From The Soil Up Podcast

What do farmers need to know about soil biology, natural capital and building more profitable, resilient farming systems?

In this episode of From the Soil Up, Conan sits down with Cameron Campbell to explore biological farming, soil fertility and the practical decisions that can improve long-term farm performance.

Cameron shares his journey into biological farming and explains how soil biology, plant health and photosynthesis influence fertility and productivity. We discuss the relationship between soil microbes and nutrient cycling, the role of trace minerals and soil amendments, and how farmers can better understand plant requirements through herbage testing.

The conversation also explores natural capital as a long-term farm investment. From grazing management and farm subdivision to succession planning and hill country legume establishment, Cameron shares practical insights into building productive, resilient farming systems.

We challenge conventional thinking around synthetic fertilisers, discuss the importance of balancing biological activity with strategic nutrient applications, and explore why investing in soil health can deliver benefits beyond immediate production, including long-term farm value and profitability.

This episode is about looking beyond short-term fixes and understanding the fundamental processes that drive farm performance.

In this episode, we cover:

Soil biology, fertility and nutrient cycling

Biological farming and the limitations of a fertiliser-only approach

Photosynthesis, root exudates and building soil organic matter

Herbage testing, trace minerals and targeted soil amendments

Natural capital and investing in long-term farm resilience

Grazing management, subdivision and improving pasture utilisation

Legumes and opportunities for hill country farming

Farm profitability, succession planning and long-term land value

The importance of questioning assumptions and focusing on farming fundamentals

Whether you're a sheep and beef farmer, dairy farmer, rural professional or simply interested in biological and regenerative agriculture, this conversation offers practical ideas for improving soil function and making better long-term farm management decisions.

What do farmers and leaders need to understand about managing a multicultural workforce?

In this episode of From the Soil Up, Conan chats to Kate Tomlinson explore the changing face of New Zealand’s dairy industry and what it takes to build high-performing, multicultural farm teams.

 

We talk about cultural intelligence, leadership, communication and trust, and why understanding cultural differences can be just as important as good people management. Kate shares insights into how migrant workers experience the New Zealand dairy industry, how communication styles differ across cultures, and the role that strong community and support networks can play in helping people thrive.

 

We also explore the changing demographics of the dairy workforce over the past decade and the pathways available for overseas workers to progress from farm employment towards leadership and farm ownership.

 

A key theme throughout the conversation is the role of the “enabler”. The people who help bridge cultural gaps, build understanding within teams, and create an environment where everyone can perform at their best.

 

If you're a farmer, manager or rural leader working with a diverse team, this episode offers practical insights into cultural intelligence, team management, communication and leadership in modern New Zealand agriculture.

 

In this episode, we cover:

Why cultural intelligence matters in farming

The changing diversity of New Zealand's dairy workforce

How cultural differences influence communication and leadership

Building trust and high-performing multicultural teams

The role of enablers in supporting diverse farm teams

Supporting migrant workers through community and connection

Technology and communication within multicultural teams

Pathways from farm employment to leadership and farm ownership

What the future of leadership in the dairy industry could look like

 

Key themes: dairy farming, multicultural workforce, migrant workers, cultural intelligence, farm leadership, team management, New Zealand agriculture, farm ownership, communication, diversity and rural communities.

What can 50 years of experience in soil fertility, fertiliser and water quality teach us about the future of New Zealand farming?

In this episode of From the Soil Up, Conan Moynihan talks with Bert Quin about soil fertility, water quality, phosphorus, nitrogen and the evolution of sustainable farming in New Zealand.

With more than 50 years working in soil and fertiliser science, Bert offers a unique perspective on how our understanding of soil health, plant nutrition and water quality has changed — and what we may have got wrong along the way.

We explore the history of water quality issues in New Zealand, the role of phosphorus in our soils, changes in fertiliser manufacturing, and the potential for smarter management of water-soluble nutrients to reduce environmental losses while maintaining farm productivity.

