Show Notes
What if the problem with your pasture, garden or lifestyle block isn't a lack of nutrients, but the fact that your soil can't access the nutrients already there?
In this episode of An Eco Farmer's Discovery, Stephen Brunton sits down with EcoFarm soil consultant Campbell Page to explore how soil testing can reveal what's really happening beneath the surface. From identifying nutrient deficiencies and understanding soil biology to recognising what weeds might be telling you, Campbell explains why it's important to investigate the root cause of a problem rather than simply applying more fertiliser.
Whether you're managing a commercial farm, running a lifestyle block, growing your own vegetables or raising animals, understanding your soil can help you make more informed decisions about fertility, pasture health and food quality. The conversation also explores the relationship between soil chemistry and biology, the role of nutrient availability, and how a more targeted approach could help reduce unnecessary fertiliser spending.
In this episode: Meet Campbell Page, EcoFarm's soil consultant for DIY soil testing clients
How soil testing identifies nutrient levels and limiting factors
The difference between total nutrients and nutrients available to plants
What soil structure and flocculation mean for air, water and biology
How weeds like dock, gorse and thistles can provide clues about soil conditions
Why the same soil principles apply to lifestyle blocks and commercial farms
How soil chemistry and biology work together to cycle nutrients
Why applying more fertiliser may not address the underlying problem
How nutrient availability can influence pasture growth and animal health
When to carry out soil and herbage testing
How targeted nutrient applications can help address specific deficiencies
Where to start if you want to improve your own soil
More from EcoFarm Aotearoa
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What if the biggest financial asset on your farm is already sitting in the soil? In this episode, Scott Gordon joins the conversation to break down the financial side of soil fertility, looking at the value of minerals locked up in the soil, the cost of unlocking them, and how understanding your soil could change the way you assess farm value, productivity and return on investment. We also explore the idea of treating soil like a bank account, where better fertility management can turn an underperforming asset into productive cash flow.
Herbage testing can reveal a lot about what is happening in your soil, but timing and the right combination of tests are crucial. In this episode, Ewan and the team look at why mid to late spring can be such an important window for herbage testing in New Zealand, when multiple pasture species are actively growing and minerals can be better represented. The conversation explores the relationship between soil tests, herbage tests and soil biology, including trace minerals such as cobalt, selenium, nickel, boron and iodine. They also work through an anonymised farm example, looking at nitrogen, potassium, calcium, silicon, aluminium and other minerals to understand what the numbers may be showing about the wider soil system. They also revisit the response to the previous cropping episode, discussing how soil preparation, biology and nutrient cycling fit together, why plants such as wild turnip may be indicators of underlying soil conditions, and why soil testing should be the starting point when trying to understand what is limiting a farm.
Winter cropping can be expensive, risky and essential for getting livestock through the colder months. But what if the way we prepare a cropping paddock is actually setting it up to fail? In this episode, Ewan and the team dig into the thinking behind winter crops, soil preparation, carbon, nitrogen and the role of soil biology. They explore the idea of the “fake boost”, where spraying and disturbing the soil can create a rapid burst of growth, while potentially leaving the paddock depleted afterwards. The conversation looks at how farmers can approach cropping with more preparation, better timing and a focus on building the soil before the crop goes in. They also discuss cultivation, fallow periods, weeds, cyanobacteria, crop economics and why a cropping paddock doesn't have to be treated as a sacrifice.
The questions keep coming! In Part 2 of our farming Q&A, we continue answering your comments, challenging conventional thinking and digging deeper into some of the biggest conversations around modern agriculture.