Ep 25 - Melinda Turner: Bridging the Gap Between Soil & Animal Health

How much is the quality of your farm’s drinking water affecting animal health, growth rates and profitability? In this episode of From the Soil Up, I’m joined by Dr Lucy Waldron to explore the often-overlooked link between water quality, animal nutrition and farm performance. Water is one of the most important inputs in any farming system, yet its quality can easily be taken for granted. Research shows that contaminated water and reduced water intake can have significant impacts on animal performance, with potential consequences for farm productivity and economics. We discuss what happens when livestock drink dirty or contaminated water, how pathogens and nitrates can affect animal health, and the environmental factors that influence water quality throughout the year. Lucy also shares practical insights into water sanitation, disinfection and the steps farmers can take to improve their farm’s water management. We also explore the connection between water quality, soil microbiology and nutrient cycling, and how farmers can make better-informed decisions about the inputs and management practices that underpin a productive, resilient farm system. In this episode, we cover:

What do farmers need to know about soil biology, natural capital and building more profitable, resilient farming systems? In this episode of From the Soil Up, Conan sits down with Cameron Campbell to explore biological farming, soil fertility and the practical decisions that can improve long-term farm performance. Cameron shares his journey into biological farming and explains how soil biology, plant health and photosynthesis influence fertility and productivity. We discuss the relationship between soil microbes and nutrient cycling, the role of trace minerals and soil amendments, and how farmers can better understand plant requirements through herbage testing. The conversation also explores natural capital as a long-term farm investment. From grazing management and farm subdivision to succession planning and hill country legume establishment, Cameron shares practical insights into building productive, resilient farming systems. We challenge conventional thinking around synthetic fertilisers, discuss the importance of balancing biological activity with strategic nutrient applications, and explore why investing in soil health can deliver benefits beyond immediate production, including long-term farm value and profitability. This episode is about looking beyond short-term fixes and understanding the fundamental processes that drive farm performance. In this episode, we cover:

What do farmers and leaders need to understand about managing a multicultural workforce? In this episode of From the Soil Up, Conan chats to Kate Tomlinson explore the changing face of New Zealand’s dairy industry and what it takes to build high-performing, multicultural farm teams.

What can 50 years of experience in soil fertility, fertiliser and water quality teach us about the future of New Zealand farming? In this episode of From the Soil Up, Conan Moynihan talks with Bert Quin about soil fertility, water quality, phosphorus, nitrogen and the evolution of sustainable farming in New Zealand. With more than 50 years working in soil and fertiliser science, Bert offers a unique perspective on how our understanding of soil health, plant nutrition and water quality has changed — and what we may have got wrong along the way. We explore the history of water quality issues in New Zealand, the role of phosphorus in our soils, changes in fertiliser manufacturing, and the potential for smarter management of water-soluble nutrients to reduce environmental losses while maintaining farm productivity. Bert also introduces the Regenza concept and shares his thinking on what future farming systems could look like when soil health, water quality, farm resilience and economic performance are considered as part of the same system. This is a wide-ranging conversation about the science, history and future of New Zealand agriculture, and what farmers, industry and consumers might need to think differently about as we look towards the next decade. In this episode:

What do farmers really need to understand about animal nutrition? We often talk about protein, energy, fibre, minerals and feed quality as individual pieces of the puzzle. But according to animal nutritionist Dr Lucy Waldron, nutrition is much more about the relationships and ratios between them. In this episode of the From The Soil Up Podcast, Lucy draws on more than 30 years of experience in animal nutrition to unpack what ruminants actually need to thrive and where farmers can sometimes get nutrition wrong. We explore the fascinating world inside the rumen, why fibre and the rumen microbiome are so important, how cows turn pasture into energy, and what happens when diets become too high in protein. We also dig into the connections between nutrition, animal health, methane emissions, nitrate losses and farm productivity. Lucy shares practical insights for farmers operating pasture-based systems, including the importance of observing animals, monitoring body condition, understanding feed quality, and using better feed-testing tools to make informed decisions. In this episode, we cover: