The 25 Most Frequently Asked Questions
1. What does “ECO-MIN” mean?
2. Where does ECO-MIN come from?
3. What is ECO-MIN made of?
4. Who created this product?
5. Where has it been tested?
6. Does a scientist have direct oversight of the testing?
7. Are there published materials available?
8. How much product is currently being used?
9. Does it work on trees as well as crops?
10. Does the manufacture of ECO-MIN hurt the environment?
11. Does the application of ECO-MIN hurt the environment?
12. Does ECO-MIN cost more than conventional fertilizers?
13. Does ECO-MIN have a long shelf life?
14. Does ECO-MIN increase soil tilth?
15. Does ECO-MIN increase the diversity of soil microbial life?
16. Does ECO-MIN increase the mycorrhizae?
17. Does ECO-MIN help mitigate the problem of soil erosion?
18. Does ECO-MIN impact the amount of water needed to grow crops / trees?
19. Does ECO-MIN help in the management of pests?
20. Is ECO-MIN harmful to birds, pets, or other wildlife?
21. Is ECO-MIN effective on all crops and all soil types?
22. Is ECO-MIN available in different quantities?
23. Is ECO-MIN available anywhere?
24. How much ECO-MIN should I apply?
25. Should fertilizer be used with ECO-MIN?
1. What does “ECO-MIN” mean?
“Eco” comes from the Greek word oikos, which means household. Economics is the management of the business side of the Earth and ecology is the interaction between the human and biological dimensions of the Earth. “Min” is a shortened version of “minerals.” Therefore, “ECO-MIN” means: minerals for the management of the health of the Earth and its inhabitants.
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2. Where does ECO-MIN come from?
ECO-MIN is currently manufactured in California, Virginia and Australia, where deposits have been used to make the product for over 28 years.
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3. What is ECO-MIN made of?
ECO-MIN is a premium blend of five natural ingredients that contains over 70 different mineral types. The core component is a blend of sand-grain-size igneous rock material, to which a colloidal rock by-product is added. (See related video).
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4. Who created this product?
David Hall, an Australian agri-business farmer, blended a variety of rock dust products 35 years ago. The initial product has undergone several improvements through the years and the current formulation produces optimum yield. ECO-MIN has been used in its present form for over 10 years. (See related video).
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5. Where has ECO-MIN been tested?
ECO-MIN has been tested in real life agriculture applications in Australia, New Zealand, and throughout the United States. The following U.S. university sites were selected for testing purposes: University of Florida, Texas A&M, North Carolina State University, Cornell, Central Illinois Agriculture Research Farms, Ohio Central State University, and Iowa State.
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6. Does a scientist have direct oversight of the testing?*
Although there are qualified scientists at each university site that represent a wide range of expertise, overall supervision was originally conducted by Dr. Robert Bruck at NC State University in Raleigh, NC and by Dr. Bill Becker at the Central Illinois Agriculture Research Farms. (See related video of this trial). *Names of persons at other university sites are available upon request.
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7. Are there published materials available?
Yes, comprehensive data sheets and graphs indicating results from each university are available upon request.
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8. How much product is currently being used?
ECO-MIN currently has over 1500 customers worldwide. Product is now being used in Australia, New Zealand, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and several states in the U.S.
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9. Does it work on trees as well as crops?
Yes, ECO-MIN has shown to be extremely effective in increasing growth and mycorrhizae colonization in tublings in the NC State studies on loblolly pines. (See related video of this trial).
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10. Does the manufacture of ECO-MIN hurt the environment?
No, the manufacture of ECO-MIN does not hurt the environment. The rock mineral product quarried creates a by-product rock dust that has shown to be beneficial to the health of trees, which keeps the surrounding forest cover healthy. The only concern is over the cutting into the earth to find the rock. The quarries we select are minimizing the impact of this by extending the quarry vertically (deeper into the ground) rather than horizontally whenever possible.
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11. Does the application of ECO-MIN hurt the environment?
No, the application of ECO-MIN does not hurt the environment and does not require or use petroleum by-product. The extended release rate and natural nutrient delivery system results from the combination of all organic / natural products working in a symbiotic fashion. The majority of the product is rock mineral and it does not damage water, habitat, or native flora.
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12. Does ECO-MIN cost more than conventional fertilizers?
No, ECO-MIN does not cost more than conventional fertilizers. The per acre application rate is commensurate with the average price of synthetic NPK fertilizers on trees and on vegetables – and in some cases ECO-MIN costs less. We project a per acre cost of approx. $30 – $50 depending on application and location.
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13. Does ECO-MIN have a long shelf life?
We recommend that ECO-MIN be applied within one year of purchase. It is important that ECO-MIN be kept covered during storage.
