In this episode, RaboTalk’s Growing Our Future, host Katie Rodwell talks with Conan Moynihan, an experienced farm consultant from Canterbury. Conan shares insights from his experience as a sheep and beef farmer, environmental engineer, and farm advisor, and has recently stepped into his new role as co-founder and CEO of GroundShift.
Conan discusses balancing farm profitability with environmental resilience, and how better grazing management and soil biology can lift long‑term performance.
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Show Notes:
From Farm Life to Consulting and Back
Conan’s career has spanned hands-on farming, environmental engineering, and consultancy. Growing up on a South Canterbury sheep and beef farm, he initially explored other career paths before returning to agriculture. Through his consultancy, Conan supports farmers nationwide, focusing on business strategy, soil health, agronomy, and grazing management. His experiences highlight the value of informed decision-making, patience, and long-term planning in farming.
Profitability as a Foundation for Environmental and Community Health
A central theme of the discussion is that profitable farms create opportunities for environmental stewardship and thriving rural communities. Conan emphasises that financial performance and ecological function are closely linked. By understanding the ecological limits of a farm and improving soil health, farmers can increase land productivity, reduce input costs, and build long-term resilience. He stresses that these improvements take time but yield compounding benefits similar to investing in a savings account.
Soil Health: The Overlooked Asset
Conan explains why soil biology has historically been undervalued in New Zealand. Unlike minerals, soil biology is complex and difficult to measure or commercialise. Many farmers have been cautious due to past ‘quick-fix’ solutions that failed. However, knowledge is growing rapidly, and managing soils as a dynamic, living system can enhance profitability, water retention, pasture growth, and carbon storage.
Practical Opportunities for Farmers
Conan identifies key areas where farmers can make meaningful improvements today:
- Grazing management – optimising how stock graze pastures improves soil biology, pasture growth, and profitability.
- Soil biology and carbon storage – building soil health increases productivity and supports climate resilience.
- Organic farming – potential for higher profitability with lower inputs.
- Social media and knowledge sharing – building personal and farm brands can create alternative revenue streams, partnerships, and market opportunities.
Mindset and Collaboration
A recurring barrier Conan sees is mindset. Limiting beliefs about markets, regulation, or conventional practices can prevent farmers from embracing new opportunities. Supporting one another, remaining curious, and learning from diverse experiences are essential for personal and farm growth. Collaboration and openness to innovation are critical to building resilient farm systems.
Key Takeaway
Conan’s advice for farmers is to stay curious, continually learn, and explore new ideas. By combining profitable management, strong soil health, and community support, farmers can develop resilient systems that sustain both people and the land for generations to come.
