Summary
Russell Taylor, Vice President of Live Earth Products, joins the Keep Off The Grass podcast to discuss humic acid and humate products derived from ancient plant deposits. He explains how humates are the end result of thousands of years of organic matter decomposition and polymerization, and how they differ from active organic matter. Taylor covers applications across agriculture, dietary supplements, cosmetics, and animal feeds. The conversation dives into the science of soil amendment versus biostimulant effects of humic substances, the importance of deposit quality and the protective sandstone layer at their mine, and how humic acids improve soil structure by creating macro and micropores. While primarily focused on agricultural and lawn care applications, the episode touches on the mineral content of humate deposits and their connection to mineral-rich therapeutic products.
Key Points
- Humates are ancient plant deposits that have undergone thousands of years of decomposition and polymerization
- Live Earth Products mines humate in the US with a protective sandstone layer preserving water-soluble folic acid components
- Humic acid applications span dietary supplements, cosmetics, animal feeds, and fertilizers
- Granular humic acid acts as a soil amendment building structure, while liquid forms show biostimulant effects
- A 1% change in soil organic matter conserves 30,000 more gallons of water per acre according to USDA data
- Humic acids create macro and micropores in soil that improve both drainage and water retention
- Quality of humate deposits varies significantly across US mining operations
Key Moments
Ancient humate deposits contain rich mineral profiles similar to therapeutic waters
Humate deposits are ancient plant formations containing organic acids and minerals. The mineral-rich composition of these deposits parallels the mineral content found in therapeutic hot springs and mineral waters used in balneotherapy.
"Humate is an ancient plant deposit. When you think about that plant deposit, there's things that are in there, like the organic acid, but also the minerals. So our company actually extracts ingredients that are used in dietary supplements, cosmetics, animal feeds, fertilizers."
Humic acids improve mineral absorption and nutrient bioavailability
The organic acids in humates enhance mineral absorption across different applications. This technology of improved bioavailability connects to how mineral-rich waters in balneotherapy deliver trace elements through the skin.
"So the technology of Humate is these organic acids help absorption, and that technology can be used on a grass leaf or in animal or even makeup. So it's a very unique application for these products."
