No guesswork, just pattern

Most soil advice is still built on incomplete data. At 59degrees, every project follows the same evidence-led workflow: context first, correct sampling, and reading the soil as a whole system — not isolated numbers. This turns “I think” into “we know,” so your decisions are justified by data, not anecdotes.

Context first

Every engagement starts with your climate, water, soil type, history, and business goals — so recommendations are realistic for your place, not copied from somewhere else. The gap between what we assume and what we actually measure is often where profit turns to loss. We close that gap before you spend.

One clear working hypothesis

We diagnose the one thing holding your soil back — not twenty. Then we show you how to fix it, with options that match your budget and timeline. This is deep science, made applicable, to empower you and your operation.

Stepwise, not silver bullets

Soil regeneration doesn’t happen in one dramatic move — it happens rung by rung. We sequence interventions so each one builds on the last, starting with the fundamentals before layering in complexity. This protects your budget from expensive missteps and gives the biology time to respond. The goal isn’t to do everything at once; it’s to do the right thing next.

Roots before inputs

Amendments and inoculants can’t fix a system that isn’t ready to receive them. We focus first on building root activity, exudate flow, and microbial partnerships — the infrastructure that makes inputs work. Without this living foundation, even the best products wash through or lock up. Function comes before fertiliser.

Progress you can measure

Soil improvement is invisible until something goes wrong — or right. The Ladder gives you a way to track where each field stands and whether it’s moving in the desired direction. We define clear indicators at each rung so progress becomes visible, season by season, and guesswork turns into pattern.

Who is this for?

The Soil Function Ladder works best for:

• Farmers managing 50+ hectares of arable or mixed land

• Advisors who want a diagnostic framework for client farms

• Land managers ready to invest in multi-year soil improvement

If you’re looking for quick fixes or one-size-fits-all solutions, we’re probably not the right fit.

Confidence built from understanding

Focusing on targeted interventions means you stop paying for amendments, rotations, or microbial products that aren’t clearly justified. The workflow demands evidence before scaling — reducing financial risk, time, and input waste while building confidence that the system is moving in the right direction, even in variable seasons.

Our method has been under refinement since 2014 and continues to evolve as new patterns and better tools emerge.