Frequently Asked Questions
We’ve answered some common questions people have about EcoFarm Aotearoa, our products, soil, farming performance, and more.
Getting Started
You start with accurate, independent soil measurement.
We take soil cores at 0-150mm and 150-300mm and GPS the sampling points. The samples are sent to Brookside Laboratories – Ohio, US, an independent laboratory.
We use a specialised soil analysis through Brookside Laboratories – Ohio, US, because the level of testing we require is not available locally in New Zealand. The testing measures both Total reserves and Available nutrients, giving us a complete picture of what your soil holds and what may be limiting performance.
That independent data forms the foundation for every recommendation we make.
For smaller non-commercial blocks, a DIY option is often more cost-effective and still provides valuable insight.
From the time your agent visits and takes the soil samples, we allow about 3-4 weeks to get through to your recommendation.
In simple terms, the process is:
- You request a soil test
- An agent visits and takes the samples (or you can take them yourself using our DIY kit for smaller blocks)
- Samples are sent to Paeroa for processing, then forwarded to Brookside Laboratories – Ohio, US
- Brookside’s analysis typically takes around two weeks
- Your agent contacts you with recommendations and a quote
- You tell us when you want your blend made and supplied
If your timing isn’t right, that’s fine – the information can be held and used when you’re ready. Many farms gather the data first and implement later. Having it up your sleeve makes it easier to move when you decide to push the go button.
No.
We generally know what the blend will look like for the second year, but for the third application we need new soil tests to make sure the recommendations stay accurate.
Yes.
Soil testing is fundamental. We use an independent offshore laboratory, Brookside Laboratories – Ohio, US, because they carry out the specific analysis we need to guide our decisions. In particular, the Totals analysis shows what your soil already holds and what may be limiting it.
Guessing costs more in the long run.
We don’t usually test yearly – we generally work on a two-year cycle.
Soil Testing and Recommendations
No.
There are too many interacting factors in the soil to reduce it to averages or simple bar graphs without losing accuracy.
Bar graphs can look helpful, but they often oversimplify what is actually happening and can be misleading. We focus on the real numbers and what they mean for your soil, rather than presenting them in a way that looks tidy but lacks depth.
Yes.
They show the levels of trace elements that are too small to be picked up accurately in the soil test alone, giving an extra layer of precision.
This adds another level of accuracy to the recommendations.
We use soil and herbage testing through Brookside Laboratories – Ohio, US, which provides the level of detail required to make accurate decisions.
These tests measure Totals and Availables, along with key indicators such as mineral balance, trace elements, biological activity, aluminium levels, and plant nitrogen efficiency.
From this, we build a customised blend for your farm – no guesswork, no generic recipes, just accuracy.
Products and Blends
Each blend typically contains 6-10 components.
The bulk ingredients are sourced from New Zealand and tested for purity of form, while the trace elements are imported to ensure the required quality and availability.
Every blend is different. It is built specifically from your soil test results, analysed by Brookside Laboratories – Ohio, US, so the inputs are targeted to what your soil actually needs.
No.
Ecofarm is a soil system, not just a fertiliser. We address soil function, mineral balance, biological support, nutrient transfer, and trace elements as a complete system.
Everything starts with accurate soil testing, interpretation, and advice, so inputs are only used where they are genuinely needed.
The focus is on precision and function, not blanket application.
Neither.
It is corrective. We identify the limiting factors in your soil and correct them.
It is typically applied once a year to improve both your ground and your production.
We typically recommend an annual application, but the blend and rate depend entirely on your soil tests.
Over time, inputs usually reduce as soil function improves and the system becomes more self-sustaining.
Farming Performance
No.
The focus is on identifying and correcting the limiting factors that allow nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and sulphur to cycle naturally in the soil. When those systems are functioning properly, production is maintained and often improves.
We regularly see large reserves of phosphorus in the Totals analysis, while the Availables appear low – which is why more is often applied. The role of the Ecofarm system is to unlock what is already there, rather than continually adding more.
The same principle applies to nitrogen, potassium and sulphur.
Our priority is to maintain or improve production while reducing pressure, cost, and dependency.
Regeneration does not mean sacrificing performance. Done properly, it should strengthen the whole system.
No – in most cases, the opposite happens.
As soil function improves, fertiliser inputs are reduced and a range of other costs begin to drop.
Farmers typically see:
- Reduced reliance on chemical inputs, sprays and supplements
- Lower diesel and machinery use
- Reduced animal health issues and vet costs – with some farmers reporting significant drops in down cows (for example, from 50 to 6)
- More consistent pasture growth and better resilience in wet and dry conditions
- Less time spent on the tractor
Most find the system pays for itself and continues to reduce costs over time.
