Episode 185: Pioneering Solubilized Urea and Foliar Nutrition with the Fabian Family

Patrick Fabian and his two sons Andrew and Stephen operate a third and fourth-generation farm in Southern Alberta, Canada. Farming on 100% irrigated land, they specialize in producing a diverse range of pedigreed seeds, including cereals, flax, corn, alfalfa, canola, and peas. Their operation encompasses roughly a thousand acres and revolves around cultivating high-quality seeds that boast robust germination and exceptional vigor.

In their transition to regenerative agriculture, the Fabians drastically reduced upfront synthetic nitrogen, opting instead to spoon-feed crops with highly efficient foliar applications of solubilized urea. By combining biological seed treatments like compost tea with targeted carbon sources and micronutrients, they successfully eliminated the need for conventional fungicides and insecticides. Their practices focus heavily on maximizing net income per acre and enhancing soil biology rather than chasing sheer volume.   In this episode, John and the Fabians discuss: The efficiency gains achieved by switching from upfront soil nitrogen to foliar applications of solubilized urea.

The operational shift from chasing maximum gross yield to prioritizing net income per acre.

Replacing conventional synthetic seed treatments with compost tea and biological inoculants.

How microbially active soils produce heavier pedigreed seeds with superior cold-stress vigor.

Utilizing plant sap analysis and tissue testing to address precise nutritional needs.

The remarkable crop resilience and yield recovery observed after severe early-stage hail damage.

How Advancing Eco Agriculture helps growers make data-driven decisions through sap testing.

Resources

To keep up with the Fabians, follow them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FabianSeedFarmsInc/

To learn more about plant sap analysis: https://advancingecoag.com/plant-sap-analysis/

About John Kempf