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14. Does ECO-MIN increase soil tilth?
Yes, ECO-MIN increases the ability to cultivate the soil because it has the capacity to increase the natural aeration of the soil itself. (See related video).
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15. Does ECO-MIN increase the diversity of soil microbial life?
Preliminary tests indicate that ECO-MIN enhances the natural growth, balance of nutrients, and interaction of the soil’s bacteria producing healthier soil.
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16. Does ECO-MIN increase the mycorrhizae*?
Yes, the tests on the loblolly pine have shown an increase in the symbiotic fungus mycorrhizae. This is significant because documented scientific studies have concluded that mycorrhizae enables trees, crops, and plants to absorb nutrients in the soil and assists in protecting root structure. (See related video of this trial).
* Mycorrhizae fungi (or soil organisms) play an important role in the natural eco-system by helping bring nutrients to plants. Through this relationship the plant receives improved nutrient intake and an improved resistance to temperature changes and dry periods. Mycorrhizae are a component of healthy soil, however the use of fungicide and commercially produced fertilizers and sterile soil have removed mycorrhizae from many soils.
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17. Does ECO-MIN help mitigate the problem of soil erosion?
Yes, the use of ECO-MIN’s rock dust and the resulting improved root structure both assist in the prevention of soil erosion; this enables water to more readily penetrate the soil, thus reducing soil erosion.
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18. Does ECO-MIN impact the amount of water needed to grow crops / trees?
Water retention capacities can be related to increased porosity from the rock dust, worm populations, and increased microbial action. In essence, ECO-MIN aids growth during drought situations. (See related testimonial)
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19. Does ECO-MIN help in the management of pests?
ECO-MIN has shown to improve soil health and increase the brix in plants. There is evidence to suggest that plants in healthy soil with high brix levels have enhanced natural disease resistant capabilities.
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20. Is ECO-MIN harmful to humans, birds, pets, or other wildlife?
No, there has not been evidence of harm to animals if the application rates and spreading directions are followed. Used according to directions, ECO-MIN will not harm children, pets, animals or birds.
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21. Is ECO-MIN effective on everything?
It would be highly unusual to find a soil amendment product that is 100% effective on everything; however, ECO-MIN has always proven effective to add minerals to the soil. Some growers have complained that results are not visible in year one. The design of ECO-MIN allows for slow release, so patience is required. There is no miracle growth or quick fix, however, adding the ECO-MIN mineral component to soil is prudent under any growing condition.
Further, ECO-MIN has amphoteric tendencies (ie. it works towards neutral), so it should work equally well in saline, acid, neutral or alkaline soils.
Lastly, ECO-MIN is both paramagnetic and diamagnetic. This assists in beneficial soil microbe activity to provide high-quality humus that retains plant nutrients as perfect, non-leaching plant food. Grasses and grain-type plants favor paramagnetic energy while legumes are more likely to favor diamagnetic energy. Back to Top Back to Top Back to Top Back to Top
22. How much ECO-MIN should I apply?
• A single plant or seedling……. One palm-full
• 1000 sq ft……………………….6 pounds
• 1 acre……………………………250 – 300 pounds
• 8 acres………………………….1 ton (at 250 lbs per acre)
• 800 acres……………………….100 tons (at 250 lbs per acre)
23. Is ECO-MIN available in different quantities?
ECO-MIN is currently available in four sizes:
• 40-pound bags / 20-kg bags (minimum order of 1 ton)
• 1-ton / 1-tonne bulker bags
• 24-ton over-the-road trucks
• 100-ton capacity railroad car
24. Is ECO-MIN available anywhere?
Yes, ECO-MIN is available world-wide. Contact Us for more information.
25. Should fertilizer be used with ECO-MIN?
This is the most frequently asked question by growers.
- Organic Growers: ECO-MIN used in combination with mulch, manures, green waste, fish emulsions etc. is recommended because of ECO-MIN’s wide array of available minerals and their slow release. ECO-MIN also can be used as a stand alone product.
- Transitional Growers: ECO-MIN can be used to help growers transition from conventional to certified organic farming / production. Integrating ECO-MIN into the “best practices” management of the farm is prudent policy; ECO-MIN is not a cure-all but a step towards a sustainable soil program. Appropriate use of ECO-MIN can achieve a reduction in synthetic fertilizer use of 30-50% within the first 3 years. Soil tests should be conducted to determine the nutrient holdings and needs of the soil. Based on the outcome of these tests, some growers may choose to eliminate all chemical applications in the first year. The succeeding years would see further reduction in NPK fertilizer usage. Using this ECO-MIN technique, Australian farmers have been able to dramatically reduce their synthetic NPK inputs with positive results.
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