SOBAC is based in southern France and their products Bacteriolit and Bacteriosol are made up of a complex of micro-organisms which improves the level of micro-life in the soil, allowing the soil to fulfil its full natural cycle. It was developed by Marcel Mezy, a French farmer, in the eighties.

SOBAC is a very unique product which works with natural soil processes to help improve the soil. It helps to transform organic matter into humus. Any positively charged element is naturally fixed on to the clay humic complex via the law of attraction as the clay humic complex is negatively charged.

Humus is the evolution of organic matter. Organic matter can evolve in two ways – either into humus or rot. The more humus there is in the soil the better because it increases the amount of minerals present and helps to prevent leaching in the soil.

There are a number of advantages to keeping your grassland is good condition. One of the main reasons is that animals get more from forage in the field than they do from forage which is bought in the bag. It is important to have the field right and working well so that the plants get all the necessary nutrition.

The autotrophic micro-organisms trap carbon and nitrogen from the air and carbon is the base of humus. Humus is the natural storage capacity of the soil and the humic micro-organisms transform organic matter into humus.

Rhizospherical micro-organisms around the roots enable the exchange between the roots and the humus layer, by making all of the elements available to the plants we are offering them the possibility to feed on what the really need instead of overdosing them with one element like nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium or calcium, for example.

SOBAC were contracted by Amélie Von Leithner in 2014 when she bought 30 hectares in Cisai-SaintAubin, Sweden.

Von Leithner started with two stalls and 30 hectares lying fallow. She now has expanded her business and has 20 stalls and eight broodmares with their foals thanks to the success of SOBAC. She was very impressed with how quickly she was able to put her horses back out on the land after applying Bacteriosol.

Speaking about the improvements she found in the soil, Von Leithner said: “It has already improved very quickly.

“The flora has substantially diversified and is improving year by year. Parasitic plants such as rushes are clearly reducing. The substrate is still damp but its soil bearing capacity is better.”

This is not the only improvement Von Leithner has noticed since she began using SOBAC. She has found that the land is now in much better condition during the winter months and she is able to graze horses out during the winter a lot more. She added that some of the meadows withstood the drought better than they had previously done.

Von Leithner’s farm is in an area with a number of organic farmers. Two of her neighbours are organic milk producers and although her stud is not fully organic she tries to keep it as organic as possible.

“For me, it’s critical to stop using chemicals and sow the soil with Bactériosol. I’m not obliged to do it, but it’s a matter of gaining respect from my two neighbours who are organic milk producers.

“I don’t imagine for one second that they could get runoff from my land that wouldn’t conform to their practices.

“I can’t see myself returning to a conventional system tomorrow. It certainly makes sense to me that SOBAC was invited to COP21.

“It all counts in the way I see things. The big question is, however, whether the COP21 accords will actually be respected,” she explained.

TESTIMONIALS

GUY O’CALLAGHAN of Grangemore Stud

“I started using Bacteriosol from SOBAC a few years ago. I was watching a farm that started using the process and decided to use it myself. I was looking for a natural way to fertilize the land and it fitted in with my plan.

“The fields recover very well after the winter and the grass growth is consistent. The horses look well, overall I am happy with the product.”

KIM MCCALL has been farming since 1986 and has produced thoroughbreds since 1994

“I started using Bacteriosol in 2012 and since I started using Bacteriosol I have seen higher biological soil fertility which ultimately improves the quality of my pastures and therefore the health of the animals.

“As I don’t use chemical weed killers one of the things I was most impressed about after applying Bacteriosol was that I noticed a significant reduction in the number of weeds, such as docks, thistles and nettles. You still have weeds but they don’t flourish.”

GEORGE COYLE is a commercial hay producer.

“I do keep some stock and because I have paddocks fertilised with either chemicals or Bacteriosol I can compare the difference.

“The stock always seems to prefer Bacteriosol grass, grazing the paddock out evenly. When it comes to making hay the process is definitely easier.

“The grass isn’t pumped with nitrogen and excess moisture. I’ve had the hay tested and the results show that protein and dry matter content is higher in the hay cut from a field where I have spread Bacteriosol and my customers want that hay. We have way more worms with Bacteriosol. Worms are so important for soil health”.

For more information contact SOBAC’s distributor P&T Stapleton Limited on bacteriolit@gmail.com or call Tom on 087-2328051