In this episode of the Force the Nation podcast, host Conan Moynihan speaks with Matt Haggerty, a young farmer from Western Australia, about his experiences in agriculture, particularly focusing on regenerative practices and natural intelligence farming. Matt shares insights from his upbringing under his parents Di and Ian Haggerty on a mixed arable farm, what Natural Intelligence Farming is, and the challenges faced in Australian farming, including rainfall and land management. Matt emphasizes the importance of education, advocacy, and building a personal brand in agriculture to connect with consumers and the significance of health and nutrition in relation to farming practices.    ⁠https://naturalintelligencefarming.com/ ⁠https://www.instagram.com/matthaggerz/?hl=en

In this episode of the Force of Nature podcast, host Conan Moynihan speaks with Nicole Masters, an agroecologist and founder of Integrity Soils. They discuss the importance of human dynamics in agriculture, the global trends in agricultural transformation, and the catalysts for change in farming practices. Nicole shares insights from her experiences in Montana, highlighting community innovation and the CREATE program, which focuses on experiential learning and personal development in agriculture.We also explore the themes of uniqueness, coaching, curiosity, community, and the future of agriculture in New Zealand. They discuss the importance of embracing one's individuality, the transformative power of coaching over traditional consulting, and the role of curiosity in driving change. Links to Integrity Soils events and Create below CREATE Australia 3 day workshops in NZ & Australia

In this episode of the Force of Nature podcast, Melinda Turner, an independent farm advisor, shares her expertise in animal nutrition and soil health. Melinda challenges common misconceptions about ruminant nutrition in New Zealand, stressing the importance of balanced diets, effective grazing management, and informed nutritional advice to improve animal health and meat quality. We also speak about industry corruption that obstructs progress and emphasizes the need for greater understanding of livestock nutritional needs. ⁠https://www.facebook.com/FarmNutrientsNZ/⁠   

In this episode of the Force of Nature podcast, host Conan Moynihan speaks with Magdalena Iturria, a soil health expert from Uruguay. We discuss her journey from chemical engineering to agriculture, the unique challenges faced by Uruguayan farmers, and the importance of soil health in sustainable farming practices. Magdalena shares insights on the establishment of her company, Sosei, and the growing interest in regenerative agriculture in Uruguay. The conversation also touches on the misconceptions surrounding profitability and sustainability in farming, the role of women in agriculture, and the transformative experience of the CREATE program. ⁠https://soseibioag.com/⁠ ⁠https://www.instagram.com/sosei.uy/⁠

In this episode of the Force of Nature podcast, host Conan Moynihan speaks with Cole Mannix, founder of Old Salt Co-op, about his journey in the meat industry, the challenges faced by ranchers, and the innovative business model of Old Salt Co-op. Cole shares insights on the importance of community engagement, the need for a more resilient food system, and the existential necessity of decommodifying agriculture. The conversation highlights the connection between ecological stewardship and food production, emphasizing the role of local farmers in creating sustainable food systems.    https://www.oldsaltco-op.com/ 

In this episode of the Force of Nature podcast, Sadie Collins from Highland Harmony Farm shares her journey as a farmer in Montana, discussing the challenges of farming in their climate, the transition to regenerative practices, and the importance of education in agriculture. We also discuss the evolution of wheat and its nutritional decline, the importance of connecting with consumers through farmers' markets, and the value of community and human interaction.  https://www.highlandharmonyfarm.com/  

In this episode of the Force of Nature podcast, Dan Kittredge shares his journey from a small organic farm in Massachusetts to founding the Bionutrient Food Association. He discusses the importance of nutrient density in food, the significance of brix as a measure of plant health, and the connection between soil health and human health. We discuss the need for a shift in agricultural practices to focus on quality over quantity, and how this can lead to improved health outcomes for both people and the planet.   For more of Dan's work: https://www.bionutrient.org/ 

In this episode, host Conan speaks with Josh Gilbert, a Worimi man from New South Wales, Australia. Josh shares his deep connection to the land and his family's agricultural history, spanning over 60,000 years. He discusses the importance of Indigenous agricultural practices, storytelling, and leadership in the agricultural sector. Josh emphasizes the potential for a future where Indigenous knowledge and practices are integrated into modern agriculture, creating a more sustainable and inclusive system. https://www.joshuagilbert.co/ 

In this episode of the Force of Nature podcast, Conan discusses his intentions for 2025, focusing on goal setting through intentionality. He emphasizes the importance of growth, collaboration, setting boundaries, authenticity, and health and wellness. Conan shares his personal experiences and insights on how these areas will shape his year and the impact they can have on his business and personal life.

