riend
F
A
Visit us online at:
www.fertrell.com
of Nature Since 1
94 6
Notes & Quotes
Spring Specials: 10% off
Nutri-Sil – A live bacteria, added to silage and baled forages
to assist the fermentation process. Nutri-Sil causes the forages
to retain more of their moisture, protein and energy value and
increases the palatability and digestibility of the harvested crop
Available in 50 lb dry or 1 lb water soluble
Vitazyme – an all-natural, liquid biostimulant for soil organisms
and plants that contain certain biological activators which are byproducts of a proprietary fermentation process.
These active agents include vitamins, enzymes and other powerful but gentle growth stimulators such as b-vitamins, triacontanol
and others.
Vitazyme may be tank mixed with fertilizers. It does not need to
be tilled into the soil.
The dilution rate is not critical as long as the proper application
rate is used.
Available in 2.5 gallon jug
M a r c h / A p r i l 2 015
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Kelp – Small Amounts, Big Benefits
2
Spring Beginnings Means It’s Poultry
Season!
3
Paul Keiser Ag & Health Alive, Retires
4
Swine Notes
5
Welcome new dealers
5
Cow Management
6
Make Your Soils and Plants Work for
You
6
Spring Shipping
7
You’ve got questions….I’ve got answers!
7
Upcoming Events
8
Marketplace
8
Squash: Do You Grow It? I Do!
10
Eager Farmer
11
Changes to liquid fish program
11
Kelp – Small Amounts, Big Benefits by Orin Moyer
Most of us know the benefits of feeding kelp to
livestock and the great results it can have on overall
animal health. Fertrell’s kelp can provide these same
great benefits to your soil.
Kelp is very biologically complex, providing and
feeding many different types of bacteria, fungi, insects, and, of course, crops. The problem is that soil
doesn’t clearly communicate to us when it is lacking
something.
Applying Kelp in small amounts to the soil can provide huge benefits to the microbial life in the soil as
well as micro-nutrients for the growing crops.
Another key ingredient in kelp is its high iodine
content. Most “sucking/piercing” insects do not appreciate high iodine levels in the plants they intend
to damage, nor will they lay larvae in an environment
that is not suitable for them.
So when kelp is applied in a small amount in the
Notes & Quotes
root zone of a plant, and the plant absorbs the nutrients, it provides a natural insect repellent for the crop.
Kelp also contains cytokinins, auxins, and gibberellins, which are all naturally occurring plant growth
stimulants/hormones that can increase the growth and
health of the crop.
With crop values remaining high, it is continually
important to prevent damage and loss before it happens. Applying kelp in the row at planting time can be
one way to do this while providing micro-nutrients and
natural growth hormones to the crop at the same time.
Using Kelp for Corn Planting
1st year corn 15 lbs. per acre. Apply through insecticide boxes.
2nd year corn 20 to 25 lbs. per acre. Apply through
insecticide boxes.
These amounts all need to be based on your knowledge of the insect pressure that you have on your farm.
The Fertrell Company does not recommend the practice of corn on corn - a good rotation is always best.
2
Spring Beginnings Means It’s Poultry
Season! - by Casey Rogers
As the snow begins to melt and the ground turns
mushy, we start to see the first signs that spring is approaching. Not only does that mean it’s time for new
crops to begin growing, but it also means that it’s time
for the first batches of chicks to begin arriving! Most
farmers who produce broilers get their first batch in
March or April and will get through several batches
of broilers before the season is over. As we prepare
for the onset of poultry season, I would like to remind
our customers of some Fertrell products that can prove
to be really useful to bird health during the changing
weather conditions.
And we want to make sure that our farmers start off
this poultry season right, which is why we are offering
a 5% discount on these products through April 30, 2015.
* Poultry Booster Pack * Water soluble DFMs * Garlic
Oil Tincture * Vitamin E Oil Blend
Poultry Booster Pack – Do you have any Poultry Nutri-Balancer (PNB) lying around from last season? The
Poultry Booster Pack allows you to refresh vitamins
and direct-fed microbes for Poultry Nutri-Balancer that
is over four months old (for broilers) and six months
old (for laying hens). Vitamins have a storage life of six
months when feed is kept dry and out of direct sunlight.
