Curious Cockies

 

June 2026

#85 Steve Kenyon - Seasonal Cattle Farming in Canada 

Alberta cattle farmer Steve Kenyon talks about his custom grazing operation where he doesn’t own cows or land.  We learn how the Animal Keepers Act is better than insurance, how developing communication skills improved his business, what his priorities are planning grazing and what generates happiness as a farmer.

 

June 2026

#84 Sue Macky – Cow Management and Nutrition

International dairy consultant Sue Macky emphasises the value of nutrition, especially fibre to ensure good production and animal health. There is a focus on dry cow nutrition and nutrition leading up to and over calving and mating. The limitation of current wearables technology is also mentioned.

 

April 2026

#83 Nick Sneddon, Sam Wilson and Lucy Burkitt – Pasture Diversity and Milk Flavours

Nick Sneddon, Sam Wilson and Lucy Burkitt from the Whenua Haumanu science project, Massey University, talk about what the project is, how they are conducting the science there to compare regen farming with conventional and what the findings are to date.  They are seeing differences in milk such as flavours and trace elements.  They talk about the management of pastures, pasture composition, and changes in soil properties

 

April 2026

#82 Garrick Batten – Cycles and Curious Cockies

Retired farm consultant, policy advisor and agricultural attaché Garrick Batten reviews his 70 year career.  He notes observations that are relevant in today's challenging times pointing out various cycles that have repeated over his many decades and forecasts what could be around the corner and his call to action to plan something before you need it.

 

March 2026

#81 Dave Burridge – The Future of Wool

Dave Burridge, Marketing Manager for PGG Wrightson brings his perspective on what is happening in the wool markets, where demand is coming from and why, as well as what is happening with fringe markets such as coloured wool and the work at WRONZ.

 

December 2025

#80 Daniel Judd – The Soil Gap

Sharemilker and Kellogg scholar Daniel Judd outlines farmers beliefs around soil, its management and associated advice. He doesn't see a divide between regen and conventional practices, instead he sees regen farmers more willing to experiment and challenge industry advice because it hasn't met their expectations in the past. 

 

November 2025

#79 Donald Martin – Measuring Grass

Entrepreneur Donald Martin from Grassco explains the value of measuring grass.  His work of nearly 20 years of measuring grass growth provides insights and observations for all grass farmers. 

 

October 2025

#78 Peter Templeton – Family Succession

Dairy farmer and Nuffield scholar Peter Templeton explores how to bring back success into the Succession process to help the next generation realise farm ownership.  Drawing on his Nuffield report, he explains various aspects of governance and corporate structures from his travels.

 

September 2025

#77 Jamie Elizondo – Total Graze

Jaime Elizondo explains his career and what New Zealand farmers can expect from his upcoming Total Graze workshops in New Zealand. 

 

August 2025

#76 Sarah Pain – Sheep Grazing Preferences

Massey University researcher Sarah Pain presents finding from her research about grazing preferences of sheep for native shrubs.  Both fibre and protein influence preference but secondary plant metabolite's are likely to have an influence as well.

 

July 2025

#75 Adam McCall – Once-a -day Dairy Production

West Otago dairy farmer Adam McCall explains his journey into once-a-day milking and how he and wife Georgie have a herd production average last season of 470kgMS/cow, 79% six week in-calf rate and 8% empties.

 

July 2025

#74 Rod Finch – Auditing for Food Systems

Rod Finch has spent a career in the auditing game. He talks how to have cheap successful audits and where farmers go wrong. There are also interesting deviations into what animal has the closest milk to humans (not cows) and what the future of dairying might look like for Canterbury.

 

May 2025

#73 Will Perriam-Lampp – Resource Utilisation

Will Perriam-Lampp, Manager Align Dairies, focuses on farmer input utilisation. In tight times, how do farmers know they are getting enough bang for their dollar?  Will explores a range of topics including fertiliser, crops, pasture and animal health inputs.

 

April 2025

#72 Robin Greer – Selling Local Dairy Products

Gore organic dairy farmer Robin Greer, recounts his journey into organic dairying and then into selling his own products.  Being a pioneer means his troubles with MPI paved an easier path for others.

