Humans of Agriculture
Humans of Agriculture brings you inside the conversations, careers and stories shaping agriculture. Hosted by Oli Le Lievre, the podcast gives listeners access to the people, ideas and experiences you might not otherwise get close to.
Episodes
Tom & Mick: Building a Wagyu Business, Managing Market Cycles and Leading with Purpose with Anna Speer
Welcome to the Tom & Mick Show! This week, Tom & Mick sit down with Anna Speer, whose career has taken her from teaching and AgTech to leadership roles with AuctionsPlus, Australian Agricultural Company, Woolworths and now Stone Axe.Anna shares what she’s learnt about building strong teams, making commercial decisions and creating long-term value, while unpacking how Stone Axe is
"Have another Crack": Why the 2nd time round is the trick for Bryce Neyland
What happens when you step outside your own patch and spend time learning from some of the best operators in agriculture?2026 Australian Zanda McDonald Award winner Bryce Neyland joins Oli after completing his mentoring trips across New Zealand and Australia. Bryce shares what he learned about risk, resilience, investment and leadership, and why seeing how other businesses operate has cha
I'm Certainly Not One of Those Farmers Happy to Take a 3% Return - Stafford Ives-Heres (Rabobank Partner Ep)
Fourth-generation beef producer Stafford Ives-Heres is building Shanford Park on Tasmania's north-west coast with one eye firmly on the generations still to come.From starting with 10 cattle and working cray boats to fund his growth, to succession, leasing land and questioning whether owning more country always makes commercial sense, Stafford shares how he's thinking about building a fam
Starting from 0 to 10% of Australia's Strawberry nursery market with Jack and Lisa Beattie
Jack and Lisa Beattie didn’t set out to build a strawberry propagation business. After leaving Jack’s family dairy operation and trying several different ventures, an unexpected opportunity at Ouse in Tasmania changed their direction.Today, JCLM Farming produces around 10% of Australia’s strawberry nursery plants. Jack and Lisa share the decisions, setbacks and lessons behind that growth,
Tom & Mick: Livestock, Markets and the Power of Relationships with Michael Spencer
Michael Spencer has spent more than 30 years across livestock agency, corporate agriculture, cattle processing and pastoral operations, including roles with Elders, AACo and Bindaree Beef before helping build Adcock Partners.In this episode of The Tom & Mick Show, Michael joins Tom and Mick to unpack what good livestock agency actually looks like, why Adcock Partners deliberately oper
“We Mortgaged Our Houses”.... The Bet That Became Delta Agribusiness with Gerard Hines and Chris Duff
Gerard Hines and Chris Duff have spent nearly four decades working alongside each other, building one of Australia's most respected independent agribusinesses from a single rural store into a national business. What does it take to build an agribusiness from a handful of people into a national business, without losing the culture, relationships and local connection that made it successful
Hiring: Action Steel - Sales coordinator role
Action Steel Sales Coordinator Role - Find here. We sit down with Lennie Grace to learn more about Action Steel and the current opportunities available in his sales team. Chapters00:00 Introduction to Action Steel and family business01:27 How Action Steel started02:01 Growing up in the family business03:33 Why Action Steel chose agriculture04:53 The importance of focus06:21 Building a net
The Power of Two Farming Families Working Together - Harry Kemp (Rabobank Partner Ep)
Building a premium beef brand isn't just about producing exceptional cattle. It's about understanding markets, embracing data, building the right team, and having the patience to make decisions years before the product reaches a customer's plate.In this episode, Harry Kemp shares the story behind King River, the family-owned Wagyu business that has grown from a bold partnership between tw
Moon Rocks and Water - How these 2 St George farmers are shaping their future (SQNNSW Innovation Hub Partnered Ep)
In the second of a two-part panel series with the Southern Queensland and Northern New South Wales Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub, Oli Le Lievre sits down with St George producers Jake Moon of Moonrocks and cotton grower Craig Saunders to explore how innovation is being used to solve real problems within two very different farming businesses.Jake shares how Moonrocks ident