Available in a 5 lb. bag.
Water Soluble Direct-Fed Microbials (DFMs) – When
poultry aren’t feeling right, one of the first signs we
see is a decrease in feed consumption, while water
consumption stays regulated. By adding DFMs to the
water, the birds are more likely to receive the boost
in their immune systems that they need in order to
be healthy again. Water soluble DFMs can be used during
any time of stress for the birds,
whether stress due to temperatures, feed changes, predators
- you name it. Available in 50
gram and 1 lb. bags.
Notes & Quotes
Garlic Oil Tincture – Many humans rely on the
benefits of garlic when they aren’t feeling well, so
why not poultry? Garlic is a natural antibiotic that
has been used for centuries to combat infections
all over the world. The Fertrell Company has taken
certified organic garlic and steeped it in certified
organic olive oil and aged it to perfection. Garlic
tincture can be used on any species of farm animal,
but it is especially easy to use with poultry. Use it
anytime the birds aren’t feeling right; just add it
straight into their water!
Available in 16 oz. bottle.
Vitamin E Oil – Whenever you’re faced
with an unknown disease or illness in your poultry
(or a known one that isn’t getting better with traditional remedies), one of the first things we recommend is adding in some liquid vitamin E to their
water. Vitamin E is an antioxidant, and it plays an
important role in the formation of red blood cells.
Often times when birds are sick, they go off feed,
leading to a deficiency of fat-soluble vitamins like
vitamin E. Putting a few drops of Fertrell’s Vitamin
E oil in their water can help to improve their health.
If you have any questions regarding these products, please don’t hesitate to contact the Fertrell office.
3
Paul Keiser of Ag & Health Alive,
Marne, MI, Retires
As longtime Fertrell distributors, Paul and his late
wife Nancy Jones have been educating growers in various parts of the U.S for decades.
Paul has been an environmental activist since long
before organic was “in”. His focus in his work has
always been geared toward the benefits to people and
the environment, as opposed to the profit involved.
A few years ago, Paul shared the following article
in our newsletter. As you can see, his dedication to
organics plays a large part in all that he stands for.
Nancy & I have used and sold Fertrell products for 24
or 25 years. One of our staples in both gardening and
field production of vegetables and melons is Fertrell
Super 3-2-3. We have sold and/or used this product in
NJ, PA, DE, NC, NY, MA, SD and now Michigan for
the last 12 years.
In 1962, I sprayed synthetic chemical insecticides and
fungicides for an employer in a small fruit orchard
and herbicides on “weeds,” such as poison ivy, burdock and so on. Being young and careless, I poisoned
myself and had immune system weakness in the form
of severe allergic reaction to bee sting which took 12
years to overcome. I never sprayed synthetic poisons
in garden or field again.
At our home in Delran Township, Burlington County,
NJ, we had a solar greenhouse that Nancy had constructed with a two-day workshop of paid attendees
before we were married.
In my family was a lily that had orange blossoms,
and it grew about 14” high and produced two blossoms.
It was called “Nan’s lily” after my Mother Jeannette’s
Mother, Bertha Abigail Perry Smalley, who had kept
the lily for decades.
About 1985 or 86 we planted one of the Nan’s lily
bulbs in a hanging pot in the greenhouse and added
a bit of Fertrell Super 3-2-3 to the potting mix.
That lily plant grew to 2’9” (not 14”) and produced
six (not two) big, gorgeous blossoms! None of us had
Notes & Quotes
any idea that Nan’s lily had such genetic capacity!
Paul has not only been a Fertrell distributor but also
a writer for Acres USA. He was on DSE – TV’s “Living
Green” as a guest speaker.
In an interview with the Grand Rapids Press in 2009,
Paul explains his passion for healthy food, clean earth,
etc. (To read the full article, go to www.mlive.com)
In the 90s, Paul managed a farm at West Michigan
Academy of Environmental Science School.
From their farm they educated growers about organics and distributed Fertrell products to local farmers
and gardeners.
Paul set up a sizable dealer network in Michigan
to make Fertrell organic fertilizers, offering available
supplements to farmers/growers outside his immediate area.
Over the years, the Keisers represented Fertrell at
tradeshows and seminars, also offering Fertrell’s products and educating the public at local markets.
