EcoFarm Aotearoa

How much nitrogen does your next crop really need, and where is that nitrogen coming from?

In this episode of An Eco Farmer’s Discovery, Ewan Campbell and Stephen Brunton revisit a discussion about nitrogen, crop residues and soil biology after a farmer challenges their previous claims with detailed production figures. Using the farmer’s wheat and oat rotation as a case study, they work through the numbers, explore the potential role of crop residues in building soil organic matter, and explain why they believe farmers need to understand what is happening beneath the surface.

The conversation looks at soil testing, carbon levels, nutrient availability and the conditions needed for soil biology to function. They also revisit an example soil test from Taranaki to discuss nutrient imbalances, aluminium, boron and calcium, alongside the importance of measuring changes over time. The episode expands into the relationship between soil organic matter, farm profitability, crop quality and nutrient density, with examples from farming experiences and the practical lessons that can be learned by testing, observing and measuring.

In this episode:
A farmer’s challenge to EcoFarm’s claims about nitrogen and soil biology

Breaking down the nitrogen requirements of a wheat and oat rotation

How crop straw could contribute to soil organic matter and nitrogen cycling

Why the starting condition of your soil matters

Understanding soil carbon, humus and organic matter

How soil testing can reveal nutrient imbalances and limiting factors

The relationship between aluminium, boron, calcium and other nutrients

Why crop residues need the right conditions for biological decomposition

What earthworms, fungi and cyanobacteria contribute to soil processes

How to test and measure changes in soil over time

The potential relationship between soil organic carbon and farm profitability

Why crop quality, nutrient density and storage life deserve attention

Lessons from a long-term soil improvement example in Taranaki

Why farmers should measure results rather than rely on assumptions
Our E-Book!https://www.ecofarmaotearoa.nz/download-our-ebook/Listen To An EcoFarmer’s Discovery:https://open.spotify.com/show/3wIgUUghlsKIje76E5tjBA?si=b4aa009579a34ac1⁠

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

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.

In this episode:
The hidden financial value of minerals in your soil

Why a soil test should be part of assessing a farm's value

The "current account" and "term deposit" analogy for soil fertility

How locked-up nutrients can limit farm productivity

Why total and available nutrients need to be looked at together

The potential financial impact of fixing limiting factors

How soil fertility can affect animal health and production

Why bankers could benefit from understanding soil productivity

Using evidence and soil data to make better farm decisions

How improving soil can create more productive land without buying more hectares

The real cost of doing nothing with the nutrients already in your soil

Our E-Book!https://www.ecofarmaotearoa.nz/download-our-ebook/Listen To An EcoFarmer’s Discovery:https://open.spotify.com/show/3wIgUUghlsKIje76E5tjBA?si=b4aa009579a34ac1⁠

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.

In this episode:
Why mid to late spring is an important time for herbage testing

How different pasture species can affect the minerals showing in a herbage test

Why some trace minerals are difficult to assess accurately through soil testing alone

How herbage testing can provide an indication of soil biology and mineral availability

The relationship between nickel, nitrogen and zinc

Why silicon and aluminium are important when looking at weeds and soil conditions

How soil tests and herbage tests can be used together

What an anonymized farm herbage test can reveal about soil fertility

Why soil testing should be the starting point when identifying limiting factors

How soil biology can contribute to nutrient cycling after cropping

What pasture plants and weeds may be telling you about the condition of the soil

Why accuracy and observation matter when making soil fertility decisions

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.

In this episode:
Why winter cropping needs to be planned before this year's crop is even finished
How building soil carbon before planting can support crop growth
The “fake boost” that can happen after spraying
Why soil biology plays such an important role in decomposition and nutrient cycling
How crop yields and cropping area affect the economics of winter feed
Why cultivation itself isn't necessarily the enemy
The role of fallow periods, timing and soil preparation
Why weeds may be responding to underlying soil conditions
How cyanobacteria, fungi, bacteria and worms contribute to the soil cycle
Why measuring your soil carbon and nutrient inventory matters

Our E-Book!https://www.ecofarmaotearoa.nz/download-our-ebook/Listen To An EcoFarmer’s Discovery:https://open.spotify.com/show/3wIgUUghlsKIje76E5tjBA?si=b4aa009579a34ac1⁠