In this episode, Conan chats to Canaan Ahu the CEO of Agrownomics, a independent soil and fertility company based in Christchurch, New Zealand. They discuss various aspects of agriculture, focusing on the importance of understanding soil health, the role of foliar applications, challenges in agricultural research, and the significance of grazing management. Canaan is a big advocate for  the need for a holistic approach to farming that includes understanding soil biology and structure, as well as the significance of education in empowering farmers to make informed decisions themselves.  ⁠https://www.agrownomics.co.nz/⁠ 

In this episode of The Force of Nature Podcast, Conan chats to the legend that is Mark Benns from Wingman. Mark is a former dairy farmer turned to New Zealand's first independent herd improvement consultancy. We cover the importance of openness in the agricultural industry, his transition from farming to consulting, and the significance of empathy and trust in building relationships with farmers. Mark shares his journey of herd improvement and how he aims to help farmers enhance their operations through his business, Wingman.    ⁠https://www.yourwingman.co.nz/⁠

In this episode of the Force of Nature podcast, Conan interviews Melissa Baer from Backstory Tech, who shares her journey from growing up on an organic farm in Canada to starting a tech company focused on building brand trust in the food industry. We discuss the importance of marketing in agriculture, the challenges of understanding consumer preferences and  the need for collaboration within the industry.  To connect with Melissa:⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissabaer/?originalSubdomain=nz⁠⁠ https://www.backstorytech.com/about-us⁠

In this episode of the Force of Nature podcast, host Conan interviews John Niezen, an expert in dairy farming and agricultural research. John shares his extensive background, including his experiences in various countries and the importance of understanding farmer insights in agricultural practices. The conversation delves into his research and the challenges of parasite management in sheep, the role of pasture species, and the significance of soil health. John also shares his extensive experience in dairy farming across various countries, discussing the challenges and innovations in the industry and offers insights into improving dairy nutrition and animal welfare. To connect with John:https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-niezen-9736b753/ Email: johnhniezen@gmail.com 

In this episode of the Force of Nature podcast, Conan speaks with Greg Mumm, a first-generation farmer from Kangaroo Valley, Australia. Greg shares his journey from a professional rugby coaching to pursuing his dream of farming at the age of 40. He discusses the challenges and learning experiences of running a regenerative farm, the importance of community and family values, and the innovative approach he is taking with dairy beef. To follow Greg and his family's journey:https://www.facebook.com/RosewoodFarmKV/ https://www.rosewoodfarmstay.com.au/

Siobhan Griffin has managed and owned farms for 30 years in New York State and Vermont where she delved into organic and holistic regenerative management of dairy cattle and finishing beef. With the goal of producing healthy food for families, she built a solar powered cheese plant on her farm and learned quickly that healthy cows on healthy, diverse grassland supported the best tasting cheese and meat.  She relocated to New Zealand in 2017 and now lives at Ridgepark Farm with her partner and 4200 ewes on 400 hectares. She plans to spend the next chapter of her life keeping pastoral farmers on the land by helping them be more profitable and teaching them how to use their livestock to heal the land and build carbon in the soil as grazing coach. https://www.nextlevelgrazing.com/

In this episode I have the pleasure of speaking with two of the founders of Verdi, Nic Conland and Jason Cruise. Verdi provides New Zealand farmers the opportunity to improve soil health and earn income through soil carbon credits. We cover the importance of soil carbon, their verification process, the opportunity for NZ farmers and the country and a whole lot more. https://verdi.nz/

Andrew Savage is today's guest on the podcast who has created Savage Rural Consulting to help agribusinesses simplify and optimise their business and goals. The conversation covers a wide range of topics, including farming experiences, agribusiness consulting, NLP, money mindset, and the challenges faced by farmers. We discussed the impact of values, beliefs, and biases on decision-making and the importance of recognizing and addressing these factors. https://savageruralbusiness.com/ 

For episode 10, I decided to celebrate my first year in business by recording a podcast sharing a bit of insight into what I have learnt or aim learning as a business owner and how that applies to agricultural businesses.  I discuss the importance of making decisions, embracing failure as a learning opportunity, responding rather than reacting to situations, and investing in personal development.  

In this episode I talk to the creator of the Miti Beef Bar and founder of Alps to Ocean Foods, Daniel Carson. Daniel explains the concept behind Alps to Ocean Foods, which focuses on utilizing young dairy beef to create a low-carbon, high-value meat snack and protein bar. He highlights the opportunities for scale and innovation in the manufacturing beef market and the potential benefits for farmers and the environment and the potential for New Zealand to capture more value in the meat snacks market. Contact Daniel here:https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-carson-1670451aa/ https://miti.nz/ 

In episode 8 I speak with Tim Gieseke EcoCommerce company in Minnesota, USA. Tim discusses the concept of eco-commerce and the Natural Capital Unit (NCU) as a way to account for ecosystem services in agriculture. He emphasizes the need for a singular accounting system that allows farmers to govern their own data and integrate it with market demands. Giesicki proposes the NCU as a geospatial bushel basket for the 21st century, providing a standardized unit for measuring natural capital. He also highlights the importance of including all landscapes, including oceans and parking lots, in the accounting system. The biggest challenge in the agricultural industry is the lack of a coherent and accountable accounting system. The conversation explores the need for an accounting system that encompasses all aspects of the ecosystem, not just carbon. The Natural Capital Unit (NCU) is proposed as a solution to account for the value of different natural resources and ecosystem services. The NCU can be used to create markets that incentivize sustainable practices and reward farmers for their environmental stewardship. The conversation also touches on the importance of governance in implementing such a system and the potential for cryptocurrencies to play a role in the future of the agricultural industry.   https://www.linkedin.com/in/timothy-gieseke-215392239/