 

April 2025

#71 Logan Wait – Mobile Abattoirs

Logan Wait from Earth First Foods describes the mobile abattoir business he is setting up; how it will operate, how it will benefit farmers seeking option other than the commodity game, and what farmers needs to do to join this opportunity.

 

March 2025

#70 Scotty Hickman – Grazing to Enhance Australian Landscapes

Scotty Hickman, farmer, Canowindra, NSW, is a facilitator for the Grazing Revolution in mid-Lauchlan catchment. He talks about his own history from traditional conventional operator to working with grazing management to enhance landscapes and benefit from what nature provides for free.

 

February 2025

#69 Jeff Broomfield – Challenging Fertiliser Practices

Jeff Broomfield explains how an interest in fish and compost teas led to ground breaking science alongside Peter Espie.  How their research now has Lincoln University looking at improving fertiliser efficiencies in what is a world first for fertiliser research.

 

December 2024

#68 Peter Espie – Humate Research in New Zealand

Peter Espie, independent scientist, talks about his research into how humates influence fertiliser efficiency and farm costs.  It shows clearly working with nature reduces costs by increasing the efficiency of soluble fertilisers.  This is starting to interest industry bodies.

 

November 2024

#67 Severe Grazing Group Observations

Severe Grazing Anonymous members Chis Ensor, Andy Bunny and Hamish Bielski share their experiences grazing in different environments using the Total Graze technique.  They cover their journeys to find new ways of doing things and describe what they look for with their grazing management.  A driver is getting away from fertiliser.

 

October 2024

#66 Siobhan Griffin – UK Tour 2024

Grazing coach Siobhan Griffin presents what is working well for UK and Swedish livestock farmers.  Discussions include the role of grazing to sequester carbon, tree bark bacteria that eat methane, and how Europe (and probably NZ) were never total canopy forest but a mosaic of grasslands dotted with trees maintained by grazing animals. 

 

September 2024

#65 Jeremy Talbot – Dairy Nutrition and Soil

Ex-farmer and contractor Jeremy Talbot explains impact of excess protein in livestock diets and its relationship on soil health and GHG emissions.  He comments on what's costing New Zealand dairy when leaders are not listening to common sense science demonstrated in paddocks.

 

August 2024

#64 Paul Kenyon – Sheep Production for Spring

Professor Paul Kenyon from Massey University talks about feeding to influence body condition score, pasture residual to maximise intake, the benefits of multi-species swards, what to do post-weaning, when to palpate udders, and ventures into shedding sheep.

 

July 2024

#63 Roger Slee – Once-a-day Milking a Winner

Retired dairy farmer Roger Slee recounts setting up the largest start-up irrigated dairy in North Otago in 1982, pioneering once-a-day milking and how that was his secret to making money.  He ran multiple farms with joint ventures and spent his life challenging traditions.

 

June 2024

#62 Henry Hendricks – Doing more with Less

Waikato dairy farmer Henry Hendricks talks about how his system 5 dairy farm produces high milk production and low empty rates, no measurable leaching, lower fertiliser rates, reductions in irrigation, high pastures covers and benefits of fully feeding livestock.

 

May 2024

#61 Hugh Campbell – Lessons from the Eighties Rural Crisis

University of Otago professor Hugh Campbell recalls his interviews with farmers in Ashburton and their experiences of the 1980s rural crisis.  In particular, strategies to deal with bankers tactics to foreclose properties prior to the 1987 stock market crash. 

 

May 2024

#60 Tim Chamberlian – An Organic Journey

Organic entrepreneur Tim Chamberlain recalls his adventures in organic cropping and livestock farming.  Covered are how he got started, the knack of being in the right place at the right time, and many of the people he met along the way.

 

March 2024

#59 Phyllis Tichinin – Cheese is Good for Climate

Biological consultant Phyllis Tichinin reveals the role of butter in promoting excellent human health and its relationship to diverse pastures.  Covered here are soil health and the role of soil microbes.  Also the unfair advantage of pasture fed livestock products for human health as evidenced by pioneering professionals. 

