KOZGRO, Inc. - Major Changes In Agriculture

Major Changes in Agriculture

Farming is far different today than it was a hundred years ago. In the late 1800’s and the turn of the century, most farming was done on small family farms. In contrast, today the small family farm is gone, replaced by large highly automated farms. Let’s look at how this farming transition has taken place. The farmers in the late 1800’s worked their farms with horses, mules, oxen, and a lot of hand labor. The only fertilizer programs available to them were animal manure’s, cover crops for green manure, and crop residue. The soil abounded with earthworms, and many forms of beneficial microorganisms. The farmer’s soil was high not only in organic matter, but in humus (organic matter broken down into a usable form). After the turn of the century with the use of the tractor and related equipment, farming as it was, changed rapidly. Now, the farmer was capable of farming more ground. More land was put under cultivation, and the family farm was still the backbone of agriculture up until World War II.

After World War II, the look of agriculture began to change. The chemical age of farming had begun. Many different types of commercial fertilizers and pesticides became readily available in large quantities. With this availability of commercial fertilizers and chemicals, the farmer was able to put more ground under cultivation. With the continued use of commercial fertilizers and pesticides, these once productive soils started to become less productive. Since most commercial fertilizers and pesticides are salt based, salt build up has become a widespread problem. Humus has been mined out of our soil at an alarming rate, until very little humus remains in our agricultural soil today. Nematode and insect infestations take an increasing toll on the crops. Our water is becoming contaminated with chemical residue.

The Kozgro Program can help to solve many of the problems facing agriculture today.

Commercial fertilizers

What are the advantages of commercial fertilizers? First of all, commercial fertilizers are available in large quantities compared to natural fertilizers. Secondly, most commercial fertilizers can be of benefit to the soil and plant if not used in excess.

What are the negative aspects of using today’s commercial fertilizers? Although crop production does increase the first several years when using commercial fertilizers, it takes more each growing season to maintain production. The constant use of commercial fertilizers over the years depletes the soil and builds salts in the soil to such a state that production drops severely. A high salt content in the soil not only retards plant growth, but creates an ideal environment where many parasitic organisms flourish, causing widespread crop destruction. Commercial fertilizers tend to embalm or burn up crop residue, while at the same time depleting soil humus. This disrupts the humus cycle, as crop residue cannot be broken down into organic matter and finally into humus, the lifeblood of the soil. The soil tilth is destroyed. The once mellow and sweet soil becomes hard and compact.

Organic products

Organic products are natural products, or products made from a combination of natural products. There are a wide variety of organic products that are used for crop production; such as animal manure’s, composts, mineral deposits, lignite, peat, etc..

There are three basic problems with most organic products used today for crop production. First of all, they may not be available in large enough quantities needed to be used for commercial crop production. Secondly, in the case of manure’s used for organic fertilizers, the chemicals used to raise the feed is passed through the animal and excreted in the manure itself, thus the manure is not chemical free. There is also chemical residue from plants being used to make compost and other organic products. Third, most organic products are not in a form that is readily available for the plant to utilize.

Where chemicals mine the soil, organics try to build up the soil by natural means. Where chemicals destroy beneficial micro and macro organisms, organics attempt to bring back a balance of beneficial organisms that will help to control the harmful organisms in the soil. The problem with most organic products today is they are very slow in improving the conditions of the soil that has been depleted with years of heavy chemical usage. Organic products available today build organic matter in the soil. Organic matter must be further broken down into humus before it can be utilized by the plant.

Kozgro organic products

All Kozgro products are totally organic and chemical free, made from organic plant extracts. Through our unique extracting and blending processes, Kozgro has developed products that are not only concentrated, but fast acting as well.

Kozgro’s Agricultural Field Blend (AFB)

AFB, like all of the Kozgro organic products, is made from a special organic plant extracting process unique to Kozgro. There are many benefits for the farmer using the Kozgro organic fertilizer and plant food. The Kozgro agricultural program consists of the AFB being applied to a crop in accordance with the Kozgro application chart.