Hiring | Ornata: Building the Future of Autonomous Farming with Josh Tepper & Michael Webb
In this episode of Humans of Agriculture, Oli Le Lievre sits down with Josh Tepper, CEO, and Michael Webb, COO and co-founders of Ornata Technologies, to explore how they're transforming farm operations through autonomous machinery and why now is an exciting time to join their growing team.Following their appearance at evokeAG, Josh and Michael share how Ornata has evolved from launching
"Trust the Tech. Trust the People." We’re in QLD talking all things cow collars (SQNNSW Innovation Hub Partnered Ep)
In the first of a two-part panel series with the Southern Queensland and Northern New South Wales Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub, Oli brings together Alex Archer from Webster Grain & Grazing at Lundavra and Ewen Beaton, Aminya Pastoral Pty Ltd, Manager at Kioma, west of Goondiwindi, to explore how two producers have approached the adoption of virtual fencing within the
"I couldn't have it all in my head"...so Tom Lahey went digital (AgriWebb Partner episode)
Third-generation cattle producer Tom Lahey always knew he wanted to return home to the family farm near Goondiwindi. But after working across Western Australia and travelling through the United States to visit some of the world's leading regenerative ranches, he came back with a different perspective on what the future of Australian grazing could look like.Rather than chasing quick wins,
The Livestock Industry Was Running on Paper. AgriWebb Bet Everything That Would Change - John Fargher, Co-Founder (AgriWebb Partner episode)
John Fargher grew up on a sheep and cattle station in South Australia's Flinders Ranges, where innovation wasn't a buzzword. It was a necessity.From School of the Air and life on a remote station to practising law in London, John's path looked a long way from building one of agriculture's most recognised technology companies. But a conversation in a London pub changed everything.Together
“The First AgTech We've Got To Adopt Is...” with Ben Barlow RLF AgTech (Business Spotlight)
This business spotlight explores how RLF AgTech is turning decades of agricultural research into practical products that help farmers improve productivity and profitability.Chairman Ben Barlow shares his journey from building and exiting New Edge Microbials to leading RLF AgTech, explaining why commercialisation is often the missing link between great science and widespread adoption. He d
From Frozen Yoghurt to Global AgTech Leader with Campbell Mauchan (AgriWebb Partner episode)
When Campbell Mauchan moved from Canada to Australia in 2016, agriculture wasn't part of the plan.He'd been running frozen yoghurt stores back home when his partner accepted a six-month opportunity in Melbourne. Looking for work, he landed an interview with a small ag-tech startup called AgriWebb, despite having no farming background, no sales experience and none of the qualifications lis
Rewarding Pathways to Net Zero in Agriculture with ZNE Ag CEO Richard Heath
Australian agriculture is chasing lower emissions, but what does that actually look like on farm?In this short episode of Humans of Agriculture, Oli Le Lievre catches up with Richard Heath, CEO of the Zero Net Emissions Agriculture CRC, ahead of the 2026 ZNE Ag CRC Conference in Perth.Richard shares what has changed since the CRC's inaugural conference, the promising research already emer
Warakirri Cropping: A Career-Making Opportunity with Tony Murfit
In this episode of Humans of Agriculture, Oli Le Lievre sits down with Tony Murfit, Regional Manager for Western Australia at Warakirri Cropping, to explore the Farm Operations Manager opportunity at Mawarra and what makes it such an important role within the business.Having managed Mawarra himself before Warakirri purchased the property in 2011, Tony shares how the farm has evolved into
Tom & Mick: Risk, Timing and Opportunity in the Cattle Market with Jeremy Cummins
The Tom & Mick Show is back, and so is repeat guest Jeremy Cummins.Two years after first joining the show, Jeremy returns to share how his cattle feeding business has grown from around 4,000 head on feed to more than 22,000 across multiple locations.The conversation also dives into the current cattle market, seasonal conditions, feedlot demand and how Jeremy is positioning his busines
RaboElevate: Why Capability Matters More Than Capital with Danny Shepherd (Partnered Ep)
Agriculture is built on more than land, livestock, and capital. It’s built on people, capability, and the strength of the communities that support them.In this episode, Danny Shepherd shares the thinking behind RaboElevate, Rabobank’s capability-building platform designed to support farmers and agribusiness leaders through every stage of their career.Drawing on a background in education a
SproutAg: Building the Future of Agribusiness Finance with Oscar McLean
In this episode of Humans of Agriculture, Oli Le Lievre is joined by SproutAg Senior Agribusiness Manager, Oscar McLean, alongside Humans of Agriculture Talent Specialist, Zoe Burgess, to explore the opportunities available as SproutAg continues its rapid growth across regional Australia.After starting his career in agtech before moving into agricultural banking, Oscar shares the journey
How Halter Is Replacing Fences on Aussie Farms with Hamish Irvine
In this episode of Humans of Agriculture, Oli sits down with Hamish Irvine, Head of Southern States at Halter Australia, to explore the technology, leadership and mindset driving one of agriculture’s fastest-growing companies.Growing up on a mixed farming operation in western New South Wales, Hamish always imagined a future on the land. But after drought forced a change in direction, his
They Said She’d Have to Marry a Farmer… She Became One Instead with Danna Boulton (RIC Partner episode)
In this episode of Humans of Agriculture, Oli heads to the windswept coastline of Seaspray in Gippsland to sit down with first-generation farmer Danna Boulton.Growing up just down the road on her family’s dairy farm, Danna always dreamed of farming - but like many young Australians, the pathway to ownership wasn’t straightforward. After building a career as a teacher, making sacrifices, s
Business Spotlight: Regional Investment Corporation - helping finance Aussie Farmers with John Howard (RIC Partner episode)
This business spotlight episode is a practical deep dive into the Regional Investment Corporation, how it works, why it exists, and how it’s helping farmers manage risk and build stronger businesses.CEO John Howard shares his journey across agriculture, food, and finance and breaks down how concessional loans can provide breathing room during tough seasons and create opportunities for lon
They Turned Drought Survival Into a Smarter Farming Business with Nick & Chris Blunt (RIC Partner episode)
This week, Oli sits down with farmers Chris and Nick Blunt at their family farm near Orange, NSW. The Blunts know the importance of water, and Chris can use his water divining skills to find it, but he needed the capital in order to support the business survive and ultimately rebound from the drought. In this episode, Chris Blunt shares how a lifetime on the land has helped him build dee
Tom & Mick: Livestock Markets, Restocking and Managing Risk with James Tierney
The Tom & Mick Show is back!! With a timely livestock market update as rain finally arrives across much of eastern Australia and confidence begins returning to the paddock.Tom and Mick are joined once again by Riverina livestock agent James Tierney from Riverina Livestock Agents to unpack what's happening in the cattle and sheep markets, how producers are approaching restocking, and w
“We started with two cows… and just saved every dollar we could.” with Brodie Game (RIC Partner episode)
In this episode of Humans of Agriculture, Oli sits down in the paddock with Brodie Game, who shares how she and her husband Kevin went from milking two cows on a travelling stock reserve to building a high-performing dairy business in the Bega Valley.Along the way, they’ve navigated drought, fire, financial constraints - and the reality of being first-generation farmers without a clear ro
Pavilion Farms: Inside the Formula 1 of Farming with CEO Nathan Potter
In this episode of Humans of Agriculture, Oli Le Lievre sits down with Nathan Potter, CEO of Pavilion Farms, to unpack the future of precision agriculture and why Pavilion Farms is now searching for an AgTech Lead to help shape the next chapter of the business.From growing up on chicken farms in Victoria to building a career in management consulting with PwC across Australia and London, N
In The Know: The Payroll Change Every Employer Needs to Prepare for Before July 2026 - with Julie Schofield
In this episode of Humans of Agriculture, Oli Le Lievre sits down with Julie Schofield, Executive Business Unit Leader of Private Business Services at Boyce, to unpack one of the biggest changes coming for employers in more than 30 years: Payday Super.From 1 July 2026, businesses will be required to pay superannuation at the same time employees are paid, rather than monthly or quarterly.
