The right bacteria turn farms into carbon sinks

I think this is pretty cool. It's less radical (and therefore less risky) than other methods so it might get more traction in the traditional ag world.

"A company works with farmers to treat fields with bacteria that sequester carbon."

https://arstechnica.com/science/2024/02/the-right-bacteria-turn-farms-into-carbon-sinks/

It’s an interesting biochemical pathway.

I have lots of questions before I get too excited.

The article only names three (or 4?) plant hosts for the organism, major commercial crops, corn, soy and something else.  Are these the only potential hosts?  Do these microbes supress other microbes?  Do they continue in the soil?  Do they need to be applied every year?  Will they colonize perennials?  

I agree, it's very much hypothetical. A long chain of "if's."

Then again, considering the immense acreage of conventional crops in cultivation using conventional methods, these "if's" are worth a look. Finding something helpful that fits into the system could have substantial positive impacts.

I don't see this being relevant to smallholders. We have much more effective methods.

It is a race to find ways to continue business as usual in mainstream agriculture. The cheerleaders are just hoping farmers hang on so the conventional system remains in place. Otherwise some real knowledge of soil building and stewardship may become necessary. Soil is already full of microbes, some miracle in a jug is not likely to make much difference.

Doug McEvers wrote:It is a race to find ways to continue business as usual in mainstream agriculture. The cheerleaders are just hoping farmers hang on so the conventional system remains in place. .

I respect your right to an opinion. What practical solution would you propose?

If you were to have a conversation with actual farmers you might be surprised -- you would find them open to practical options, and pretty quick on their feet. They operate on tiny margins and are at the mercy of the weather. If there is a way to optimize, they are listening. My 2c.

"I respect your right to an opinion. What practical solution would you propose?

If you were to have a conversation with actual farmers you might be surprised -- you would find them open to practical options, and pretty quick on their feet. They operate on tiny margins and are at the mercy of the weather. If there is a way to optimize, they are listening. My 2c."

I am a farmer, will be certified organic (MOSA) on August 22 of this year. What is the endgame for traditional farmers? Feeding the world? I bet less than 10% of them have a garden. I am right in the middle of farm country, the SE valley of the Red River of the north. Some of the very best farmland in the world. To see how the land blew in the wind this spring with the over tillage and lack of residue is appalling. The soil comes first, only because of the rich farmland in the US has this pitiful excuse for farming made it this far.

This farm where I am sitting today was founded by my great grandfather in 1880. In reviewing the history of this farm, it was at one time very productive to the point where the original 160 acres was expanded to over 1,000 acres by 1920. All of this done with horses. This tells me the "inherent soil quality" was and is very good. My goal is to as best I can recreate the soil productivity as my great grandfather found it. We have the gift of native prairie on this farm and it is my reference soil going forward. It is also my seed source for any further prairie restoration on top of the 160 acres we restored in 1993.

Doug McEvers wrote:This farm where I am sitting today was founded by my great grandfather in 1880. In reviewing the history of this farm, it was at one time very productive to the point where the original 160 acres was expanded to over 1,000 acres by 1920. All of this done with horses. This tells me the "inherent soil quality" was and is very good. My goal is to as best I can recreate the soil productivity as my great grandfather found it. We have the gift of native prairie on this farm and it is my reference soil going forward. It is also my seed source for any further prairie restoration on top of the 160 acres we restored in 1993.

I doff my hat to you -- I think what you are doing is wonderful and wise. Too much generational knowledge has been lost, and too much soil is essentially being mined instead of thoughtfully managed.

Barring another Great Depression, I don't foresee the wheels falling off of the conventional farming wagon any time soon. If there are incremental changes that can lessen the impact to a degree, I am inclined to look at them, imperfect though they may be.  

Douglas,

I appreciate your follow-up. I am not opposed to mainstream agriculture and yes it will be dominant for the foreseeable future. I have neighbors who do a good job in holding the soil with reduced or no-till and they also do quite a diverse rotation which benefits soil health. I am a member of the MN Soil Health Coalition; here are the 5 tenants.

Reduce disturbance
Cover the soil
Increase diversity
Keep a living root
Integrate livestock when possible

I want to integrate red clover here soon as part of the soil and fertility building. Purchased inputs are expensive, especially nitrogen for corn, red clover can provide this. Intercropping, double cropping all need to be considered even though our growing season is at best 6 months. I keep telling myself, "keep a living root".