Soil Health, Minerals and Pasture
Our soils are naturally aluminosilicate, but the use of acidic, chemical fertilisers can disrupt that structure.
Silica is used to help remediate this, restoring structure and function – but it must be used as part of a complete system.
On its own, silica is not the solution. It needs to work alongside the rest of the soil system to be effective.
By improving soil function.
As biological activity lifts and humus builds, the soil becomes far more effective at cycling and holding sulphur within the system, rather than losing it.
The focus is not on forcing sulphur in, but on creating the conditions where it can be retained and made available naturally.
You will see small pink nodules on the roots – that’s a clear sign nitrogen fixation is happening.
When clover is really performing, you may also notice fine rooting hairs across the soil surface.
Healthy white clover will have strong, resilient leaves that don’t bruise easily when rubbed.
It depends.
We look at both your available and total calcium levels through our soil testing with Brookside Laboratories – Ohio, US.
Lime is often applied as a standard practice, but without accurate testing it can be unnecessary or even counterproductive. We base that decision on what your soil actually needs.
Iodine is important for both soil biology and animal health.
It plays a key role in functions like thermoregulation and reproductive cycling, and the most effective way to deliver it is through the soil – into the plant – and then into the animal.
The soil eats first. So we make sure there is enough iodine in the system to come through the herbage where it can be properly utilised.
You will often see poor animal performance – loose manure, ill thrift in sheep, and coats taking on an orangey tone.
In the paddock, burn patches can show up and overall biological activity is reduced.
These patterns are reflected in the soil tests and help guide what needs correcting.
Trace elements drive the enzymes, which drive the biology, which drives fertility.
Deficiencies in elements like cobalt, iodine, molybdenum, nickel and others quietly limit pasture growth, animal health, and nitrogen efficiency.
Correcting trace elements is one of the most cost-effective ways to lift production naturally, and we use accurate soil and herbage testing to get that right.
It’s about using less of the wrong thing and more of what enables the soil to do what it is already capable of providing.
Many farmers reduce inputs over time without sacrificing production. In an ideal scenario, we might apply just over 1T/ha in the first year, around 800kg/ha in the second, and reduce further as soil function improves.
Weeds are a symptom of the soil, not the problem itself.
As soil function improves, weed pressure commonly reduces without aggressive or chemical intervention. Thistles, for example, are often a signal of a need for silica. When silica is applied correctly as part of a complete system, they begin to dwindle.
The seeds may still be present, but they are no longer able to establish and take hold.
The same applies to weeds like carrot weed, dock, ragwort and willow weed. As conditions improve, the species you actually want – grass, clover, plantain – naturally return, often without being resown.
Farmers consistently report a significant reduction in weed pressure within 1-3 seasons using Ecofarm programmes.
Regenerative Farming
Regenerating your soil means improving the whole system, not just one part of it.
You will see improvements in:
- Pasture productivity and quality
- Animal health and performance
- Farm profitability
- Your enjoyment of farming – including reduced stress and better day-to-day conditions
- The environment
As a food producer, you are also contributing to a healthier, stronger community – we are what we eat.
Yes – in practice, not just ideology. And not only regenerative, but progressive.
We focus on:
- Soil function
- Mineral balance
- Biological activity
- Reduced dependence on external inputs
Everything we do is designed to move the system forward in a regenerative direction.
Soil is a complete system. If you leave parts out, it cannot function properly. Our approach considers the full soil – plant – animal – consumption chain and makes it practical to apply on farm.
Often that is a good idea, however it is best discussed with us.
In some cases, an abrupt change can cause setbacks, so we take a practical approach – reducing dependency in a managed way as soil function improves.
Yes – in most cases, once soil biology is functioning properly, chemical nitrogen and other synthetic inputs can be phased out.
We use natural minerals, trace elements, and biological stimulants to strengthen the soil system, enabling plants to access nutrients already present in the soil and atmosphere.
Our blends bring biology to your land in the form of ocean-derived biology and as an inoculum, designed to help remove the imprints of past chemical use – even from decades ago.
Just as importantly, we support the biology already present by removing mineral blockages and restoring soil chemistry so natural processes can function properly.
Biology is a critical part of the system, but it cannot perform if the soil is not set up to support it. There is no point applying biology if the conditions it needs to function are not in place.
We have found the opposite.
