Conan Moynihan - Agribusiness Coach

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Conan Moynihan - Agribusiness Coach Farm Consultant based in Canterbury New Zealand

22/10/2026

I’m interested in soil health, but not as an end in itself.

I’m interested in what better soil function can mean for pasture growth, nutrient cycling, water movement, input dependency and ultimately farm profitability.

It’s easy to get caught up in the biology, chase better soil test results or assume that improving one indicator will automatically improve the whole system.

But farming is a system. Soil, plants, animals, management and business performance are all connected.

We need to understand what’s limiting performance on each farm, make changes based on evidence, and measure whether those changes are actually delivering better outcomes.

The goal isn’t just healthier soil.

It’s a better-performing farm business.

21/10/2026

Next Tuesday we’re running a webinar on our Groundwork Groups and what they involve.

These groups are our approach to group advisory and peer to peer learning for farmers.

We’re pretty excited about these and think they will be a lot of fun to facilitate and also be apart of.

If you’re keen to know more, jump on over to the Groundshift website to sign up.

20/10/2026

Anyone used tried milk and molasses to speed up the process following lugging a paddock in Winter/ early spring?

Keen to hear if it worked or not. It’s something I’ve heard about but yet to find someone who has actually utilised it

19/10/2026

Before I even dig a hole, I’m observing.

When I walk onto a dairy farm, there are two things I like to look at first.

🌱 1. What’s growing in the pasture?

Which weeds and other pasture species are present? What might they be telling me about soil structure, drainage, fertility or potential mineral imbalances?

💩 2. What does the cow s**t look like?

It can tell us a lot about feed quality, digestion and how well the cows are utilising what they’re eating.

Individually, these observations give us clues. But when you start putting them together, you can build an initial picture of how the farm system is functioning.

Does the feed need adjusting? Is the fertiliser programme delivering what’s needed? Or are there deeper soil constraints that require further investigation?

These observations don’t give you all the answers, but they help you ask better questions and decide where to look next.

Good farm assessment starts with observation, not intervention.

You don’t always need to dig a hole or send a sample to the lab to start understanding what’s happening on your farm. Sometimes, you just need to slow down, look a little closer and learn to read the signs.

18/10/2026

There are three sayings in the agricultural industry that I absolutely hate. Not because they’re necessarily catchy, but because I think they hold us back from improving.

1. “The cheapest grass comes from a bag of nitrogen.”

Does it, though? Get your grazing management and natural nutrient cycling right, and there’s potential to grow plenty of grass while spending significantly less on inputs. We need to stop looking at grass growth in isolation and start looking at the whole system.

2. “You can’t be green if you’re in the red.”

I fundamentally disagree with this one. I think it’s an easy narrative to sell because the benefits of inputs are visible and relatively easy to measure. But investing in soil health, natural capital and ecosystem function can build resilience and profitability over time. The benefits might not come out of a bag, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t real.

3. “We’re the best farmers in the world.”

Maybe we are world-class in many aspects of farm business and production. But that doesn’t mean we can’t do better. We operate in a relatively forgiving environment in many respects, and using our reputation as an excuse not to question our practices is a recipe for complacency. If we think we’ve already got it figured out, where does innovation come from?

My biggest frustration? These sayings can shut down conversations that we desperately need to have.

Agriculture needs more critical thinking, more curiosity and more willingness to challenge the status quo. Not because everything we’re doing is wrong, but because there’s always room to improve.

What are some sayings in the agricultural industry that really annoy you? 👇

16/10/2026

We’re stoked with our new vests from Wear On Earth. We want to support local Kiwi businesses and Kiwi farmers where we can and the quality of this kit is epic 👌

We also prefer natural fibre such as wool where we can so having the option for wool inner was a no brainer.

Check them out if your in the market for a new jacket or vest for the farm 🙌

16/10/2026

Your business can only grow as much as you do.

I think one of the most undervalued investments in farming is investing in yourself.

Getting off farm, building your network, learning new things and exposing yourself to different ways of thinking can be just as valuable as investing in infrastructure, machinery or stock.

Sometimes the best thing you can do for your farm is step away from it, challenge your own thinking and come back with a fresh perspective.

15/10/2026

I’m a firm believer that grazing management is one of the biggest drivers of profitability in a farm system.

You can have the best soil tests, get your mineral balance right, and invest in the best pasture cultivars. But if you’re not getting your grazing management right, you’ll struggle to maintain pasture production over the long term.

And that’s where the downward spiral begins.

Pastures start to thin out. Desirable species disappear. Production drops. You end up spending more on pasture renewal and supplementary feed just to maintain performance. All while becoming more reliant on expensive inputs.

The frustrating part? A lot of this is within our control.

If you’re struggling to maintain your pasture species, it’s worth looking closely at your grazing management before assuming you need to spend more money on fertiliser or regrassing.

In my view, we should be aiming to get at least 10 years out of our pasture cultivars, where conditions and species suitability allow.

How do we give ourselves the best chance of achieving that?

🌱 Support efficient photosynthesis through good plant nutrition and growing conditions.

🌱 Allow sufficient recovery between grazings so plants can rebuild their energy reserves and maintain root growth.

🌱 Manage livestock impact including grazing severity, residuals and soil damage to give plants the best chance of recovering.

🌱 Match grazing decisions to plant growth and conditions, rather than simply following the calendar.

Soil fertility matters. Minerals matter. Genetics matter. But they all need to work alongside good grazing management.

The goal isn’t just to grow more grass today. It’s to build a pasture system that keeps producing year after year, with less reliance on expensive inputs.

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Norsewood

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