The Growers Mineral Podcast

Blueberries, Calcium & Letting Crops Talk — ft. Merck Farms

Growers Mineral

In this episode, southeast-Georgia growers Bob & Jesse Merck join Jim Halbeisen and Chris Kohl to break down how calcium nutrition, balanced soil biology, and water chemistry turned rain-soaked frustration into record yields, 5-month shelf life, and a you-pick stand that sells out as soon as the gates swing open.

🌱 Episode Highlights
Soft-Berry Fix – Adding 2 tons/acre of high-cal lime + weekly Growers foliar sprays (2 gal/acre) cut “mushy” blueberries by half and impressed local schools.
“Let Crops Talk” – Jim explains why observation beats prescriptions in regenerative farming.
45 Inches of Rain, Chili Thrips & Fungal Wipe-Outs – How the Mercks rebuilt soil structure and plant immunity.
Direct-to-Consumer Gold – From farm stand strategy to landing county-wide school contracts.
Water Quality 101 – TDS testing, soft-water mixing, and the secret to clog-free fertigation.

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