Both Paul and Nancy not only sold and taught organics, they were living it every day!
We would like to extend our best wishes to Paul for
his retirement and offer a huge THANK YOU for his
dedication over so many years!!!
4
Swine Notes by Peg Meier
Answers to some of the questions I receive from your
phone calls.
How much to feed pigs a day?
As a rule of thumb, you feed 1 lb. of food each day
for each month of age, up to a maximum of 6 lbs. per
day. Do not feed more than this - you will waste money
and end up with over-fat pigs.
Be sure to weigh the food - six pounds is probably
less than you think.
As a second rule of thumb, all feed should be cleared
up within 20-30 minutes. If not, reduce the amount,
adding more gradually as appetite increases.
Split the feeds into at least two offerings per day.
FYI…
-It will take roughly 5 to 6 months to raise a pig from
birth to a finish weight of around 250 pounds.
-After four to six weeks of feeding from its mother,
an average pig will eat roughly between 700 and 900
pounds of food (depending on many factors) until finish weight - which is why you don’t want to over-feed
or cause waste. Raising pigs is not inexpensive.
Regularly check the body condition of your pigs. To
do this, run your hand along the spine; if you can feel
it clearly, the pig is a bit thin; if you can feel it with
firm pressure, it is fine; if you can’t feel it at all, the pig
is too fat. It is also a great thing to get to know your
pigs through observation. Any changes are an alert
for potential health issues.
Pigs, like us, are omnivores and will eat a wide variety of foods. Also like us, they need a balanced diet of
fiber, energy, protein, vitamins and minerals to thrive.
If you would like help with a balanced ration, call the
office any time.
Whether you are doing this as a small farmer or not,
keep financial expenditures in good order for future
reference. And I would also note health issues and
observations as you get to know the “kids”. I cannot
stress enough how important it is to observe your ani-
Notes & Quotes
mals. Any information gleaned will be especially useful when calling the office to discuss health concerns.
Welcome New Dealers
Crane Dance Farm, Middleville, MI 49333, 616.293.1091,
email: [email protected]
Stanford Orchards, 260 Lewis Stanford Drive, Onalaska, TX 73360, 972.672.2278, email: ValForsyth@ntxpp.
com
DVD on Diversifying Pastured Poultry Production
5 Disc set
Topics Include:
• Duck Production
• Guinea Hens
• Turkey Production (2 discs)
• Special Nutritional & Health Needs for Waterfowl,
Turkeys & Guineas
Order online at apppa.org. $35 including shipping.
PO Box 85 | Hughesville, PA 17737 | 888-662-7772
5
Cow Management - by Seth J. Epler
Putting milk in the tank and then selling that milk
is what a dairy operation is all about. So I ask a simple
question – “Where does this milk come from?” Aside
from the silly and obvious answer, a cow, Dr. Robert
A. Patton states that a successful dairy operation can
be attributed to the following: 20% to genetics, 30% to
nutrition and feeding, and 50% to MANAGEMENT!
This is a very complex way to look at milking cows.
But it can be simplified like this – the one managing
the environment of the cows has much of the control.
According to Dr. Patton, the main reason that cows are
culled is, “Reproductive failure-but at slaughter 90%
are cycling normally. Problem is they don’t display
heat-and 90% of these cows had foot problems. We
do know that cows with sore feet show no or reduced
heat symptoms. Cows also eat less and are thinner,
reducing chance for productive and reproductive success. If we can change the environment to keep feet
healthy, we can gain in both milk and reproductive
success. (Patton pp 8, 9) When we think of things this
way, the observation is there that with simple management practices profitable success can be obtained.
This entire concept boils down to realizing that the
comfort and stress level of the animal is in direct relation to production and profitability. It is why farmers
do everything that they can to keep the cows cool
during the hotter days of the season. It is the reason
why farmers try to create a comfortable bed for the
cows in their stalls. It is why the foot trimmer and
foot baths are used. All of these are dairy management practices that, when used correctly, can help the
comfort of the animals. In turn, this all helps ensure
a more productive and successful operation.
