[kiwicopple]

My family are based in New Zealand and make a feriliser that is high in carbon and micronutrients (we use seaweed). Even after pot trials and field trials showing massive benefits we found it nearly impossible to sell to farmers. Generally they are sick of snake oil salesmen peddling the next best product. Farmers mindsets are almost immutable - we even had farmers who used some and saw the anecdotal benefits (worms) and then just switched back to regular SSP because it was what they always did. We had a lot more success with vineyards.

[vadimberman]

Could it be because it is impossible for the farmers to determine long-term effects (e.g. damage to the soil, etc.), and they don't want to risk adopting a potential "time bomb"?

[kiwicopple]

Yes it certainly could be that. The margins for sheep & beef farmers especially are quite thin so they are essentially surviving year to year and wouldn't want to risk even a short-term impacts.

Although I would argue that some of it is common sense which is eschewed because of the thin margins. In NZ, farmers will annually replace phosphate, nitrogen, and potassium because they know it is lost to produce/erosion/environmental factors. But the same isn't true of 20+ other nutrients that make a healthy soil. Soil is like the human body which has an amazing ability to survive on just bread and water, but that doesn't necessarily mean that's all you should feed it

[vadimberman]

Appreciate the answer and good luck with the venture.