The future of farming utilizes humates in production systems
Innovations in biological farming systems are created by balancing minerals and soil life in relation to diversity and volume.
Research is proving humic substances stimulate plant roots, soil life and chelate minerals, while improving a plant’s ability to grow. Humates grow stronger plants, which ultimately yields larger returns.
Ground-breaking technology developed by local research teams, led by OroGro 307 General Manager and Doctor of Applied Physics Noel Tanner of Byron, is leading the way to create a completely organic liquid humate product to benefit plant life.
Utilizing humates
According to Tanner’s research, the root structure of a plant has semi-permeable membranes which identify minerals, vitamins, phosphates, nitrogen and other beneficial compounds and lets the plant’s membrane utilize them.
Many beneficial compounds in the soil are not recognized by the root membrane and are not absorbed. Essentially, the plant misidentifies beneficial compounds.
Humates are a salt of humic acid (HA) and form over millions of years as a result of the decomposition of plant and animal tissues which have been compressed. Humates are the only substance with the ability to hold onto nutrients in the soil.
Tanner explained, “Chelation is the process where humates attach themselves to beneficial vitamins, minerals and other nutrients already present in the soil. Essentially, chelated nutrients have a much higher chance of being absorbed successfully into the plant to provide nutrition.”
“Just one aspect of our product, which puts it above the competitors, is OroGro 307 is made from pure leonardite and reverse osmosis purified water with no extracting chemical agents at all. Our process is a breakthrough innovation in our industry – a completely mechanical, non-chemical extraction technology,” he continued.
Tanner, a graduate of Brigham Young University and Cambridge University, took a leap into humic science as OroGro 307’s development team, which consists of science experts and agricultural specialists, created a unique blend of humates to improve soil’s ability to retain oxygen, water and nutrients.
Tanner noted, “We work with farmers to improve productivity, fertility and health of their soil, creating uncommonly rich farmland.”
Some humate products are in powder form, but Tanner and the team have created a liquid humate product, and using roughly one pint per acre, applied once to twice a year, gets the job done.
Manufactured in Wyoming
Tanner, who was born and raised in Byron and a 1958 graduate of the Byron school, was able to purchase his hometown school three years ago. He now utilizes the school as a production facility, and with breakthrough technology, produces a new and unique product line through custom-fabricated production equipment.
OroGro 307 is American-made, and the raw materials are sourced and manufactured in the U.S. OroGro 307 proudly implements strict quality controls and uses tight regulations to guarantee a quality product.
“For purity and safety, we pasteurize our humates to remove any pathogens or contaminates,” Tanner explained.
OroGro 307 has more than 50 fully chelated minerals and almost undetectable levels of mercury, lead and other toxic metals.
However, he further stated, “OroGro 307 humates work well when mixed with a liquid fertilizer. It serves to buffer the soluble fertilizer, can dramatically improve the effectiveness of the fertilizer and does an excellent job of buffering the pH of the soil. Therefore, helping to release nutrients into the soil.”
Humates provide stable and long-lasting nutrition to support fundamental humus in soil. OroGro 307 is meant to add to a fertilizing routine, not to replace it.
“OroGro 307 is the finest-ground humate product on the market. The production process is expensive and difficult to manufacture using cutting-edge technologies originally invented for the gold mining industry,” Tanner added.
Tanner and his team of scientists pride themselves on creating a product with fine particles, eliminating past issues of plugged spray nozzles or the need to constantly stir tanks.
Humate benefits
The Journal of Animal and Feed Sciences states fulvic acid is a result of the microbial breakdown of organic matter in soils, known as humus, which contains HA and fulvic molecules chelate minerals in the soil, creating fulvates.
Through Tanner’s research, he concluded humic substances are beneficial not only for crop production but for human and animal health as well.
“HA is well documented in nutritional trials, particularly on the beef side of the fence and have been shown to improve microbial function in the rumen and digestive tract of cattle.
Arkansas Biosciences Institute supports research which concluded fulvic molecules in free form have benefits for plants and animals, identifying HA stabilizes intestinal microflora and ensuring improved nutrient utilization and feed efficiency, which leads to an increase in the live weight of animals without increasing the amount of feed.
And, according to the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, a new study indicates HA can break down prions causing chronic wasting disease.
A Canadian researcher took commercially-produced HA and applied it to an infected elk brain, and according to Science News, “In tissue samples with higher concentrations of HA, chemical signatures left by the infectious prions decreased by as much as 95 percent, signaling prions had likely broken down.”
Both fulvic acid and HA contain a wide variety of minerals, including trace minerals and are similar in molecular structure, but each offers a unique benefit.
Melissa Anderson is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
