Inside EcoFarm Aotearoa: Soil, Water & Herbage Testing
The EcoFarm Aotearoa Podcast
Testing is often discussed in agriculture, but rarely done in a way that truly guides decision-making. In this episode, Stephen and Ewan walk through the practical process of soil, water, and herbage testing, showing how accurate sampling, consistent GPS points, and year-on-year comparisons reveal what is really happening on a farm.
From collecting soil cores and tracking carbon through the soil profile, to interpreting herbage and water results alongside animal performance, this episode shows why testing works best when it is used to understand the whole system, not just individual numbers.
We discuss:• How to collect repeatable soil samples and why depth matters• What soil carbon, bulk density, and mineral balance reveal over time• How boron, calcium, silicon, copper, and zinc influence soil and pasture function• What herbage and water testing can tell us about animal health and nutrient flow
This episode is about learning to read your own farm, identifying limiting factors, and making informed decisions based on observation, data, and experience over time.
Hosted by: Stephen Brunton & Ewan Campbell
Powered by: EcoFarm Aotearoa – www.efa.nz
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https://www.ecofarmaotearoa.nz/download-our-ebook/
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https://open.spotify.com/show/3wIgUUghlsKIje76E5tjBA?si=c2fde76b54c44e62
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