Day: 17 September 2020

I learned first-hand how “traditional” fertiliser practices and farming systems can damage your soil health, productivity and profitability years ago when I unwittingly bought a farm which was running very close to being a “hydroponic” system with the soil being little more than a sterile medium for fertiliser to be applied annual, the nutrients removed and the process started all over again the next season.

Fortunately I came in contact with friends and colleagues who introduced me to a more natural approach to farming which didn’t threaten my profits and turned out to be much better for the environment, my stock and my peace of mind.

This website promotes many of the items I’ve added to my toolbox over the years and sold to my clients and friends.

Farming is difficult at the best of times but today we face increasing costs from every direction and more and more pressure to improve our environmental performance. To do this we need healthy soils and healthy animals. The natural products I promote can help achieve this.

It’s important to accept (even if the townies and the greenies won’t) that there is no magic wand available. Rather there is a need to reflect on our farming practices, understand as best we can our own soil and environment and look at applying tools to gain improvements while minimising costs and stress.

We’re not all blessed with the capital and passion to embrace extreme approaches such as Regen Farming overnight but within those systems there is a lot of useful knowledge that can be applied in a cost effective manner. And because there is a lot of often contradictory information, I try to provide background information to support this.

This site is and the products discussed reflects what I have learned and what my more than 500 clients on thousands of hectares in the South have found useful.

I hope you enjoy my website. Please visit my facebook page, like us and engage in dialogue via comments. The more we share, the better off we all are.

Contact me any time on 027 201 0484 or email mathesonagri@gmail.com .

Soil tests cost money as do consultants, but there’s one tool every farmer possesses that can help tell him a lot about what’s going on under the ground and what options he or she might have to make improvements – the common spade.

There is a lot to be learned by examining the colour, smell, structure and texture; as well as the roots, soil life and other organic matter present in the soil.

Many relevant physical, biological and chemical soil properties can be observed simply by putting a spade on the ground.

Structure is important in regulating soil aeration, gaseous exchange rates, soil infiltration and erosion as well as the movement and storage of water among many other things.

And one the key things you see when you dig the pasture is the presence or absence of worms. As with many things “more is better” when it comes to worms. Healthy soil will also be home to a diverse range of creatures like spiders, ground beetles and centipedes.

You can also look for signs the all important mycorrhizal fungi as well as other indicators of the state of the biological health of the soil such healthy spread out root systems.

Once you’ve had a closer look at what lies beneath you can begin to plot a path to stronger soil biology and healthier plants and animals.

As you develop a deeper understanding of your soil, you can make the decisions needed to move down the path to a more sustainable, environmentally effective and profitable farming system.

A physical examination of your soil goes hand in hand with other actions such as soil testing but there are many positive decisions about how you manage your land that can start with a simple hole in the ground.