EcoFarm Aotearoa

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 nutrie...

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...

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 be...

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 distur...

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. In this episode: In this episode of EcoFarm Aotearoa, the discussion turns to synthetic nitrogen, soil carbon, fungi, soil biology and the importance of questioning the systems we&#39...

What are farmers actually asking about soil, carbon, regenerative farming and the future of agriculture? In this episode of EcoFarm Aotearoa, Ewan Campbell sits down to work through questions and comments from our viewers, covering everything from soil carbon and comprehensive soil testing to cyanobacteria, crop production, glyphosate, organic farming and New Zealand's carbon policies. The con...

A short clip from a previous episode sparked plenty of debate online, so Ewan Campbell is taking the opportunity to dive deeper into one of agriculture's most misunderstood topics: nitrates. In this episode: In this episode of EcoFarm Aotearoa, Ewan unpacks the science behind the nitrogen cycle, explains the difference between nitrate and ammonium, and explores why so much confusion exists aro...

China is changing the way it farms, and the scale of what they're achieving is staggering. In this episode: After returning from an agricultural study trip to China, Gavin Fisher shares what surprised him most: climate-controlled dairy barns, advanced monitoring technology, efficient nutrient recycling, and a national focus on producing premium-quality food rather than simply maximizing output...

A new New Zealand study has linked nitrate levels in drinking water to premature births, but does that tell the whole story? In this episode of EcoFarm Aotearoa, we unpack the latest media reports surrounding nitrates and explore what they may be overlooking. Campbell questions why the conversation always seems to stop at identifying the problem, rather than addressing the biological systems that...

In this episode, Stephen heads to the West Coast for an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of the Reefton coal mine to see firsthand how mining by-products are transformed into valuable inputs for regenerative farming. Joined by the mine team, Stephen follows the journey from freshly mined coal through the wash plant, stockpiles, rehabilitation areas, and fertilizer blending operation, uncovering th...

In this episode, Stephen and Ewan are joined by Jimmy, a lifelong West Coast coal mining expert, to explore the surprising connections between geology, mining, soil health, and modern agriculture. What begins as a conversation about coal quickly expands into the history of New Zealand's geology, the science behind different coal types, mine rehabilitation, and how mining by-products are helpin...

In this episode, Stephen and Ewan are joined by Robin Claire, host of Cultivated Audio, for a fascinating conversation exploring soil health, regenerative agriculture, and the hidden forces shaping the future of farming. What begins as a discussion around farming systems and mineral balancing expands into a deeper exploration of soil biology, electrical conductivity, microbial life, livestock heal...

In this episode, Stephen and Ewan unpack the controversy surrounding a proposed $3 billion lignite-to-fertiliser plant in Southland, New Zealand, and ask a bigger question: why are we investing billions into synthetic nitrogen production when healthy soils already produce nitrogen naturally? What begins as a discussion around fertiliser security and global supply chains quickly becomes a deep dive...

In this episode, Stephen and Ewan explore the forces shaping modern agriculture and ask a challenging question: are farmers really in control of their own industry? From farm plans and environmental compliance to organic markets, profitability, carbon, and industry influence, the conversation examines how farmers can use testing, observation, and real-world results to make better decisions for the...

In this episode, Stephen and Ewan explore one of the most overlooked yet important drivers of soil health: cyanobacteria. What starts as a discussion around regenerative farming, cover crops, and soil carbon quickly expands into a deep dive on soil biology, nutrient cycling, trace minerals, plant health, animal health, and the hidden processes that build productive farming systems from the ground...

In this episode, Stephen and Ewan explore the changing landscape of New Zealand agriculture, from the traditions of Gypsy Week and share milking to the growing pressures facing modern farmers. The conversation dives into farm profitability, organic opportunities, soil health, environmental compliance, and the importance of producing high-quality food for premium markets. Ewan challenges convention...

In this episode, Stephen and Ewan sit down with John Carapiet from GE Free New Zealand to unpack the growing debate around genetic engineering, GMO regulation, and the future of farming in New Zealand. What begins as a discussion around the government’s proposed Gene Technology Bill and the new Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Amendment Bill quickly expands into a much bigger conversation ab...

In this episode, Stephen, Ewan, and special guest Rensha Bouwer unpack the growing disconnect between food production, food quality, and the systems that sit between farmers and consumers. What begins as a conversation around award-winning pies, artisan cheese, and sourcing quality ingredients quickly reveals a much deeper issue: many of the best food producers and farmers are trapped inside commo...

In this episode, Stephen and Ewan unpack the hidden potential within our soils and challenge the conventional approach to fertility, pH, and input-heavy farming. What begins as a discussion on soil chemistry reveals a deeper issue: farmers are often managing only what’s immediately available, rather than unlocking the vast reserves already present in the soil. Through the EFA lens, the conversatio...

An EcoFarmer’s Discovery Chapter 28: Reality Check Thank you for listening to An EcoFarmer’s Discovery: The Companion Podcast, this is the final Ewan Campbell’s journey throughout the book. In this episode, Stephen Brunton and Ewan unpack the final chapter of the book, Chapter 28: Reality Check, bringing the series to a grounded and thought-provoking close. This conversation steps back from theory...

In this episode, Stephen and Ewan unpack the growing tension between water quality, farm profitability, and the long-standing reliance on synthetic inputs. What starts as a conversation about environmental pressure quickly reveals a deeper issue, farm systems that are quietly depleting their own soil capital over time. Through real on-farm numbers and practical examples, Ewan breaks down how decad...

An EcoFarmer’s Discovery Chapter 27: Environmental Issues Welcome to An EcoFarmer’s Discovery: The Companion Podcast , where every Friday we dive deep into one chapter of Ewan Campbell’s journey. In this episode, Stephen Brunton and Ewan unpack Chapter 27: Environmental Issues , bringing the series to a powerful and challenging close. The conversation centres around one of the biggest topics in mo...

An EcoFarmer’s Discovery Chapter 26: The Last Chapter? Welcome to An EcoFarmer’s Discovery: The Companion Podcast , where every Friday we dive deep into one chapter of Ewan Campbell’s journey. In this episode, Stephen Brunton and Ewan unpack Chapter 26: The Last Chapter? , stepping into one of the most challenging and thought-provoking ideas in the entire series. The conversation explores the conc...

In this episode, Stephen and Ewan dive into the growing fuel and fertiliser crisis and what it really means for modern farming. As costs rise and pressure builds, the conversation uncovers a deeper issue: the heavy reliance on nitrogen fertiliser as an energy product, leaving farmers exposed to global oil markets. What seems like a pricing problem quickly reveals itself as a system-wide challenge...

In this episode, Ewan continues the open day out in the paddock, diving deeper into the hidden influences shaping soil, plant, and animal health. Set against a real-world farm backdrop, this part of the conversation explores some of the more complex and often overlooked factors in farming systems. From soil toxicity and mineral imbalances to the role of electromagnetic forces, Ewan demonstrates ho...