Notes & Quotes
Make Your Soils and Plants Work for
You - by Dan Dalton
Dr. William Albrecht is well known for advising
farmers to “feed the soil and not the plant.” While
reading volume three of the Albrecht Papers, I came
across another important piece of wisdom that all
farmers should remember as we begin a new season.
Agriculture is biology first and foremost. It is technology and management second.
When the season gets busy, it is easy to forget about
how the biology in the soil is working for you – maintaining or improving soil structure and making nutrients available to your plants, among other things. As
you plan your season, it is important to think about
how your management and use of equipment will affect the biology in your soil.
Tilling and plowing can be useful tools to control
weeds, break new ground, and incorporate organic
matter, but they are also very disruptive to your soil’s
biology. When planning out your crop rotation, spend
a few minutes to think about whether tilling or plowing between crops is necessary. Could the land be
managed in a way that does not disrupt the soil microbes after every crop?
Another great way to help your soil microbes is to
be sure that they are getting a mix of food sources and
enough food to sustain them. There are two important
sources of plant food: sugars that are given off through
the roots of plants and decomposing plant and animal material that is incorporated into the soil. Sugars
are given off by crops to soil microbes in exchange
for other nutrients the plant cannot make or access
itself. It is a mutual relationship, meaning a healthier
soil yields a healthier plant. Incorporating crop residues, especially cover crops, helps to feed other soil
microbes, increases the available nutrients in the soil,
and improves the soil’s structure, all of which lead to
6
healthier crops.
As the weather turns warmer and the season gets going, let’s remember that our soil biology is what makes
farming possible. Don’t forget that “agriculture is biology first and foremost” and to “feed the soil!”
Spring Shipping
Then God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation:
plants yielding seed, and fruit trees on the earth bearing fruit after their kind with seed in them”; and it was
so.” Gen1:11(NASB) “Then the LORD God took the man
and put him into the Garden of Eden to cultivate it and
keep it.” Gen2:15 (NASB)
Spring has sprung! So for all who are busy cultivating and keeping … just a few reminders for those
of you who will need freight quotes, and shipments.
Please try to provide ALL necessary shipping information when placing your order or making your request. We will need the shipment destination town,
state, zip, weight of possible order (for example, please
let us know if there will be 60# bags on your order &
how many), and any extra accessorial needed for the
offload (notify call, delivery appt., pallet jack, lift gate,
hazmat, short truck, etc.) Please note your receiving
hours! Also, any self-arranged truckload or multiple
pallet pickups must be picked up on the date scheduled. This will help with quote times and assure less
issues on shipments. THANK YOU in advance for your
help with this. It is greatly appreciated!
You’ve got questions...I’ve got answers!
By Monica Pape
I’m on a mission to get to know all of you. Maybe
not face to face, or right away, but if you are reading
this newsletter, I know you have an interest in organic
fertilizers and amendments.
I consider it a privilege to have the opportunity to
connect with our dealers, distributors and customers
through our newsletter. So I thought “Why not take
questions from all of you?” That’s how I can get to
know you, your interests, what you need help with
and what you like or don’t like. One of our seasoned
salesmen says “Here at Fertrell, we sell with service”.
You don’t find that everywhere nowadays. We are here
to help, and if I can help by answering your questions,
then ask away! You can submit them via email to
[email protected] or mail them to our office at The
Fertrell Co. c/o Monica, PO Box 265, Bainbridge, PA
17502. You may also call me Tuesday thru Thursday
at the office at 717-367-1566.
I’m going to get things started by asking all of you if
you know what kind of plant is pictured below. I spent
time with the folks at Hershey Community Garden
located in Hershey, PA. One of their members thought
it would be neat to grow this somewhat unusual plant
in her plot. I’m lucky enough to have seen it before
she had to clean her garden out at the end of the year.
So, let me know what you think it is... One clue is that
it smells delicious! And as a bonus - - - she used our
products to grow it!
“You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands;
you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you.”
Ps128:2 (ESV)
Notes & Quotes
7
Upcoming events:
The Farmer to Farmer Marketplace
For additional events which were not available at time
of press, please check the Fertrell Facebook page --Thank you!
Hay, Forages, Grains and Livestock:
Piglets that are being weaned at Great Bend Farm The oldest is 4 feeder pigs 40-45 lbs. ready now. There
is a litter of 9 that should be weaned on Dec. 6 and
another litter of 10 that should be weaned on Dec.20.
