Cover Crops Explained: What Most Farmers Get Wrong

In this clip from the EFA podcast, the conversation challenges one of the most common assumptions in regenerative farming, that cover crops automatically improve soil health. The discussion dives into how cover crops are often used in modern systems, highlighting the problems caused by spraying paddocks with herbicides before planting. While many growers believe that high-biomass cover crops will feed soil microbes and regenerate the land, the episode explains why pre-spraying can kill essential soil biology, preventing carbon and nutrients from cycling back into the soil. Breaking down the science, the conversation explores the difference between simply covering the land versus truly regenerating it, and how tilling, when done carefully and without chemicals, can actually support soil function rather than harm it. The episode ultimately questions the conventional wisdom around “no-till” farming and underscores the importance of understanding soil biology over blindly following trends. Listen to the full episode on Spotify Or watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/KzTSf7U9GXE Our FREE E-Book! https://www.ecofarmaotearoa.nz/download-our-ebook/ Listen To An EcoFarmer’s Discovery: https://open.spotify.com/show/3wIgUUghlsKIje76E5tjBA?si=b4aa009579a34ac1⁠