There is a field in Reno, Nevada that has been growing corn on corn for over 15 years. The farmer always planted Silver Queen sweet corn for the retail market and he always applied 100 lbs of Urea pre-plant, with another 100 lbs of Urea when the corn was about 2 feet tall.
In 2021, the crop completely failed. The corn grew to a maximum height of 3 feet and it never produced a single ear. The farmer was planning to leave the field fallow in 2022 and give it a rest. Instead, one of our farmers (Mike and Nico Curti) heard about the problem and offered to help with the field for 2022. They used the same Silver Queen seed and the same Urea applications, but the results were very different.
Prior to planting, the typical 100 lbs of Urea was applied to the field. All of the seed was treated with our Bio Minerals Technologies Dry Seed Treatment before planting, providing beneficial biological support to the corn as it grew. Then at 2 feet, the second 100 lbs of Urea was applied, as usual.
Now comes the difference. On the section of the field shown at the left, they sprayed a heavy application of brewed Microbial Mineral Tea. This was applied heavily enough that it drenched the leaves and stalks, dripping off and down into the soil as well. This application was repeated every 30 days (4 applications through the season). The results? The corn stalks were 7-8 feet tall in August with 2 large primary ears. Most stalks also developed a 3rd secondary ear. They had so much corn they couldn’t sell it all (or even give it away)! They didn’t even bother to come back for the secondary ears. By the end of the season, the plants were up to 12 feet tall!
In the picture at the left, 6’2” Nico is completely covered by the corn as he is picking.
Shown on the right, Nico is standing in the untreated section of the field, on the same day. He is easily visible, and there is nothing to pick.
Same ground, same fertility, the only difference is the four applications of Microbial Mineral Tea.