Advancing Crop Health

Friday, March 23, 2012
John Kempf
Founder and President
Advancing Eco-Agriculture
Today’s Agenda
• Believing in Biology
• About AEA and our Mission
• Working With Biology
• The System Approach
• Products and Programs
• Support
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www.growbetterfood.com
Believing in Biology
• We believe there’s a better way to reduce insect and

weed pressure than chemical application
• We believe that today’s conventional farming practices
are causing nature to fail
• We believe that nature knows best; that if we work with
her, we can restore balance and health to our farms and
our food supply
• We believe that the natural biological system can be
self-sustaining; but that it needs to be regenerated to a
point of optimal function
3
AEA and Our Mission
“Our mission is to enable farmers to

• Innovators of organic growing
produce high quality, healthy plants with techniques
inherent resistance to disease and insect • Leaders in soil conditioning and
biological fertilization methods
attack. We do this by providing farmers
• Manufacturers of natural and
with knowledge and understanding of the organic fertilizers
natural soil-plant system, the tools to
monitor the system’s performance and the
natural materials to enhance crop function
and performance.”
- John Kempf
4
Working With Biology
Microbes and plants share

unique relationships,,
whereby one provides
something that the other
one wants, in exchange
for something that
it wants, in return.
MUTUALISM
The Soil to Plant Exchange
 mineralization: organic
compounds are converted to
inorganic forms, taken in by
bacteria and then released
as available plants nutrients.
 humification: fungi
ingests dead, high-fat plant
material which is cycled
through the organism and
eventually turned into stable
humic substances
6
Genetic Potential is Predetermined
• A seed’s potential is
predetermined
• Don’t underestimate the 2 Cotyledons
e.g. Soy Bean
impact of seed quality on
germination rates, yield
potential, etc. 1 Cotyledon
e.g. Corn
• Start with good genetics to
increase your opportunity
for success.
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Genetic potential can be influenced
Example: Corn A farmer has the

– 9-12 days after emergence
• # of ears is determined
opportunity to
– 14-21 days after emergence influence outcomes
• # of rows of kernels is
determined
by applying
– 42-49 days after emergence nutrition and other
• # of kernels per row is inputs as required.
determined
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Indicators of Poor Plant Health
• Insect damage • High moisture content
• Disease • Low test weight
• Rotting fruit • Early die down
• Small fruit • Leaf discoloration
• Deformation • Hollow stems
• Stunted growth • Poor reproduction
Inviting Disease and Insects
Nutrient Deficiency
Loss of function
Failing Processes
Lack of immunity
Winged Aphid Sclerotinia bacteria
Low resistance to
disease; susceptible
Sap Beetle on Corn
to insect attack
Tarnished Plant
Bug on Pepper
Blossom
Turning Sunlight into Sugar
PHOTOSYNTHESIS
The bonding together of CO2 (carbon dioxide) with H2O
(water) to make CH2O (sugar) and O2 (oxygen), using
the sun's energy.
• Successful photosynthesis is possible when there are

• Minerals available to act as catalysts and
• Adequate air, water and radiant energy (sunshine)
• Photosynthesis produces complex sugars
• The raw material (building blocks) from which all other
critical plant compounds are made
• An energy source to fuel plant growth
• The process is inhibited when
• There isn’t enough water
• There aren’t adequate available nutrients
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Forming Sugars & Amino Acids
+ CO2 = }
glucose
photosynthesis
+N =
amino
glucose acids
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Forming Peptides & Proteins
+
amino
acids
=
enzyme peptides
peptides
+ =
enzyme
complete
protein
13
Levels of Plant Health
LEVEL 4 LEVEL 4
The production of phytoalexins at this Resistance to cucumber beetles,
level is dependent on lipid production Colorado potato beetles, and
in LEVEL 3. These aromatic Japanese beetles; Production
“essential oil” compounds (terpenes, of advanced anti-fungal
phenolics, bioflavanoids) are natural compounds and insect
plant protection compounds that digestion inhibitors.
contain pesticidal properties
of their own. LEVEL 3
Resistance to downy and
powdery mildew, late blight
and others as well as,
LEVEL 2
Resistant to aphids, white bacterial invaders such as
fire blight, scab, rust,
flies and larval insects
bacterial speck, and
such as cabbage
earworm, alfalfa bacterial spot, just
weevil, tomato to name a few.
hornworm and
many others
Critical Point of Influence (CPI)
• Point at which the plant has distinct requirements in
order to be able to perform a critical function
• Point at which, given the right inputs and
environmental conditions, the functions at that growth
stage can be enabled, up to the point of genetic potential
Growth Stages: Multiple Fruiting
Stage 1: Planting/Transplanting
Major Considerations: germination, root
generation and development; avoiding root
diseases
Stage 2: Building Plant Frame /
Blossoming
Major Considerations: supporting strong,
continuous, prolific blossoming; avoiding
blossom drop
Stage 3: Filling Fruit
Major Considerations: nutrient deficiency;
reducing fruit abortion; fruit size and ripening
uniformity; plant immunity;
Stage 4: Fruit Finishing
Major Considerations: energy availability;
fruit quality (flavor, storability, integrity); yield
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Growth Stages: Perennial Fruiting
Stage 1: Bud Break
Major Considerations: pollination strength; root
strength; fruit set and disease resistance
Stage 2: Blossoming
Major Considerations: hormone shift; strong,
prolific blossoming; prevention of blossom drop
Stage 3: Filling Fruit
Major Considerations: nutrient availability; fruit
abortion; fruit size/uniform ripening; immunity
Stage 4: Fruit Finishing
Major Considerations: energy availability; fruit
quality (flavor, storability, integrity); yield
Stage 5: Plant Regrowth and Energy Build-up
Major Considerations: nutrient availability; post-
harvest energy replenishment
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AEA Programs are Targeted for Results
Forages
• Better feed means healthier livestock.
• Less disease and sickness reduces vet bills
and treatment expense
• Healthier animals produce more, higher
quality (milk, meat, young)
Broad Acre Crops, Vegetables

and Fruit
• Higher yields, top grade
• Better taste, higher protein
• Better storability
• Larger, heavier fruit
What’s the Difference?
• Efficiency and Effectiveness
• Chemical Analysis and Equivalence
• 100% of your investment is usable? How much of your 20-20-20 can be used by the plant?
(Gov’t says only 2-12%)
• How much our PhotoMag™ is plant available? 2500%
• Naturally-derived vs. Synthetically-processed

• Measurably lost vs. invisibly lost
• Chemical = unstable
• highly reactive; suppresses biology
• React with soil, releases electrolytes
• Natural = stable
• Stimulates biology
• Provides microbial metabolites
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Silver Bullet?
• Regenerative Farming is a long-term program, not a

single product “quick fix”
• Regenerative Farming works in harmony with nature
to re-establish mineral balance and introduce/enhance
beneficial microbiology in the soil
• Regenerative Farming uses conventional and organic
techniques along with a combination of chemistry,
physics and biology to produce sustainable, nutritious
crops
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THANK YOU !

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Friday, March 23, 2012

• We believe there’s a better way to reduce insect and

“Our mission is to enable farmers to

monitor the system’s performance and the

natural materials to enhance crop function

Microbes and plants share

Example: Corn A farmer has the

• Successful photosynthesis is possible when there are

Broad Acre Crops, Vegetables

• Naturally-derived vs. Synthetically-processed

• Regenerative Farming is a long-term program, not a

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