Subject: Soil Remineralization Forum
From: [email-masked] (Dan Winter)
Date: 28 Apr 94 01:05:00 GMT
Newsgroups: rec.gardens

From: Dan Winter <danwinter>

/*     SOIL REMINERALIZATION & SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE           */
/* written   4pm   4/26/94   by David Yarrow  in  en.agriculture */
   
                   For Immediate Release
                            Forum
       Soil Remineralization and Sustainable Agriculture

   SILVER SPRING, MARYLAND, APRIL 14, 1994 -- An invitation has been 
issued to join a one-day forum to explore the potential of soil 
remineralization for sustainable agriculture.  The Forum will be held on 
May 24, 1994 (with a dinner the evening of May 23 at the USDA, 
Agricultural Research Service Center, Beltsville, Maryland.

   Natural stone and aggregate materials and fines produced from crushed 
stone, sand and gravel contain a broad spectrum of minerals and trace 
elements that can be applied to soils.  Potential benefits are increased 
yields and long term soil fertility that  is sustainable and 
ecologically sound.  There is also a potential for 
pest control, co-utilization with sewage sludge or wastewater technologies,
bioremediation of soils and other areas of sustainable development.  The 
effect on nutritional content of remineralized crops is an important 
factor in the examination of the value of remineralization.  The main 
emphasis of the one-day Forum will be on sustainable agriculture.

   These issues should greatly interest all those concerned with 
environmental and economic sustainability, especially for agriculture 
and forestry, creating long term soil fertility and enhancing the 
nutritional content of food.  The Forum will take a look at the results 
of remineralization around the world, as well as prior and current 
research.  The diverse audience will also explore its future potential, 
and the possibility of forming partnerships involving government, industry, 
farmers, and universities which will contribute to future exploration of 
remineralization and sustainability.   The effects on soils and plants 
will be examined along with effects on human nutrition.

   Perspectives on soil remineralization will come from those that have 
advocated remineralization; the aggregate and stone industries, the U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, and the U.S. Bureau of Mines.  Speakers will 
come from the fields of agriculture, geology, forestry, nutrition, and 
the environment.  Presenters will include:
  *   Mr. Greg Watson, Northeast Director, Nature Conservancy
  *   Dr. Robert Bruck, State University, North Carolina
  *   Dr. William Fyfe, Pres., International Union of Geological Sciences
  *   Dr. Bernadette Marriott, National Research Council

   The Forum is being hosted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture/ 
Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Bureau of Mines, National Stone 
Association, and National Aggregates Association.  
For registration, contact 
Engineering Division of National Aggregates Association, 
900 Spring Street, Silver Spring, MD 20910; 301-587-1400, Fax: 301-585-4219.

    The Forum will be held in the main auditorium, Building 003, on the 
west side of US Route 1 just north of the Capital Beltway (I-95) on 
Circle Drive at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center.  The dinner 
the evening before (and lodging if needed) 
will be held at the nearby Holiday Inn, College Park, also located on 
the west side of US Route 1 at 10000 Baltimore Blvd.  Phone 301-345-6700 
for reservations.

                Conference sponsors are:
   U. S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service
     Dr. Ron Korcak
     Bldg. 004, Room 119, BARC-West, Beltsville, MD 20705
  U. S. Bureau of Mines
     Dr. Aldo Barsotti
     810 7th Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20241
  National Aggregates Association
     Mr. Richard Meininger
     900 Spring Street, Silver Spring, MD 20910
  National Stone Association
     Mr. Larry Quinlivan, Mr. Charles A. Pryor, Jr.
     1415 Elliot Place, NW, Washington, DC 20007

                      Workshop Agenda
                Forum on Soil Remineralization

                   Monday, May 23, 1994
                  Building 003, USDA/ARS

  Noon to 5:00 p.m. - Poster Set-Up

  5:00 to 7:00 p.m.  Registration, Holiday Inn, 10000 Baltimore Blvd.

