The Quorum Sense Podcast

In this episode Jono speaks with keen 24-year-old kiwifruit orchard manager Levi Belcher about how he got started in the industry, and why he was attracted to soil health and regenerative practices.

Levi talks about how having a "get stuck in" attitude has made a big difference in his career.

If you are a Kiwifruit grower interested in regen practices and / or organics, or looking to get started in the industry, you will want to sit down for this one!

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Disclaimer:The information, opinions and ideas presented in this content is for information purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Any reliance on the content provided is done at your own risk(click here to view full disclaimer on the Quorum Sense website).

2023 Quorum Sense

In this discussion, Jono sits down with dairy farmer and Quorum Sense board member Willie White to hear about his journey into organic regen dairy farming.

From humble beginnings on the family farm as a child - and watching his parents convert a part of the farm to dairy - Willie has always had a strong connection with the land. After a career in rural banking, Willie came home to take on the family dairy farm.

Attending a local field day where a dairy farmer was showcasing his diverse pastures, which allowed him to not need to use synthetic nitrogen fertilisers, Willie had a penny-drop moment. And he set about converting to organic supply.

Looking back, Willie says he's thrilled with the outcomes of that choice, and what it's done to his farm's health and resilience, and to the bottom line.

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Disclaimer:The information, opinions and ideas presented in this content is for information purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Any reliance on the content provided is done at your own risk(click here to view full disclaimer on the Quorum Sense website).

2023 Quorum Sense

In this special episode of the Quorum Sense podcast, Jono interviews Professor Jack Heinemann from the University of Canterbury on the topic of GE and GMO in New Zealand.

Professor Heinemann's experience in this field, along with a long list of credentials, make him one of the leading voices in the country. And this conversation uncovers issues and insights into GE and GMO that many may not be aware of.

Tune in as we dive into a very informative conversation on the risks of the proposed GE / GMO regulation changes in New Zealand.

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Disclaimer:The information, opinions and ideas presented in this content is for information purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Any reliance on the content provided is done at your own risk(click here to view full disclaimer on the Quorum Sense website).

2023 Quorum Sense

In this episode Jono catches up with Carrie and Tom Andrews from Wholly Cow Butchery in Cambridge.

Carrie and Tom are passionate about supporting their local community and creating opportunities from listening to their customers needs.

From caring for the animals, to slaughter, to butchery and even turning what would normally be waste products into soil building compost - Carrie and Tom are responsible for the whole lot.

Carrie and Tom are keeping traditional skills alive as modern technology is doing more and more of our tasks, and vital skills are at risk of being forgotten.

Listen to how this family has created a fully open and transparent system that promotes connection, responsibility, quality and resilience in their farm and butchery business.

Click this link to check out the Wholly Cow Butchery website.

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Disclaimer:The information, opinions and ideas presented in this content is for information purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Any reliance on the content provided is done at your own risk(click here to view full disclaimer on the Quorum Sense website).

2023 Quorum Sense

In this episode we have an in-depth and very personal conversation with Zeb Horrell.

Zeb is a third generation sheep and beef farmer from northern Southland, and Zeb's contributions span much wider than the family farm.

Zeb shares his experience with enterprises, Future Whenua, Polyculture Paddock and Burning Horse festival, and a recent move from his family farm - Motana Flat - to Mangaroa Farms in the lower North Island.

Zeb covers complex topics with grace and ease. From selling farm produce direct to the community and views on regulations, to agroforestry and silvopasture. And from the environmental trading scheme (ETS) to being responsible for your information diet.

Zeb's passion for the industry and what he does is vivid and unmistakable. Try listening to this one and not being inspired by, and excited for, what's possible in our farming communities!

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2023 Quorum Sense

Charlotte and Russell Heald are passionate dairy farmers "living their dream life" in Norsewood, Manawatū.

Earlier this year they won the OrganicNZ award for Regenerative Organic Farmer of the Year.

Russell and Charlotte share their journey from conventional share milking to dairy farm ownership. And how a personal health focus began their on farm transition to regenerative and then organic certification, where they receive a premium for their milk.

