Real Farms: Case Studies

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What Really Saved My Cows

The EcoFarm Aotearoa Podcast (Ep. 5)

When 25-year-old Ewan Campbell faced a devastating facial eczema outbreak on his dairy farm, it nearly cost him everything. Cows were dying, money was vanishing, and the standard advice wasn’t working, until one old farmer’s suggestion changed everything: “Just put some lime on.”

In this episode, Ewan and Stephen revisit the story that shaped a lifetime of discovery. What began as a crisis became a turning point, revealing how soil health, not quick fixes, holds the true key to animal wellbeing and farm success.

We discuss:
• The shocking impact of facial eczema and how it nearly broke the farm
• The moment lime proved to be the unexpected cure
• Why soil balance and complete proteins matter more than chemicals
• How high nitrates and poor soil structure fuel disease
• Why prevention, not reaction, is the real solution
With honesty, humour, and hard-earned lessons, this episode unpacks how one farmer’s challenge became a breakthrough in understanding the deep connection between soil health, livestock vitality, and farming resilience.

Hosted by: Stephen Brunton & Ewan Campbell
Powered by: EcoFarm Aotearoa – ⁠www.efa.nz⁠

Subscribe for weekly conversations exploring soil health, biology, and regenerative farming solutions.

MUSIC CREDITS

"Mesmerize" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

"Almost Bliss" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

"Angel Share" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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In this clip from The EcoFarm Aotearoa Podcast, Ewan shares how one cheap, practical fix changed everything, dropping spore counts from 280,000 to under 20,000 in just days.
Stephen and Ewan break down why lime works, how it restores soil pH and prevents fungal toxins from thriving, and why the real cure isn’t expensive chemicals—it’s understanding the biology beneath your boots. From scepticism to proof, this story shows how sometimes the simplest ideas carry the most power.

Listen to the full episode on Spotify
Or watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/GDPjECeUmO4

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In this clip from the EFA podcast, Ewan Campbell and Stephen Brunton break down the real numbers behind soil carbon, organic matter, and nutrient availability — and reveal why most farmers are leaving tens of thousands of dollars of fertility trapped underground.

Ewan explains why a 1% increase in organic matter equals 15 tonnes of soil, hundreds of kilos of nitrogen, and huge boosts in phosphorus and sulphur — all without buying synthetic inputs. He also challenges mainstream ideas about root-based carbon storage, arguing that cyanobacteria, not plant roots, are the real engine behind NZ’s soil carbon cycle.

Listen to the full episode on Spotify
Or watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/gGbyYD4rC5I

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A short video explaining how we take soil samples. This soil sample is being taken 2 years after the soils last organic brew has been applied. Notice that the ground is now soft enough to actually take the sample and not bend the soil probe.

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Feeding out Vitus this May (2021) was so rewarding.

In almost every circumstance when Vitus is feed out to stock they are at it like a bull to a red rag? Yep because they are often deficient in something important and they know as soon as Vitus turns up they can get what they are hanging out for.

Well this year they didn't even hardly turn a head... yes they will feed on it over the next few days but the fact that they are content shows we are getting close with good soil fertility.

Most farmers supplement their animals with various major and trace elements through many mechanisms. These supplements are designed to take the place of elements that are lacking in pasture to aid in getting the best animal health and growth rates when the animals are in a state of mineral deficit. Identifying the deficits is achieved by blood testing, liver biopsy and herbage analysis. All these tests have value, but the herbage test probably has the most in the sense that the animal is the result of whatever it is eating. Mineral deficits in the feed result in mineral deficits in the animal.

Check out more about Vitus at www.ecofarmaotearoa.com

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Ecofarm Aotearoa has made some significant discoveries and developed major improvements over the past months and years and we want to share them with you.

We see the effect on the soil, with massive lift in carbon. On one part of the farm accumulated 30tons per hectare in 3 years and on the hills 18 tons a hectare in 3 years. On a compliance issue this helps but the water retention going into summer from this has major benefits.

The results in the soil are affecting water quality as the nitrate levels in the water leaving the farm are .05ppm well below the maximum of 11.3ppm and the projected regulatory levels of 2ppm.

Pasture tests also confirm a change in nutrient status with nitrogen levels close to 3% which determines the livestock will not be under nitrate stress. As many know this leads to lower animal performance and reproduction, but what is not widely known high nitrates in feed lead to lowering oxygen levels in the blood and anaerobic digestion which produces methane.

You may be also interested in how the weeds are not growing and many other interesting benefits that can come from looking at our productive systems in a different way.

To get the full story of how these amazing results are achieved you can get the details in my book "An Ecofarmer's Discovery". Click the link below.
www.ecofarmaotearoa.nz/book

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Ecofarm has made some significant discoveries and developed major improvements and we want to share them with you.



For the field day we are having on the 10th of December we will go over the practical steps that have lifted pasture production by 25% without breaking the bank.


We will look at the effect on the soil, with massive lift in carbon. On one part of the farm accumulated 30tons per hectare in 3 years and on the hills 18 tons a hectare in 3 years. On a compliance issue this helps but the water retention going into summer from this has major benefits.


The results in the soil are affecting water quality as the nitrate levels in the water leaving the farm are .05ppm well below the maximum of 11.3ppm and the projected regulatory levels of 2ppm.


Pasture tests also confirm a change in nutrient status with nitrogen levels close to 3% which determines the livestock will not be under nitrate stress. As many know this leads to lower animal performance and reproduction, but what is not widely known high nitrates in feed lead to lowering oxygen levels in the blood and anaerobic digestion which produces methane.


You may be also interested in how the weeds are not growing and many other interesting benefits that can come from looking at our productive systems in a different way.


Come and have a look. Ask the hard questions and the easier ones too. Help celebrate the huge progress taking place in farming in returning the power to the farmer.


10.30 for 11 am start. Please register online www.ecofarmaotearoa.nz
as lunch will be provided.


For those travelling some distance maybe you'd like to stay in Waihi for the night and come enjoy our xmas BBQ that evening.


Happy Travels
Ewan Campbell.

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3 Aussie Farmers visited our farm after they had been over others in the South Island. And to have ones field described as 'walking in slippers' is praise indeed.

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