In Defense of Biological Systems with Robert Linderman

In our latest episode of the Regenerative Agriculture Podcast, John interviews plant pathology veteran & agricultural visionary, Dr. Robert Linderman, discussing the benefits of mycorrhizal fungi and other bio-control agents that protect crops from soil-born pathogens.
After receiving his Ph.D. in Plant Pathology from U.C. Berkley in 1967, Robert would spend the next 40-plus years contributing pivotal research findings to the USDA and other agricultural organizations. During his time with the USDA, Robert was introduced to a colleague who was fascinated by the power of mycorrhizal fungi and their ability to keep pathogens at bay. Their conversation ignited Robert’s pursuit to understand mycorrhizae symbiosis.
Throughout the episode, John and Robert discuss the benefits of building up antagonistic organisms in the soil to create a disease suppressive environment, allowing crops to thrive. In addition to other educated approaches to battling pathogens in your soil, Robert also takes listeners into a deep dive of the Ashburner System, telling the story of how one Australian avocado grower utilized a mycorrhizal fungi strategy-without even knowing it-to suppress phytophthora outbreak across his orchard.
“Farms, whether they're seeding or transplanting or planting bulbs or whatever, need to treat that material where the infection is going to happen…to have something there waiting for the pathogen when it tries to get into the plant is the best chance. It's like immunizing a child for infections that might come. You build up some kind of resistance and the resistance is in a biological form.” -Linderman
Robert and John also discuss the thoughtful inoculation of propagules, mycorrhizal fungi’s effect on photosynthesis, concerns about single factor analysis found in agricultural research, and the true price of the “instant gratification” chemical fix.

[@floridanaturalfarming3367]

Biological farming system have proven for me to be a pest and pathogen free system for growing multiple species of tropical fruit here in Florida, Thank you for sharing another great interview.

[@LifeOutLoud]

Our nation is waking up, seeing the gaping cracks in its factory farm system. Now, people are turning to regenerative farms as ethical food source. Your podcast is much needed in this area: THE MORE PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THIS, THE BETTER. If y'all want to learn more, we have a video: A PASSION FOR POULTRY | A REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE STORY. Click on the channel icon to learn about the ethics of this new farming and our odd methods (yes, we fast our birds!) Again, a wonderful podcast! Viva la revolution!

[@yoursoulmatters9600]

I noticed that it talked of SeaCrop is there another or was it the AE product? I think what I got most out of this discussion is that there is so much going on in the soil with fungi and bacteria and there relationships it is hard pressed to say exactly what might be going on. So as a grower it is good to learn better to see physical results. But having said that even with seeing the physical results we might want to consider all tat might be going on. And I said all that to say this, when going the bio-way you need a total system from seead treatments to seedling treatments and on including the off season if there is one.

[@TheFarmacySeedsNetwork]

Biocoat Gold is called that for a REASON. It's one I use and shows MASSIVE crop response in days! Thanks to John and AEA... another great guest!

[@tonymagnotiong3310]

2346

[@ashwinpatel4537]

Great john Thanks a lot

[@yoavkrayn4302]

So amazing and extremely frustrating at the same time All the power to you. Don't stop...

[@pwld9133]

Trichoderma feeds on fungus, so what kind of relation mycorrhizae and trichoderma can have ?

[@ttanne7838]

is mycorrhizal considered like trichoderma or do they do different things?

[@TheFarmacySeedsNetwork]

they do different things but have many similar properties.

[@ttanne7838]

@@TheFarmacySeedsNetwork do you need both fungi or is one OK?

[@TheFarmacySeedsNetwork]

@@ttanne7838 The greater the diversity of fungi and bacteria in the soil, the better.. but each of these specific ones has it's own roles and benefits. If I remember correctly, Trichoderma has a strong association with being good against heat stress and drought.. and MAYBE an association with chitin? Def do some googling and some reading.. you won't be sorry you did!

[@ttanne7838]

@@TheFarmacySeedsNetwork I really need help with drought control. This is my worst corn crop in several seasons. Rain in June avoided me.

[@TheFarmacySeedsNetwork]

@@ttanne7838 Oh mycorrizhial fungi will help tremendously! Get some Biocoat Gold from AEA. Inoculate your seed before planting.. and as a precaution I like another inoculation about at germination in foliar form (with a forage foliar feed)... followed by heavy irrigation to carry it in. I run a combo of products.. Biocoat Gold, Spectrum Extra (replace with Spectrum DS), PZ1000 and Mico 5000.. stacked with foliar feeds it is astounding results.. Here's a video to my current crops: kzbin.info/www/bejne/l6bbd2mIjsdjZpY The other thing I'd do is cover crop under your corn with something.. I like buckwheat planted about 1 week post-corn emergence. It controls weeds and protects soil moisture while sequestering more carbon, feeding soil microbes and unlocking more nutrients.