From paddock to podcast, EcoFarm Aotearoa showcases Ewan Campbell, a respected name in NZ farming, known for turning good science into better practice. With co-host Stephen Brunton, Ewan unpacks his audiobook and the big issues: nitrate and water quality, soil biology, mineral balance, genetics, pasture growth, animal health, and profitability. Real stories, clear takeaways—ready for the ute, cowshed, or tractor. Notes & links: efa.nz
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
29 Sept 2026
What Your Herbage Test Is Really Telling You
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
16 Sept 2026
Cultivation and Cropping: The Mistake That Costs Farmers Thousands
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
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