They wanted to create a low stress farm environment with a focus on profit and abundance of life, and they share how they have done just that.

Charlotte and Russell are very open in this conversation, sharing challenges and successes they have found on the way.

Tune in as we discuss a range of topics from diverse pastures to agri tourism to energy and frequencies in this fascinating conversation with the Healds.

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2023 Quorum Sense

In this episode Stephen Newman shares his journey from the IT industry, to dairy farming in his thirties, to later discover regenerative agriculture and the power of farm discussion groups.

Stephen had no farming background when he started dairy farming and relied heavily on advice from consultants. And he saw synthetic nitrogen as a vital element of his farming business.

After watching a Country Calendar episode, Stephen was introduced to a whole new world of farming. That was the catalyst for change.

Today, Stephen and his wife farm in Kaukapakapa and have been trialing regen practices for five years, including some trials in Kiwifruit orchards he's involved with. Stephen also discusses how beneficial it has been starting a local discussion group with support from Quorum Sense.

He started the Kaipara Regenerative Farming Group and is now getting the first discussion group off the ground for kiwifruit growers curious about regenerative practices.

Tune in to hear this inspiring story of learning and discovery.

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Disclaimer:The information, opinions and ideas presented in this content is for information purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Any reliance on the content provided is done at your own risk(click here to view full disclaimer on the Quorum Sense website).

2023 Quorum Sense

In this episode of the Quorum Sense podcast, Jono has a fascinating discussion with David Musgrave about pastoral farming and science in New Zealand

David is a multi-generational farmer who's family started farming at Waihi Bush Farm in the 1800s, and its where David farmed until recently. As well as farming, he has a vast career in science and research exploring what makes our pastures here productive and profitable.

We discuss New Zealand's first urea manufacturing plant and how it shaped our pastoral systems and research, and how our attachment to ryegrass and white clover pastures are limiting us in many ways.

David shares his knowledge on what species of pasture work really well and what resilience and susceptibility to common problems like grass grub and nutrient deficiency look like.

If your interested in thriving pastoral systems, you are going to want to get your note pad out for this one!

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Disclaimer:The information, opinions and ideas presented in this content is for information purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Any reliance on the content provided is done at your own risk(click here to view full disclaimer on the Quorum Sense website).

2023 Quorum Sense

In this podcast, recorded especially for our Wintering Innovations Series, Deane Parker, Duncan Humm and Jono Frew discuss their wintering journeys.

Deane talks about going from relying on unreliable winter crops to a full bale grazing system on his mid Canterbury dairy farm.

Duncan shares his journey from heavy pugging on his mid Canterbury deer farm, which included wintering cows from nearby dairy farms. And to lifting stag numbers, introducing diverse species winter crops and silage, and treating his soil totally differently.

Jono adds his first season's learnings from managing a large beef and winter dairy grazing farm in the Waitaki, which involves making their own hay and silage and adapting to the conditions.

This is a lively early-morning discussion between three passionate practitioners who have evolving views on how to look after their animals and their soil.

For find out more about our Wintering Innovations Series and sign up to receive content, click this link to visit the webpage.

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Disclaimer:The information, opinions and ideas presented in this content is for information purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Any reliance on the content provided is done at your own risk(click here to view full disclaimer on the Quorum Sense website).

2023 Quorum Sense

In this fascinating episode of the Quorum Sense podcast, Jono sits down in the studio with Dylan Graves from Tuatapere for an in depth talk about some of the powerful uses and functions of Biochar.

After years of journeying around the world teaching, Dylan felt there was something missing in his life.

Then he discovered Permaculture and the wonders of soil which then lead onto discovering the amazing results of using Biochar.

Dylan is a great teacher and does a fantastic job of demonstrating not only the benefits and risks of Biochar, but also goes into great detail of some of the ways literally anyone can make Biochar on any scale.

https://www.sces.org.nz/biochar

https://passionatepermies.wordpress.com/workshops/

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Disclaimer:The information, opinions and ideas presented in this content is for information purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Any reliance on the content provided is done at your own risk(click here to view full disclaimer on the Quorum Sense website).