 

February 2024

#58 Solis Norton – The Upcoming Energy Crisis

Solis Norton explains the upcoming energy crisis with New Zealand farmers and the things he sees will impact the industry.  How the worlds fossil fuel production is declining and how the amount of precious metals required for fully electric systems is beyond the capacity of current extraction systems.

 

February 2024

#57 Simon Stocks – Engaging with Māori

Resource consultant Simon Stokes chats with farmers about their concerns on a variety of issues regarding Maori and their agenda.  The conversation is genuine, thoughtful and a reality check of issues that are beyond the farm gate.  What becomes clear is that Maori want many of the same things that farmers do.  Simon's number is 029 756 0311 if you would like to follow up with him.

 

November 2023

#56 Adrian Ball – Meat Markets 2024

With the current price issues facing lamb and beef, Adrian Ball, Director with Silver Fern Farms speaks about meat industry issues and markets covering how world trading is declining for products, down from prime to mince, Aussies dumping mutton, South Americans dumping beef.  Future will see more value in offal than meat. Farms will diversify income streams, horticulture for example

 

November 2023

#55 Jim Webster – Animal Welfare and Personalities 

AgResearch scientist Jim Webster shares his work on cow and goat personalities and how that might influence future production practice.  He also briefly looks at animal welfare standards and the likely future direction they will take.

 

October 2023

#54 Siobhan Griffin – Spring Grazing Management
Discussion with grazing coach Siobhan Griffin about grazing issues in spring.  What are your options to increase pasture recovery time when feed is short and how a grazing chart is useful for predicting feed shortages.

 

September 2023

#53 Phil Weir – Restructuring for Industry Good

Phil Weir summarises his Nuffield report on the subject and then a discussion where participants express a variety of views highlighting the complexity of the current situation.  NZ Farming is in a dark hole and what is clear from these exchanges is we can't stay there and that is the challenge for all in the industry.

 

August 2023

#52 Conversation with Severe Grazing Group
Farmers Andy Bunny, Hamish Bielski, Pete Blair and Chris Ensor explain how they've changed their grazing methods after being disappointed with regen grazing techniques.

 

June 2023

#51 Lisa Norton – Grazing practices and income profiles

Lisa Norton, senior scientist with the UK's Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, is documenting changing grazing management practices UK farmers are adopting as their income profile changes.

 

May 2023

#50 Stan Winter and Bert Quin – Common Soil Sense of the Past

Stan Winter and Bert Quin both talk about common issues farmers are facing with industry information by drawing on their 50 year careers.  One thing that wasn't record demonstrated the power of fungi.  Fairy rings will lift Olsen P of 20 to 90 highlighting possible future research focus as phosphate becomes too expensive.

 

April 2023

#49 Mariza Ries – Milk Composition and Pasture Composition
Due to confidentially, I wasn't able to record the presentation with Mariza Ries from AgResearch so this just focuses on the discussion afterwards.  Big thing is many of the health benefits of milk are diluted when adding supplements, in this instance maize silage. 

 

March 2023

#48 Bert Quin – Allophane to sequester carbon

Pioneering soil scientist Bert Quin explains the case for mining allophane to sequester soil carbon.  He believes the numbers stack up and is generating interest in the scientific community for exploring the idea.  The science already exists that it does.

 

January 2023

#47 Kate Still – Verification programme in the UK

Kate Still explains the UK Soil Association Exchange, a programme designed to reward UK farmers for changing practice.  It’s being driven by corporate sponsors like Lloyds Bank who are paying for the pilot programme to get metrics about the cost/benefit to farmers of changing practices.  Could farmers be squeezed out of selling produce if their figures don't show an improvement?..

 

November 2022

#46 Michael Coughlin – Just in Time for the BBQ Season
Michael Coughlin from Provenance Meats explains the properties of meat to create the ideal bbq and other cooking methods, including tricks of the restaurant trade to make the most of meat cuts.  

 

November 2022

#45 Geoff Burke – Multi-species pastures and milk and soil composition
A2 project manager Geoff Burke presents finding from a MPI funded study looking into milk composition and how it is affected by multi-species pastures.  There are interesting findings regarding soil properties and grazing management.

