59-year-old South Australian farmer, Andrew Smith, with 1600 acres in Brinkley and 900 acres in Ettrick, is on a clear mission. As a Brinkley wheat, barley and sheep farmer, Andrew and his family are focused on finding the best and the most sustainable ways to maintain healthy and vibrant plant life, as well as sustaining superior soil health that produces the highest of yields. Andrew’s eldest son is a farm operator, and his youngest son is an agronomist, so farming is in their blood.

With such a collective knowledge of farming, it is little wonder that Andrew discovered PyroAg and it has now become part of their repertoire of sustainable farming solutions.
“I have also stopped using insecticides and fungicides – it is PyroAg Wood Vinegar all the way.

“Prior to PyroAg, I had huge issues with aphids, an insect which attacks our wheat. Once adding PyroAg 1 per litre hectare with a bit of dishwashing liquid (clear), the plants are healthier and are showing no signs of stress. The beauty of PyroAg is that it did not affect the general insect population such as lady bugs and bees. It was a great result. “Previously use of insecticides on the crops, has affected all insects good and bad which was not the objective.“I now use PyroAg Wood Vinegar on all my crops, I see PyroAg having several distinct functions; its applied as seed treatment with microbes, its included with the liquid injection at seeding, is complementary to all herbicides as a microbe buffer and used at times of high pest risk to give me a more resilient plant.

“Because PyroAg wears so many hats, it is as versatile as it is cost effective. “I am confident that PyroAg has played a role in being an effective tool to improve soil health and
support microbe health. “My family and I are committed to nurturing our farms with healthy and regenerative farming products which shield the ground from chemicals. And that starts and ends with PyroAg Wood Vinegar.

For 32-year-old Miranda Pritchard and 34-year-old James Allen, their passion and commitment as
young and hard-working farmers shines through in their work ethic and commitment in succeeding
with their cereal farm in the Mallee.

And more than that, they are a dynamic duo who are committed in leading by example in
discovering and implementing smart agricultural choices to amplify their farm’s soil health.

With 2500 acres in the Mallee (1800 acres leased from James’s parents in 2018 and 711 acres
recently purchased), growing cereals lentils, canola, lupin beans, wheat and barley, James and
Miranda are talking the talk and walking the walk when it comes to minimising chemical
interferences and still run a profitable business.

Introducing PyroAg Wood Vinegar into the soil in late 2021 has been a significant turning point for
James and Miranda in the way they approach successful agricultural techniques.

“We decided to use a natural cocktail of PyroAg Wood Vinegar, kelp and BAM (Beneficial Anaerobic
Microbes) for our summertime weeding control and the results are clear,” James said.

“We have always been in the mindset in looking for sound alternatives that move against the tide of
mainstream agriculture.

“PyroAg Wood Vinegar is one of those answers.

“Miranda and I are confident that PyroAg Wood Vinegar plays a significant role in not only in the
soil’s health but also the greener canopies we are seeing in our trees across our farm.

“We use 50ml to a tonne in five litres of water mixture and we found that is the right combination to
get the results we want.

“We have used PyroAg Wood Vinegar a number of times in the last seven months as we steer away
from chemical insecticides and fungicides.

“While we are still young farmers, our mission is clear.

“We want to set the foundations for our five-year-old son, Jack, a next generation farmer, to have
the best chance of success with the healthiest soil possible.

“Products like PyroAg are the only ways in moving forward with a clear conscience that is also
profitable and sustainable.”

Here is the full length interview by Glenn from One Earth QLD talking with Andrew from KDV Sports about his three year journey to create the first fully organic turf management sports facility in Australia.

Andrew has over 30 years experience in the turf industry throughout the world, so it is well worth listening to some really positive outcomes Andrew has achieved by increasing the natural biodiversity including strong plant resilience in a changing environment, reduction in staff and customer health risks and significantly lower operating costs for the facility compared to the industry standard.

One of the last letters I received from the late Bob Harkness.

My personal experience in soil and crop improvements goes back over 30 years from Sales Manager of a S.A. based Mineral Fertiliser Company to being one of the first licensed manufacturers in S.A. of a Western Australian multi-nutrient foliar fertiliser. Applied to all manner of crops and pastures it was eminently successful BUT being a new development, though being based on overseas research and practises, was not accepted by Australian Agriculture authorities for many years despite one of my mentors in the early stages was a Professor of Botany who studied with, another Professor at Sheffield University, who , eventually, became Dean of a major Agriculture College in Australia.

I was also fortunate in getting to know and work with a Western Australian Microbiologist who developed various strains of Soil Microbes that were freeze dried and were user friendly for soil and foliar applications for most types of crops. So, four years ago following an inquiry from one of my clients, I came across a product called Pyro Ag, and the claims that were made seemed to good to be true.

