Frequently Asked Questions
Explore our comprehensive FAQ library covering soil health, regenerative agriculture, biological fertilisers, pasture performance, livestock nutrition, and sustainable farm management practices across Australian farming systems.
Biofertiliser Rates and Methods FAQs
SONIC Liquid Seaweed: no withholding period. SONIC Liquid Seaweed is plant-based and can be consumed by livestock, either while grazing treated pasture or added to drinking troughs. It is the base of the SONIC Liquid Seaweed Livestock Feed Supplement, providing naturally occurring kelp compounds and beneficial microbes as part of a livestock nutrition program.
SONIC Liquid Fish Biofertiliser: use your judgement for ruminants. Because it contains fish, it is classed as restricted animal material (RAM) under Australia’s ruminant feed ban. Cattle, sheep, goats and other ruminants shouldn’t graze treated pasture until the fertiliser has been absorbed. How long that takes depends on rainfall and pasture growth. Queensland Government guidance suggests around three weeks is generally enough. Pigs and poultry are not covered by the ruminant feed ban.
Yes. SONIC Biofertilisers can be applied through standard spray and irrigation equipment, including boom sprayers, airblast sprayers, tractor-mounted units, drones and fertigation systems.
Mixing: Fill the tank with water first, then add the product to reduce foaming. Use the mix within 48 hours, and don’t store diluted product.
Protecting the microbes: The products are liquids that generally pass through fine spray and irrigation systems without clogging. To keep the beneficial microbes active, use larger nozzles and coarser screens where possible, and keep spray pressure below 55 psi.
Biofertilisers generally work best applied at lower rates more often, rather than in one or two large applications. Regular applications keep feeding soil microbes through the season.
Grazing pastures: Apply three or more times per year. Applying after grazing helps support pasture recovery.
Orchards and vines: Apply three or more times per year, timed around key growth stages such as flowering, fruit set and fruit development.
Small mixed crops and seedlings: Apply weekly or fortnightly during early growth, then fortnightly to monthly once plants are established.
Fertigation: Small, regular doses can be delivered through your irrigation system.
First one to three years, or moving away from synthetic fertilisers: Apply more often while soil biology builds up.
Choosing a rate: Use the lower end of the rate range when applying frequently, or for seedlings, young plants and fertile soils. Use the higher end for established crops, pasture and periods of rapid growth. For best results, apply in cool conditions, such as early morning, late afternoon or overcast days, and avoid spraying above 27°C.
See our Rates and Methods page for more information.
Yes. SONIC Biofertilisers contain living microorganisms, and microbial activity gradually declines after production. For best results, use the product within three months of its production date. The best-before date is printed on every container.
Freshness matters because the benefit of a biological fertiliser comes from those living microbes. When applied, they add beneficial microorganisms to the soil and can help stimulate existing soil life. This supports processes such as nutrient cycling and organic matter breakdown. The more active the microbes are at application, the better placed they are to establish in the soil.
SONIC Biofertilisers are supplied fresh and contain no preservatives or artificial additives, which is why they have a shorter shelf life than many conventional fertilisers.
Biological Fertiliser FAQs
Conventional synthetic fertilisers are designed to deliver nutrients rapidly, creating fast and predictable plant responses. When nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are applied in synthetic forms, plants often respond with quick greening and a surge in biomass.
Biological fertilisers, on the other hand, work in a fundamentally different way to conventional synthetic inputs. Rather than supplying nutrients in a readily available chemical form, they focus on supporting the living processes within the soil that naturally create fertility over time.
Read article Rethinking Soil Fertility: The True Meaning of Fertiliser
Liquid seaweed extracts, such as Seasol, are usually produced using chemical or heat extraction to concentrate certain compounds. While these products are widely used, the process can reduce some of the natural components of the seaweed. Seaweed biofertiliser, on the other hand, is cold fermented, preserving a wider range of nutrients and natural compounds in a form that supports soil biology and plant uptake.
Read Article – Liquid Seaweed Fertiliser Comparison: Ferment Vs Extract
We service all regions across Australia for both product supply and on-farm production systems. Fresh processed biological fertilisers are delivered nationwide.
For on-farm systems and training, we work with both local and remote operations. Where in-person visits aren’t practical, we provide live video training and guided setup to ensure you can confidently get your system up and running without a hitch.
We source both fresh and dried fish waste, generated after processing for human consumption, from a network of fish shops and processors handling ocean-caught fish across Australia. By utilising these by-products, we help divert organic waste from landfill and repurpose it into valuable liquid fish hydrolysate biological fertiliser.
Read article Turning Fish Waste Into Premium Hydrolysate Fertiliser
Liquid Seaweed for Livestock FAQs
It is suitable for a wide range of farm animals, including cattle, sheep, goats, alpacas, horses, pigs and poultry.
It can be used as a regular part of the diet, or during periods of higher nutritional demand, such as when feed quality is poor or around calving, foaling and lambing.
Read article Kelp Supplements for Livestock: Why Australian Farmers Use Them
There are several ways to include it in your livestock’s diet:
In drinking water: Add to water troughs at a dilution of 1:5 to 1:50.
In feed: Add directly to feed, spray onto dry feed, or mix with grain.
As a grain soak: Dilute and use to soak grain before feeding.
In lick blocks: Add to natural mineral lick blocks.
Once diluted, use within two to three days, and don’t store the product in diluted form. Keep it out of direct sun, and make sure animals also have access to fresh, untreated water.
