Simon Quilty, leading independent meat and livestock analyst and broker of physical meat products worldwide, works with international companies and is founder of ‘Global Agritrends Downunder’. Fresh from his June 2024 MacKillop Farm Management hosted presentation at Padthaway Estate, Simon shares his global, domestic and regional observations on bo…

Molly Kalman, Elders Naracoorte Livestock Production Specialist and coordinator of Feed Testing for MFMG's Filling Feed Gaps Project, together with Jake Phillips, participant of the Filling Feed Gaps Project and Angus Australia Extension Officer discuss best practice hay and silage production and the importance of Feed Tests for optimum animal nutr…

Adam Hancock, Elders Naracoorte Agronomist and Manager of the Nitrogen Project, discusses nitrogen fertiliser decision making on durum wheat, both to maximise agronomic return and minimise environmental impact.By MacKillop Farm Management Group

Michael Nash an applied invertebrate ecologist together with Amanda Pearce, Senior Research Officer with the PIRSA South Australian Research and Development Institute discuss Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus, commonly referred to as BYDV. We examine how it impacts wheat yields in the high rainfall zone of the Limestone Coast.…

Discover how a weather station network can combat agricultural spray drift. Damon Grace co-founder of the COtL Mesonet discusses the information the Mesonet network provides and how it helps growers make spray decisions and the value of the network to the wider agricultural community. Find out more at COtl Mesonet…

Research agronomist James Manson discusses how to unlock higher yield potential in beans. Amanda Pearce, Senior Research Officer with the PIRSA South Australian Research and Development Institute, discusses the results from the MFMG bean seeding rates and variety trials conducted at Bool Lagoon. Yield response to plant density in faba beans: manage…

Today we’re turning the tables, putting the spotlight on our regular host Meg Bell. We’re going to find out what drives Meg’s interest in agriculture.By MacKillop Farm Management Group

Deb Scammell, livestock consultant at Talking Livestock discusses setting your stock strategies for Summer, providing tips on what to consider when developing a supplementary feeding strategy and how do we go about deciding who to keep and feed. Deb recommends using the NSW DPI Drought and Supplementary Feed Calculator for comparing feed costs and …

A wide ranging conversation with Tony Catt on how to work through generational transfer of farms. Why is succession more complex for agricultural businesses compared to other family businesses? How to approach these tricky discussions and the planning frameworks for succession planning. Who should be involved in the discussions and as farmers what …

True believers Anthony Uren and Steph Brooker-Jones discuss sheep and wool, the past, what's happening now and what's the future for sheep and wool. Listen as we unravel large scale sheep farming, wool growing and wool sales.By MacKillop Farm Management Group

Cropping is a critical part of Australia’s agricultural industry. Several key premium export markets have indicated or mandated requirements around minimising or eliminating glyphosate use in cropping systems. Hear from Dr Christopher Preston and Jason McClure on alternative practices to the use of glyphosate in crop production.…

Mark Inglis, Farm Assurance Manager at Thomas Foods International unravels meat processing and marketing, talking about what customers want. He discusses TFI’s vision for the future of lamb and beef processing and the global outlook for major markets.By MacKillop Farm Management Group

Farms are complex beasts – this means that decision making is also complex. What does it mean when we talk about a complex system? Why is it hard at this point in farming history? We make many decisions in farming. Join us as we chat with Danielle Lannin England about making the tough decisions in November 2023. Download the episode notes here. 202…

This episode is part two of our series discussing the Hyper Yielding Crops and Grain Legume Production projects, funded by GRDC. On this episode we discuss pulse trial results, as part of the Grain Legume Production project. This project is delivering the local development and extension to close the economic yield gap and maximise farming systems b…

Are you bogged mate founder, Mary O'Brien, is all about helping country blokes talk about mental health and suicide while spreading awareness about depression in the bush. Depression in the bush is a lot like getting bogged in the mud. If you’re feeling bogged or would like to know more go to areyouboggedmate.com.au. Other places you can go to get …

The GRDC Hyper Yielding Crops (HYC) project is pushing the economically attainable yield boundaries of wheat, barley and canola across five states. Reputed cereal research and extension agronomist, Nick Poole, shares what has been learnt from the project, the 2022 results and how they compare to other years? Find out more about HYC here.…

