Humans of Agriculture

“For New Zealand to remain relevant on a global ag stage…” with Jack Ternouth

In this episode of Humans of Agriculture, we sit down with Jack Ternouth, Head of Commercial Operations at Zentera (formerly New Zealand Merino Company), for a conversation that captures what’s possible when curiosity, grit, and opportunity collide in agriculture.Jack didn’t grow up on a farm, but through sheer determination and a willingness to learn, he’s built a career from the ground up in one of the most complex and globally connected parts of the ag industry. From classing wool and working alongside growers to now leading commercial conversations with global brands, his journey is a powerful example of what’s possible in ag today.On this episode, we explore what it takes to build a career in agriculture without a traditional background, the critical role of mentorship, and why value creation - not scale - is the future for countries like Australia and New Zealand. Jack also shares how Zentera is helping create more certainty for growers in a volatile market through traceability, long-term contracts, and global brand partnerships.This episode is about ambition, learning on the go, and the next generation shaping agriculture’s future.Key insights from the conversation:Jack Ternouth’s journey from outsider to commercial leader in the wool industryWhy curiosity, hunger, and alignment matter more than backgroundThe power of mentorship in accelerating a career in agricultureHow Zentera is creating stability for growers in volatile marketsWhy storytelling still matters in a data-driven worldThe shift from commodity to value-added agricultureThe importance of traceability, certification, and global consumer trustOpportunities for young people to build careers in ag without farming rootsChapters:00:00 Intro & Why This Conversation Matters01:48 Jack’s Background: From Zimbabwe to New Zealand04:10 Starting at NZ Merino & Learning the Wool Industry06:30 Moving Into Commercial & Global Brand Relationships08:05 Advice for Young People Entering Agriculture09:40 Learning the Industry Without a Farming Background11:30 Storytelling vs Data in Modern Agriculture12:45 Zentera’s Growth & Global Strategy14:40 Certifications, Traceability & Market Access16:20 Supporting Growers & Moving Away from Mulesing18:10 Volatility, Contracts & Creating Certainty20:15 The Future of Wool & Global Demand22:10 Long-Term Vision for the Industry24:10 Opportunities for the Next Generation in Ag25:45 Wrap Up Atlas Grazing:This episode is brought to you by Atlas Grazing.If you run livestock, you know the results come from countless small decisions madein the paddock. Season after season. Experience and instinct guide those calls, andnothing replaces that.There's a new tool called Atlas Grazing worth taking a look at. Developed from morethan a decade of working alongside graziers and supporting real farm businesses, itbrings your livestock records, paddocks and rainfall together in one place.The right tools don't replace what you already know. They give you the clarity to actsooner, with more confidence. See what's happening across your operation at aglance, adapt as conditions change, and keep work moving wherever the day takesyou.Atlas Grazing. Clear records. Confident livestock decisions.Start your free 30-day trial at AtlasAg.com/grazing

“If we don’t fight for wool, we’ll become a cottage industry” with Zentera CEO Angus Street