There are many reasons and advantages for farmers to use the Kozgro Program.

The Kozgro Program helps to control parasitic nematodes in the soil in a relatively short period of time (refer to the Nematode-Crop Production report in the Articles section).
Kozgro's organic fertilizer and plant food, AFB, works with the soil. Unlike most chemicals that mine the soil, Kozgro’s organic fertilizer and plant food builds soil fertility. It will also make more of the fertilizer you use available to the plant, while retaining more of the fertilizer in the root zone. The farmers on our program should reduce their nitrogen fertilizer by 20 to 25%, as the soil is now able to hold and utilize the fertilizer more efficiently.
The Kozgro Program creates an appropriate environment for beneficial microorganisms, such as aerobic bacteria which helps break down plant residue into organic matter, and finally into humus.
The Kozgro Program helps to build up the immune system of the plant as well as increase the plant’s sugar level. This high sugar level is very important because chewing and sucking insects excrete sugar, but are unable to digest it. Insects that ingest too much sugar will get a condition similar to severe diarrhea, and die. Generally, when the plant sugar content is high enough, the insects simply avoid feeding on the plant.
The Kozgro Program builds humus in the soil immediately, due to the active form of humic acid in the AFB. Other humic acids on the market today are passive humic acids made from lignite, and other mineral deposits (refer to the Humus-The Miracle of The Soil report in the Articles section).
Kozgro's organic fertilizer and plant food helps crop residue to break down more rapidly into organic matter and finally into the useable form of humus. Farmers today have a severe problem breaking down their crop residue (refer to The Crop Residue Dilemma report in the Articles section).
The Kozgro Program also helps to save the farmer up to 25% on his irrigation water usage. The AFB restores the natural water holding capacity, as it restores the soil back to its once productive state (refer to the Water report in the Articles section).

Kozgro products are currently being used across the United States, as well as in foreign countries with exciting results.

Farmers using Kozgro's organic fertilizer and plant food, AFB, report the following:

Parasitic Nematodes control without the use of nematicides or fumigants, saving $100 - $200 - $300, or more per acre.
Saving up to 25% or more on nitrogen fertilizer.
Reduced pesticide costs.
Less insect and disease problems.
Better water penetration and retention.
Savings of up to 25% on irrigation cost.
Increased beneficial micro and macro organisms in the soil, including earthworms.
Crop residue break down quicker.
Mellower soil.
Better soil structure.
Increased yields and better shelf life.
Overall, more profit.

Specific crop results

Kozgro's organic fertilizer and plant food, AFB, has been used successfully on most crops in the United States. The following are examples of the results farmers are reporting on a few specific crops.

Alfalfa Hay:
Quicker regrowth, more stems and leaves, higher TDN, RFV, and ADS values, better root systems and more nodules, higher yields and nematodes controlled, and more profit.

Alfalfa Seed:
Larger flowers, bees work the flowers better, better root system and more nodules, less insect problems, higher yields, higher germination count, more profit.

Beans (dry, pinto, soybeans, etc.):
Better seed germination, better stands, better root system, abundant nodules, healthier plants, less insect and disease problems, higher yields, more profit.

Citrus:
Nematodes controlled without fumigation, fruit colors better, better growth, more foliage, sweeter fruit, more uniform ripening, less insect and disease problems, longer shelf life, more profit.

Corn:
Less nitrogen fertilizer used, less stress problems, lower irrigation costs, less pest problems, better storage, more profit.

Fruit and Nut Trees:
Nematodes controlled without fumigation, more uniform ripening, better fruit color, less insect and disease problems, more tree growth, more foliage, longer shelf life, more profit.

Grains (wheat, barley, oats, etc.):
Less nitrogen fertilizer, more stooling, doesn’t lodge as much, better storability, more yield, more profit.

