Farm Made Fertilizers
On the farm nothing will be wasted. All byproducts will be repurposed to ensure everything gives back to the farm in some way. Process waste is not different, all process waste will give back. We will apply for our fertilizer license through the CDFA to resell our fertilizers. Fertilizers are the life blood of our farms, pastures and seedlings. Products will be cooked, dried, ground and packages using a container based drying system.
One important statement here, animals need to be processed in order for us to have the needed resources to make fertilizers. No sustainable farm can rely solely on manure. And no sustainable farm can buy fertilizers made by strip mining the earth for minerals, or using fertilizers manufactured by the petroleum industry. Animals have to die to eat sustainable vegetables. The world is not simple.
Synthetic Sources:
- Nitrogen (N): Produced industrially by combining nitrogen from the air with hydrogen from natural gas, primarily through the Haber process, to create ammonia, which is then used to make various nitrogen fertilizers.
- Phosphorus (P): Derived from mined phosphate rock, treated with sulfuric acid to produce phosphoric acid, which is then used to make phosphate fertilizers.
- Potassium (K): Extracted from mined ores and processed into plant food, including potassium chloride, sulfate, and nitrate.
Bone Meal Fertilizer
Bone meal is an organic fertilizer that comes from animal bones, which are sterilized and ground into a fine powder. Here’s a detailed description: Typically made by pasteurizing the bones, drying them and then grinding them.
- Composition: Bone meal is primarily made of beef bones, a byproduct of slaughterhouses.
- Nutrients: It is rich in phosphorus, with an NPK rating usually around 3-15-0. It also contains calcium and a small amount of nitrogen.
- Benefits:
- Enhances root growth in young plants.
- Provides extra help against diseases and infestation.
- Increases yield of fruit and seeds.
- Boosts the microbial population in the soil, promoting healthier soil structure.
- Improves the health of various vegetables and flowering plants due to its calcium content.
- Drawbacks:
- As a slow-release fertilizer, it doesn’t provide an immediate nutrient boost.
- Can attract scavengers if not incorporated well into the soil.
- Only effective in soil with a pH level below 7.0.
- Not a balanced fertilizer; may require additional fertilization for nitrogen or potassium
Feather Meal Fertilizers
Feather meal is an organic fertilizer derived from the processing of poultry feathers. It’s known for being a high-nitrogen source that is beneficial for plant growth. Here’s a detailed description:
- Source: It is a byproduct of the poultry industry, made from feathers that are collected after poultry animals are harvested for meat.
- Processing: The feathers are subjected to high temperatures and pressure, which sterilizes them and kills off any pathogens. They are then dried and ground into a fine powder or turned into pellets.
- Nutrient Content: Feather meal is rich in nitrogen, typically containing between 10% to 15% nitrogen. This makes it an excellent choice for promoting healthy foliage and vegetative growth in plants.
- Benefits:
- Slow-release nitrogen: Provides a steady supply of nitrogen over time, which is essential for chlorophyll production and energy conversion in plants.
- Soil structure improvement: Helps in building the life within the soil, including beneficial microorganisms like bacteria, nematodes, and fungi3.
- Sustainability: It’s a way for poultry farmers to reduce waste and create a biodegradable agricultural product.
- Application: It’s best applied directly to the soil, mixed into the top few inches, as it is not water-soluble and requires soil contact to decompose.
- Considerations: While feather meal is a great source of nitrogen, it doesn’t contain many other nutrients that plants need. Therefore, it may need to be used in conjunction with other fertilizers to provide a balanced nutrient supply
Blood Meal Fertilizers
Blood meal is a dry, inert powder made from blood, primarily used as a high-nitrogen organic fertilizer and a high-protein animal feed. Here’s a detailed description:
- Source: It is typically made from the blood of cattle or hogs as a by-product of slaughterhouses.
- Nutrient Content: Blood meal has an NPK ratio of approximately N = 13.25%, P = 1.0%, and K = 0.6%, making it one of the highest non-synthetic sources of nitrogen.
- Benefits:
- High Nitrogen: Essential for plant growth, especially for leafy plants and heavy nitrogen feeders.
- Organic: It’s an environmentally friendly option compared to chemical fertilizers.
- Slow Release: Provides a steady supply of nutrients over one to four months
- Pest Deterrent: The smell can repel certain animals like deer, rabbits, and moles.
- Drawbacks:
- Usage: It should be applied in the spring as soon as plant growth is observed and can be reapplied every two to three months during the growing season. The recommended amount is 1 to 2 pounds per 100 square feet.
Fish Emulsion Fertilizers
Fish emulsion is an organic liquid fertilizer made from the byproducts of the fish oil and fish meal industry. It’s a quick-acting fertilizer that provides a good source of nitrogen and other nutrients to plants. Here’s a detailed description:
- Composition: It is produced from the fluid remains of fish processed for fish oil and fish meal.
- Nutrient Content: Fish emulsion typically has a high nitrogen content and also contains phosphorus and potassium, essential nutrients for plant growth.
- Application: It is a thick concentrate that you dilute with water and apply to your lawn or garden. It can be used as a foliar spray or soil drench.
- Benefits:
Fish emulsion is especially useful for plants that need a nitrogen boost. It’s important to follow the recommended.