Why Humans of Agriculture Is Moving Into Recruitment, And What It Means for Ag
In this episode of Humans of Agriculture, Oli Le Lievre shares a very different kind of conversation, part late-night reflection, part Instagram live announcement, as he opens up about a major shift happening at Humans of Agriculture.Parlty recorded at 2am and continued via an Instagram Live, this episode captures a raw and honest moment behind the scenes at Humans of Agriculture. Oli tak
Blair Davies has spent 50 years in the wool industry…and still learning everyday
In this episode of Humans of Agriculture, Oli Le Lievre sits down with Blair Davies, Assistant Commercial Manager at Zentera (formerly New Zealand Merino Company), for a conversation that spans five decades in the wool industry.Blair’s story is one of deep industry knowledge, long-term commitment, and an enduring passion for natural fibre. From working in wool stores as a student to spend
Inside Sustainable Wool: Data, Traceability and Trust with Sarah McDonald
(Image: Supplied)In this episode of Humans of Agriculture, Oli sits down with Sarah McDonald, Head of Sustainable Impact at Zentera (formerly New Zealand Merino) to unpack the reality behind sustainable wool.Sarah sits at the intersection of growers and global brands, her role is to translate what’s happening on farm into credible, measurable data that brands can trust and consumers can b
Tom & Mick: Trading Livestock, Grazing Systems and the Long Game with Nigel Kerin
The Tom & Mick show continues with a practical conversation on livestock trading, grazing systems, business resilience and long-term decision making.Tom and Mick are joined by Nigel Kerin, CEO of Kerin Ag, to unpack how his business approaches livestock trading, forward contracts, pasture management, Wagyu, and the systems that drive profitability through both dry and strong seasons.F
Fuel, Fertiliser & Feeds: How Charlie Blomfield Is Rewriting Ag’s Public Narrative
Charlie Blomfield isn’t just building a farm business, he’s building a voice that agriculture can’t afford to ignore.In this episode of Humans of Agriculture, Oli sits down with Charlie Blomfield at Boridgeree, just outside Canowindra in Central West NSW. Farmer, business owner, marketer and one of the most talked-about voices in Australian agriculture right now, Charlie shares what’s dri
Optiweigh, Succession, Markets & Ag Supply Chains: 4 Voices from CommBank Cultivate
This is a special Humans of Agriculture “radio-style” episode recorded at CommBank’s Cultivate event in the Hunter Valley - bringing together voices from across the agricultural supply chain.Across four mini-conversations, we unpack the key forces shaping modern agriculture: Innovation and ag tech adoption Succession and family business transition Financial strategy and risk Market dyn
How This Sydney School Built Australia’s Largest Ag Cohort with Scott Graham
What if agriculture’s biggest opportunity isn’t on farm, but in the classroom?In this episode of Humans of Agriculture, Oli sits down with Scott Graham, Head of Agriculture at Barker College in Sydney. From a a student base that’s almost entirely from the city, Scott has built the largest Year 12 agriculture cohort in Australia, completely reshaping how young people see the industry.Scott
“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
“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
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
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 conv
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 orchar
“You don’t need a unicorn idea. You need to find a real gap and solve it" - Johno Mackay
Johno Mackay grew up remote in the Northern Territory, shaped by hard work, risk-taking parents, and a deep love for the bush. In this conversation, Johno shares the path from School of the Air and station life to building a contract mustering and fencing business in Northern Australia, before an accident in his team pushed him into an entirely new chapter: ag tech.What followed was the c
Rabo Community Fund & How it can help your community!! (Partnered ep)
Australian agriculture runs on more than crops, livestock, and markets. It runs on people and communities.In this episode, Skye Ward shares the story behind the Rabobank Community Fund, a program designed to invest directly into grassroots initiatives across rural and regional Australia.Since launching in 2021, the fund has invested over $4 million into projects that strengthen leadership
Business Spotlight: AMPS Agribusiness - The Grower-led Innovation with Tony Lockrey
In this episode of Humans of Agriculture, we dive deep into the innovative world of AMPS Agribusiness. Join us as we sit down with Tony Lockrey, a seasoned agronomist and leader who has dedicated decades to the fields of Northern New South Wales. Tony takes us "under the hood" of AMPS's unique, grower-led model that fast-tracks agricultural research from institutions directly into the pad
Tom & Mick: Grain, Livestock and Land - Where Aussie Ag sits in 2026 with Tommy Taylor
Season 4 of Monthly Markets opens with a strong pulse check across livestock, wool, property and grain.Tom and Mick begin with:Wagga sheep market strength, with mutton pushing 7.50–8.00 and trade lambs over 10.50The Eastern Market Indicator hitting 1677 cents — a two-year recordCattle prices holding firm at GunnedahMajor rural property listings across NSW and QLD, including Springfield, B
The Era that built Australian agriculture is ending. What comes next? Tim Hunt shares his insights.