Our approach uses measurement, interpretation, and experience to reduce risk and maintain productivity. We aim to hold production in the first year, build in the second, and continue improving from there.
Alongside that, farmers often see wider benefits – less time spent on the tractor, easier day-to-day management, improved animal performance, and increased profitability.
Start with a comprehensive soil test.
This gives you accurate information from the outset, so you can make the right decisions from day one rather than guessing.
Even if you already have soil tests, you will gain more detailed insights that allow you to move forward with confidence.
Biology doesn’t slow down in the cold, and it responds well to moisture.
Autumn application gives the system time to get working under the surface through winter, building momentum ahead of spring.
You will often see increased worm activity and a stronger, more prepared pasture come spring.
Absolutely.
Animals are a key part of fertility cycling when soil and plants are functioning properly. Their manure acts as a natural nutrient return, helping drive biological activity.
They can also play a role in weed management. In systems like gorse or blackberry remediation, animals will push into these areas to access emerging grasses, helping shift the balance over time.
Management is important here, with practices like back fencing supporting better outcomes.
Animal health and soil health are inseparable.
Organic matter is roughly 50% carbon, so when you test for organic carbon, organic matter will typically reflect at around double that level.
Carbon builds naturally when soil function improves – as structure develops, roots penetrate deeper, and microbial activity increases.
We focus on function first, carbon follows.
Both.
Our approach draws on independent soil science, international research, decades of practical farm experience, and ongoing testing on our own farm.
We trust what works in paddocks, not just papers. Having skin in the game ensures everything we recommend has been proven in real farming conditions.
Yes.
Regenerative systems are about resilience, lower stress, and leaving the farm better than you found it – economically, biologically, and practically.
Strong soils, lower input pressure, and a more enjoyable farming system all help make succession more attractive for the next generation.
Our aim is to help bring farming back to a healthy, rewarding lifestyle that people want to step into.
Myth Busting
No.
Fertiliser adds nutrients. Ecofarm focuses on unlocking nutrients already present in the soil and restoring balance so biology can do its job.
Rather than forcing plant growth with synthetic or acidic inputs, we work to restart the natural nutrient cycles that are already there, but currently underperforming.
The result is healthier pastures, fewer weeds, and lower input costs over time.
Not when it is done properly.
Poorly guided regeneration can create problems. Measured, supported change builds resilience without sacrificing production.
Like buying a car, it only works properly when all the right parts are there and working together.
No.
We reduce dependency gradually as soil function improves.
Some farmers want to move away from chemicals quickly, and we can help with that too – but the best approach is one that suits the farm and maintains performance.
No.
Biology cannot perform properly in chemically imbalanced soils.
Mineral balance and soil chemistry need to be addressed first. Biology is important, but it is the full systemised approach that delivers results.
No.
Weeds are often indicators, not failures. They highlight soil conditions that need correcting.
As soil function improves, many weeds naturally decline. They are responding to conditions – not growing there to get at you.
Wrong.
Small deficiencies or excesses can limit plant health, animal performance, and nutrient cycling more than major nutrients.
Like the smallest cog in a grandfather clock, trace elements can be the key part that keeps the whole system working.
That is why we test herbage – ideally in spring – because these tiny levels are often too small to show clearly in soil tests alone.
Guessing is risky.
Testing, interpretation, and experience reduce both risk and cost.
We prefer accuracy, so your money and time are spent efficiently – without missing key pieces or overapplying what isn’t needed.
No.
Every soil responds when its limiting factors are addressed.
The approach adapts to the soil, not the other way around, and our independent soil testing gives us the accuracy to know what each soil actually needs.
Not true.
Some improvements happen quickly – better animal health, easier calving, and stronger pasture response. Other gains build over time.
Soil regeneration is cumulative, and the benefits compound. You see it in the carbon readings, in deeper and darker topsoil, improved texture, better smell, more worm castings, and clover rooting across the surface.
The system keeps improving as it functions.
Not necessarily.
When soil function improves, carbon levels can rise far faster than many people expect.
We have seen significant increases demonstrated through soil testing when the full Ecofarm system is applied.
Wrong.
We often add seed to the blend (when supplied to us) so it can be spread at the same time.
Because our blends are not acidic, seed compatibility is far better than with many conventional fertiliser mixes.
Let’s work together to create the greatest soil on earth
Discover how working with nature can unlock the potential of your farm. By focusing on improving soil health and using sustainable practices, you can enhance crop yields, boost animal health, and create a resilient, thriving farm. Together, we’ll create a plan that fits your land’s needs and your vision for success.