About UsNews
Organic Testing Makes SWEP a "One-Stop-Shop"
Following consultations with BFA, NASAA and Biodynamics Australia, SWEP has launched a series of tests developed specifically to meet the needs of Organic growers and those interested in Organic conversion.
The Complete Soil Balance Analysis forms the foundation for the new tests and to this we have added a range of Heavy metal and pesticide contaminant tests.
The new tests represent the ultimate tool for Organic growers in both maintaining soil health and protecting their operations from unwanted contamination.
Organic Soil Audit
This soil test is presented in four sections - Soil structure, Plant nutrients, Soil Biology and Potential contaminants. The last section including analysis for 8 heavy metals and 55 organophosphate and organochlorine pesticides. This test is designed specifically to assist growers with the audit process of Organic conversion.
The Organic soil analysis is intended more for routine monitoring of soil health. omitting the pesticide residue testing of the audit report.
Full details of the tests included are available in this pdf file.
Organic Compost & Manure
The same issues of balance and contamination are also of concern to organic growers when they buy the materials they need, such as compost or manure, so two new tests have been added to our range of fertiliser quality testing services.
The Organic Compost Analysis includes both total and plant available nutrients, cations, contaminants and human pathogen indicators (E. coli, Salmonella, Listeria, Legionella). This ensures the material is of good quality and safe to handle.
The Organic Compost Monitoring test is for more routine analysis of composts and manures, omitting the pathogen testing.
Full details of the inclusions with these tests is available in this pdf file.
Discount Complete Soil Test for Biological Farmers
At SWEP, we have been devoted to providing high-quality, independent support for farmers in Australia and around the World since 1980. In 2005 we added Soil Biology to our analytical capacity and launched the Complete Soil Balance Analysis. At the time, many people said there was no way farmers would use this soil test, due to the price. However, its popularity has now grown so much that, in November 2007, we decided to invest in a major technology upgrade of the laboratory in order to meet the ever-growing demand.
To thank our customers for their support and further improve the support we provide them, by giving everyone the best chance to make use of this World-first service, SWEP has decided to offer a specially reduced price on this soil test throughout the coming Autumn season.
For samples received up to the 31st of May 2008, the Complete Soil Balance Analysis will be available for only $300 (+GST), down from the usual $385.
The Complete Soil Balance Analysis represents the sum of 45 years research into soil function and management, covering all three functional components of the Mikhail System - Soil structure, Plant nutrition and Soil biology. The addition of Soil Biology to the mix of test results and recommendations provides a reliable way to achieve complete soil balance through a simple and reliable 5-step process, and then monitor changes that occur over time and effectively maintain soil health with minimal inputs for both productivity and cost efficiency.
The Complete Soil Balance Analysis is a nine-page report that includes 32 laboratory tests (including Total N & Total P) and 17 calculations, with desirable levels individually determined to suit your specified land use, along with the requirements for optimum soil health. The results are organised according to their relevance to each of the three Soil Balance components - Structure, Nutrients and Biology. This makes the report more easily readable and the information more accessible.
Three sets of recommendations are provided:
1. Cation Balance corrections optimise soil structure and other physical attributes. These are based on desirable percentages of the five major cations (Ca, Mg, Na, K & H) as calculated from the Adjusted Cation Exchange Capacity. The recommendations are then given in terms of the most appropriate material (Gypsum, Lime, Dolomite, Magnesite, Magnesium Oxide or Magnesium Sulphate) to provide the amounts of Calcium &/or Magnesium needed for soil health.
2. Balanced plant nutrient requirements are presented in relation to the needs of your Land use and the nutrient levels in the soil, as revealed by the tests. The recommendations cover both major nutrients (N, P, K & S) and Trace elements (Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn, Co, Mo, B). They are presented as kilograms per hectare of the actual nutrient elements required – we do not promote any products.
This means you can take our recommendations to any supplier for conversion into fertiliser applications and make 'apples-for-apples' comparisons of their costs and service.
3. Balanced Soil Biology, using various bio-active materials such as Humate, Kelp extract, Fish emulsion, these recommendations help you manage the relative proportions of five key Indicator Groups of soil microbes - Lactic acid bacteria, Photosynthetic bacteria, Fungi, Yeast and Actinomycetes.
In all our tests and recommendations:
- We do not consider the preferences of fertiliser manufacturers, spreading contractors or other 'external' factors - ONLY what your soil tells us and your Land use requires.
- Your results are backed by FREE phone/fax/email support. Whatever questions or problems you may have can be addressed by talking to us directly.
- You have FREE access to all information on our website, including fact sheets, frequently asked questions and archived articles, etc.
