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Helping Corn Growers Increase Yields With Less Fertilizer

(With reporting by Victor De Jong)

A London company is getting federal funding to develop a test that could help corn producers increase their yields.

Researchers have discovered significant microbial variance in the soil of farms in close proximity to each other with drastically different corn yield rates.

A & L Biologicals will try to develop a diagnostic test to detect and diagnose microorganisms that impact corn growth.

The federal government is putting 1 point 19 million dollars into helping A & L Biologicals develop a diagnostic test to detect and diagnose microorganisms in the soil.

London North Centre MP Susan Truppe says the goal is to isolate the beneficial organisms to help growers maximise their yields while reducing their fertilizer needs.

Field trials in the study will start in Ontario and then expand into corn growing areas in Quebec and Manitoba.

It's a four-year project.

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London North Centre MP Susan Truppe made the announcement today at the headquarters for A & L Biologicals in London.

[audio mp3="http://blackburnnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/CORN-Truppe-1.mp3"][/audio]

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London North Centre MP Susan Truppe says the four year project hopes to isolate the beneficial organisms to help Ontario corn growers maximize their yields while reducing their fertilizer needs.

[audio mp3="http://blackburnnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/CORN-Truppe-2.mp3"][/audio]

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