2023 Quorum Sense

This month, we ride the airwaves to the UK to hear from Claire McKenzie, the producer and filmmaker behind Six Inches of Soil - a grassroots UK documentary which Quorum Sense is bringing to New Zealand next month. 

Jono has a fascinating conversation with Claire about the film, the young aspiring farmers it follows, and how its captivating non-farming audiences. We also explore how the regenerative agriculture conversation is unfolding in the UK and what the future looks like for family farms. 

Having caught up with Claire, we couldn’t be more excited to bring Six Inches of Soil to big screens here in NZ and to shine a light on soil and regenerative farming. 

This is a film for everyone, whether you’re into regenerative farming or not; it’s captivating and full of positive solutions. We encourage you to get along to a screening near you, and enjoy a night out at the flicks.

Visit the Quorum Sense website to find a screening near you and book tickets.

And click here to visit the Six Inches of Soil website.

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2023 Quorum Sense

Beef farmer and Quorum Sense Team member Nick Tucker has swapped his urban luxuries for an off-grid cabin on 160 acres amid the backroads of Northland.

From the family dairy farm as a young boy, to ruminant nutrition research, being the PR bridge between marketers and farmers, and working for intensive ag companies, Nick pivoted to more 'meaningful work' in 2019 – and with that, a complete mindset shift.

Nick is vulnerable in sharing that he doesn’t have farming all figured out. Yet inspires us to lean into that experience, and view patience and observation as our best resources to find those windows of opportunity.

Enjoy the episode.

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Disclaimer:The information, opinions and ideas presented in this content is for information purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Any reliance on the content provided is done at your own risk(click here to view full disclaimer on the Quorum Sense website).

2023 Quorum Sense

Farming for Good (NB webpage not live yet) is a research collection that explores our sense of connection with farming in Aotearoa New Zealand. It’s about supporting everyday people and leaders across our communities, farming sector and government, to build trust in our food and farming system. 

In this is podcast, we’ll be talking specifically to a research project led by Peter Edwards (Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research) focussing on social license and perceptions of the ‘good farmer’. The researchers asked urban and farming New Zealanders about their perceptions of 21 different farming practices – with some surprising results.

Also on the podcast is Daniel Eb, founder of New Zealand’s national open farm day - Open Farms – to share some stories about connection and perception change from the 100+ open farms events / 10,000 visits the project has supported.

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Disclaimer:The information, opinions and ideas presented in this content is for information purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Any reliance on the content provided is done at your own risk(click here to view full disclaimer on the Quorum Sense website).

2023 Quorum Sense

National food awards, 10t/ha increases of soil carbon and nitrate levels now undetectable. These are results that’ll open your mind to what Coromandel drystock farmer Ewan Campbell has to say about his discoveries.

National food awards, 10t/ha increases of soil carbon and nitrate levels now undetectable. These are results that’ll open your mind to what Northland drystock farmer Ewan Campbell has to say about his discoveries.

Ewan’s journey started with helping his dad turn a peat swamp into a farm. Right across the railway from top-in-the-country dairy land that he wished he had.

Moving to a drystock farm in Waihi with little in his pockets, Ewan started trialing alternatives. This included the un-tapped power of electromagnetism through the soil. This is definitely an episode that will charge your brain cells!

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Disclaimer:The information, opinions and ideas presented in this content is for information purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Any reliance on the content provided is done at your own risk(click here to view full disclaimer on the Quorum Sense website).

2023 Quorum Sense

Growing up in California, Phyllis Tichinin witnessed the abundance of local fruit orchards and their deep, rich soils begin to be concreted into what is now Silicon Valley.

After meeting her Kiwi husband, Phyllis now resides in Hawke’s Bay and is well-known as an eco-nutritionist with a passion for regenerative farming practices that produce nutrient dense food.

“If we get agriculture right, we get everything else right”.

This is a conversation that you’ll find you can’t draw yourself away from as Phyllis stoutly highlights the links and parallels between human health and the health of our food systems.

Enjoy the episode.