 

October 2022

#44 Siobhan Griffin – Spring Grazing Management
Grazing coach Siobhan Griffin explains the challenges of getting grazing management right in spring.  Topics include observing tiller leaves, plant maturity, recovery length and others.  Siobhan also talks with farmers about how their season is working out and what they might do going forward.

 

October 2022

#43 Jason Cruse – Profiting from Carbon Management
Jason Cruse form Verdi explains their carbon management programme and where it fits among carbon options for New Zealand farmers.  He demonstrates a soil carbon calculator for determining taxes and potential income.

 

August 2022

#42 Louise Coats – Animal Spring Health
Waikato vet Louise Coats talks about lack of copper and other traces in spring, dung beetles, potential problems with livestock drinking town water supply, facial eczema, mastitis, neospora disease, and being mindful of what the travelling public take photos of as dealing with MPI is a nightmare

 

July 2022

#41 Caroline Realini – Factors affecting Meat Quality in Lamb
Dr Carolina Realini from AgResearch presents data on factors that influence meat quality, particularly for lamb.  The presence of fats and other eating attributes is discussed as well as means of creating good eating experiences through livestock management.

 

June 2022

#40 Mel Davidson and Brad Howlett – Insects predators for New Zealand farming pests
Scientists Mel Davidson and Brad Howlett discuss with John research looking into the role of insects in New Zealand farming and their potential to help farmers with pests, especially using native vegetation to host such predators.

 

May 2022

Frank Griffin – Critical Elements Driving Climate Change
Otago Professor Frank Griffin is joined by Peter Bruce-Iri, Alfred Harris, and Max Purnell to discuss various aspects of climate science which debunk mainstream narrative about the causes of climate change.

 

May 2022

#39 Jamie McFadden – Groundswell Update 
All Regional Councils are heading towards the Canterbury model of heavy compliance and therefore farmers need to rally against it.  A lot of what Groundswell wants is for policy to prioritise threats and address those instead of the one solution fits all policies.  This is how farmers already operate but Groundswell need your support to apply pressure.  Any suggestions for Groundswell contact Jamie…

 

April 2022

Frank Griffin hosts Walter Jehne – Climate Change and Agriculture
University of Otago webinar with Walter Jehne, soil microbiologist and climatologist highlights how farmer can solve climate change through better soil and pasture management.  Walter explains how science and politics has made farmers scapegoats for climate change and how grazing and soil management hold the key to humanity's survival.

 

March 2022

#38 Tracey Bayliss – Story of Grandad's Beef
The story of Grandad's Beef and Tracey Bayliss's efforts to help farmers earn for the meat they produce is told here.  Tracey explains where the brand came from, how she got it up and running as well as the many pitfalls and snags she's had along the way...

 

January 2022

#37 Max Purnell and Alfred Harris – Direction of Environmental Policy
Dairy farmer and activist Max Purnell and retired scientist Alfred Harris explain what is currently happening with Labour Party environmental policy including soil carbon, methane, ETS, pine trees, modelling, and science.  This conversation exposes flaws in modelling and academic observation and how they're holding science accountable so policy helps farmers..

 

November 2021

#36 David Scobie – Low-Cost Sheep
David Scobie, AgResearch scientist, soon to be senior lecturer at Lincoln University, spent 30 years developing various low care/cost breeds share his insights and knowledge for those looking to go wooless, do without drenches, and breeding other desirable traits.
 

November 2021

#35 Duncan Harrison – ETS Basics
Duncan Harrison from MPI provides a basic presentation on the ETS, what's allowed, what's not, and answers a range of questions on how to get started with ETS, who you can trade with, and what your obligations are.
If you have any further questions contact Duncan at: Duncan.Harrison@mpi.govt.nz

 

October 2021

#34 David Musgrave – Non-Ryegrass Pasture Mixes 
As a DISR scientist David was involved with many trials looking at pasture species and pasture species mixes.  He used these experiences to develop pastures at his organic farm where he has been successfully managing multi-species pastures for over 25 years, much longer than scientists say it can be done.  His pastures don't get thistles and have few grass grub problems.  

