorrhizal associations with other trees such as beech, oak and cedar. Like arbutoid mycorrhizae, monotropoid mycorrhizae form a dense sheath around the roots of the host plant and a Hartig net which surrounds the outer epithelial layer of the root cells. Individual hyphae may then grow out of the Hartig net into the outer cortical cells. The walls of these cells are not penetrated by the hyphae but bend to accommodate the growing hyphae. This type of growth is referred to as a fungal peg. These growths greatly increase the surface area of the cell which allows for an easier transfer of nutrients between the fungi and the host plant. #fungifriday See more

22.01.2022 An interesting article about cover cropping, emphasising the need to understand why you are going to do it and what to expect.

22.01.2022 As microbes and animals of the soil breakdown the remains of creatures into simpler compounds, they add #organicmatter to the soil. Such organic matter also hap...pens to be the source of certain essential elements of the soil such as #Nitrogen, #Phosphorous, and #Sulfur. Eventually the organic matter transforms to tiny particles of the dark organic matter known as #HUMUS. Humus is the hard to digest plant material that remain in organic matter after easily digested portions have been consumed at least once by decomposers. It is made up of those persistent organic molecules from plant cells such as oils, resins, lignin and waxes as well as remains of bacteria and fungi that pass through the digestive tracts of decomposers and ends up in their droppings.

22.01.2022 Why is it the more green growing plants and trees on an area the more likely it is to rain? It turns out Plants and soil born bacteria send up many aerosolized compounds into the air (fats, sugars, proteins) that cloud fairing bacteria depend on as they multiply 25 miles above our heads. The cloud fairing bacteria are able to seed ice crystals at higher temperatures which condense water molecules (vapor) into water droplets heavy enough to fall from the sky.

21.01.2022 An oldie but a goodie, well worth the read.

21.01.2022 Soils can often dry out and water films can evaporate from pores of the #soil. When this happens soil #Protozoa lose their normal shapes and enter an immobile a...nd inactive state called cyst. There they wait for damper conditions. In some soils and particular parts of the year most, if not all protozoa may exist in their dormant encysted state. #microbemonday #soilife #soilbiology See more

20.01.2022 The intricate web of life and death which we call Soil Organic Matter (SOM) sustains us all, and researchers have found that more than half of the global soil c...arbon pool is a foot or more below the surface. It is vital for the health of our climate and our food security to build SOM. So what is it? It is the organic matter component of soil, as opposed to the inorganic rock component: the silt, sand, or clay. There are two basic types of SOM: Particulate Organic Matter (OM), which is plant and animal detritus at various stages of decomposition, and Mineral-associated OM, which are the cells and tissues of living and dead soil microbes, as well as the substances that they synthesize. You can think of Particulate OM as a checking account - Every week you deposit a paycheck and every week you have a lot of bills and expenses to pay. Particulate OM is lower in Nitrogen, but it is more bio-available to plants seeking nutrients. Mineral-associated OM is more like a savings account - It has a higher Nitrogen content but that nutrient is locked up in bonds with soil minerals. Its important to build both accounts, but vital to increase the microbial activity in our soils in order to build Organic Matter for long-term carbon storage! Lets start building your SOM ---> www.ecologicaldesign.land Illustration by Jocelyn Lavallee

19.01.2022 Great video from one of the better grazing managers I know.

19.01.2022 Each root is covered in very tiny fine hairs that project at right angles to its surface, giving the root a distinctly fuzzy appearance. All those root hairs, e...ven though each is only a fraction of a millimetre in diameter, vastly expand the area of a root that comes in contact with #SOIL as well as all minerals and creatures inhabiting it. See more

19.01.2022 Hey soil people do we like this?

18.01.2022 The smell of good #earth that rises from newly plowed field or from digging in the rich, dark soil, of a hardwood forest is the odor given off by million of #ac...tinomycetes. Actinomycetes are among the few soil organisms that have the ability to take #dinitrogen gas (N2) from the air and covert it to ammonia (NH3) in the #soil. Unlike Rhizobia that associate only with roots of legumes, actinomycetes associate with plants that are not legumes. Also like rhizobia actinomycete filaments penetrate though the root cell and induce #rootnodules, but not like the small round nodules formed by rhizobia. The nodules formed by actinomycetes are knobby and branched and sometimes centimetres in diameter. Photo of Root Nodules : The Conservation Volunteers

