The Force of Nature Podcast

Ep 18 - The Economic Opportunity of Soil Health with Canaan Ahu

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/⁠ 

Ep 17 - Wingman for Farmers: Mark Benns on Trust, Empathy, and Herd Improvement

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/⁠

Ep16 - Creating pride in New Zealand's food products is essential for market success with Melissa Baer

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

Ep15 - The Role of Pasture Species in Parasitism with John Niezen

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 

Ep14 - Curiosity and Coaching in Agriculture with Greg Mumm

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/

Ep13 - Farmers as Carbon Sequestration Superheroes with Siobhan Griffin

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/

Ep12 - The Soil Carbon Opportunity for NZ Farmers with Verdi

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/

Ep11 - Understanding NLP and Mindset in Farming with Andrew Savage

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/