Read article Kelp Supplements for Livestock: Why Australian Farmers Use Them
Most farmers give it weekly or fortnightly at the standard dilution of 1:20 to 1:50, added to water troughs or feed. Frequency can be adjusted to suit your conditions:
Regular use: Weekly or fortnightly, as an ongoing part of the diet.
Higher-demand periods: During dry seasons, when feed quality is poor, or in late pregnancy and around calving, foaling and lambing, keep to a regular weekly or fortnightly routine.
Good feed conditions: When pasture and feed quality are good, some farmers reduce to monthly or a few times a year.
It is a naturally cold-fermented liquid kelp supplement containing naturally occurring kelp compounds, such as alginates and fucoidans, along with minerals and the beneficial microbes produced during fermentation. This makes it a natural direct-fed microbial (DFM).
Kelp has a long history of use as a livestock feed ingredient, and many farmers add it to the diet as a natural source of minerals, particularly when feed quality is poor.
This Liquid Seaweed analysis shows its mineral content and microbial counts from previous testing.
Read article The Role of Livestock Digestion in Feed Cost Management
On-Farm Biofertiliser Production FAQs
Producing biological fish and seaweed fertilisers on-farm can significantly reduce input costs through:
Lower freight costs – Shipping dried raw ingredients instead of finished liquid products can substantially reduce freight costs. Actual savings depend on your location and order size.
Less packaging and waste – Reuse your fermentation and storage containers across batches, reducing the need for new packaging.
Lower ongoing production costs – Make your own liquid fish and seaweed biofertilisers and livestock supplements for an indicative $1.00–$1.20/L after initial setup and training. First-batch, including setup and training, costs approximately $1.80–$3.50/L, depending on system size and package requirements.
Read article How a DIY Biofertiliser System Pays for Itself in Under 6 Months
The starter package covers your raw ingredients including Australian organic dried seaweed, Australian dried ocean fish (discards from processing), proprietary Starter Cultures, and supporting materials.
Fermentation containers and equipment for decanting aren’t included in the Starter Package price because most farmers save money by buying them locally rather than paying to freight bulky items.
During your strategy call, we’ll talk through exactly what your system needs and can often point you to a supplier near you. If you’d rather not source it yourself, we can supply the equipment for you.
SONIC DIY Systems can be tailored to grazing properties, orchards, broadacre farms, market gardens and smaller mixed farms.
The system is sized around how much liquid fish and seaweed biofertiliser your farm uses and when you need it. Your production and application schedules are custom designed to suit your operation, so you can make the right batch quantities and have fresh product ready when you need it.
Allow approximately 2½ hours of hands-on labour per 1,000 L for batch preparation, decanting and clean-down. These are labour hours, rather than the elapsed fermentation time. Actual labour requirements vary with your setup and equipment.
SONIC Biofertiliser Solutions FAQs
SONIC Liquid Fish and Seaweed Biological Fertilisers feed both your plants and your soil, so you get short-term growth support and long-term gains in soil health.
Farmers typically use them to:
- Give plants fast-available nutrients
- Feed and stimulate beneficial soil microbes
- Improve nutrient cycling in the soil
- Strengthen root development and crop resilience
- Build soil structure and long-term fertility
Fish is rich in organic nitrogen and amino acids that drive growth. Seaweed adds trace elements and natural plant compounds that help crops handle stress. Used together, they can cover both what your plants need now and what your soil needs long-term.
See it on a real farm: Simon’s Pasture Improvement Journey →
Read article Top 3 Strategies To Get The Most From Your Biological Fertilisers
It mainly comes down to how much liquid fish and seaweed you use and how hands-on you want to be.
Made-to-order is the better fit if you:
- Use smaller volumes, or are trying biofertiliser for the first time
- Want a finished product delivered, ready to dilute and apply
- Don’t have the time or space to run your own batches
Our liquid fish and seaweed is made-to-order, priced by volume – $2.30–3.90/L, with a 180L minimum per product.
Making your own is the better fit if you:
- Want the lowest cost per litre (from $1.00–1.20/L after your first batch training)
- Want to cut freight costs and rely less on outside supply
- Like the idea of producing fresh biological products on your own farm
Starter packages start from $1,885 for a 540L system, with 1:1 training and VIP support through your first three batches.
Not sure? Book a free strategy call and we’ll help you work out which option saves you more.
Book a free strategy call → | Calculate Your Biofertiliser Usage →
Yes. SONIC biofertilisers are 100% natural and can be added to most farming programs, whether you’re fully regenerative or just starting to cut back on synthetic inputs.
Works well with:
- Other natural inputs, such as compost, manures, biodynamic preparations and natural amendments
- Seed treatments, soil drenches and foliar sprays
- Regenerative management practices
Keep separate from:
- Synthetic fertilisers, urea and chemical-based products. Mixing them in the same tank reduces the benefit, because these products can harm the beneficial microbes in your biofertiliser.
Yes. We supply farms across most regions of Australia, from our base in Dorrigo, NSW and Central Coast, NSW.
Made-to-Order Biofertiliser:
Freight is quoted to your farm based on your location and order size. Because you’re shipping finished liquid, freight can be a big part of the total cost, especially for remote farms or large volumes.
DIY Biofertiliser Systems:
We ship dried raw ingredients rather than liquid, which is much lighter and cheaper to freight. Containers and pumps can usually be bought locally, and training can be done by live video, so wherever your farm is, you can get started.
Your quote will confirm freight costs and delivery timing for your area.
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