Farm Fuel Pt 2

Farm Fuel Pt 2

Bob Larson
Bob Larson
With today's Fruit Grower Report, I'm Bob Larson.

Yesterday, we talked about the 'hot' organic alternative to chemical fertilizers in mustard seed meal. Farm Fuel Inc. has seen impressive research that has shown improved yields and residual soil benefits.

Field Consultant Taylor Hoover says mustard seed meal could potentially replace several common fumigants, but methyl bromide is most common ...

HOOVER ... "In Washington, they still have restriction on it, but it's not as restricted as in California. So, it's assumed that in a very short time methyl bromide, which is very harmful to the environment and to the ozone, will be completely restricted all the way throughout the United States probably the world. So, we'll be looking for different alternatives that can basically accomplish the same things in the soil."

Hoover says mustard seed acceptance dispels some of the misconceptions many have about farmers ...

HOOVER ... "I don't think anyone really wants to dump chemicals into the ground. It's a convenience and it's an ease that we've grown accustom to, but we're right on the verge of a change where we need to start being better stewards of the land and promote healthy soil and a more sustainable way of growing agriculture."

He says farmers eat this food too ...

HOOVER ... "Everybody's got to eat and with less and less farm land and less farmers and more restrictions, it's becoming more difficult for growers to accomplish feeding the world. So, it's these organic alternatives that are really going to promote and allow that to happen."

To learn more about Mustard Seed Meal research in orchards and berry fields, go to farmfuelinc.com for contact information.

###Fruit Bite

BL: Welcome to another "Fruit Bites" brought to you by Valent U.S.A. Joining us again is Valent's Allison Walston. And this week Allison, "what's the buzz"

AW: I love spring blossoms and especially all of the bee activity. Native bees, honey bees and bumble bees visiting flowers. An estimated 80,000 colonies of honey bees were brought back to Oregon after pollinating California almonds.

BL: Are honey bees the only pollinators?

AW: Native bees and bumble bees do quite a bit of work as well. Bumble bees are excellent at pollinating blueberries. There is even a newcomer, the solitary blue orchard bee. There is a Bee lab at the USDA in Logan, UT. They have been testing the blue orchard bee in fruit orchards and its rate of pollination.

BL: How long are bees

AW: From March through August, bees will be buzzing around pollinating everything from apples to vegetable seed to watermelons. If your home is in a bee flight path, leave out some water during the hot months. I'm currently building solitary bee homes for my insectary garden.

BL: Well, thanks Allison. Join us again next time for Fruit Bites, brought to you by Valent. Until then, I'm Bob Larson.

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