DEXTER MAN INVITED TO THE LAND DOWN UNDER

DEXTER -- Mark Coots of Dexter did something last week that no one else in the United States was invited to do.

Coots attended The Farmfest in Sidney, Australia, the second-largest farm show in Australia, to show off the pesticide RAGE.

Coots, of Profit Plus in Dexter, was invited by the Australians, who are interested in the product.

Coots said RAGE saves the farmer between 40 and 50 percent in chemical use.

RAGE encapsulates the chemical and holds the high pH water, which keeps the farmer from using so many chemicals.

Coots said Australian companies are in the process of getting RAGE now. It has been in the U.S. for about five years.

"They are excited about getting it," Coots said. "We have had it out and know it works."

Australian companies will test the product and if they like it will buy from Profit Plus.

Coots also introduced another fairly recent product known as E-2001 to Australian companies.

E-2001 is a natural nitrogen that does not leak or get into the ground water system. It is enviormentally safe.

E-2001 was studied at the University of Arkansas and Louisiana State University and was found to increase rice by about 15 bushels per field.

Coots said the project is being backed by the World Bank. Australia, Indonesia, Turkey and others are testing the product.

Coots said E-2001 cuts commercial nitrogen use by 4 to 6 percent.

He said the farm show was larger than any he has been to in the United States. There were between 80,000 and 100,000 people who attended.

The show covered about 40 acres and was similar to the ones in the United States.

Coots said they had the same types of equipment and the same brand names.

Australia has land similar to the Bootheel. Some areas are flat and some hilly. The soil is even similar. The only differences are the climate is more tropical and their summer is our winter, he said.

Australia is not having the farm crisis that is felt in most of the United States and abroad, Coots said. The commodity prices are basically the same but they have better yields.

Coots said Australians yield about two and a half to three bushels per acre on dry land.

Australians also skip two rows when they plant, which means they could yield even more.

Australian farmers have no subsidiary aid, which results in the low prices. They also have more specialty crops such as melons and peanuts than the United States.

Coots said, "I learned a lot and they are real friendly people." He added that he would like to take a farm group some winter and let them see Australian farming.