How Young Mallee Farmers Integrated PyroAg Wood Vinegar into Their Broadacre Cropping Program

For James Allen and Miranda Pritchard, farming is about continually improving the way they produce healthy crops while protecting the long-term productivity of their land.

Operating a broadacre enterprise in Victoria's Mallee region, the young farming couple have embraced practical biological farming practices that work alongside conventional crop management. Since introducing PyroAg Wood Vinegar in 2020, it has become an important part of their seed treatment and spray programs, supporting healthy crop establishment and efficient input use.

James Allen and Miranda Pritchard in their canola crop, where PyroAg Wood Vinegar forms part of an integrated broadacre cropping program focused on healthy soils and productive crops.

About the Farm

James and Miranda operate approximately 2,500 acres in the Mallee, including family-owned and leased land.

Their diverse cropping program includes:

• Lentils

• Canola

• Lupins

• Beans

• Wheat

• Barley

• Triticale

As younger farmers, they are continually exploring practical ways to improve soil function while maintaining profitable crop production.

Looking Beyond Conventional Seed Treatments

When James and Miranda introduced PyroAg Wood Vinegar in late 2020, they wanted to build a healthier biological foundation for their crops.

Instead of relying solely on conventional seed treatments, they developed a biological seed coating combining:

• PyroAg Wood Vinegar

• Kelp

• Beneficial Anaerobic Microbes (BAM)

The aim was to encourage healthy crop establishment while supporting soil biology from the beginning of the growing season.

Seed Treatment Program

The farm applies PyroAg at:

• 50 mL per tonne of seed

• Mixed in 5 litres of water

This treatment is applied before sowing as part of the seed preparation process.

According to James, this combination has delivered the results they were looking for while fitting easily into their existing farming operations.

Supporting Weed Control

Beyond seed treatment, PyroAg also plays a role in the farm's spray program.

James explains that it is used to improve chemical uptake during herbicide applications, particularly with products such as glyphosate and paraquat.

Rather than replacing existing chemistry, PyroAg is incorporated into the spray mix to complement the farm's weed management strategy.

Farming with the Future in Mind

James and Miranda have always looked for practical alternatives that support productive farming without adding unnecessary complexity.

Their focus is on building resilient farming systems that continue improving over time.

For them, biological products such as PyroAg form one part of a balanced approach that combines sound agronomy with continual learning and on-farm observation.

An Integrated Approach

The couple view PyroAg as one component of a broader farming system rather than a standalone solution.

Combined with biological seed treatments and practical crop management, it contributes to healthier crop establishment and supports their long-term goal of building productive, resilient soils.

As James explains:

"We decided to use a natural cocktail of PyroAg Wood Vinegar, kelp and BAM (Beneficial Anaerobic Microbes) for our seed treatment rather than using chemicals and the results are clear."

Key Takeaways

• 2,500-acre broadacre cropping enterprise in the Mallee

• Growing lentils, canola, lupins, beans, wheat, barley and triticale

• Using PyroAg Wood Vinegar since 2020

• Biological seed treatment with PyroAg, kelp and BAM

• Applied at 50 mL per tonne of seed

• Used in herbicide applications to support chemical uptake

• Integrated into a long-term soil and crop management strategy

Download the PDF Case Study

Download the original case study to learn more about James and Miranda's seed treatment program and how PyroAg Wood Vinegar has become part of their broadacre cropping system.