Grapes:
Didn’t have to fumigate to control nematodes, higher sugar, more cane growth, less insect and disease problems, less mildew, longer shelf life, more profit.

Mint:
Better root growth, more leaves, less insect problems, more mint oil, control of nematodes, quicker regrowth, less nitrogen used, more profit.

Olives:
Control of nematodes without fumigation, more growth and foliage, better fruit set and yield, more profit.

Onions:
Better seed germination, more uniform onion size, less spraying for thrip, helped to control pink root, helped to control butt rot, less clods when harvesting, onions store better, better water penetration and retention, more profit.

Peanuts:
Helped to control nematodes without fumigation, help to control Sclerotinia, little to no black hull, better tasting peanuts, more profit.

Potatoes:
Nematodes were controlled without fumigation, better root systems, better set, less insect and disease problems, higher solids, better yields, better storability, more profit.

Sugar Beets:
Helped to control nematodes without fumigation, more sugar, more tonnage, less insect and disease problems, better storage, more profit.

Vegetables:
Nematodes controlled without fumigation or nematicides, better root system, less insect and disease problems, longer shelf life, more yield, more profit.

Application Methods

The best way to apply Kozgro’s AFB is to broadcast it.

Agricultural Field Blend Compatibility

The AFB has a natural spreader and sticker in it. We do not recommend the use of any other spreader or sticker with it. We also do not recommend that the AFB be used with any pesticides. You will get more performance out of the AFB, for the same cost, when it is applied by itself. It is worth the extra trip to apply it. See individual brochures and the application chart for specific information on different crops.

Changes to observe when using the Kozgro Program

Changes to see in the soil when using the Kozgro Program.

Parasitic nematode control can be accomplished in a relatively short period of time.
Healthy earthworm populations will be re-established in the soil once again in a relatively short period of time.
The soil will become more mellow, with better water penetration and retention. This reduces erosion problems, as well as reducing irrigation costs.
The nutrients will become more readily available to the plant when needed through the process of Biological Transmutation, thus the use of nitrogen should be reduced by 20 to 25%.
The soil will have less clods and will be easier to work. This is very important when harvesting sugar beets, potatoes, onions, etc..
The Cationic Exchange Capacity is increased.
Salt build up in the soil will be reduced, as the AFB breaks them down into cell and tissue salts. This changes the salts in the soil from a liability to an asset.

Changes to see in the plant when using the Kozgro Program.

Better seed germination, thus a more uniform stand.
Larger, healthier and stronger root system, especially more hair root development. This is especially important since most nutrient uptake is accomplished through the hair roots.
In legumes, not only is there better root development, but the roots will develop more nodules. This means more free nitrogen for the plant to use, and for the next crop.
The AFB helps the plant build a strong healthy immune system by increasing the plant sugar level. Thus, the plant will have less problems with insect and disease problems.
The plant produces better quality fruit with a better shelf life.

Kozgro Manure Pond/Pit Activator (MP220)

Kozgro, Inc. received many requests from our customers to formulate an organic product that would help break down the manure crust that formed on the top of their lagoons and pits, as well as help to reduce the sediment on the bottom. They also wanted the offensive odors controlled as well.

Today, many dairy, livestock, and poultry operations are being fined, and in many cases shut down, because of the offensive odors and health hazards they create. The American public is taking owners of these operations to court as public nuisances and in many cases the courts are ruling in favor of the public, not the producer.

Kozgro’s MP220 has many advantages to the user. Some of them are as followed:

It helps to break down the manure crust that forms on lagoons and pits, plus reduce the sediment in the bottom of the lagoon or pit.
It helps to control the offensive odors of the manure lagoons and pits. When this liquid is spread on fields, the neighbors do not complain as much about the offensive odors.
The liquid manure can easily be applied to the fields as an inexpensive source of fertilizer for crop production.
The MP220 is organic and ecologically safe for our environment.
The MP220 is very effective and economical in helping to solve the crusting, sediment, and odor problems encountered in most manure pits and lagoons.