What role does stock containment feeding play in preserving soil condition, pasture survival, animal welfare and profitability and recovery after drought. How do you go about deciding when to use containment feeding, what are the trigger points and tools to support your decision making. Coombe farmer Rodney Lush shares his experience with stock con…

De-mystify carbon farming and hear from independent experts Sam Bye and Cam Nicholson on the happy coincidence of carbon and why getting on the carbon bus is encouraged. Understand where you're at with carbon by using the Primary Industries Climate Challenges Centre tools available here.By MacKillop Farm Management Group

What are the benefits of using a standing ripened crop as a fodder option to provide sheep with early feed in winter, turn lambs off faster in summer, and improve lamb growth rates in early autumn. Willalooka farmer Josie Jackson and senior research officer Amanda Pearce share their learnings about grazing standing crops. Find out more about grazin…

Find out how virtual fencing works, how it can be implemented effectively in red meat and wool production systems and how it will improve your farm efficiency and management practices with interested onlooker and Keith farmer, James Pitchford and Megan Willis, Principal Investigator in the Commercialisation of Virtual Fencing for Livestock project.…

The Limestone Coast Beef Producers group have been building their knowledge and skills to optimally manage their breeding heifers through to second calving and improve profitability within their beef enterprise. Hear from Bool Lagoon producer, Dean Eastwood and Dr Sean McGrath from the Millicent Veterinary Clinic on the knowledge and skills they ha…

How has the Hyper Yielding Crop initiative pushed the economically attainable yield boundaries of wheat, barley and canola and has it built business resilience and profitability in the Limestone Coast? Robbie Childs who farms at Kalangadoo with his family tells us about growing sheep, wheat, beans, barley, pasture seed and even carrot seed. Jen Lil…

A wide ranging discussion with 2022 AgriFutures SA Rural Woman Robyn Verrall covering food security, becoming a farmer and establishing and growing a business. Robyn shares with us her mission to reduce food insecurity, how Robyn established her farm to consumer meat business and how this business is innovating and supporting food security.…

What makes the landscape and soils in the Limestone Coast fascinating and how does this impact on how we farm? This episode is part 1 of a 2 part series examining soil acidity with Melissa Fraser who has worked extensively over the last 8 years exploring ways to overcome constraints in the region’s soils. She’s passionate about restoring soil funct…

Soil acidity is a constraint to crop production in Australia, which can be corrected with lime. Hear about the soil acidity trials we've conducted in the Limestone Coast, what they involved and what have we learnt. This episode is part 2 of a 2 part series examining soil acidity with Melissa Fraser who has worked extensively over the last 8 years e…

Agricultural Consultant John Francis, shares insights into making decisions under pressure and his key messages around decision making, how livestock system design influences a number of key productivity measures in a beef business and how decision making drives productivity and profitability. Don’t underestimate the power of a good system.…

A desire to value add their grain has led Kate Wheal along an interesting path of farm diversification. Hear how Kate, with her husband Mark, established Beachport Berkshires and Beachport Brewing Co. Felicity Turner has extensive experience running producer group training and extension and has seen first hand the many benefits of getting off the f…

What is the business case for sheep scanning and can producers who use pregnancy scanning better manage the nutritional requirements of twin and triplet‑bearing ewes? Hear from Charlie Crozier, who has been farming for about 25 years east of Keith in the Sherwood district, running cleanskin sheep for about 20 of these years. Experienced animal scie…

Bool Lagoon farmer Bruce McLean shares with us innovations and technology he’s implemented to improve crop yields and Soils Consultant Dr Melissa Fraser explains new technologies that aid water movement across the Limestone Coast plains, reduce the impact of prolonged waterlogging, leading to improved soil condition and business profitability.…

Our Beef Producer Group guest, Mount Benson farmer, Michael Cobiac shares his story of returning to the farm in 2010 after working in cattle and pasture research in the Northern Territory and as an assistant manager at an oyster farm in Coffin Bay. Michael shares the knowledge and skills he's gained from the Beef Producer Group and how this is help…

Hear from Woolumbool farmer and Nuffield scholar Graham Clothier and agricultural advisor Felicity Turner about the innovative technologies and tools that have been trialled and implemented aimed at reducing pressures on natural resources and increasing productivity and profitability. What are these technologies and how do they grow your farm and p…