SHORT: Getting foliars right, with Tom Robinson

This episode is part of a series of short conversations with the farmers profiled in our cropping practice guides. For Tom Robinson, foliar sprays aren’t a magic fix, but they’ve become a game-changer. Guided by sap testing and years of trialling, they’re helping him hit crop nutrition targets and lift grain performance while fitting into a broader soil health strategy. In this episode, Tom shares how he’s shifted from the odd zinc spray to a targeted program guided by regular sap testing, hitting critical growth stages in wheat, lentils, and canola. We talk through the practicalities – from making his own trace element mixes on-farm to jar testing, timing sprays for maximum uptake, and deciding when to include extras like seaweed or compost extracts. Tom also explains how foliar nutrition fits with other practices like zero-till, controlled traffic, and tactical livestock grazing, and the results he’s seen in grain quality, germination, and reduced pesticide use. Whether you’re already using foliars or just curious about where they might fit in your system, you’ll get practical tips and lessons learned from years of trial, observation, and adjustment – all aimed at building plant health and farm resilience. Read the full practice guide on using foliars at soilsforlife.org.au/practice-guide-foliar-applications/ Get in touch - ⁠info@soilsforlife.org.au⁠

You can listen to SHORT: Getting foliars right, with Tom Robinson online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

SHORT: Getting foliars right, with Tom Robinson is an episode from Soils For Life by Soils For Life.

This episode is 00:26:11 long.

This episode was published on Aug 19, 2025.

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