18.01.2022 A fascinating insight into some of the fungi and their function.

16.01.2022 A fully active #soilfoodweb will have better #nutrient retention in its #soils. The bodies of all its members hold and immobilize materials that will eventually... be broken down into plant nutrients. Everytime a fungus or bacterium is consumed and digested by #Protozoa or #Nematode, nutrients are left behind in #plant available form and since plants attract fungi and bacteria to their root zone, the nutrients they provide are easily absorbed. #microbemonday #soilbroughttolife #lifeinyoursoil See more

16.01.2022 More in the continuing learning about our soil biome.

14.01.2022 Some Saturday fun. Reminds us where our food comes from...

11.01.2022 One advantage that #fungi have over bacteria is their ability of #fungalhyphae to grow in length. Unlike bacterial cells, whose world is a very finite one, fung...al hyphae can travel over space measure in feet or meters, distances that for a bacterium are truly epic and unlike bacteria, fungi do not need a film of water in order to spread throughout the soil. Fungal hyphae are able to bridge gaps and go short distances, which allows them to locate new food sources and transport nutrition from one location to the other. #fungifriday #soilfungi #agtalk #healthysoils See more

11.01.2022 From The Robinia Institute: Its not the amount of rain but the effectiveness of our systems to transform precipitation into long term abundance and resilience that is key in regenerating any landscapes.

11.01.2022 In the rhizosphere, hyphae of #arbuscularmycorrhizal fungi contribute to the aggregation effect as they grow into smaller pores and bind soil particles together.... Although macroaggregates compromise micro aggregates not all soil microaggregates exist as macroaggregates. Macroaggregates can contain soil particles that may eventually go on to form microaggregates. Macro aggregation is important for controlling microbial activity and soil organic matter turnover in surface soils because it gives fine textured clayey and loamy textured soil space characteristics similar to those of sandy soils. The physical properties affected by macro aggregation include pore size distribution, pore continuity, aeration, drainage and tilth.

11.01.2022 As microbes undertake the job of decomposing fallen leaves or logs they need more nitrogen than leaves and logs can supply. For #microbes to continue multiplyin...g and decomposing they must get nitrogen from whatever source is near by. Microbe that feed on organic matter in its early stages of decay multiply and act most effectively as decomposers if they can take nitrogen from the neighboring soil. This usually means competing with plants roots for nitrogen. The growth of plants int he neighborhood of decaying #organicmatter gives both roots and the #soilmicrobes enough #nitrogen to satisfy their needs. #soillife #livingsoil #nutrients #soil

11.01.2022 The carbon absorbed from the atmosphere by #plants and animals can take several paths before it re-enters the air as carbon dioxide. When a plant or animal di...es, it is broken down by #soil #microorganisms. As the microorganisms consume the organic matter, they release some of the carbon into the atmosphere in the form of carbon dioxide. Some is destined for longer-term storage in roots and in the bodies of plant-eating or carnivorous animals. Animals then return more of the carbon to the atmosphere as CO2 through respiration, although some will be stored within their bodies until they die and decompose. Finally, as plants and animals decay, instead of escaping as carbon dioxide, a significant portion of their carbon becomes part of the organic component in soils through the activities of essential soil organisms. These beneficial microorganisms work to produce a substance known as humus, a stable, rich component of soil that is the color of dark chocolate and loaded with carbon. Photo: USDA NRCS Pennsylvania

10.01.2022 If it can be done in the Chihuahua desert, it can be done anywhere.

09.01.2022 https://www.vox.com//all-life-on-earth-chart-weight-plants

09.01.2022 Embedded in this article is the really critical concept of "safe to fail" experimentation. If you unsure about whether transition from the grazing we all learnt from the last generation to a more refined model, do an experimental area. Feel free to contact us if you need some guidance.

08.01.2022 Paradigm busting word up from the author of Call of the Reed Warbler Charlie Massy.......listen in to Episode 10 part 2 on The Regenerative Journey podcast fo...r more gold......link in profile....... #regenerativeagriculture #biodynamic #organic #thankful4farmers #soilhealth #soulhealth #farmlife #australia #sustainable #biodiversity #whosyourfarmer #education #farming #grassfed #beef #lamb #pork #boorowa #education #legacy #paddockbetweenourears #theregenerativejourney #podcast

08.01.2022 Silica Article IV Silicon is not listed as an essential plant nutrient; the question I have to ask is; WHY? When we investigate this element we find a wide rang...e of information including cereal and rice crop trial data that demonstrates silicons influence on increased yields and disease resistance, silicons influence on nutrient transport and so on. The book Silicon in Agriculture; Studies in Plant Science 8: LE Datnoff, GH Snyder and GH Korndorfer (Editors) is a major compilation of trial work using different Silicon amendments on a vast array of crops in differing soil types. This showed dramatic yield, nutrient and disease resistance increases. From a pastoral farming perspective, it is significant that rice, wheat and sugar cane are higher evolved grasses that have been selected for their grain potential. In pastoral agriculture silicon is barely mentioned, in fertiliser discussions, yet raising healthy stock is dependent on healthy and functional grasses, forbs and legumes. The health and functionality of grasses, forbs and legumes has a direct influence on how we treat our farms and just as significantly, the quality of the products grown with that pasture whether that is meat, milk or fibre. The progression has been very interesting. I can only state here that the progression that I have seen is based on long term observations throughout my farming career. These observations cross referenced with valid testing methodologies that measure mineral, fat and protein contents in the end products and also match with improve animal health, higher weight gains and better overall production. So, when significant progression occurs after the addition of Silicon, a mineral that is supposedly not essential then I would say that Silicon is very essential! Having trained with Brookside laboratories some twenty odd years ago I have been able to utilise the vast amount of information available to consultants to help create what I call the foundation of soil mineral potential. It is when this foundation is put into place and then other factors such as Cyanobacteria, differing fungal species, the role of electricity and electromagnetics in plant nutrition, plant species diversity, and appropriate grazing management are added in that we can see that the vast interplay is all interconnected and interdependent. It is incredibly important to consider all these factors when building any soil-based farming business In a roundabout way my Silica journey has taken me back to a place somewhere near where I started. I utilised basic slag early on in my farming career; predominantly as a calcium and magnesium source, I originally failed to connect the dots as to how important the Silicon portion of the basic slag was because I was focused on the Albrecht calcium magnesium balancing. It was only when I started investigating the electrical potential and the biological processes that real progress occurred. There were certain things that I had observed and measured when I had utilised basic slag that did not appear replicable and I did not understand the mechanism of that progression until now. I came across the work of George Washington Carey about six years ago. Carey, a medical doctor had studied the essential nature of the 12 tissue salts, and throughout his work he explains the necessity of these salts for cell health and function. He also expresses, at length, the symptoms and diseases that come about from deficiencies of each of these salts. The work finds a happy companion in Maynard Murrays findings of utilising Ocean elements in agriculture. Ocean water is the environment where the 12 cell salts naturally exist. This should also be the case for us because blood is minerally identical to ocean water. I also note Richard Olrees brilliant work Minerals for the Genetic Code but that is another story in itself. I always find it fascinating to take this information back into the realms of the soil and the products we produce from that soil. The farm and food production should always be the first step in any analysis and diagnosis of human health. And we as farmers always should always be striving to produce the healthiest products possible that will then help bring our population into health and wellbeing. Let food be thy medicine! Careys work determines Silicon to be of the utmost importance in the strength and development of our hip bones. Personally, I have been through the issue of dodgy hips and I have utilised natural forms of the 12 tissue salts, combined with healthy doses of Silica to fix that impairment. It was most obvious on certain parts of the farm, where we grazed our breeding cows that the real symptoms of silica deficiency really expressed themselves. The first sign something was going on was the cows chewing wood, alkathene water pipe, rocks and various other bits and pieces they could get too. We made up a mineral lick that included diatomaceous earth. The cows demolished the lick but that wasnt really sorting out the problem. On different parts of the farm symptoms were not as bad. What was noticeable was the decreasing width of the hip bones in the cows and the fact that this trait was being passed on. We tried many differing mineral supplements, to no avail until we started spreading volcanic sands onto the paddocks. These sands are a product of the type of volcanic eruptions that engulfed this land relatively recently. They have a significant silica component that has been exposed to great heat and pressure. This silica becomes available to the soil / plant environment when it is exposed to silica solubilising soil bacteria. One easily observed result has been to get the width back in the cows hips and seeing that the stock has stopped chewing everything in sight. We are also able to test various other parameters in the soil as these changes come about and its very interesting. As we introduce the hydrated silica sand we are observing around a 200ppm decrease in extractable aluminium per year in our soil test results. Along with this the NO3 Nitrate and NH4 Ammonia are held in the soil in equilibrium at a more balanced level of around 10ppm each which is very adequate to run a high producing property without synthetic nitrogen inputs. The noticeable impact on young stock is clean tails and no chemical animal health remedies are required. Also, very noticeable is the fact that when I am in amongst them there is not the tell-tale sour nitrate smell and they are very settled in their behaviour. Observations, so far lead us to believe that much lower milk urea nitrogen and blood urea nitrogen levels are occurring which we will correlate over time while working with more and more farmers. Above the ground this is also expressing itself in much better all year round pasture production. Our usual winter hay supplement of 180 round bales has fallen to well below 50 bales last winter. A great cost-saving on the 250 cattle we winter each year. Other noticeable visual changes are soil depth, which is increasing at a rapid rate. This has a valuable by-product in the form of increased amounts of soil organic carbon and enhanced soil water holding and nutrient holding capability. The results of our testing for total soil nutrients, available soil nutrients and soil organic carbon confirms to me that Silicon is an essential nutrient. How can it not be when it impacts so many parts of healthy biological farming systems? I must emphasise that silicon is not the silver bullet answer to everything but it performs many valuable functions. Its absence leads to inefficiencies and unnecessary costs. I have learned the lesson to always question opinions such as Silicon is not an essential plant nutrient. Richard Olrees work on the 64 subatomic particles and minerals that make up a healthy genetic sequence, Maynard Murrays work on Ocean elements, Albrechts breakthroughs on base saturation and trace elements, Davis & Rawls and Phil Callaghans work on the effects of electro-magnetism on biological systems are all the building blocks for productive soils. When we take this information and attitude into farming anything is possible and Im lucky enough to be enjoying it. Check out Parts 1, 2 and 3 at http://ecofarmaotearoa.com/silica-our-soils/

07.01.2022 Symptoms include; mental pain and anguish, waves of cognitive dissonance, and verbal diarrhea.

07.01.2022 A philosophy I live by.

04.01.2022 More wisdom from Burke Teichart

04.01.2022 Some interesting information from Integrity Soils.

03.01.2022 Rather than train people on our techniques, we encourage them to learn the principles of Holistic Management and implement them. Training results in trying to live to a prescription, learning results in a far more adaptive approach to management and business and ecological success.

03.01.2022 Waiting waiting for the end of Winter so that these little folks can come out of hibernation.

02.01.2022 https://scienceblog.com//ranchers-attracted-to-regenerati/ An interesting article on why lots of Australian and American graziers do what they do in Regen Ag, not what the researchers thought...

01.01.2022 A great article about Holistic Management in action.

01.01.2022 "So, you know, just an example - the American Midwest. A couple hundred years ago, when that was all covered with grass, that soil was really rich in carbon. Then settlers arrived. They plowed it all up. And immediately, that released carbon dioxide into the air - tons of it from every acre of soil. And today, roughly half of the carbon across the Midwest is gone."This is the story of scientist Rattan Lals efforts to put that carbon back in the soil.https://www.npr.org/2020/08/17/903184905/farming-releases-carbon-from-the-earths-soil-into-the-air-can-we-put-it-back

01.01.2022 The ability of microorganisms to #recycle #carbon can provide indirect health benefits to plant communities. Soils that contain larger amount of #organicmatter ...and microbial biomass tend to have higher rates of microbial activity and as such, some organisms can heave the ability to out compete other organisms including pathogens #badguys. This type of suppression of plant pathogens is known is general suppression. Soils that contain high levels of organic matter may also support specific antagonistic microorganisms that have an explicit means of suppressing pathogens such as the production of antibiotics. #suppressivesoils