Micro Growing Sciences (MGS)

MGS Presentation Series: First Look-Step 1D

Step 1D: "MGS Growing Systems"

 

MGS GROWING SYSTEMS:

The MGS Growing Systems is a name given to the growing system model developed by Micro Growing Sciences with the ultimate objective of improving soil structure & soil environments more conducive to humus and carbon production as the premier process for achieving simultaneously super yields, super quality, super net profits, and input reductions that comply with present & future impending regulatory policies. The MGS Growing Systems utilizes the full assets provided by normal & natural growing processes (typically ignored or untapped with mainstream growing systems), accelerates those growing assets with modern technology, while at the same time improves human & animal health plus promotes acceptable environmental stewardship.
The MGS Growing Systems serves as a growing model for customizing and implementing a growing system for each producer's unique & variable set of business & production circumstances.

BACKGROUND:

The MGS Growing Systems evolved out of the pursuit for answers to 2 puzzling agronomic questions and an effort to improve seed placement. Both pursuits were originally believed to be unrelated thus the agronomic pursuit was pursued under Fulk Agri Services (original ag service company preceding MGS) and the seed placement pursuit was pursued under Planting Services (advertising name under Fulk Agri Services). The first agronomic question was how to determine if, when, and how much of applied nutrients (fertilizers) get locked up in the soil, are directly available to plants, and how long nutrient availability would last. This pursuit turned out to not only be a complicated question but led to the discovery that no technology existed to accurately project the impact of nutrient recommendations until after the fact. Fertilizer recommendations were based on years of research but could not predict the specific compatibility & effectiveness of different fertilizers in a specific soil with a specific crop. MGS eventually discovered that even with years of applying recommended amounts of fertilizers, plant tissue testing indicated that plants were typically deficient of the same nutrients applied to the soil. The second agronomic question was how to increase soil water holding capacity for dry/drought conditions without irrigation. This pursuit first led to why soils varied in water holding capacities and secondly, how a soil could be improved to increase water holding capacity through various soil management practices.
The pursuit to improve seed placement became a two-fold approach. The first approach involved the ability to singulate and space seed with a seed meter, control the release of seed from the seed meter, minimize seed bounce in the seed tube, and eliminate seed bounce in the seed trench. As with the lack of technology to accurately project the nutritional impact of fertilizer recommendations, the planting industry had no technology to accurately predict final seed placement in the seed trench before emergence. The second approach was the mechanical "iron" aspect of seed placement regarding the soil such as seed trench formation and seed trench closure. Depth control was a critical issue for even emergence and soil density/compaction problems were critical issues for unrestricted root extension & early seedling health.

EVOLUTION OF SOLUTIONS:

MGS developed computer technology with Microsoft software (called the MGS Seed Meter Testing System) that could accurately predict seed placement in the seed trench (verified by 2 Midwest universities) through measuring, controlling, analyzing & storing seed meter performance on a seed meter test stand, seed meter performance on a stationary planter, and seed meter performance during the planting operation in the field. The solutions for improving the mechanical impact on seed placement, for improving nutrient availability of applied fertilizers, and for increasing the water holding capacity of soils eventually evolved into a common solution based on two inseparable concepts. The first concept, which is a precursor for the second concept, was proper management of soil chemistry that established proper soil structure primarily through soil flocculation. The second concept was to produce a soil environment conducive for humus production in the upper 8" of the soil profile that not only could increase nutrient availability & stability but improve germination, emergence in the seed trench, and early seedling/plant growth/health during the first 30 to 60 days of critical yield potential development.

SUPER SOIL STRUCTURE & SUPER SOIL ENVIRONMENT:

The acceleration of a proper soil structure & proper soil environment combined with reducing/eliminating antagonistic factors to critical growing processes raised the real possibility that a super soil structure and a super soil environment could produce super benefits from humus & carbon production. In 2003, MGS concluded that super benefits from humus and carbon acceleration would include achieving super yields, super quality, super soil health, super plant health, super net profits, and input reductions.

