To make the concentrate for our recommended application rate of  1 pound per acre, add 1 pound of  Premium Johnson-Su compost in 5–10 gallons of non-chlorinated water, mix vigorously for 5-10 minutes.  Methods will vary depending on use and equipment.  You can also reach out to one of our dealers in a location near you for fresh extract.  

Click here to locate a dealer near you.

Click here for the How To Use page.

Click here to watch the Midwest Soil Restore How To Extractor video.

Make extract as close as possible to application. Midwest Soil Restore recommends using it within 48 hours, and preferably within 24 hours, because it is a living biological product.

For row crops, the most consistently recommended timing is at planting, especially in-furrow or as a seed inoculant, so the biology is placed right where the seed and new roots need it most.

For residue applications, your site recommends applying as soon after harvest as practical.

For foliar use, cooler low-UV periods such as early morning or evening are generally preferred so the biology is not stressed as quickly on the leaf surface.

We recommend 1 pound of Premium Johnson-Su Compost per acre as an extract, usually in 5 gallons of extract per acre for 30-inch rows, with up to 10 gallons per acre if using for pasture restoration.

For residue breakdown,we  recommend  ½ to 1 pound per acre in at least 10 gallons of extract, with more water generally preferred when practical.  We can recommned lower application rates vs the standard 2 lbs. per acre because our compost has a higher fungi density than typical Johnson-Su compost.

The best fit depends on the goal.  

For row crops, in-furrow at planting is often the preferred method because it places the biology directly on the seed and in the root zone.  

It can also be used as a seed inoculant, foliar spray, soil drench, fertigation input, or crop-residue spray.

We recommend screening the extract before it enters equipment, keeping it agitated during use, and thoroughly flushing planters, drills, and sprayers afterward to prevent plugging or biofilm buildup.

For detailed information on how to use, click here.

Yes, BUT ONLY with low salt liquid starters (e.g. 6-24-6), and ADD the extract to your planter tank LAST to minimize exposure time.  

It would be preferable to use a dual tank planter if available.
Avoid hot/high-salt or strongly caustic products, keep the solution agitated, and use it immediately rather than letting it sit.

Only briefly.

We recommends using extract within no more than 48 hours, preferably within 24 hours.

If it develops a foul odor, it has gone bad and should not be used.

In practice, freshest is best because microbial populations and oxygen status can shift quickly once the extract is made.

Do not throw it away.

The leftover solids still have value and can be returned to the soil, added to a potting or transplant mix, used around trees, gardens, or high-value plants, or reincorporated into a composting system.

Extraction removes some biology into the water, but it does not make the remaining compost useless. That leftover material still contains organic matter and biology, just at a reduced concentration compared with the starting compost.

Absolutely. One of the dominant fungi in our Johnson-Su Compost & Extract- Basidiomycota (Soil Architects)- are excellent for pastures that have become compacted by livestock.

Basidiomycota help break up the "hard pan" and allows grass roots to go deeper, which keeps your pastures green longer into the summer heat.

Avoid chlorinated municipal water, as chlorine is designed to kill the exact biology you are trying to multiply. Use well water, rainwater, or de-chlorinate city water before mixing.

You may be able to evaporate chlorine from city water by letting it sit in your planter tank for 24 hrs, BUT ONLY if your city uses Chlorine. If your water provider uses Chloramine, it will not evaporate even after several days.

How to check:  Call your local water utility or check their annual water quality report for "Chloramines."

You can neutralize city water with Vitamin C.

1.2 grams of (vitamin C) Sodium Ascorbate per 100 gallons of water (which safely neutralizes up to 3 ppm of Chlorine/Chloramine).

Food Grade Sodium Ascorbate or 100% Pure Sodium Ascorbate powder (often sold as 'Buffered Vitamin C') is readily available in powder or crystalline form from most health food retailers and bulk chemical suppliers. Ensure it contains no fillers, sugars, or artificial flavors.

This typically costs between $10 and $12 per pound and provides enough to treat several thousand gallons of water.