Stimulates microbial activity, improves plant photo-synthesis which in turn can eventually, via the roots, sequester non- labile CARBON into the soil, Pyro Ag STOPS rhizoctonia a virulent root disease etc. It is estimated that Pyro Ag contains more than 300 constituents all of which work SYNERGISTICALY  within the plant/soil.

Pyro Ag must be diluted prior to application. At a dilution rate of 1 part Pyro Ag to 200 parts of water and used with summer weed control chemicals my clients have reduced the inclusion of chemicals by up to 50%. A HUGE COST SAVING.

Post seeding, Pyro Ag dilution is 1 part Pyro Ag to 500 parts water. Applied as a foliar from early crop emergence to even seed set I can only say the results have been incredible. Yield increases of 2 – 4 tonnes ha, depending on soil types and seasonal conditions and IMPROVED quality. In terms of Cereals, heavier grain weights, lower screenings and higher classifications.

There has been a lot of work put into this product and given of the amount of Chemicals, artificial Nitrogen and Phosphorous Fertlisers now used  Australia and our soils are being continually degraded and our food quality is much lower than it was even 30 years ago.

An American Scientist, Dr. Phil. Gregory, recently came across piece by the UN Agricultural Organisation that if soil degradation continues because of the above reasons there is only 60 YEARS OF FARMING LEFT. That is in USA. What about Australia where we have the most fragile soils in the World. 

In closing, quotes from Dr. Christine Jones, a well published scientist, “The future of Australia depends on the future of our soils – and our willingness to look after it” AND “ If farmers lifted by just 2% the level of Carbon in their soils  it would go a long way to overcome Global Warming”

I sent these photos to show what happened to the phytophthora infected trees after they were treated with microbes and Pyro Ag. Within only 7-10 days after 2 applications, the bare trees exploded with a new flush of growth. They were looking like they would all die but have now come back to life. I spoke to the grower yesterday to ask how they were looking and his comment was ‘absolutely amazing’. We are using this cocktail every 2-3 weeks for the next 4-6 months. The grower has tried all the chemicals he could buy but didn’t realise that biology gets wiped out with that approach, leaving the disease organisms to basically kill all his trees.. His father was gobsmacked at the turnaround to the point where we are now working on his table grapes.

Thought you might be interested. Lot of Phytophthora out there.

I have had a moment to sit and think and hope this helps.
Growing vege and fruit in Perth has become more difficult every year as the temperatures in summer get higher and the water resource is scarcer and more expensive . Add to this the yearly
shift in the seasons and things are changing! I have learnt that the solutions are simple but need to be smart in application. I have gone from overhead sprinklers to subsoil dripper pipes, from flat even beds to raised garden beds plumbed with water and dripper tube from the start. Corner posts to hook up shade for the inevitable high UV days that Perth can deliver. If you don’t fruit cooks on the vine or branch! So I
have used reticulation controllers and framed 20% shade – mulch and rock mineral fertilisers.

For the last 5 years the garden has been productive and the routine supplies the family and friends with large amounts of broccoli tomatoes corn or whatever is on the go! Recently 1000+ bananas a
year and Paw Paw , apples to grapefruit, blueberries and the list goes on. With the increasing price of water comes the next challenge – rainwater tanks (I have 1) and even talk of a bore! Now I get to the point this year I followed all the usual processes for summer – holidays away mean setting everything up before leaving so neighbours can just feed the chook and pick the strawberries! Shade frames up and shade netting over the beds for the 35+oC days. Losses are expected since I am not here to supervise little spot watering and spraying fruit fly etc.

This year I took the magic elixir Pyro-Ag wood vinegar,from Amos and treated the garden to the 1:500 solution with the usual worm/compost tea 2 weeks later I come home to a very green and productive garden with few losses and in fact everything is in fruit and double size. I had cut the water back a little as the water authority complained about my using more than other houses –forget that I feed my family and neighbours quality fruit! We returned home to find no losses and in fact the garden had thrived! 11-12 days to produce a 3.255 kg Zucchini not deliberate I just found it and then the next day 2 more over 2kg a piece. I have had years like this before but not this size and speed of growth! 6 Varieties of tomato – all in heavy fruit and productive – so Black Russian and Kumato and the Tiger/Zebra stripes plus some yellow cherry, Roma! I treated all the fruit trees as well and figs grapefruit bananas and amazing Paw Paw!

So less water, same amount of shade and organic fertilisers etc but more productivity – conclusion the one variable to change is the PyroAg! 30 years as science teacher tells me that the test is not conclusive but ticks many boxes of a controlled study!
I let my photos speak!

Oh did I tell you about the roses!?
Another day!

John Wood B.Ed

On Photos – check out the green! A richness in colour across the garden despite hot days and a little water stress when I cut back the time on the drippers! Also the fruits are keeping longer after picking! I cannot wait to try on leafy plants in winter! Next years Asparagus will be an exciting prospect!