- We also provide information on new developments, new services and special offers on request via opt-in email newsletters
SWEP has long been the laboratory of choice for Organic farmers, but is now even more committed to Organic production by moving to partner with Biological Farmers of Australia (BFA) as a means of still further increasing the value of membership.
By using the Mikhail System, which treats the soil as a Living System comprising three inter-related components – Structure, Nutrients and Biology – SWEP soil tests cover all three of these components and provide virtually all the information needed for either conversion to Organics or in maintaining high Organic standards of production. Additional testing for heavy metals is also available for those in conversion; and quality testing of materials such as Lime, Dolomite, Gypsum, fertilisers, manures and composts is also available to further assist producers in protecting their Certification status.
BFA members can also access information and support resources over and above the already high level of support available to SWEP clients. This will include informative presentations at BFA Road Shows and a soon to be launched 3-day training course on Advanced Soil Management that will include information from the most up-to-date research available.
In addition to all this, BFA members are now eligible for a 10% discount on SWEP soil and plant tissue tests. The Member Discount is available on all soil and plant tissue tests simply by quoting your BFA Member number. For a Sample Information sheet to accompany any samples Click Here or Request a FREE Sample Kit.
Complete Soil Balance Analysis
We have seen a strong surge in demand this year for our ‘Complete’ soil test as more and more people find that fertiliser alone fails to provide adequate results. While they realise the importance of cation balancing to improve soil function, the extended drought conditions have resulted in much more time being required for these corrections to take effect. The answers seems to lie in using appropriate biological treatments to help accelerate the process and to date, SWEP is the only laboratory that can provide analysis that will show which are the best treatments to use on any soil.
Most importantly, our research has given us a way to determine the optimal level of microbial activity for any soil – based on its Adjusted Cation Exchange Capacity. This has clearly shown that more is not always better and the balance of biodiversity in the soil is the key to getting the best results.
We have recently released a series of new Water Fact Sheets in response to the continuing increase in demand for water testing. These Fact Sheets will be sent out with water test results as required, or they can be downloaded from our website. They provide some basic guidelines to help you get the most out of tests for farm, irrigation or drinking water and we will soon be adding more to the list for those involved in things like hydroponics, aquaculture and irrigation with recycled water.
The new Fact Sheets include:
- Using Farm Water
- Salt in Irrigation Water
- Sodium in Irrigation Water
- Salt Tolerance of Plants
- Drinking Water Quality
Phylloxera & PCN Areas Not Out in the Cold
SWEP now holds accreditation to accept samples from both Phylloxera and Potato Cyst Nematode control areas, which will be handled through our existing Quarantine facility.
This development means that farmers in these areas have safe access to analytical services and support for their operations.
If you have any questions about Phylloxera or PCN in your area, you should contact your local Plant Standards Officer at the Department of Primary Industries.
Raise Funds for your Landcare or Farm Group while improving your soil
If you are a member of a Focus Farm, Landcare or other farming group, there is now a way to help raise funds for the group while improving your farm.
SWEP Laboratories has launched its ‘Farm Group Fundraiser’ that returns part of each member's investment in soil testing for the benefit of the group. If your group is interested and between the members could arrange for a minimum of 15 samples for analysis by SWEP within a specified 3-month period, a rebate of $20 per sample will be paid to the group and this can then be used in helping to fund its various activities.
Group members send their soil or plant tissue samples to SWEP with the name of the group marked on the sample information sheet and SWEP will return the rebate to your group's Treasurer or nominated official at the end of the 3-month period.
What is more, SWEP will increase the rebate to $25 per sample for groups that submit more than 50 samples during the nominated 3 months.
The group can run the fundraiser over any 3-month period you specify. Rebates are paid at the end that period.
The program operates with:
- SWEP Standard Soil Test
- SWEP Complete Soil Test
- SWEP Standard Plant Tissue Test
For more information, or to discuss your Group’s testing needs, please contact Peter Brown on (03) 9701 6007 or email peter@swep.com.au
People relying on filtration systems to treat their drinking water will now benefit from recent technology upgrades to SWEP laboratory equipment. A range of new tests are now coming online that had previously been either too expensive or unreliable for us to include.
The first of these include a range of new options for the SWEP range of water tests:
|
Australia (including GST) |
Outside Australia |
NB. These prices relate to use of these tests as optional inclusions with any of the SWEP range of standard water test packages. For those requiring these as 'stand-alone' tests, please add $25.00 per test to the prices above.
Fluoride and Chlorine are two elements of special concern for many people who rely on filters to remove them from their water supply. Likewise, Ammonium and Nitrite can be indicators of contamination.
Others to benefit from these tests will include Aquaculturists, for whom all these tests are important water quality indicators.
You can also find more information on this website about SWEP Water Tests and Collection Water Samples.
