Business Rural Winter 2021

| 75 RURAL SERVICES » Effective Microrganisims EM products are a low cost input for farmers, a cost that more than compensated by the gains of having healthy soil with improved water and nutrient holding capacity. 0210 544 780 h.f.toolbox@gmail.com 5 Brocas Ave, Hamilton The world that we live in is populated by microbes, they are everywhere and they play a surprisingly large role in our day to day lives. Human and animal communities depend on microbes in many di erent ways, probably some that we do not yet even realise. Some of the areas where we constantly rely on microbes Gut health, establishing and/or maintaining a bene icial gut lora help us and the animals we work with to stay healthy and productive. The bene icial gut bacteria out-compete the non-bene icial gut bacteria, maintains a healthy gut and maintains health. A non-bene icial gut lora will hinder proper digestion and cause in lammation of the gut wall. By ensuring a healthy gut lora, we can improve digestion, health and production in our working and food producing animals. Soil health - In a similar way that gut bacteria keeps us and our animals safe, they work in soils to support crop and pasture production and protect the crops from damage caused by non-bene icial bacteria. Microbes living in the soil are essential for converting nitrogen and other nutrients into forms that are plant available, helping plants to grow and improve the nutrient value of crops and pasture. Environmental health - Microbes in the environment help in the decomposition of waste and reduce the gases often associated with waste products. The use of microbes in animal housing systems help to reduce the build-up of harmfull gases that often cause respiratory illnesses that may lead on to other health threatening concerns. E ective microorganisms in waterways, e luent ponds and sewage traps, help to break down solids, reduce harmfull gases (odours associated with sewage works, drainage and e luent ponds). Odour control is an important facet of Working with Microbes environmental health, the use of e ective microbes in piggeries is one of many “case studies” concerning the e ective use of microbes. The gases of most concern in swine buildings are ammonia, carbon dioxide and hydrogen sul ide. These gases are a major source of indoor air contamination, a ecting animal performance and human health. Ammonia (NH3) release originates from the nitrogen content in the urine and feces deposited in pits or on the building loor surfaces with or without bedding material. Ammonia (NH3), together with hydrogen sul ide (H2S) is one of the most critical pollutants for pig production, because of its direct relationship with animal and workers’ welfare and health. Generally, the negative e ects of NH3 concentrations on the physiological state of pigs in terms of growth and health have been thoroughly researched and acknowledged. E ective microorganisms (EM) were introduced to a waikato pig farmwith the speci ic aim to reduce odours . What occurred was more than just odour reduction. After a couple of months on a program of lushing with EM, the odours have almost disappeared, the pigs are happier and more content, comfortable and clean in a healthier environment and the e luent ponds are a “healthy” colour. OUR MI SS I ON : IMPROVING HEALTH FROM THE SOIL UP : IMPROVING HEALTH www.holisticfarmsolutions.co.nz Holistic Farm Solutions is a Waikato company that work with a wide range of products including seaweed based liquid fertilisers and soil biology that was created to bring together a variety of products that work to optimise complete systems rather than with individual parts. The fundamental mind-set of Holistic Farm Solutions is therefore characterised by a unity of parts and is far more than just a sum of those parts. Our aim is to draw together knowledge and products that are designed to be soil, plant, animal, producer and consumer friendly. li i l i i i i i i l i li i ili il i l i i i i l i i i i l . The fundamental mind-set of li i l i is i i i j . i i l i il, l , i l, i l .