In September 2006, world renowned composting and soil fertility consultant, Mr Edwin J Blosser, President Midwest Bio-Systems, Illinois , visited Australia at the request of YLAD Livings Soils, Young. While in Australia Mr Blosser conducted Soil Fertility and Advanced Composting System Workshops instructing viterons and entrepreneurs on the role that humus has in improving soil health and the disposal of waste residues. He shared experiences and benefits of using humified compost with mineral blends in similar tough climatic conditions to Australia.

Mr Blosser has had vast experience in assisting viterons grow table grapes as well as wine grapes in many regions of the US as well as in Northern Mexico, climatic conditions similar to Australia . What Mr Blosser observed was that soil structure, microbiology, and minerals were the three aspects that are able to provide the key to improving yield and quality of wine grapes.

One instance that Mr Blosser believes is worth illustrating is from a producer of wine grapes. This grower was making High Quality Compost that contained a lot of Humus (i.e. Humified Compost) and yet in his climate which was very arid and hot, he had hard, bare soil all along the rows of grapes.

On the initial visit when Mr Blosser dug into many different areas in the vineyard he observed that the soil structure was very poor, extremely low in organic matter soils and compacted. (This had to do with one aspect-#1 “Soil Structure” of the soil)

Also there was no sign of “Soil Life”, beneficial fungi etc. We observed no decomposition of the crop residues and it had hardly any smell or slightly foul smelling. (This had to do with aspect-#2 “Microbiology” of the soil)

Soil test analysis showed an imbalance and also a lack of minerals being available. The plants confirmed it as well. (This had to do with aspect-#3 “Minerals” of the soil)

Mr Blosser's experience with this grower had extremely positive results with a one - off application of 5 m/t per hectare of Humified Compost solving all of the problems in the above three aspects in the soil. It was the humus contained in the compost that provided for the loosening of the soil, a springboard of allowing the proper diversity of the microbial life to flourish. The humus also holds a tremendous amount of solubilising agents produced by the microbes, making available the minerals that were previously tied up in the soil.

Viterons are introducing these humus materials either as a humified compost mineral blend or extracted compost tea or activated biological products, raising the levels of active carbon in their soils to where soils are able to support soil life, recycle nutrients, or sustain healthy plant growth. Humus is a material full of active carbon that dramatically improves.

People in Australia are becoming increasingly aware that they can produce humified compost on farm or purchase the finished product from producers using the Advanced Composting System, such as YLAD Living Soils, Young.

Rhonda Daly, Director/Consultant of YLAD Living Soils sees that balanced, high active carbon soils will be only way that viterons can drought proof their soils ensuring a future.

More and more viterons are using these materials and technology as a way to increase production and profitability making their own vineyards more viable as active carbon holds up to 4 times its weight in water, increasing the water holding capacity of the soil. This dramatically improves the plants' ability to access available water in drought conditions.