They're Fertilizing Crops With Milk

They re Fertilizing Crops With Milk CROPS Miscellaneous Is it possible that milk could find a new market as a liquid fertilizer? Anecdotal evidence from producers and one small university study indicate that spraying milk on pasture and crops has benefits David Wetzel of O Neil Neb accidentally discovered the power of raw milk in 2002 He made cheese and butter from his milk and dumped the remaining 600 gallons of skim milk on a field every other day He noticed that his cows always headed to that area of the pasture to graze and the grass seemed greener Soil samples confirmed that the milk had an effect The milk-sprayed area was packed with nutrients not found in the rest of the field Wetzel mentioned the results to Terry Gompert a University of Nebraska extension educator who asked colleagues to do a study In 2005 we did replicated trials applying 2 to 32 gal of milk on irrigated pasture Gompert says The dry matter yield increased by 1 200 lbs/acre 26 percent In addition soil compaction testing with a penetrometer indicated the soil had 18 percent less compaction than untreated soil providing a better ability to absorb water and air More studies need to be done Gompert says to prove milk s affect on the soil and to come up with best application rates and other details Meanwhile he has received at least 100 testimonials from farmers who are applying milk Bob Bernt an organic dairyman took it a step further Like Wetzel he has skim milk left from his cheese production Besides spraying the milk on pasture he mixed it with fish emulsion during planting and then side-dressed crops with milk In 2009 through his own testing a blend of 3 gallons of milk and 3 gallons of fish emulsion per acre followed by 10 gallons of side-dressed milk per acre provided the best combination The size of my corn was almost double he says I m seeing a big response this year The weed pressure seems to be less Maybe the calcium level is holding them down He adds that his grass production also improved 30 percent in sandy soil and 50 percent in clay soil Though it needs more study Gompert says it makes sense because raw milk is food for bacteria and other components to make soil healthy He isn t recommending eliminating fertilizer but milk may be an effective way to restore soil health Milk s high protein sugar enzymes and vitamin B levels offer other benefits A New Mexico beef producer runs 2 gallons of milk/acre through his irrigation and improves the Brix level sweetness of the grass Because insects don t have a pancreas they can t tolerate sugar Producers have observed insect numbers are down in areas that have been doused with milk Bernt notes that this year his organically grown watermelons and honeydew melons were noticeably sweeter His wife ran milk with the water when she sprayed the plants Contact: FARM SHOW Followup David Wetzel P O Box 466 O Neil Neb 68763 ph 402 858-4817; dave gpp@msn com or Bob Bernt Clear Creek Organic Farms 82228 499th Ave Spalding Neb 68665 ph 308-750-1086; rk_bernt@yahoo com or Terry Gompert 309 Bridge St Center Neb 68724 ph 402-288-5611; tgompert1@unl edu

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