“I am optimistic and I am humbled by what many farmers are willing to take on [despite] social pushback from neighbours and family…

“…the risk that’s involved when you’re not doing the normal thing…so you can’t blame the weather or make excuses…and you become more responsible for your own results.”

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2023 Quorum Sense

Infatuated by seeds turning into food as a young boy in his Poppa’s veggie garden, Brad Rudd has always had a desire to grow things. Despite growing up in the outskirts of Auckland.

At first a senior shepherd on a ‘conventional’ farm in Hawke’s Bay, Brad then threw his hat over the wall and took on the role of manager of Motatapu Station – working for Nadia Lim’s Royalburn Station – in Central Otago.

Brad’s experience and unique perspective has him understand and yet question the status quo. Breeding livestock resilience is his thing, and there’s nothing else he’d rather be doing!

Enjoy the episode.

“And I think either way I’m going to really get the value of that variety for the animals. So I’ll use the kale paddocks as the dry matter, the gut fill paddocks, and I’ll probably take them on and off the regen paddocks to almost like give them their vitamins, so to speak.”

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2023 Quorum Sense

Australian farmer, podcaster and all-round regenerative advocate Charlie Arnott talks landscape healing, nutritionally dense food and the complexity and stresses of farm management.

Whilst Charlie is grateful for the reference point his science background provided, it wasn’t helping integrate his personal values into farming. Not just bringing biodiversity and resilience to a sometimes challenging environment, but also engaging with people, having fun and being playful.

He sees himself as a ‘grower of food’, is committed to living an authentic life and values stopping doing things as much as doing something different. And it all starts with the ‘paddock between your ears’!

Enjoy the episode.

The first place to change is the paddock between your ears. Getting gung-ho and buying equipment or applying tools big or small in the landscape at first is probably not what I’d suggest to do.

Just to do the homework. Work out how adapting some different methods is going to fit with your budget, your resources, your temperament, your situation.

Step into it lightly…and just align these potential practices with your values, and make sure they do align, and with your resources is really important.

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2023 Quorum Sense

Cherryle Prew’s journey progressed from city office worker, to organic horticulture, to BioGro auditing. But her “aha!” moment and passion for soil biology was born at a talk by Elaine Ingham, founder of Soil Food Web worldwide.

Boots and all, Cherryle set up NZ’s only Soil Food Web lab 20 years ago.

From discussing compost teas, to the need for auditing and regulation being more educational and less ‘stick’, to commentary on past and present ways of growing food, this is a ‘grab a cup of tea, a biscuit, and tell a few stories’ kind of conversation.

Enjoy the episode!

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2023 Quorum Sense

Farming entrepreneurs Roger and Nickie Beattie have been forging a unique path within New Zealand’s agricultural landscape for many years. From farming wild sheep to developing branded products, they’ve leveraged regenerative principles to create a business ecosystem that’s complex, yet also simple.

It’s a great conversation that touches on many aspects of the work they’ve done to establish their current businesses. Full of interesting insights and genuinely innovative approaches to farming, there’s no doubting the passion they both have for what they do.

Enjoy the episode!

Regenerative advocate, educator and coach Nicole Masters talks about the unique opportunity facing New Zealand farmers looking to introduce regenerative farming practices. The discussion ranges widely, from the value of open sharing, tackling soil compaction, and the benefits of working with nature, not against it.

Nicole has been exploring the benefits of 'nature-aligned' ways of growing crops and raising livestock since well before the term regenerative agriculture existed. With a background in the sciences and having coached numerous farmers in NZ and overseas in regenerative farming practices, she offers valuable perspective from the leading edge of regenerative thinking.

Enjoy the episode!

