What does soil amelioration actually look like on-farm?

In this episode of the MSF Farm Talk podcast, we hear from Paruna grower Jock McNeil about his experience using soil amelioration practices since 2015 to address non-wetting and other constraints across sandy soils.

Jock shares what drove him to start looking at soil amelioration, after seeing crops struggle despite having moisture available in the subsoil. He talks through his experiences with deep ripping, spading, plowing and soil inversion, and how he has adapted his approach over time.

Jock’s experience highlights the importance of diagnosing the constraint first, then matching the amelioration approach to the soil, paddock and farming system.

This episode was recorded at MSF’s Soil Amelioration Workshop that was held in Loxton in June, where growers and researchers shared their experiences and discussed practical approaches to improving constrained soils.

This is episode 1 of a 4-part mini-series of Mallee grower experiences with soil amelioration recorded at the workshop.

🎧 Take a listen to hear Jock’s experience on farm with soil amelioration.

📄Read Jock's Case Study here: Case-study-Jock-McNeil-Paruna.pdf

📘Not sure if your soil will respond to ameliorating, or what approach to take?
Check out the Soil Amelioration Decision Tree: https://msfp.org.au/projects/carbon-soil-management-practices-across-the-mallee/#flipbook-df_14443/3/

📚For more information on the project, visit the project page: Driving On-Farm Adoption of Carbon-Friendly Soil Management Practices across the Mallee - Mallee Sustainable Farming

This project is supported by the Australian Government through funding from the Natural Heritage Trust under the Climate Smart Agriculture program.

What does soil amelioration actually look like on-farm?
In this episode of the MSF Farm Talk podcast, we hear from Paruna grower Jock McNeil about his experience using soil amelioration practices since 2015 to address non-wetting and other constraints across sandy soils.
Jock shares what drove him to start looking at soil amelioration, after seeing crops struggle despite having moisture available in the subsoil. He talks through his experiences with deep ripping, spading, plowing and soil inversion, and how he has adapted his approach over time.
Jock&rsquo;s experience highlights the importance of diagnosing the constraint first, then matching the amelioration approach to the soil, paddock and farming system.
This episode was recorded at MSF&rsquo;s Soil Amelioration Workshop that was held in Loxton in June, where growers and researchers shared their experiences and discussed practical approaches to improving constrained soils.
This is episode 1 of a 4-part mini-series of Mallee grower experiences with soil amelioration recorded at the workshop.
🎧 Take a listen to hear Jock&rsquo;s experience on farm with soil amelioration.
📄Read Jock's Case Study here: <a href="https://msfp.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Case-study-Jock-McNeil-Paruna.pdf">Case-study-Jock-McNeil-Paruna.pdf</a>
📘Not sure if your soil will respond to ameliorating, or what approach to take? Check out the Soil Amelioration Decision Tree: <a href="https://msfp.org.au/projects/carbon-soil-management-practices-across-the-mallee/#flipbook-df_14443/3/">https://msfp.org.au/projects/carbon-soil-management-practices-across-the-mallee/#flipbook-df_14443/3/</a>
📚For more information on the project, visit the project page: <a href="https://msfp.org.au/projects/carbon-soil-management-practices-across-the-mallee/">Driving On-Farm Adoption of Carbon-Friendly Soil Management Practices across the Mallee - Mallee Sustainable Farming</a>
This project is supported by the Australian Government through funding from the Natural Heritage Trust under the Climate Smart Agriculture program.

MSF's Farm Talk Podcast proudly brings Farmers, Researchers and Ag Industry connections together to chat innovative farming practices to help build a sustainable farming future for our Mallee growers. Mallee Sustainable Farming is a farmer-driven organisation specialising in Research, Development and Extension for NSW, VIC & SA's low-rainfall Mallee region. For more information visit: www.msfp.org.au/podcast 

MSF's Farm Talk Podcast proudly brings Farmers, Researchers and Ag Industry connections together to chat innovative farming practices to help build a sustainable farming future for our Mallee growers. Mallee Sustainable Farming is a farmer-driven organisation specialising in Research, Development and Extension for NSW, VIC &amp; SA's low-rainfall Mallee region. For more information visit: <a href="http://www.msfp.org.au/podcast">www.msfp.org.au/podcast</a>&nbsp;

MSF Farm Talk Podcast

MSF's Farm Talk Podcast proudly brings Farmers, Researchers and Ag Industry connections together to chat innovative farming practices to help build a sustainable farming future for our Mallee growers. Mallee Sustainable Farming is a farmer-driven organisation specialising in Research, Development and Extension for NSW, VIC & SA's low-rainfall Mallee region.

MSF's Farm Talk Podcast proudly brings Farmers, Researchers and Ag Industry connections together to chat innovative farming practices to help build a sustainable farming future for our Mallee growers. Mallee Sustainable Farming is a farmer-driven organisation specialising in Research, Development and Extension for NSW, VIC &amp; SA's low-rainfall Mallee region.