Age: SINCE abandoning chemical fertiliser for a natural formula, Darryn Smith has felt his soil soften, seen worms return and watched the veterinary bill for his 180 cattle fall dramatically. In his words, the ground at his Western District farm has gone “from dead to being alive”. What he cannot see, but knows is happening beneath his toes, is a slow rise is the amount of carbon stored in his soil. And along with a growing number of farmers, he would like to be compensated for …