Bert also introduces the Regenza concept and shares his thinking on what future farming systems could look like when soil health, water quality, farm resilience and economic performance are considered as part of the same system.

This is a wide-ranging conversation about the science, history and future of New Zealand agriculture, and what farmers, industry and consumers might need to think differently about as we look towards the next decade.

In this episode:

Bert's 50+ years of experience in soil and fertiliser science

The history of water quality concerns in New Zealand

Phosphorus and nitrogen management

How fertiliser manufacturing has changed

Water-soluble fertilisers and nutrient losses

The role of organic matter in soil resilience

Soil fertility and plant nutrition

The Regenza concept

Regenerative agriculture and where the industry is heading

Future farm models focused on resilience

Bert's one key change for New Zealand farming over the next decade

If you're interested in New Zealand agriculture, soil health, fertiliser, water quality, regenerative farming and building more resilient farm systems, this conversation is well worth a listen.

⁠https://quinfert.co.nz/⁠

What do farmers really need to understand about animal nutrition?

We often talk about protein, energy, fibre, minerals and feed quality as individual pieces of the puzzle. But according to animal nutritionist Dr Lucy Waldron, nutrition is much more about the relationships and ratios between them.

In this episode of the From The Soil Up Podcast, Lucy draws on more than 30 years of experience in animal nutrition to unpack what ruminants actually need to thrive and where farmers can sometimes get nutrition wrong.

We explore the fascinating world inside the rumen, why fibre and the rumen microbiome are so important, how cows turn pasture into energy, and what happens when diets become too high in protein. We also dig into the connections between nutrition, animal health, methane emissions, nitrate losses and farm productivity.

Lucy shares practical insights for farmers operating pasture-based systems, including the importance of observing animals, monitoring body condition, understanding feed quality, and using better feed-testing tools to make informed decisions.

In this episode, we cover:

Why nutrition is all about ratios and balance

The role of fibre and rumen microbes in ruminant digestion

How cows convert pasture into energy

The relationship between high-protein diets, methane and nitrate losses

Why body condition and animal observation are powerful nutritional tools

Advances in feed testing and NIR technology

The challenges of nutrition in pasture-based farming systems

What farmers should understand about water, energy, protein, vitamins and minerals

Why foundational fibre and microbiome health matter

Practical ways farmers can improve their understanding of animal nutrition

If you’re involved in dairy farming, sheep and beef, pasture management or animal nutrition, this episode will give you plenty to think about.

⁠https://www.animalnutrition.co.nz/⁠

What does it actually mean to build a resilient farm system?

In this episode, Conan sits down with Dr. Alison Dewes from Tipu Whenua to unpack what resilience really looks like on-farm and why it isn’t simply about producing less or avoiding change. Instead, it’s about building systems that can flex, adapt and remain profitable when climate, markets and regulations change.

Alison shares lessons from her work across New Zealand and Australia, exploring why understanding your land use is fundamental to farm profitability, how farmers can use KPIs to measure progress towards their goals, and why a whole-systems approach is essential for making better decisions.

They also discuss the role of catchment groups, lighthouse farmers, technology and farmer-led innovation in creating wider change, as well as the importance of getting the fundamentals right before chasing the next big innovation.

If you’re interested in building a farm business that is more robust, adaptable and profitable, this episode is packed with practical ideas to help you think differently about your farm system.

Key takeaways:

Why resilience is about flexibility and having more options

Understanding whether your land is being used in the right way

Using farm KPIs to measure progress and build resilience

The importance of knowing your numbers

How diversification can create greater robustness

The role of catchment groups and lighthouse farmers

When regulation helps and when farmer-led solutions can be more effective

Why technology should support good farm management, not replace it

Preparing farm systems for climate extremes and drought

Starting with a clear baseline, vision and strategic plan

https://www.tipuwhenua.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/alison-dewes-9307b235/