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The Weekly Grill

The Weekly Grill

Beef Central 228 episodes Latest Jun 5, 2026

The Weekly Grill is Beef Central’s podcast with host, Kerry Lonergan. Each week Kerry chats with a beef industry mover and shaker - turning up the heat and asking questions about the burning issues and topics that impact the beef sector.

Episodes

S6 Ep18: Rocky readies for 2027's big beef bash, Simon Irwin Jun 12, 2026 1667 This week on The Weekly Grill, host Kerry Lonergan sits down with Simon Irwin, CEO of Beef 2027, to talk about learnings from Beef 2024 and the plans for the next event in Rockhampton; they discuss record attendances, exhibitor demand, and the event's economic impact. The episode covers major challenges and innovations: accommodation shortages and solutions (Airbnb partnerships, Camplify and carav
S6 Ep17: Graeme Acton Beef Connections program member, Millie Unthank Jun 5, 2026 1484 Along with eight other young beef industry stakeholders, NSW's Millie Unthank is one of this year's Graeme Acton Beef Connections program participants. In this episode of The Weekly Grill, Kerry Lonergan interviews Millie, Ag Tech Manager for the McDonald family's MDH operations in North Queensland. She outlines her rural upbringing, studies in bioengineering and computer science, and how she mov
S6 Ep16: TFI's Darren Thomas on China Tariffs and the Murray Bridge Comeback May 29, 2026 1895 In today's episode of The Weekly Grill, host Kerry Lonergan interviews Darren Thomas, CEO of Thomas Foods International, about the company’s growth from family beginnings to a multi-billion-dollar global business. They discuss key issues including China tariffs and trade challenges, the rebuilding of Murray Bridge after the 2018 fire, expansion into the US, goat and seafood operations, feedlot gro
S6 Ep15: Live export industry veteran, Dick Slaney May 22, 2026 1624 In this episode of The Weekly Grill Kerry Lonergan interviews veteran cattleman Dick Slaney about his extraordinary career from North Queensland to Venezuela, the US and across Asia. Dick recounts hands-on experiences in live export, feedlots and abattoirs, his role in introducing stunning practices in Indonesia, and reflections on the resilience and changing dynamics of the Australia–Indonesia be
S6 Ep14: "If FMD gets in, you’re broke": stark warning from Dr Ross Ainsworth May 13, 2026 1866 In this episode Kerry Lonergan interviews respected Australian Cattle Vet Dr Ross Ainsworth about the growing threat of exotic livestock diseases discussed at the recent Wagyu Edge 26 conference in Brisbane. Dr Ainsworth explains how foot-and-mouth disease could abruptly close export markets, devastate herd values and force mass culling, and describes how lumpy skin disease spreads, its impacts an
S6 Ep13 - When Fuel Fails: Australia’s Food Security on the Line May 5, 2026 1556 In this week's episode of The Weekly Grill Kerry Lonergan speaks with Andrew Henderson of AgSecure about how fuel and fertiliser shortages expose critical weaknesses in Australia’s food system. They discuss diesel as a ‘‘master constraint,’’ the risks of just-in-time supply chains, and the need for a national food security strategy, strategic stockpiles and greater domestic and regional production
S6 Ep12: May Market Update - La Niña, diesel shortages and a record cow sell-off May 1, 2026 1752 In this episode of The Weekly Grill host Kerry Lonergan is joined by Matt Dalgleish and Chris Howie to break down the latest market movements and regional conditions affecting Australian livestock. They discuss the BOM La Niña forecast and its regional impacts, the record sell-off of cows in New South Wales, diesel and urea supply pressures, disruptions to live sheep exports and changing export de
S6 Ep11: Inside Australia's biggest Wagyu gathering Apr 24, 2026 1318 In this weeks episode of The Weekly Grill, host Kerry Lonergan takes the roving microphone through Wagyu Edge 26 in Brisbane, talking with more than 900 breeders, exhibitors and international guests about genetics, market opportunities, biosecurity risks and the growing quality of Australian Wagyu. Attendees share insights on breeding, phenotype data, export markets... and their cooking preference
S6 Ep10: Wagyu Edge 26 - Australia’s rise from niche to global powerhouse Apr 17, 2026 2199 In today's episode of The Weekly Grill, host Kerry Lonergan visited Wagyu Edge 26 in Brisbane to catch up with AWA's president Laird Morgan and CEO Matt McDonagh to explore the explosive growth of Australian Wagyu, export markets, genetics (WBVs), feeding trends and industry opportunities...  plus a new $100,000 Wagyu feeding competition and more.   AWA President, Laird Morgan   AWA CEO, Matt M
S6 Ep9: How global conflict is shaping Australia's rural real estate Apr 9, 2026 1758 In this episode Kerry Lonergan speaks with Rawdon Briggs (Colliers Agribusiness) and independent valuer Will McLay about current trends in Australia’s rural property market. They discuss the impact of the Middle East conflict, sector pressures on horticulture, resilient beef and cropping markets, buyer and seller motivations, and major transactions like the potential Paraway offering. Key takeaway
S6 Ep8: The rise of Smart tags as a valuable herd management tool, with Ceres' Greg Campbell Mar 27, 2026 1769 The recent Northern Beef Research Update Conference in Brisbane was peppered with references to the use of smart tags in various R&D applications, combining geo-location with algorithms used to measure animal behaviour. US animal scientist Professor Derek Bailey first started using primitive forms of geo-location tags as far back as 1998, but the technology has come a long ways since.   This w
S6 Ep7: Derek Bailey - using data and technology to transform cattle management Mar 18, 2026 1527 In this week's episode, podcast host Kerry Lonergan sits down with Professor Derek Bailey, one of the keynote speakers at the 2026 Northern Beef Research Update Conference (NBRUC).  Professor Bailey discusses the similarities between US and Australian rangelands (pastures), the role of public-land grazing, and how tracking technology, accelerometers and AI are transforming cattle monitorin. The

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