26 July 2019
Two North Queensland agricultural service companies have teamed up for sugar cane farmers and the environment.
Liquid fertiliser company LiquaForce and biotech company Pacific Bio now offer two of their key products in combination with each other.
LiquaForce’s BigShot liquid fertiliser is scientifically and independently proven to reduce nitrogen leaching by up to 17 per cent. However since the companies joined forces, the fertiliser is now delivered to growers with the additional benefits of Pacific Bio’s new PlantJuice product.
PlantJuice is a bio stimulant produced from green macroalgae (seaweed), developed by Pacific Bio in conjunction with researchers from James Cook University, Townsville.
Managing director of LiquaForce Cameron Liddle said BigShot is specifically developed for ratoon application and includes a base that works perfectly with PlantJuice. “BigShot works to stablise the release of nitrogen in the soil and also increases the efficiency of nutrients that are available to the cane plant,” Mr Liddle said. “This supports super fast cane plant emergence as well as improved root and shoot growth. “To combine that with the seaweed base of PlantJuice, we’re offering growers exemplary crop growth support as well as superior benefits to the health of the soil.”
Pacific Bio’s commercial manager Gregg Supple said the partnership is a win for growers and the environment. “The green macroalgae we harvest comes from our very own aquaculture operations in the Burdekin,” Mr Supple said. “ … It’s used to extract nutrients from water before they are released into the environment. “This means it’s a closedloop system that’s better for the environment … PlantJuice contains a wide range of nutrients, plant hormones and amino acids that are fundamental building blocks for plant growth and soil health.”
Mr Liddle said it was important to work with companies who value the importance of supporting farmers. “It’s important to us that we work with companies who genuinely understand the environment in these locations and feel the same obligation to help introduce better, more sustainable farming systems. Mr Supple said the project was an exciting development delivering real benefits.