SUPER YIELD “HUNCH” FOR SOYBEANS:

The declining yields and non-competitive economics of soybeans when compared to corn prior to 2004 were the driving forces for MGS first seeking solutions for higher soybean yields, quality, and net profits. Soybean yields & profitability were good examples of a tram track turning into a rut and a rut turning into a grave (the only difference between a deep rut and a grave is the dimensions). MGS concluded in 2004 that decades of farming practices ignoring the constant & consistent “rehabilitation” of soil structure & soil environment conducive for humus & carbon production explained present yield & quality problems that existed not only for soybeans but for many other crops. Corn genetics were probably responsible for matching corn plants to declining soil conditions, whereas soybeans received little genetic modification by comparison.

SUPER YIELDS & SUPER QUALITY:

MGS was told of a corn yield in the late 1990s that had reached up to 800 bushels per acre. The details were sketchy and not verifiable but the growing practices that were believed to be implemented were based on similar premises of emphasizing a proper soil structure and soil environment (MGS later confirmed the details from 3 other people in 2009). MGS began to "theorize" that if a super soil structure and a super soil environment could potentially produce 800 bushels of corn per acre then it would be equally possible to potentially produce 200+ bushels of soybeans per acre (along with many other factors that indicated much higher yield potential).
MGS realized that such a yield projection in public would be viewed as a marketing gimmick for attention, someone mentally out of touch with reality, or someone whose growing ideas for super yields would never be taken seriously at any level. Therefore, MGS never told anyone until a phone call came in the late fall of 2005.
A producer called MGS looking for a twin row planter and quickly stated that he was going to attempt to produce 500 bushels of corn per acre in the next 3 years for a yield contest. (It has been said that crazy people regain sanity by associating with crazy people). Numerous lengthy telephone calls finally led to the opportunity for MGS to implement most of the MGS Growing Systems in a high yield environment but, with some disappointment, the producer had no interest in high yield soybeans---at least at that time. By the next spring, the MGS Growing Systems was implemented for both high yield corn and high yield soybeans by the same producer (with a similar growing protocol for both corn and soybeans).
Kip Cullers never reached his 500 bushels of corn per acre (reached 347 bushels per acre the first year) but went on to set 2 world records for soybeans of 139 bushels per acre and 154 bushels per acre with increased oil & protein levels.

2003-"THEORY", 2006-"REALISTIC POSSIBILITY", ????-"REALITY":

MGS's belief in the possibility of 200+ bushels of soybeans per acre began as a remote possibility in 2003. In 2004 the super soybean yields became a theory that was worthy of pursuing. MGS spent considerable time in 2006 & 2007 monitoring the soybean contest fields which became a valuable learning experience by observing super yields "in the making". A soybean theory for 200+ bushels per acre that was kept quiet beginning in 2003 rose to a very realistic possibility in 2006. The conclusion of MGS, after constant observations of the super soybeans, is that there was plenty of room for improvement. MGS has a high level of confidence that 200+ bushels of soybeans per acre can and will be reached. In fact, the "+" after the 200 may have much bigger possibilities than anyone has imagined.

NET PROFITS--NET PROFITS--NET PROFITS:

Another part of the evolution of the MGS Growing Systems involved making a number of trips to the corn contest fields of Francis Childs during his later years in Iowa (included the testing of some of the earlier products recommended for the MGS Growing Systems). MGS eventually adopted as one of the goals for the MGS Growing Systems that achieving super yields must include increased profits. MGS understood that yield contests are challenging and enjoyable but MGS envisioned implementing super yield practices to increase net profits. Thus, the primary goal for achieving super yields was to increase net profits. Instead of net profits being subject to yield goals the MGS Growing Systems is predicated on super yield goals being subject to net profit goals.

SIMPLICITY & CONVENIENCE:

One of the fundamental guidelines for customizing and implementing a growing system with a total systems approach from the MGS Growing Systems model is to be conducive to large scale application methods. There have been many good products, practices, technologies, etc. that have been left on the shelf, regardless of the potential impact on production or net profit, because of the lack of simplicity or practicality. MGS assumes that if products and practices will work for the large farm acreages then it will work for the small farm acreages also.

