Who it is for
The right assessment for every buyer.
Whether you are buying a lifestyle block, a grazing operation, or productive cropping country, the condition of the soil and land shapes everything that follows. Problems like hidden contamination, degraded pastures, or unmanaged weed pressure are not always obvious during a standard property inspection.
Lifestyle Buyers
Buying a rural block for horses, a small acreage, or a tree change. Know whether the soil is contaminated and the pastures are manageable before settlement.
Graziers
Assessing a new grazing property. Understand carrying capacity, pasture condition, weed pressure, and whether the land matches the asking price.
Cropping Buyers
Buying broadacre cropping country. Get an independent read on soil fertility, pH, sodicity, subsoil constraints, and cropping history before you commit.
Investors and Developers
Acquiring land for investment or development. An independent agronomic baseline and contamination screen gives you negotiating data and documented due diligence evidence.
What we assess
Independent eyes on every acre.
Dawson Ag provides independent, agronomist-led due diligence across Southern Queensland and Northern New South Wales. No reseller ties, no product commissions. The assessment is made against your property and your decision, not against a sales agenda.
- Heavy metals and contamination. Composite soil samples tested against NEPM HIL-A health thresholds. Standard screening covers arsenic, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, lead, molybdenum, selenium, and vanadium. Targeted testing for specific analytes available on request.
- Pasture species and condition. On-ground inspection of pasture composition, condition, carrying capacity, weed pressure, and management history. Includes an honest read on what is manageable and what is a problem.
- Cropping potential and nutrient status. Soil fertility panel across key macronutrients and pH. Identifies any limiting factors and gives a read on the land’s cropping potential and what inputs the first season will likely need.
- Vegetation and timber. Vegetation identification, remnant cover, invasive species presence, and any vegetation management obligations. Gives the buyer a picture of what can and cannot be cleared or managed.
- General property condition. Visible issues that may affect land value or your plans: erosion, waterlogging, weed infestations, old chemical storage areas, infrastructure condition, and anything else that stands out during the walk.
Service packages
Choose the right level of assessment.
Three tiers to match the decision. A lifestyle block or small acreage suits the Soil Screen. A grazing property warrants Standard. Cropping country and larger investments get the full Comprehensive assessment.
Soil Screen
Best for lifestyle blocks and small acreage- 4 composite soil samples
- Heavy metals screening panel
- NEPM HIL-A comparison
- Clear pass/flag summary
- Branded PDF report
Standard Due Diligence
Best for grazing and mixed-use properties- Everything in Soil Screen
- On-farm property inspection
- Pasture species and condition assessment
- Vegetation and timber identification
- General property condition notes
- Branded due diligence report
Comprehensive Due Diligence
Best for cropping country and larger investments- Everything in Standard
- Full nutrient analysis including soil carbon
- Crop type suitability and rotation guidance
- Water testing (bore or dam)
- Weed mapping and management notes
- Erosion and land condition assessment
- Detailed agronomic baseline report
Add-ons
Tailor your assessment.
Add to any package to cover specific concerns or get more depth on a particular area. Contact us to discuss what is relevant to the property you are looking at.
- Soil health package (microbial activity, carbon fractions, soil structure) — from $80 + GST per sample.
- Additional water source testing — contact us for pricing.
- Deep soil sampling (subsoil nutrient and salinity profile) — from $40 + GST per sample.
- Urgent turnaround (5 business days) — $400 + GST.
How it works
From enquiry to report. Four steps.
The process is straightforward. From booking to report is typically 10 to 14 business days. Tighter timelines are often possible — contact us if settlement is coming up.
- Get in touch. Call us or fill out the enquiry form with your property details, settlement timeline, and what you need assessed. We confirm a package and book the inspection.
- On-farm inspection and sampling. Our agronomist visits the property, walks the country, collects soil samples, and documents the condition of pastures, vegetation, and infrastructure.
- Laboratory analysis. Samples are dispatched to an accredited Australian agricultural laboratory. Results are compared against NEPM HIL-A health thresholds and agronomic benchmarks.
- Your report. You receive a branded Dawson Agriculture report with clear results, plain-language interpretation, and practical recommendations. Typically delivered within 10 to 14 business days of inspection.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions.
How long does the process take?
From inspection to final report, allow 10 to 14 business days. We can often accommodate tighter timelines if needed. Contact us to discuss your settlement date.
Do I need to have access to the property?
Yes. We need access to walk the property and collect soil samples. If you are purchasing through an agent, we can coordinate access with them directly.
What happens to the soil samples?
Samples are dispatched to an accredited Australian agricultural laboratory for analysis. Results are compared against NEPM HIL-A health thresholds and agronomic benchmarks.
What contamination standards do you test against?
We compare results against the NEPM (2013) Health Investigation Level A (HIL-A) thresholds, the Australian standard for residential land with accessible gardens. We can also assess against other land-use categories if required.
Is this the same as a full site contamination assessment?
No. This is a screening-level assessment designed for property buyers. It provides a reliable indication of soil condition and contamination risk for typical rural property purchases. For regulatory, remediation, or development purposes, a full NEPM site assessment by a contaminated land consultant may be required.
Can you test for specific heavy metals or elements?
Yes. Our standard screening covers arsenic, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, lead, molybdenum, selenium, and vanadium. If you have concerns about additional analytes, contact us to discuss a tailored testing package.
Do you cover my area?
We operate across Southern Queensland and Northern NSW, including the Darling Downs, Lockyer Valley, South Burnett, Western Downs, Granite Belt, and Border Rivers regions. Properties outside our standard travel zone may incur a travel fee.
Can I get a tax deduction for this?
We are not accountants and cannot provide tax advice. Speak to your accountant about whether pre-purchase due diligence costs are deductible in your circumstances.
Enquire about this property
Send us the details and we’ll follow up to discuss scope and timing.