"Good News For Organic And Biodynamic Growers"

SWEP has released a series of new services to expand the range of analytical services they provide specifically for Organic and Biodynamic farmers. SWEP is now a complete "One-Stop-Shop" for all farm analysis requirements!

All Farm Testing Under One Umbrella

Three new services are now available:

• Two new soil tests based on the Complete Soil Balance Analysis (which is still the only soil test in the World to fully integrate soil physical, chemical and biological balance, according to the Mikhail System), plus 
• One new Water test.

Here are full details of the various soil test package inclusions.

Organic Soil Audit

This is the new Flagship in the SWEP fleet of soil testing services. It is designed to meet the needs of growers embarking on the transition to Organic Certification. The Organic Soil Audit includes all the tests, calculations and information found in the Complete Soil Balance Analysis. These are organised into three sections - Soil structure, nutrients and biology. To this is added a fourth section: the "Soil Contaminant Audit". The new section includes pesticide residue testing as well as the total amounts of eight potential heavy metal contaminants. In all, there are ten potential contaminants screens: Pesticide residues (organo-phosphates & organo-chlorides) and Total heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, Hg, As, Ni, Cr). Once growers have completed their transition and become certified, they will have two valuable tools for routine soil monitoring and soil health management:

Organic Soil Analysis

This test is the Complete Soil Balance Analysis plus Total heavy metals. We envisage this test being used as an alternative to

Complete Soil Balance Analysis

This is used for maintaining soil structure, nutrient and biological balance as part of their ongoing soil health management.

The aim is to provide Organic and Biodynamic Growers with a complete range of tools to help them better manage their soils and avoid any threats to their certification.

Safe Water for Any Purpose

Water can be used for many things and SWEP has a water test that will suit virtually any purpose. This now includes the most stringent Organic requirements. Many water sources can be of dubious quality and this is especially true for Organic and Biodynamic production. Only the most comprehensive analysis can remove any doubts. For this reason, the Complete Water Analysis from SWEP has been expanded to suit the needs of organic and biodynamic growers. 

Organic Water Analysis includes all the usual water quality measures, plus eight (8) total heavy metals, E. coli and coliform bacteria. This test also includes screening for chemical residues to ensure that growers can be completely confident about the quality of water they are using.

Pricing & Agent Commissions

Below are the recommended retail prices for all the new tests, together with the special introductory prices that will be available from the 1 July 2008 until 31 October 2008. Like the Complete Soil Balance Analysis, all three of these tests will return agents a commission of $30 per sample.

However, agents who submit at least 30 samples for one or more of these tests during the introductory period (1 July to 31 November 2008), will receive $40 per sample (otherwise the normal $30 commission will apply).

And don't forget that there is also a special offer available on the Complete Soil Balance Analysis for Spring 2008. See the previous Agent Update for details.

"Organic Compost and
Manure Analysis"

These new tests are based on a modified version of the Complete Soil Balance Analysis (modified because the balance relationships in soils and composts are not the same), plus the same heavy metal contaminant screens included in the Organic Soil tests (above) to ensure the safety of composts and manures used in Organic production.

The Compost Monitoring Analysis differs from the Organic Compost Analysis by not including the full biological profile.

Both analyses includes testing for heavy metal and chemical contaminants, plus four potential human pathogen indicators:

• E. coli
• Salmonella
• Listeria
• Legionella

With these new services, both Organic producers and their suppliers are protected, and consumers can be even more confident about the quality of Organic and Biodynamic produce than ever.

Here are full details of the Compost/Manure test package inclusions.

Pricing & Commissions

Below is the recommended retail price for the new tests, together with the special introductory prices that will be available from the 1 July 2008 until 31 October 2008. Also, agents who submit at least 30 samples for these or any of the other new tests during the introductory period (1 July to 31 November 2008), will receive a commission of $40 per sample.

Send us you comments & suggestions

We love to hear from you, so please let us know what you like, what we can do better, or what topics you would like to see more about.

New Fact Sheet Released

To help your customers get the most from their soil tests we have produced a new Fact Sheet - Guidelines for managing Plant Nutrients.

All our Fact Sheets are available for FREE download from the SWEP website.

Let us know if you need kits

Don't find yourself caught short when a customer asks for a soil test right after you have just used your last sample bag.

Let us know when you need more supplies, and don't be afraid to ask for a few more than you need right now. Its better to have too many than not enough.

Agent Update Archive

Agent Updates are now archived on our website. Use this link if you are looking for a previous edition.

Our mailing address is: PO Box 583, Noble Park, VIC, 3174, Australia

Our telephone number (intl.): +61 3 9701 6007

Copyright (C) 2007 SWEP Pty Ltd - reproduction with acknowledgement is permitted.

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