MGS GROWING LEVELS:

The MGS Growing Systems offers 4 growing plans designed to coincide with transitional and maintenance intensity levels as follows:
MGS Super Growing System-Tillage Special (SGS-TS model for intense contest yield & quality competition)
MGS Super Growing System (SGS model for intense yield & quality goals with/without tillage)
MGS Accelerated Growing System (AGS standard model for implementing the MGS Growing System)
MGS Replacement Growing System (RGS model for replacing synthetic practices)

MGS GROWTH/PRODUCTION STAGES:

The MGS Total Growing Systems Approach has broken down the implementation of the MGS Growing Systems into four growth/production stages.
Stage 1: MGS Residue Decomposition & Soil Building
MGS considers this the most important stage of the MGS Growth/Production Stages because of the multitude of benefits to all stages for any growing system. The primary objectives of this stage is to decompose residue, flocculate soil particles, build soil humus levels, balance soil nutrients, and stimulate microbial activity. The successful accomplishment of these objectives is crucial to increasing yields and quality levels, reducing inputs, or both.
Stage 2: MGS Seed & Seedling Enhancement
This stage of crop production has a huge impact on potential yield development. This impact includes the preparation of the seedbed, seed placement, seed germination, seed emergence, and seedling development. A critical objective of this stage includes even emergence and unrestricted root development of every plant in every part of the field. There is strong evidence that the quantity of root mass (especially fine roots) has a close correlation to actual yield (with all other factors being normal).
Stage 3: MGS Early Yield Development
The objective of this stage is to impact (overcome previous stress), protect (overcome present stress), and advance plant health (avoid future stress) so that the genetic potential of crops during this stage of plant/yield development is not restricted. This stage can typically include the first 90 days in normal growing conditions after crop emergence.
Stage 4: MGS Late Plant Yield & Quality Development
This stage may have the greatest yield potential, with all other management factors being normal, of all stages. Stage 4 offers the greatest opportunity, especially in grain fill, to exceed normal yield potential and achieve higher yields & quality levels. The objective of this stage is to increase the sugar and micro nutrient levels in plant/grain/vegetable/fruit/nut production through greater photosynthesis efficiency.

TRANSITIONAL PROGRESSION:

The MGS Total Growing Systems Approach has organized the implementation of the MGS Growing Systems into sequential steps that correspond to timely plant growth stages/cycles. These sequential steps have a progressive "inclining" order to follow (each step is a precursor to the next step). The budget for the MGS Growing Systems is variable with each level of growing plans but the SGS & AGS are comparable to normal input budgets similar to mainstream growing systems. The speed of the transition to proper soil structure and conducive soil environments is dependent on the number of steps that are accomplished each crop cycle. The step by step progression is typically governed by self-motivated goals, input budget considerations, and commitment to the success of the MGS Growing Systems.

TRADING DOLLARS:

The MGS Growing Systems is not a shortcut to higher yields, quality, or net profits, not a bailout for producers with financial woes, or a rescue system for problems stemming from mismanagement of a growing system. The transitional phase from other growing systems to the MGS Growing Systems typically requires comparable budgets similar to recommendations for mainstream growing systems which are referred to by "trading the same dollars for a different growing system". The reduction or elimination of synthetic products does not imply the reduction of input costs during the transitional process. "Trading dollars" does not require an input budget for additional expenses per acre with “hope” promises of a return on the extra dollars spent.

of

Step 1D: "MGS Growing Systems"

Next Step: Proceed to Step1E: "MGS Total Growing Systems Approach"
Preceding Step: Step1C: "MGS Growing Philosophy"

CONTACT MGS:

Contact MGS for learning more regarding the MGS Growing Systems, the MGS Total Systems Approach, and/or how to participate in the MGS Growing Projects or MGS Grower Training Sessions.

 

chuck@microgrowingsciences.com
(Office) 816-858-5836      816-509-4511 (Cell)

 

 

 

Web Site Note:
Some sections of this website are still under construction.
Please revisit for new postings or contact MGS for further information regarding any topic of interest.