The ERA Farming products are all biologically based and multifunctional. The ERA Farming products are formulated to:

• Inoculate barren soils with specifically cultured beneficial fungi and bacteria.
• Provide food sources to stimulate and regenerate the existing soil biota.
• Deliver important nutrients to plants in a form that is easily taken up and does not leach into the environment or get locked up in combination with other soil elements.

The ERA Farming soil management techniques address the physical and biological properties of the soil so they can act in concert with chemical nutrients and maximize the value of all inputs by reducing lock up and run off.

By encouraging the proliferation of soil biota, even temporarily, the ERA Products can help improve the nutrient potential of soils and reduce the amount of NPK fertiliser applied to crops. Only soil microbes can convert existing insoluble minerals like phosphorus, potassium and calcium into available forms. The result is improved plant growth and production along with the cost saving potential to reduce fertiliser use.

The ERA Farming products and soil management techniques achieve the best results when used as an entire active program over 3 to 5 years. Research at the University of Western Australia ahs demonstrated that it takes a minimum of 3 years for a change of practice to change the biological and physical properties of the soil. However, the UWA research also demonstrates that once a healthy soil biota has been established, it can be 22% more effective in delivering results than changes in chemical additions, less expensive and more environmentally friendly.

An ERA Farming Program begins with a survey of the soil using chemical and biological tests. The tests include:

• Macro and micronutrient levels, electrical conductivity, soil pH
  (water and calcium chloride), total exchangeable bases, exchangeable acidity,
  organic carbon and phosphorous retention index.
  
• Bacterial/Fungal counts e.g. vines, shrubs and horticultural plants grow best in soils with a
  total fungi/total bacteria ratio (by weight) of 2-5:1. By contrast, cereal crops and legumes
  grow best in soils with a fungal/bacterial ratio of 1:1.
  
• Mycorrhizal assays (mycorrhiza are key indicators of soil health and sustainability of a soil
  management system; mycorrhiza are also important for effective plant nutrition).
  
• Mycorrhizal scoring to determine the proportion of mycorrhiza on the roots of plants.

On the basis of the test results, growing goals and budget of the client, the ERA Soil Fertility Program would recommend a range of products to build up the soil biology whilst maintaining sufficient chemical use to ensure that growing goals are met.

The ERA Product range has been validated by the University of Western Australia for its nutrient content and its capacity to manipulate soil biology.

THE ERA PRODUCTS THAT ARE USED IN CROP PRODUCTION ARE:

• Eraphos – a slow release phosphate fertiliser that contains minerals and trace elements.
• ERA Crop Minder – a liquid fertiliser that contains microbes, nitrates and nutrients suitable for use as a ground or foliar spray.
• ERA Boost – a liquid compost tea to be used as a ground and foliar spray.
• ERA Fish – a fish hydrolysate containing 20% omega 3 oils. Acts as a microbial stimulant while providing all of the vitamins, amino acids, growth hormones and macro/micro nutrients found in fish.
• ERA Compost – a blend of compost and organic nutrients cultured with beneficial soil and produced on an organically certified site.

ERA Farming use their soil bioassay and testing technology to monitor the progress of the soil fertility program over the 3 year period.ERA Farming has a training package for staff involved in the implementation of the ERA Soil Fertility Program and run workshops with the University of Western Australia to keep you at the forefront of agricultural innovation.
The most cost effective way to access the ERA Farming range of services and products is to become an ERA Member.