NZ Dairy Spring 2021

86 | nz dairy Humates an essential part of the mix Richard Loader W hen considering the current drive towards regenerative farming it is difficult not to consider humates as an essential part of the mix for Kiwi farmers striving to improve their soil and animal health. A pure form of organic matter, humates are an accumulation of partly decayed forests and other carbon rich residues that have been compressed and preserved over the millennia. Often referred to as humic substances, humate deposits are high in carbon, natural minerals and trace elements. They also contain two very powerful bioactive substances — humic acid and fulvic acid. Family owned and operated Southern Humates has been at the forefront of the revolution since 2011 when Southland farmers Malcolm and Ann Sinclair discovered the unique benefits of humates, which had been locked up in their lignite mine on their Waituna property. Tests found that the humates had high levels of humic and fulvic acid and that it was rich in carbon — all good inputs for soils and animal health. Microbial trials with Soil Foodweb NZ showed that the humates on the Sinclair’s property signifi- cantly improved the fungal and bacterial activity in the soil. A five-year trial on pastoral land to determine the effect of humates on fertilisers such as urea in pasture growth concluded in 2019 proving that humates did have a positive effect on fertiliser, increasing pasture growth while reducing nitrate leaching. Formally established in 2015 for the purpose of selling humates, Southern Humates received bio-grade certification for soil and animal health in 2018. Today, the Southland company has established 3 rd party logistics stores in Wyndham, Invercargill, Christchurch, Palmerston North, New Plymouth, Te Awamutu, Tauranga and Whangarei, providing easy access to its products throughout New Zealand. From its Waituna seam humate is sold in solid form screened for different grades, as well as in liquid form. National Sales Manager Steve Booker says the company’s studies have proven that humates has a positive effect right across the full range of soil types. “It’s important to note that not all humates are the same, and each different humate seam has different qualities. Southern Humates’ seam is consistently high in humic acid and along with fulvic acid and its high carbon content works to improve soil biology by stimulating the microbial activity in the soil, and in particular fungal activity. “Tests throughout the country have found that most New Zealand soils are lacking in fungal activ- ity, and that is due to high reliance in synthetic fer- “Tests throughout the country have found that most New Zealand soils are lacking in fungal activity, and that is due to high reliance in synthetic fertilisers, and you have the horticulture and viticulture sectors putting on a lot of fungicides. The humic acid in humates is probably the best stimulator of fungal activity in the world.” Photos: Benefits from adding humates to the soil include increased water holding capacity, improved nutrient uptake, and improved soil structure. Stock Humate has proved very successful at calf rearing. DAIRY SERVICES » Southern Humates National SalesManager: • AgLime • LimeMag • Agriblends • HDP Dicalcic • Southern Humates • Organics • Fertiliser