Boots Off Log On!™

Join us for a conversation with Paul McKenzie, consultant, grower, and one of the clearest voices calling for reform in Australia’s grains RD&E system.

After presenting at UWA’s Industry Forum on the future of RD&E investment, Paul unpacks why more than a billion dollars in farmer-funded levies is sitting idle, how governance has drifted away from growers, and what a transition to a farmer-owned model could unlock for produ...

In this episode, we sit down with Ryan Skamp, co-founder of AgSKAN, the app helping farmers track machinery, manage mixed fleets, and improve paddock-level logistics without being locked into a single brand.

What started as an idea in a tractor cab has evolved into a growing ag-tech company, giving growers across Australia real-time, bird’s-eye visibility of all their machines.

Join us as we unpack how AgSKAN evolved from a GPS tra...

In this episode, we sit down with Paul Millett, co-founder of InvertiGro and the engineering mind behind some of the world’s most adaptable vertical farming systems.

After setting out to build his own indoor farm, Paul quickly realised the tech didn’t exist, so he built it. What started as a farm project in Singapore is now a modular, scalable solution helping people grow food anywhere from a Perth backyard to the Saudi desert.

In this episode of the Boots Off Log On! Podcast, we continue our two-part special series recorded live at the Dowerin Machinery Field Days in Western Australia. We sit down with three leading voices from some of Australia’s biggest banks, each sharing insights on how farmers can strengthen their businesses and navigate the evolving financial landscape.

David shares his experience leading agribusine...

In this episode of Boots Off Log On!, we kick off a two-part special series recorded live at the Dowerin Machinery Field Days in Western Australia. We’re joined by three experts from across the agricultural sector, each sharing insights and practical takeaways for farm businesses.

Ben takes us through the twists and turns of the global fertiliser market and what it means for growers. He explains how far...

In this episode, we chat with Keith Drage, co-founder of Silvalis and Dutjahn Sandalwood Oils, who left a career in London’s financial markets to grow one of WA’s most unique native commodities, sandalwood.

Keith shares how plantation sandalwood is making a strong comeback, thanks to long-term thinking, partnerships with traditional owners, and a business model grounded in land ownership and zero debt. He explains how sandalwood th...

Join us for a conversation with Tim Ford, founder of Feed Central and now at the helm of LocalAg, two national platforms transforming how hay, grain, and agricultural supplies are bought and sold across Australia.

Tim shares how frustration with outdated systems led to the creation of Feed Central, now the country’s largest independent fodder marketplace, and how that same vision is driving LocalAg, a national online trading platfo...

Join us for a conversation with Tom Rooney, the founder of Waterfind and one of the key players in shaping Australia’s modern water trading system.

Tom shares how a small citrus block and a university fee turned into a lifelong career navigating the rules, reforms, and realities of water rights. From early brokerage days to building a national water exchange, he’s seen firsthand how much water has changed in value, in complexity, a...

Join us for a conversation with Belinda Lay, a mixed enterprise farmer from Esperance and the mind behind the 'Fitbit for sheep' project.

Pioneering on-animal sensors to mapping paddock behaviour through layers of soil, crop and GPS data, Belinda’s curiosity has led her to trial, and sometimes fail, with cutting-edge agritech, all in the name of smarter, more resilient farming.

Belinda shares how she navigated a jungle of devices, ...

Join us for a conversation with Andrew and Jocie Bate, the farmer-founders behind SwarmFarm Robotics, an Australian agtech company revolutionising the way we farm. Their lightweight autonomous robots, which are already working across millions of acres, are helping growers do more with less: less chemical use, less soil compaction, and less time spent in a tractor cab.

Together, Andrew and Jocie share the story of building SwarmFarm...

Join us as we sit down with Luke Chaplain, founder of SkyKelpie, Nuffield Scholar, and drone mustering pioneer, to unpack how off-the-shelf tech is transforming the way we manage livestock in Australia.

With roots on a family property in northwest Queensland and a background in stockmanship, Luke brings a practical, ground-up perspective to one of ag’s most exciting frontiers. Since launching SkyKelpie, he’s worked with producers a...

In this episode, we sit down with Nathan MacPhee, a former financial services executive turned agri-entrepreneur, to talk about how a passion for farming and a problem worth solving led to the creation of Invest In Farming Co-operative.

Nathan walks us through the disconnect between consumers and producers, the huge barriers to getting into farming, and the rollercoaster risk that comes with growing food. His answer? A digital plat...

Join us for a conversation with Wendy Sawyer, the powerhouse behind the financial management of one of Dalwallinu’s most successful farm businesses. Wendy has spent the last 15 years running the books—though as you'll hear, it's about far more than “just doing the books.”

Wendy shares her journey of adapting to farm life, stepping into a leadership role, and helping grow a multi-generational farming business through discipline, com...

Join us for a conversation with Dr. Richard Eckard, Professor of Carbon Farming at the University of Melbourne and National Program Leader at the Carbon Research Centre for Net Zero Agriculture. Richard is the mind behind Australia’s first carbon accounting tools, which is now the recognised standard in Australia for measuring on-farm carbon.

Accredited globally, Richard was named one of the world’s top 1,000 climate scientists by ...

Join us as we sit down with Matt Dalgleish, agricultural market analyst, co-host of the AgWatchers Podcast, and founder of Episode 3, to explore the key forces shaping today’s commodity landscape.

With a background in financial markets spanning equities, metals, and foreign exchange, Matt brings a sharp, data-driven lens to the world of ag. Since transitioning into agricultural market analysis in 2015, he’s become one of the most t...

Join us as we sit down with Ben Farmer, a lucerne grower and chair of the Executive Committee for Lucerne Australia, to unpack the complexities of the lucerne industry and the impact of S&W Seeds Australia entering voluntary administration.

We explore how this collapse has affected growers in Keith, South Australia—a region that produces 85% of Australia’s lucerne seed—and the ripple effects on the broader industry. Ben breaks ...

Join us as we sit down with Catherine “Mazz” Marriott to explore her incredible agricultural journey, from her Nuffield Scholarship experiences to the real-world impacts of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) policies on Australian farmers.

We dive into global perspectives on agriculture, the critical role of practical ESG strategies, and why farmers must have a seat at the decision-making table when it is time to make poli...

In this episode, we sit down with James Williamson from Orijin Plus to dive into the rapidly evolving world of food and fibre traceability. As consumer expectations for transparency continue to rise, we explore why trust in the agricultural supply chain has never been more critical. James takes us through the origins of Orijin Plus and how it’s tackling real challenges in the market, bridging the gap between producers and consumers...

Join us as we delve into the inspiring career and insightful conversations with Tim Hunt, a distinguished agribusiness advisor whose journey spans more than 25 years of analysing international markets, food trends, and supply chains.

From his early roles as a senior analyst to serving as General Manager at RaboResearch Australia and New Zealand, and later as the Global Dairy Strategist for Rabobank, Tim has built a reputation as a ...