Beyond Organic Certification, BioDynamic Certification requires an enhanced soil structure and nutrient cycles, as well as plant growth and development with the use of specific Preparations. On the Jalna BioDynamic Organic farm Horn Manure Preparation (500) is used to enliven the soil, increasing microflora and the availability of nutrients and trace elements. Through it the root growth of the grass, particularly the fine root hairs, is strengthened in a balanced way. This develops humus formation, soil structure and water holding capacity.

The Preparation 500 used on Jalna’s BioDynamic Organic farm is made by the BioDynamic Research Institute in autumn by filling cow horns with cow manure and special herbs. These are then buried over winter. While underground the raw manure is transformed into a humus-like substance. In spring the cow horns are dug up and the Preparation 500 removed and carefully stored in a tightly sealed box until used on the farm.

“First we blend a small quantity of 500 with 60 gallons of water at 30º C. This is stirred in a special copper pot to create a vortex, and then the direction is changed. Mixing takes about an hour and then it is sprayed out onto the paddocks at very low pressure. It takes about 45 minutes to distribute one quantity, then we start again until the whole area is covered.

“500 stimulates soil biological activity and improved nutrient availability. It was hard to believe when I first came to BioDynamic farming, but in the last five years I’ve seen the difference in soil structure on this farm and others. I can see we are not destroying the soil. When it rains the water is definitely getting down, penetrating the surface, not running across the top of hard paddocks.

“When we extended the property we used 500 immediately to begin the conversion to BioDynamic,” says Peter Smith.