Conversation timeline:

00:00:58 - Comparing NZ soil environment with the US

00:04:30 - Getting excited about soils and plant biology

00:07:36 - The value of a questioning mindset

00:11:11 - The cost of not working with nature

00:14:42 - Consequences of current thinking

00:17:54 - Find those breaking the rules

00:21:15 - Compaction as an example finding different solutions

00:26:40 - Identify compaction and infiltration tests

00:29:38 - Authoring ‘For the love of the soil’

00:35:47 - The prospect of farming with fewer inputs

00:41:19 - Reversing the 'buy more land' trend

00:43:10 - Impact of chemical contamination

00:51:03 - Superphosphate impact on zinc levels

00:52:44 - The 'coach the coaches' school

00:56:13 - Learning from indigenous peoples

01:00:28 - Advice for those starting their regen journey

South Otago dairy farmer Mark Anderson talks about his passion for the environment and the experiences – in New Zealand and overseas – that led him to begin exploring regenerative farming practices four years ago. These include seeing the impact of farming on the rivers that border his family's farm, recognising the unsustainability of Southland winter cropping practices, and hearing about changes in the oceans impacting his father-in-law's commercial fishing operations.

Mark also touches on the link between soil health, food quality and human health, with challenges to his own health adding to the drive to produce healthier food from healthier natural systems. With detail of the positive benefits on soil function, how Mark is monitoring progress, and the power of being supported by like-minded farmers, it's a conversation that covers a lot of ground.

Enjoy the episode!

Conversation timeline:

00:00:41 - Introducing Mark Anderson

00:01:55 - Catalysts for the change to regen

00:04:43 - Burn-out in the dairy industry

00:07:10 - Changes to our oceans and rivers

00:11:18 - Nature-based solutions

00:14:27 - Farm history, setup and overview

00:20:14 - Learning regen

00:23:48 - The power of a supportive community

00:25:50 - Working with nature not against it

00:28:57 - Farming as an art form, not just science

00:31:59 - Catching the emergent wave

00:35:25 - Being in the black to be green

00:37:05 - Measuring progress with soil fungi

00:42:09 - Rebuilding the natural cycles

00:49:52 - A new definition of success

00:54:52 - Starting the regen journey

Passionate about regenerative farming and already seeing results after just one year, young livestock farmer Jake Herron discusses the journey that led to farming a 160ha lease block in central Otago. He explores how his early farming experiences led him to step away from conventional agriculture, the lessons learned along the way, and the opportunities that exist for those who are bold enough to ask.

It's an open and frank conversation that also touches on the need to ignore what others think, the challenges facing young people wanting to farm in their own right, and the importance of believing in what's possible.

Enjoy the episode!

Conversation timeline:

00:00:44 - Introducing Jake

00:02:01 - Background and life journey

00:06:40 - Emergence of a regen mindset

00:09:53 - Starting out in central Otago

00:12:04 - Discovering the term ‘regenerative agriculture’

00:15:01 - Using regen to find a first lease block

00:20:15 - Early lessons and emerging plans

00:25:07 - Operating from the here and now

00:32:14 - Opportunities to build resilience

00:36:03 - Grazing management in a harsh climate

00:43:51 - The experience of the transition

00:50:16 - Bright ideas, limitations and asking for help

00:56:13 - Ignoring what other people think

00:58:50 - Trusting in what grows, and what doesn’t

01:00:13 - Having compassion towards yourself

01:03:30 - Observing results just one year in

01:08:50 - Advice for someone starting their regen journey

01:09:55 - We’re not separate from the landscape

Podcast hosts and Quorum Sense founding members Jono Frew and Duncan Humm are joined by organic farmer Tim Chamberlain to chat about the genesis of the Quorum Sense network. How it all began, where it started, and how it’s evolved to become the network it is today, supporting farmers exploring regenerative farming principles across New Zealand.

As the conversation unfolds, Jono and Duncan also share aspects of their own personal journeys into the regenerative agriculture space, including the things that inspired them to get involved and what keeps them actively engaged in the network on a daily basis. Enjoy the episode!

In this episode, Canterbury cropping farmer Mike Porter talks about how his early experiences with soil erosion on the family farm led to the adoption of alternative approaches to arable production. From early no-till experiments to the discovery of the role plant roots play in regenerating soil structure and health, and the integration of livestock into a truly diverse farming system.

Over several decades, he’s turned a steep rolling block many wouldn’t consider cropping into a high performing dry-land farm that stands as testament to Mike’s innovative approach and constant desire to improve the way he farms. Enjoy the episode!

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