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 disturbing the soil can create a rapid burst of growth, while potentially leaving the paddock depleted afterwards.

The conversation looks at how farmers can approach cropping with more preparation, better timing and a focus on building the soil before the crop goes in. They also discuss cultivation, fallow periods, weeds, cyanobacteria, crop economics and why a cropping paddock doesn't have to be treated as a sacrifice.

In this episode:

• Why winter cropping needs to be planned before this year's crop is even finished
• How building soil carbon before planting can support crop growth
• The “fake boost” that can happen after spraying
• Why soil biology plays such an important role in decomposition and nutrient cycling
• How crop yields and cropping area affect the economics of winter feed
• Why cultivation itself isn't necessarily the enemy
• The role of fallow periods, timing and soil preparation
• Why weeds may be responding to underlying soil conditions
• How cyanobacteria, fungi, bacteria and worms contribute to the soil cycle
• Why measuring your soil carbon and nutrient inventory matters

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