 

September 2021

#33 Craig Anderson – Farming and Global Energy Crash
Craig Anderson explains and demonstrates how energy return on investment is on the verge of collapse.  As he points out farmers instinctively connected to their landscape function will have a far greater impact on energy and resource use than digital agriculture because big data will require too much energy to be viable.  Instead, primary industry should be asking how do farmers create a low energy operation inside farm gates?

 

August 2021

#32 Bill Quinn – Spring Nutrition
Waikato consultant Bill Quinn draws on over 35 years of gathering information, experiences, and connections in biological farming to explain what is happening with spring nutrition.

 

August 2021

#31 Steve Campbell – Toxicity and Epigenetics
Noth American cattleman Steve Campbell shares his experiences and observations of dealing with farmers in North America with herd health problems and using minerals to improve livestock performance.  An example of cadmium toxicity is interesting.  There is also a book Factors Affecting Calf Crop, drop me a line if you would like that sent to you.  Furthermore, Dominion Salt washes its sea salt but you can buy bitterns. 

 

July 2021

#30 Matt Jones and Allan Gorton – Sheep Milking:
Matt Jones and Allan Gorton relate their experiences sheep milking.  Emphasis with Matt is the development of his family business which will start including additional suppliers.  Allan focuses on the development of a large scale operation in Southland and covers many production issues.

 

April 2021

#29 Allen Williams – Genetics and Input Costs
Dr Allen Williams explains the role of genetics and its connection to regen livestock farming.  He also covers his journey from an academic geneticist to consultant using phenotype rather than EVBs to drive genetic gain which culminate with the more he used genetic tables, the higher input costs rose.

 

February 2021

#28 Mark Anderson – Bale Grazing in New Zealand

Clinton farmer Mark Anderson explains his journey into regen farming with his 700 cow dairy herd.  He is now the leading expert on bale grazing as an alternative to winter cropping.

 

February 2021

#27 Spiridoula Athanasiadou – Drenching without Anthelmintics

Dr Spiridoula Athanasiadou from Scotland explains the research being conducted in the UK and Europe looking at alternatives to conventional drenching inputs

 

February 2021

#26 Louisa Kiely – Soil Carbon Credits and Similar Schemes

Louisa Kiely from Carbon Farmers of Austria explaining soil carbon and other environmentally related trading schemes that farmers could potentially profit from as a result of selling environmental services

 

December 2020

#25 Stuart Austin – Stock Density
Stuart Austin from Wilmont Cattle Company, Armidale NSW, explains his take on the value of stock density and how he uses it to improve livestock performance and landscape function.  The sound quality is patchy in places.

 

November 2020

#24 Wayme Douglas – Mobile Abattoirs
Farmer Wayne Douglas explains his journey into developing MPIs mobile abattoir policy, what it could mean for small producers wanting to supply local market

 

November 2020

#23 Barry Ridler – Diminishing Returns
Production economist Barry Ridler explains how his computer modelling programme pulls together relationships between input costs, profitability, diminishing returns and their environmental impact

 

October 2020

#22 Ian Mitchell-Innes – Livestock Performance
South African grazing expert Ian Mitchell-Innes summarises the ideas he introduced to New Zealand farmers on his 2019 tour of New Zealand.

 

September 2020

#21 Siobhan Griffin – Regenerative Grazing
Siobhan Griffin explains changes to grazing management and how it can benefit farmers.  Builds on the ideas of Ian Mitchell-Innes

 

September 2020

#20 Stan Winter and Herbage Testing

Southern soil scientist and consultant Stan Winter explains the pitfalls of herbage sampling and what to do to optimise the probability of a good pasture sample for analysis.

 

September 2020

#19 Peter Fraser – Coming Disruption
Guerrilla Economist Peter Fraser share ideas around possible disruption scenarios that could readily impact farming and the way of life for farmers.  He believes regenerative farming methods strengthen farmer's resilience and abilities to weather the coming disruption.

 

August 2020

#18 Greg Barclay link soil health to animal production 

Soil consultant Greg Barclay talks soil, pasture and animal health and nutrition with a RMPP group by webinar. 