(Image: Supplied)In this episode of Humans of Agriculture, Oli and Mick Corcoran sit down with Angus Street, CEO of Zentera (formerly New Zealand Merino), for a full-circle conversation on leadership, legacy, and the future of wool.From growing up on a farm in northern NSW to navigating job loss during the GFC, launching startups in China, and leading major ag businesses, Angus shares an honest reflection on a career shaped by curiosity, risk, and relationships.Now at the helm of Zentera, Angus unpacks the company’s evolution from a grower-led wool collective into a global, purpose-driven brand focused on traceability, sustainability, and premium markets. He explains why the wool industry must fight for relevance in a synthetic-dominated world, and how consumer trends in Europe, China, and the US are creating new opportunities.The conversation dives deep into leadership, what it takes to step into an existing culture as CEO, why “discovery before diagnosis” matters, and the importance of putting people at the centre of transformation.This episode is equal parts strategy, storytelling, and self-reflection - grounded in agriculture but globally relevant.Key insights from the conversationAngus Street’s journey from journalism to global ag leadershipLessons from failure and starting businesses in ChinaThe evolution of New Zealand Merino into ZenteraWhat “whakapapa” means in a business contextHow wool is competing in a synthetic-dominated marketLeadership lessons: curiosity, culture, and managing changeWhy the future of wool depends on collaboration and storytellingChapters:00:00 Intro & Why This Conversation Matters02:10 Meet Angus Street03:50 Early Career, China & AuctionsPlus Journey08:00 From NZ Merino to Zenterra: The Rebrand11:30 What Zenterra Does & Global Brand Partnerships14:40 Moving to NZ & Leading an Existing Team18:05 First 90 Days as CEO: Curiosity Over Action21:00 Culture, Change & Leadership Lessons26:40 Global Wool Demand & Market Trends30:45 Premiums, Growers & Industry Challenges33:40 The Future of Wool: Niche or Opportunity?35:20 Dream Job, Family & Life on the Land38:40 Wrap Up Atlas Grazing:This episode is brought to you by Atlas Grazing.If you run livestock, you know the results come from countless small decisions madein the paddock. Season after season. Experience and instinct guide those calls, andnothing replaces that.There's a new tool called Atlas Grazing worth taking a look at. Developed from morethan a decade of working alongside graziers and supporting real farm businesses, itbrings your livestock records, paddocks and rainfall together in one place.The right tools don't replace what you already know. They give you the clarity to actsooner, with more confidence. See what's happening across your operation at aglance, adapt as conditions change, and keep work moving wherever the day takesyou.Atlas Grazing. Clear records. Confident livestock decisions.Start your free 30-day trial at AtlasAg.com/grazing

What Happens When You Put Nature First on a 20,000 Acre Cattle Property? with Carly Baker-Burnham

What happens when you put nature first in a cattle business?In this episode of Humans of Agriculture, Oli sits down with Carly Baker-Burnham from Bonnie Doone Beef in Queensland’s North Burnett. Together with her husband Grant, Carly has helped reshape their grazing operation by focusing on landscape health, intensive rotational grazing and long-term stewardship.That shift eventually led them to take part in one of Australia’s early soil carbon projects, resulting in one of the country’s largest issuances of Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs). But beyond the headlines, Carly shares what actually matters: improving soil, increasing biodiversity and building a business that works with nature.This conversation explores the realities behind soil carbon, the importance of measurement and scientific rigor, and why observation of the land remains one of a farmer’s most powerful tools.Key insights from the conversationWhy shifting to a nature-first approach transformed productivity and nearly tripled production on the same land baseThe practical changes behind their grazing system: more paddocks, rest for pastures and better dataInside one of Australia’s early soil carbon projects, including the measurement, audits and long timelines involvedWhy Carly welcomes scepticism around carbon claims and the importance of science-backed resultsThe role farmers can play in removing carbon from the atmosphere through healthy soilsWhy observation and connection to the land remain critical for better decision makingChapters:00:00 Introduction and life at Bonnie Doone 03:58 Family history and finding their path in agriculture 08:19 Succession, family business and hard decisions 13:22 Moving from reactive farming to strategic business thinking 16:13 Practical grazing changes and adopting a nature-first approach 21:26 Inside Bonnie Doone’s soil carbon project 29:02 Carbon claims, scepticism, and scientific rigour 33:08 Involving the next generation in environmental stewardship 35:05 Where farmers can start with soil carbon thinking 37:57 What Carly is most proud of today Atlas Grazing:This episode is brought to you by Atlas Grazing.If you run livestock, you know the results come from countless small decisions madein the paddock. Season after season. Experience and instinct guide those calls, andnothing replaces that.There's a new tool called Atlas Grazing worth taking a look at. Developed from morethan a decade of working alongside graziers and supporting real farm businesses, itbrings your livestock records, paddocks and rainfall together in one place.The right tools don't replace what you already know. They give you the clarity to actsooner, with more confidence. See what's happening across your operation at aglance, adapt as conditions change, and keep work moving wherever the day takesyou.Atlas Grazing. Clear records. Confident livestock decisions.Start your free 30-day trial at AtlasAg.com/grazing

National Resilience Expert: What Australia's Fuel Challenge Actually Means and where to next?

