Humans of Agriculture

Charlie Perry reckons he might know more intricate details of the health of his Wagyu bulls than he does of his kids!

He's fascinated by the genomic data behind every calf he breeds, which allows him to make incremental genetic gains for the betterment of the supply chains he services. 

And he'd have to be pretty patient too, with the results of the careful breeding decisions he makes today taking four years to show up on ...

Yesterday’s surprise move to lift biosecurity restrictions on US beef imports has sent ripples through Aussie ag - with historical concerns around potentially devastating diseases like foot and mouth or mad cow entering our shores.

It comes as rumours swirl about a possible hike in tariffs on Aussie exports to the US. Is this a long-planned, science-based decision, or is there something more strategic at play?

We speak with ...

If one word could sum up the current agricultural land market - volatile - is how Rabobank analyst Paul Joules would describe it. 

He reckons the unprecedented 80% growth in land prices in recent years is changing the way farmers make decisions... shifting their focus to productivity over expansion. 

This bite-size chat touches on the influence of commodity prices and global supply chains on land values, as well as the emerg...

You won't find too many fellas as genuinely happy and passionate about their job as Glenn 'Yogi' Kendall.

Yogi is a prominent figure in the trucking community - a celebrity even - with a cult following on TV show Outback Truckers and well known for his tireless work mentoring rookie drivers.

Yogi is a big believer in the value of good old fashioned, honest, hard work. He's barely had a day off in his 28 year career but find...

Tom Redden of Naparoo Pastoral never thought he'd circle back to the family farm after a stint in the corporate world but the opportunities he saw in the red meat supply chain were too enticing.

Tom chats with Tom & Mick about the 'sweet spot' he's found in the paddock to plate business model, based in Coonabarabran NSW. 

Takeaways

• Tom Redden is a fourth-generation farmer who transitioned back to the family business ...

As the geopolitical situation shall we say... deteriorates, what impact are overseas conflicts and trade disputes having on Aussie grain markets?
 
Vitor Pistoia, Senior Grains and Oilseeds Analyst for Rabobank, is watching global events closely and joins Oli to explain the resulting market dynamics, as well as the opportunities for canola growers as the Sustainable Aviation Fuels industry gains traction.

takeaways

When you're in the grip of drought, with livestock to feed and budgets to recalibrate, it can feel impossible to escape the business for a mental break.

But the Bayer Big Fish Challenge is giving farmers the perfect excuse.

It's an all-year-round nationwide fishing competition, which anyone can be part of, and every big fish caught raises money for mental health charity The Fly Project. A win-win!

Hear farmer Brad Stillard ...

It's a good thing Aly Bunton loves talking to people, as her Public Affairs role with Bayer Crop Science Australia depends on good relationships.  

And it's not just with the suits in Canberra; Aly is well-connected with scientists and farmers all over to ensure Bayer stays on the front foot of industry issues globally, and that Governments are aware of how different policies impact Aussie farmers.

With no previous ties to f...

In an increasingly noisy world, how can ag speak with a unified, consistent voice?

The changing dynamics of agricultural advocacy in Australia has caught our attention, and we're keen to explore whether industry representation is still 'fit for purpose' in a rapidly shifting political and social landscape.

With around 270 farm advocacy bodies in Australia with a combined annual spend of $400-600 million, there's no shortage...

Cattleman Stuart Austin doesn't shy away from a challenge and his next venture is no exception.   

Stuart is well-known for his work in the natural capital space in his former role as General Manager of Wilmot Cattle Company, a regenerative grass fed beef operation in NSW.
 
In this chat with Tom & Mick, Stuart explains the various arms of his new venture Audacious Agriculture and the land-use challenges he's noti...

It's not often you get the chance to hit the pause button, zoom out and look at the bigger picture of your farming business.

Farmers are often great at being operational - getting the crop in, or managing livestock cycles - but perhaps not as well practiced at thinking through a strategic plan: where you want your business to go and how you want to go about it.

Many of us tend to simply let things unfold and that's why Jean...

Six years ago, South Australian accountant Tom Cosentino ditched his day job and bought a cattle property without ever having touched a cow before. 

Relying on YouTube to learn the basics, Tom reckons his naivete has also helped endear him to other farmers willing to teach.  

Hear how Tom feels great freedom without the ‘generational inertia’ behind him, and perhaps under less pressure than those who’ve inherited a family b...

It's time to level up our produce game! 

There are few things more disappointing than biting into a floury apple, or cutting open a bruised avocado... if only we knew what mango to choose based on skin spots, or how to best store pears so they ripen perfectly…

That, friends, is the mission of our next guest, Thanh ‘The Fruit Nerd’ Truong.

He's put a modern spin on the traditional fruiterer, using his growing social media prof...

In this second episode of our AgRi-silience series, Jono Mudge gives a glimpse into the realities of stepping up as the next generation in a family business. 

It hasn't been an easy run of seasons for mixed farmers in South Australia's mid-north, but the AgRi-silience program came at the perfect time for Jono - deflecting his attention away from the seemingly endless dust, to what he can control.

From the humble workshop w...

After a brief hiatus, Tom and Mick are back at it...
 
This time they sit down with their first international guest, José Paz Vermal of Argentina, to discuss the current state of play in the wool market.

Summary
This chat delves into the dynamics of the global wool market, discussing current trends and challenges. The market hasn't been flash for a while, but José thinks that can be turned around with a focus on q...

Succession planning is complicated territory for any business, but perhaps more so in farming with families at the core of most operations.

It's not just relationships and family legacies that hinge on effective succession planning, it also plays a critical role in building strategic foresight, sustainability and continuity into a business. 

Succession is delicate stuff, so we thought we'd draw on the experience of accountan...

In the first episode of this special AgRi-silience series, we visit Mark and Rachel McInerney at Riverton, South Australia, to hear how they navigate adversity by redefining their roles on the farm and turning professional development into a catalyst for business renewal.

In this chat you'll hear:

• How an HR masterclass became the starting point for major business change 
• The impact of back-to-back climate challenges and h...

A couple weeks back, I spotted through the Global Food Forum that Nutrien Ag Solutions has decided to partner with Primary Industries Education Foundation Australia. This move marks a big investment in how the ag industry interacts with the next generation of producers. So I decided to ring up Carissa Buckland, who works in Nutrien as their Director of Corporate Affairs.

Carissa shares her unconventional journey from studyi...

Derek Peterson has had a colorful career.

He's found himself at the head of ROAM, an agriculture tech company trying to solve the problem of methane emissions. But he didn't get there following the 'traditional path.' 

In this chat we cover his career so far, from  working on Wall Street to becoming a visionary entrepreneur whose journey expertise bridge traditional agriculture, finance, and the  emerging industry of  — medi...