  7:00 p.m.   Buffet Dinner at Holiday Inn
     Guest Speaker - Mr Greg Watson, The Nature Conservancy, Boston, MA

                  Tuesday, May 24, 1994
     Auditorium, Bldg 003, USDA/ARS, Beltsville, Maryland

  8:00 - 10:00 a.m.            Session I
                 Soil Remineralization - An Overview
                      Moderator - Dr. Ron Korcak

  8:00  Welcome

  8:10 - 8:20      Goals of the Workshop
         Dr. Ron Korcak
         Fruit Lab., USDA/ARS, Beltsville, MD

  8:20 - 8:50  Soil Remineralization Around the World
         Ms. Joanna Campe
         Editor, Remineralize the Earth, Northampton, MA

  8:50 - 9:05      The Aggregates Industry 
         Mr. Rick Meininger
         Vice Pres. of Research, National Aggregates Asso., Silver Spring, MD

  9:05 - 9:20      Industry/Association Interactions
         Mr. Robert Able
         Chair, Remineralization Task Force, NAA, Collins, NY

  10:00 - 10:30      Break

  10:30 - Noon                Session II
              Remineralization in Agriculture & Forestry
                   Moderator: Mr. Rick Meininger

  10:30 - 10:45      Soil/Plant Interactions
         Dr. Ron Korcak
         USDA/ARS Fruit Lab, Beltsville, MD

  10:45 - 11:10  Use of Mega Industrial Byproducts in Remineralization
         Dr. William Fyfe
         Dept. of Geology, Univ. Western Ontario, London, Ontario

  11:10 - 11:35      Soil Remineralization and Forestry 
         Dr. Robert Bruck
         Office of Outreach & Extension, NC State University, Raleigh, NC

  11:35 - Noon      Sustainability: A Geologists Perspective 
         Dr. Ward Chesworth
         Land Resource Sci. Dept., Univ. of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario

  Noon          Lunch

  1:15 - 3:00 p.m.             Session III
                   Diversity and Remineralization
                   Moderator: Mr. Larry Quinlivan

  1:15 - 1:40  Effects of Rock Dust on Soil Microbiology & Plant Nutrition
         Dr. David Miller
         Biology Department, Oberlin College, Ohio

  1:40 - 2:05     Microbial Realm in Relation to Rock Powder Blends
         Mr. Bruce Tainio
         Tainio Techniques & Technologies, Cheney, Washington

  2:05 - 2:30      Potential Benefit of Soil Remineralization:
                      Selenium in Human Nutrition as a Model
         Dr. Orville Levander
         Vitamin & Mineral Nutrition Lab, Beltsville, MD

  2:30 - 2:55      Geophagy and Human Nutrition
         Dr. Bernadette Marriott
         National Academy of Sciences, Washington, DC

  3:00 - 4:00 p.m.      Break & Posters

                                Session IV
                        Posters - Case Histories

  4:00 - 5:00                   Session V
                          Conference Synopsis
                      Moderator: Dr. Aldo Barsotti

  4:00 - 4:20      Synopsis & Needs - An Industry Perspective
         Mr.Jim Schmitt
         Granite Rock Co., Watsonville, CA

  4:20 - 4:40      Research Needs
         Dr. W. D. Kemper
         National Program Staff, USDA/ARS, Beltsville, MD

  4:40 - 5:00      General Questions and Answers

  5:15 - 6:15      Planning Task Group and Speakers

  + - - - - - - - - C O M M E N T A R Y- - - - - - - - - - - +
   The impetus which gave rise to this Forum was a 30-page proposal I 
prepared in June 1992 for Mr. Robert Able of Gernatt Gravel Co., largest 
gravel producer in NYS.  Mr. Able presented the proposal to the National 
Aggregates Assoc., which enthusiastically adopted it.  Then the USDA, 
Bureau of Mines, National Stone Assoc. got excited and signed on to the 
concept.  
   So, two years later will see the first national level conference on 
the use of finely ground rock powders as an amendment to regenerate worn 
out farm and forest soils.  For the first time a gathering of PhD's, 
bureaucrats, industry reps, and eco-activists will review the existing 
information on this essential bioremediation process and consider the 
next steps for its broad scale application to the environment.
   Unfortunately I won't be there.  In August 1992 I was electrocuted by 
6000 volts and fell 15 feet to break my back.   Totally broke, confined 
to bed and wheelchair, consigned to a medical trash can, and in daily 
pain, I can't attend to see what will bec ome of my initiative.
  + - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - +
  -- for a green and peaceful planet,
       David Yarrow, turtle from Salt Lake
       1227 Dorset St., So. Burlington, VT 05403; 802-865-1218
                "be earthwise, not clockwise"