Shortages and increasing fertilizer prices are causing problems for farmers, and use of less fertilizer will result in lower crop yields. At the same time, there may be less crop irrigation water at higher prices.
The solution may lie in making biochar from the large quantity of insect-killed trees locally available. Added to farmland root-zone soils at a rate of 0.8% biochar increase in soil volume, and first inoculated with cultured soil microbes, the biochar will produce all the plant nutrients most crops need on a long-term basis – with a single application. Biochar will also help hold a great deal of moisture in soils.
My Colorado charity, NPI, is seeking a USDA grant to demonstrate and document such biochar benefits. USDA requires that NPI partner with a Southwest Colorado organic farmer with certified organic farmland. This farmer should expect to receive many benefits from this effort at no cost. At least two acres of certified organic land are needed for the demonstration.
Any interested organic farmer should email NPI at npiinc2000@aol.com. Indications of interest are needed by May 8, 2026, with partner agreements to follow. More information is available at needfulprovision.com. Other Colorado organic farmers should expect to benefit from project results.
David Nuttle
Dolores
