Enhancing soil health and pasture productivity

At Craigmore’s Wairepo Yellow dairy farm in South Canterbury, business manager and farmer Dion Gordon is taking a proactive approach to one of modern dairying’s biggest challenges: soil compaction.

With 900 cows and intensive pasture use, maintaining soil structure is critical to sustaining productivity and resilience. Over the past three years, Dion has trialled the use of EnviroCal, a calcium-based soil treatment applied during the winter, alongside mechanical aeration. The objective is to loosen compacted soils, improve water movement and support healthier plant growth.

Using penetrometer testing, Dion and his team measured soil compaction and tracked improvements in:

• Water drainage and absorption, reducing surface runoff
• Oxygen flow, boosting microbial activity and nutrient cycling
• Root development, leading to stronger, more resilient pastures.

The results have been clear – better soil structure, healthier pasture, and improved overall farm performance. Dion’s partnership with Agraforum NZ and soil expert Allan Piercy has helped validate the approach and guide ongoing improvements.

This project highlights how targeted soil management can deliver meaningful environmental and productivity gains.

WATCH: Allan Piercy from Agraforum speaks to Dion Gordon about tackling soil compaction and drainage issues using EnviroCal.