They ve just come to believe their strongest ally in the fight against weeds and pests isn t something you can hook to a tractor, release from a sprayer, or even see with the naked eye. Instead, it s vigorous microbial activity in the soil, in combination with a proper balance of nutrients and minerals. In his efforts to promote the maximum amount of biological activity in his soils, and to maintain the kind of mineral presence that both feeds plants and heightens tilth and absorption abilities, Klaas Martens has discovered the secret isn t necessarily in inputs. He uses ground fish and an organic bio-stimulant, but has concluded that a lot of it has to do with cover crops and a good rotation schedule. If each crop is grown after its most suitable predecessor, the competition of weeds is checked through its vigor alone.
Pests appear to like the Martens soil improvement efforts about as much as weeds do.
A recent extension service test of their 100-acre sweet corn crop yielded absolutely zero cutworms. Klaas later discovered some worm larvae on a few ears while harvesting, but the plants were the cleanest he d ever seen or grown. They didn t get sprayed once, he says. To my mind, those results are due to a good rotation schedule and strong plants in good, supportive soil that are healthy enough to discourage infestation without a lot of help from me. In recent years, Mary-Howell has published several articles in Acres USA magazine about the education she and her husband have undergone in their quest to make organic growing profitable.