Fertiliser & Sustainability
Sustainable farming & the environment are of great importance to Digital Harvest and through a shared philosophy of 'caretakers of the land' Digital Harvest, its partners, and clients look to pass on to future generations a healthier New Zealand. Fertilisers marketed by Digital Harvest are one step in the right direction. Through nurturing our primary resource (the land), we believe we can improve its condition, and 'harvest' better yeilds in both livestock, and cropping.
The Problem
Earlier this century birth was given to a number of synthetic compounds which now dominate our agriculture. At the time they were the best option for developing New Zealands agricultural industries and undeniably have been the back bone of New Zealand farming. Unfortunately these same fertilisers, pesticides and herbicides are responsible for the slow and agonizing sterilisation of our soils. However we now have alternatives, which when used in conjunction (or on their own) with more traditional fertilisers, are providing phenomenal results in soil fertility, pasture growth and reductions in animal health costs.
New Zealand, Australia and the Third World are the last bastions of the old, inefficient, low analysis, high impurity, fertilisers such as Super-phosphate. Even in the United States (not known for it's safe, healthy farming practices) they use high analysis, low acidity Triple Super, with less "bulk" and therefore less impurities, 50% of their fertiliser is liquids. In Europe Super-phosphate is banned altogether.
In New Zealand we seem to still be taking quantity over quality. Year after year we are blindly dumping tonnes of N,P & K products across the land, without questioning if we actually need it, or applying it in a fashion which is not available to our pasture. This is resulting in the locking up of phosphates and the leaching of Nitrogen & Potassium at toxic levels into our lakes, rivers, and oceans.We have got to reaccess if we don't wish to totally self-destruct and kill our soils. Learn more about our soils, trace elements and animal health here...
The Solution
Digital Harvest are not saying "go completely organic", but we are asking Kiwi farmers to question the advice they are getting, and to become part of the solution. We need to be more scientific in our approach to farming, only applying what is needed, and giving something back to the soil. This can be done by adopting healthier fertiliser programs with a percentage of organic based products such as kelp seaweed, fish & humates.