 

August 2020

#17 Stephen Bell-Booth – Livestock Digestion
Stephen Bell-Booth explains recent research linking growth rates of calves to health benefits to adult cattle (dairy). Improving the digestion of foods early in an animal's life has long health implications meaning better production

 

August 2020

#16 Nicole Schon – Earthworms and Farm Production
AgResearch scientist Nicole Schon reveals studies highlighting the many benefits of earthworms to New Zealand farms.  As part of a team Nicole has been working to get more farmers transferring earthworms to improve pasture production.  The burrowing earthworms can increase pasture production by 20% and they are complimentary to dung beetles.

 

July 2020

#15 Katherine Tozer – Deferred Grazing
AgResearch pastoral scientist Katherine Tozer explains her research into deferred grazing and the many benefits for pasture production based on perennial ryegrass and white clover.  The conversation bridges experiences of farmers grazing multi-species pastures and the potential their experiences could have on ideas for research for pasture longevity.

 

May 2020

#14 Tim Wright – Managing Drought
Tim Wright from Armidale NSW is one of Australia's longest practising regenerative farmers and has had a number of research trials conducted on his property.  He talks drought, how he predicts it, what he does during it, and how he recovers afterwards

 

April 2020

#13 Rick Cameron – Grazing Observations
Milton farmer and on-farm researcher Rick Cameron talks about his experiences and observations in following the Ian Mitchell-Innes advice regarding grazing practice.  He compares what his pastures looked like two years ago to this summer and his new understanding of what overgrazing really is in his environment

 

April 2020

#12 Mark Gardner – Profit and Regenerative Farming
Australian farm consultant Mark Gardner highlights how important having a defined level of manageable profit helps drive regenerative outcomes, that stretching for maximum profit increases farm business risk and reduces the ability of farms to recover from a climatic or market hit.

 

April 2020

#11 Mike Porter  No-till is just the Start

South Canterbury cropping farmer Mike Porter explains his journey into no-till farming and his of regenerative farming methods for cropping his hilly property.

 

March 2020

#10 A conversation between regen farmers from opposite ends of the globe

UK farmers Tim May and Rob Harvard explain their farming operations, what their focus is and how they are using regenerative farming methods to improve production.  Also attending are southern organic farmers Shane Robertson and Allan Richardson.  The conversation is around what changes they are making to achieve good production while adapting to regen methods.

 

February 2020

#9 Dick Richardson – Grazing Naturally
Farm management and grazing advisor Dick Richardson specialises in grazing wild pastures and grasslands.  Here he presents his ideas on what Grazing Naturally is and how it differs from other forms of regenerative grazing techniques

 

January 2020

#8 Richard Teague – Adaptive Grazing Management 

Professor Richard Teague from Texas A&M University presents the latest research data showing how adaptive grazing management strengthens landscape function.

 

January 2020

#7 Allen Williams – Impacts of Regenerative Grazing
Dr Allen Williams from Understanding Ag presents examples of, and then discusses regenerative grazing with New Zealand farmers

 

December 2019

#6 Greg Judy – Building Feed
Greg Judy from Green Pastures Farms, Missouri, USA explains his grazing system and takes questions about grazing management, especially how to get started building feed, what to do when its gets dry, free choice minerals, and others...

 

October 2019

#5 Jim Gerrish – Year Round Grazing
Jim Gerrish explains year round grazing for New Zealand farmers to question what they do at home.  Jim draws on 40 years of consultancy and research to explain what is good about NZ grazing techniques and what are limitations of such techniques on international stage.

 

September 2019

#4 Wahl Family – Oregon Farming
Wahl family cover sheep production techniques and issues associated with their cool and windswept property on the coast of southern Oregon. 

 

August 2019

#3 Dave Scott – Taller Sheep Pasture
Montana extension and pasture scientist Dave Scott sharing his observations and experience shifting to taller pasture with his small farm. Includes gross margin calculations, liveweight gain, and internal parasite control suggestions.

 

June 2019

#2 Gabe Brown – Observing Landscape Function
American farmer Gabe Brown sharing with New Zealand farmers how to observe landscapes and their function to improve farm production.

 

May 2019

#1 Charles Massy – Farmer Observation

Australian farmer and author Charlie Massy (Call of the Reed Warbler and Breaking the Sheep’s Back) sharing observations on farmers shifting to regenerative agriculture and how it impacts their businesses and outlook.