MSF's Farm Talk Podcast proudly brings Farmers, Researchers and Ag Industry connections together to chat innovative farming practices to help build a sustainable farming future for our Mallee growers. Mallee Sustainable Farming is a farmer-driven organisation specialising in Research, Development and Extension for NSW, VIC & SA's low-rainfall Mallee region. For more information visit: www.msfp.org.au/podcast (http://www.msfp.org.au/podcast)
Soil Amelioration: Grower Experiences - James' Experience on Farm
How do you identify where non-wetting sands are holding back crop establishment and what can you do about it?
In this episode of MSF Farm Talk Podcast, Younghusband grower James Stevens shares his experience investigating and addressing non-wetting sands on-farm.
James talks about the challenges of uneven crop emergence across variable sand rises and how MSF-supported on-farm trials have helped him investigate different approaches to soil amelioration, including spading, ripping, deep ripping with inclusion plates and the use of chicken manure.
He explains how poor crop emergence helped identify underperforming areas, and how soil pits and dye tracing provided a better understanding of preferential water flow through the soil.
James also discusses the role of wetters as a lower-cost option at seeding, and what he has learnt about targeting amelioration rather than treating an entire paddock.
James’ experience highlights the value of identifying the specific constraint before deciding on an amelioration approach and using targeted, practical trials to work out what fits your own farming system.
This episode was recorded during MSF’s Soil Amelioration Workshop, where growers and researchers shared experiences and discussed practical approaches to improving constrained soils.
🎧 Take a listen to hear James' experience on farm with soil amelioration.
📄Read Jock's Case Study here: Case-study-James-Stephens-Bowhill.pdf (https://msfp.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Case-study-James-Stephens-Bowhill.pdf)
📘Not sure if your soil will respond to ameliorating, or what approach to take? Check out the Soil Amelioration Decision Tree: https://msfp.org.au/projects/carbon-soil-management-practices-across-the-mallee/#flipbook-df_14443/3/ (https://msfp.org.au/projects/carbon-soil-management-practices-across-the-mallee/#flipbook-df_14443/3/)
📚For more information on the project, visit the project page: Driving On-Farm Adoption of Carbon-Friendly Soil Management Practices across the Mallee - Mallee Sustainable Farming (https://msfp.org.au/projects/carbon-soil-management-practices-across-the-mallee/)
This project is supported by the Australian Government through funding from the Natural Heritage Trust under the Climate Smart Agriculture program.
Support the show: https://msfp.org.au/about/membership/ (https://msfp.org.au/about/membership/)
See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
10 Sept 2026
Soil Amelioration: Grower Experiences - Jock's Experience on Farm
What does soil amelioration actually look like on-farm?
In this episode of the MSF Farm Talk podcast, we hear from Paruna grower Jock McNeil about his experience using soil amelioration practices since 2015 to address non-wetting and other constraints across sandy soils.
Jock shares what drove him to start looking at soil amelioration, after seeing crops struggle despite having moisture available in the subsoil. He talks through his experiences with deep ripping, spading, plowing and soil inversion, and how he has adapted his approach over time.
Jock’s experience highlights the importance of diagnosing the constraint first, then matching the amelioration approach to the soil, paddock and farming system.
This episode was recorded at MSF’s Soil Amelioration Workshop that was held in Loxton in June, where growers and researchers shared their experiences and discussed practical approaches to improving constrained soils.
This is episode 1 of a 4-part mini-series of Mallee grower experiences with soil amelioration recorded at the workshop.
🎧 Take a listen to hear Jock’s experience on farm with soil amelioration.
📄Read Jock's Case Study here: Case-study-Jock-McNeil-Paruna.pdf (https://msfp.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Case-study-Jock-McNeil-Paruna.pdf)
📘Not sure if your soil will respond to ameliorating, or what approach to take?
Check out the Soil Amelioration Decision Tree: https://msfp.org.au/projects/carbon-soil-management-practices-across-the-mallee/#flipbook-df_14443/3/ (https://msfp.org.au/projects/carbon-soil-management-practices-across-the-mallee/#flipbook-df_14443/3/)
📚For more information on the project, visit the project page: Driving On-Farm Adoption of Carbon-Friendly Soil Management Practices across the Mallee - Mallee Sustainable Farming (https://msfp.org.au/projects/carbon-soil-management-practices-across-the-mallee/)
This project is supported by the Australian Government through funding from the Natural Heritage Trust under the Climate Smart Agriculture program.
Support the show: https://msfp.org.au/about/membership/ (https://msfp.org.au/about/membership/)
See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
27 Aug 2026
Cultivating Change: Takeaways from Loxton's Soil Amelioration Event
What brings farmers to a soil amelioration workshop and what do they take away from the day?
In this episode of the MSF Farm Talk podcast, we head back to Loxton for MSF's Soil Amelioration Workshop, held in June, which brought together farmers, researchers and advisers to share experiences and explore practical approaches to addressing soil constraints across the Mallee.
Throughout the day, MSF's Kylie Matthewson caught up with attendees to find out what brought them to the workshop, what they were hoping to learn, and what stood out to them by the end of the day.
Farmers and advisers discuss some of the challenges they're facing, including compaction, sandy soils, water repellence, low water and nutrient holding capacity, and variable results from practices such as delving and deep ripping.
A key theme throughout the conversations was the importance of understanding the constraint before treating it. Attendees reflect on the value of targeted approaches rather than a "shotgun" approach, staging investment, protecting ground cover and monitoring results over multiple seasons.
The discussions also highlight the importance of ground-truthing trial results, using soil and plant testing, considering nutrition and operational impacts, and sharing experiences with other farmers and researchers.
🎧 Take a listen to hear directly from the people who attended the workshop, find out what they heard and what they took away from the day.
📚Check out the project page for more resources, including grower case studies and a Soil Amelioration Decision Tree: Driving On-Farm Adoption of Carbon-Friendly Soil Management Practices across the Mallee - Mallee Sustainable Farming (https://msfp.org.au/projects/carbon-soil-management-practices-across-the-mallee/)
Support the show: https://msfp.org.au/about/membership/ (https://msfp.org.au/about/membership/)
See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
Who has been a guest on MSF Farm Talk Podcast
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Dr Penny Roberts
Dr Nigel Wilhelm
Dennis Hoiberg
Simone Kluge
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