As fuel pressure builds across parts of regional Australia, we wanted to step into the conversation in a way that is clear, factual and useful. Not to add to panic, but to help our audience understand what is actually happening, what it means for agriculture, and what bigger questions this moment is exposing around resilience, preparedness and national priorities.And when it comes to conversations like this, Andrew Henderson is one of our go-to voices.Andrew is the founder and principal of AgSecure and has built his career working across biosecurity, national resilience and the vulnerabilities that sit inside the systems agriculture depends on. He brings a rare combination of strategic insight, practical understanding and calm analysis, which is exactly what a topic like this needs.In this episode, Andrew helps unpack the current fuel challenge facing Australian agriculture and Australia more broadly. He explains how the fuel system works, why regional areas are feeling the pressure first, what the Liquid Fuel Emergency Act means, and why this is about much more than a temporary supply scare.This is a conversation about fuel, but it is also a conversation about resilience, leadership and the reality of operating in a world that is becoming less stable, less predictable and more exposed to disruption.In this episode, we cover:Why the fuel challenge matters to Australian agriculture right nowWhy Andrew Henderson was the right person to help unpack itHow Australia’s fuel system actually worksWhy regional Australia feels these pressures firstWhat the Liquid Fuel Emergency Act means in practiceWhy this moment is exposing bigger resilience gaps in the systemWhat farmers and agricultural businesses should be thinking about next Atlas Grazing:This episode is brought to you by Atlas Grazing.If you run livestock, you know the results come from countless small decisions madein the paddock. Season after season. Experience and instinct guide those calls, andnothing replaces that.There's a new tool called Atlas Grazing worth taking a look at. Developed from morethan a decade of working alongside graziers and supporting real farm businesses, itbrings your livestock records, paddocks and rainfall together in one place.The right tools don't replace what you already know. They give you the clarity to actsooner, with more confidence. See what's happening across your operation at aglance, adapt as conditions change, and keep work moving wherever the day takesyou.Atlas Grazing. Clear records. Confident livestock decisions.Start your free 30-day trial at AtlasAg.com/grazing

Meet the 2026 Zanda McDonald Award Winners Bryce Neyland (AU) and Karn Dhaliwal (NZ)

A short sharp and quick chat with the 2026 Zanda McDonald Award Winners.2026 Winners:Karn Dhaliwal (NZ): Founder and owner of Ohinewai Harvest Ltd and Dhaliwal Ag Ltd in Waikato, recognised for his entrepreneurial approach to horticulture.Bryce Neyland (AU): A civil engineer for Select Harvests in New South Wales, focused on large-scale, transformative rural developments and almond orchard infrastructure.Bryce Neyland, 35, from Gol Gol in New South Wales, is a civil engineer for Select Harvests, leading projects across their almond orchards and processing facility. Combining a farming background with strong engineering and project management expertise, he manages large scale, transformative rural developments.Karn Dhaliwal, 32, from Te Hoe in Waikato, is the founder and owner of Ohinewai Harvest Ltd and Dhaliwal Ag Ltd. He has built a diverse horticultural and cropping business and is recognised for his entrepreneurial approach to growing, leadership within the vegetable industry and commitment to creating opportunities for the next generation in horticulture.Zanda McDonald Award Chairman Shane McManaway said both winners demonstrated outstanding leadership and a strong vision for the future of the primary industries. Atlas Grazing:This episode is brought to you by Atlas Grazing.If you run livestock, you know the results come from countless small decisions madein the paddock. Season after season. Experience and instinct guide those calls, andnothing replaces that.There's a new tool called Atlas Grazing worth taking a look at. Developed from morethan a decade of working alongside graziers and supporting real farm businesses, itbrings your livestock records, paddocks and rainfall together in one place.The right tools don't replace what you already know. They give you the clarity to actsooner, with more confidence. See what's happening across your operation at aglance, adapt as conditions change, and keep work moving wherever the day takesyou.Atlas Grazing. Clear records. Confident livestock decisions.Start your free 30-day trial at AtlasAg.com/grazing