There is also a litter of 8 that will be ready around Jan.
15. All the pigs are Tamworth Old Spot cross they are
good looking piglets prices vary from 100.00 140.00
depending on how many they take. Let me know if
you have any questions. Andy Dohner Great Bend
Farm phone (610) 780-2579 farmers@greatbendfarm.
com www.greatbendfarm.com (T0115)
March 4th, 2015 – Nofa NY Organics Dairy & Field
Crop Conference, Holiday Inn, Liverpool, NY
Info: Bethany Wallis 585.271.1979 ext. 513 or email:
[email protected] or visit www.nofany.org
March 13th -14th 2015 – NC-VA Regional Hops Conference, Forsyth Cty Center, 1450 Fairchild Road, Winston
Salem NC info: 828.684.3562 or [email protected]
March 14, 2015 - Lambing Clinic, Owens Farm, Sunbury, PA. Vet presentation, guest shepherd panel,
hands-on observation/practice in 100-ewe flock. More
info 570.286.5309 www.owensfarm.com.
Wednesday, March 18, 2015 - Fertrell Poultry Meeting.
9:00am – 3:00pm. Location: Miller’s Natural Foods
2888 Miller Ln, Bird in Hand, PA 17505. Cost: Free (must
RSVP!) to Peg 717.367.1566 or 800.347.1566
March 28th -29th 2015 - APPPA Annual Conference,
Stone Barns NY. More info, please contact Mike Badger
888.662.7772 or [email protected]
April 3rd 2015 – Grower’s Meeting Sponsored by Fertrell Co, Organic Valley and Martin’s Farm Supply 9:30
AM – 3 PM at Mo’s Pub and Grill 3357 State Route 11,
Malone, NY 12953, 518.483.3667 Free Lunch will be
provided, therefore please RSVP by March 27th 2015
by calling 800.347.1566 ext 230
April 18, 2015 - Pastured Pork Day, Owens Farm, Sunbury PA. Producer panel, nutrition presentation, facility tour. More info 570.286.5309 www.owensfarm.com.
Notes & Quotes
Equipment:
Poultry Processing Equipment - Ashley, Pickwick,
Featherman, Poultryman pickers and salders. Vacuum
packing machines, shrink bags, knives, kill cones and
any equipment for poultry processing. We ship
anywhere; Jim McLaughlin, Cornerstone Farm Ventures, Norwich, New York 607.334.2833 or on the web
at www.chickenpickers.com (P0107)
Edible Processed Products:
Certified organic garlic – grown on our farm – Valley
Organic Garlic Farm, 523 Valley Road, Quarryville, PA
17566 phone 717.806.0392 (T0114)
Cheese - Shepherd’s Hollow Farm, 1624 Georgetown
Rd., Christiana, PA 17509 (T0114)
Cheese - King’s Kreamery, 995 B Musser School Rd,
Gordonville, PA 17529 (T0114)
Wanted:
Looking for 1-2 used soil probes. Please call Melvin
Martin, 315.265.4180 (T0115)
8
Goat
Nutri-Balancer
•Rations formulated to
meet the dietary and
management style needs
for both dairy and meat
goats
oice
Free-Ch re
ls a
Minera
ding
le, inclu
b
a
il
a
v
a
&
nd Salt
Redmo
n Kelp
Acadia
•A balanced blend of
vitamins and minerals
including copper
•Direct Feed Microbials
Sheep
Nutri-Balancer
•Rations formulated to
meet the dietary and
management style
needs of sheep
•A balanced blend of
vitamins and minerals
•Direct Feed Microbials
The Fertrell Company • Bainbridge, PA 17502 • phone: 800-347-1566 • www.fertrell.com
Notes & Quotes
9
Squash: Do You Grow It? I Do!
by Don Brubaker
Part Three of “Do You Have Your Pollinators Hired
For 2015?”
Squash bees will nest in the ground as deep as two
feet. They can also be found on the lower leaves at the
base of plants.
As I drove to the Fertrell office this morning, the
roads were icy, the school was closed and the office
parking lot was a sheet of ice. As I put my thoughts
together for another article on the pollinator kick that
I have been on, for some reason my mind drifted to
squash and grilling it with onions, peppers and tomatoes. Wow - that could be a meal in itself! But I
digress… Now that I am in the frame of mind to eat
some fresh squash, let’s get them pollinated.
Back in November I attended a Xerces Society workshop in Melfa, Va. They are a great organization, working to improve man’s understanding of native pollinators. Who is the best pollinator? We could argue
all day about that. As I continue to learn more about
the world of pollinators, I get more and more excited.
Nature has so much to offer us if we could only learn
to work with it as it was created. Did you know that
there is a squash bee? I didn’t. In fact, there are roughly
4000 species of bees in North America.
Squash bees can be identified by their size - 0.4 to
.0.6 inches in length. They are typically browner in
color with sparse bands of brown hair around their
midsection. They forage on squash, gathering nectar
and pollen from flower to flower as they do the job of
pollinating the plant. They do their job early in the
morning, starting at least a half hour before sun-up,
long before the honey bee is up and going.
News from the front:
Just a friendly reminder: Prepaid fertilizer needs
to be picked up / shipped no later than March 31st
2015. Please make arrangements at your earliest convenience --- Thank you !
Attention
www.fertrell.com
Notes & Quotes
10
Changes to liquid fish program
by Paul Douglass
Fertrell’s liquid fish program has undergone significant changes in the last few years. Inconsistencies in
the supply and quality of our available raw materials
as well as changes to the National Organic Program
(NOP) rules governing the nitrogen levels of liquid
fish for organic use have led to changes in the products we have available. We have already discontinued
several products and changed the NPK levels of others. Now we will be undergoing changes yet again.
Eager Farmer
Connecting Experience, Education and
Enthusiasm in Farming
Our mission is to establish connections, kick-start
partnerships and encourage healthy agricultural landscapes that span the generations.
Are you looking for an intern or apprentice?
Are you needing a farm manager?
Are you in need of part-time or full-time farm workers?
Do you want to intern at a farm?
Do you have farming experience and would like to
partner with someone who has land?
Are you a land owner wanting someone to manage it
for future generations?
Then Eager farmer is the place for you!
Eager Farmer is an online connection for experienced
farmers, educated farm managers, establish land owners and eager wannabe farmers.
Products that have already been discontinued include Omega Grow 5-1-1 and Fertrell Liquid 4-2-4.
Changes to the NOP rules covering liquid fish products have caused us to discontinue any product with a
nitrogen level higher than three. Fertrell Liquid Gold
2-4-2 and Liquid Starter 2-3-1 will also be discontinued when our existing stock runs out. Other products
have had their nutrient levels changed. Fertrell liquid
1 was changed from a 4-1-1 to a 3-1-1 due to the NOP
rule, and Fertrell Liquid 3-4-3 was changed to a 3-2-3
due to a raw material change.
So what is new for the upcoming year? We will be
continuing the production of Fertrell Liquid #1 3-1-1
and Fertrell Liquid #3 2-1-1. We will also continue to
produce Fertrell liquid 3-2-3. As always, all Fertrell
products will be available in quart, gallon, 5 gallon
and 55 gallon drums. Fertrell will also be partnering
with DRAMMATIC Plant Foods to carry Drammatic
”O” 2-5-1(OMRI Listed) Liquid Fish and Drammatic
“ONE” 4-4-1 (OMRI Listed) Liquid Fish, Kelp, Chilean
Nitrate, and Fulvic Acid available in 5 gallon and 55
gallon sizes. We will also carry Drammatic 5N 5-4-2
(OMRI Listed) with Fish, Chilean Nitrate, and Potassium Sulfate, available in a 55 gallon size.
Connect with us at www.eagerfarmer.com
or
www.facebook.com/eagerfarmer
Notes & Quotes
11
A
nd
Frie
of Nature Since 1
94 6
Visit us online at:
www.fertrell.com
PRSRT STD
US POSTAGE PAID
ALABAMA MAIL SERVICE
DECATUR, AL 35602
Notes & Quotes
PO Box 265
Bainbridge, PA 17502
Phone: 717.367.1566
Fax: 717.367.9319
69
!
s
r
Yea
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
12