For decades, Australian agriculture has operated within a set of conditions that quietly shaped its success - stable geopolitics, expanding global trade, predictable markets, and steady productivity gains.That era is ending.In this conversation, Tim Hunt joins Oli Le Lievre to unpack the global forces reshaping food and agriculture right now, from geopolitics and trade fragmentation to cl
Millie Moore Quit a Corporate Ag Job to Go Ranching... and It Changed Everything
Millie Moore didn’t leave her job because she was unhappy. She left because she was curious.After four and a half years in a corporate ag role, Millie made a decision that many people talk about but few actually take. She quit, moved to Canada, and went ranching to properly immerse herself in the beef industry and test herself on the ground.That choice led to something bigger. In this epi
North Queensland's Robot Cowboys and the Future of Farming with Sam Rogers
At just 19 years old, Sam Rogers is building one of Australia’s most exciting agtech startups. Founder of GrazeMate, Sam is using autonomous drones, robotics, and AI to help farmers and ranchers move cattle, measure pasture, and gain real-time insights straight to their phone. In this episode, Sam shares his journey from growing up on a cattle station in North Queensland to raising capita
A Re-share of our MOST Listened Episode ever - Clancy Mackay
Clancy Mackay’s story is one of the most extraordinary ever shared on Humans of Agriculture and there’s a reason it remains our most downloaded episode of all time.This is a full re release of our most listened to episode ever.In this conversation, Oli Le Lievre sits down with Clancy Mackay to share one of the most extraordinary stories ever told on Humans of Agriculture.From growing up o
Our Rohde's YouTube Video in Audio - have a listen!
I loved the day we had with the team at Rohde's and the way we crafted this into an amazing video and our last #ThisIsAussieAg video in audio format did pretty well - you can check it out on our YouTube in full!Watch it on YouTube here - link to our video
An update on HOA and Billy Slater & Adrian Capogreco chat all things leadership and people
In today’s episode, I wanted to do something a little different and share an update on where Humans of Agriculture is heading. Over the last six years we’ve told hundreds of stories and met thousands of people, and it’s clear that the beating heart of our work isn’t just the stories themselves, but the people behind them.We’re stepping into a new chapter. One that builds on our storytelli
"I Think Succession Planning is Legacy Planning" with Homestead Road Founder Bridgitte Brooks
Bridgitte Brooks is rewriting the story of Australian wool - and of rural women. The fifth-generation sheep farmer has launched a wool athleisure brand from her farm in Yuna, Western Australia in a bid to connect modern consumers with a natural fibre that she feels is undercelebrated. From baby blankets to wool athleisure wear, Bridgitte is stitching together sustainability, style, and he
Getting to Know Agriculture Minister Julie Collins
In this episode, Oli sits down with Australia’s Federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry — Julie Collins — live from the National Farmers’ Federation Conference on the Gold Coast.From her Tasmanian roots to leading one of the nation’s most important portfolios, Julie shares how her background shaped her approach to agriculture, sustainability, and community. She reflects o
The Soda Shed Story: How Mitchell East is turning Food Waste into a sparkling success
Passionfruit farmer Mitchell East is flipping the script on food waste, giving unsellable fruit a second chance. Mitchell returned to his family farm in Manjimup WA on a mission to find a tasty use for surplus, speedily perishable fruit like passionfruit and cherries.The horticulture industry is always looking for new ways of squeezing value from seconds produce, with many tonnes of fruit
Tom & Mick with Mat Larkings
This month Tom and Mick catch up with New England livestock agent Mat Larkings about what he’s seeing on the ground—from post-drought price shifts to clients swapping breeding for trading. They dive into the growing interest in coastal markets, the cautious optimism among producers, and why quality stock still rules.It’s a great listen for anyone keen to understand the real dynamics behin
"I was puffing like a black alsatian": Fat Farmer Ben Wundersitz is changing the culture of rural towns
A decade ago, if Ben 'Wundy' Wundersitz spotted a mate's ute parked on the main drag in town he'd assume they were at the pub sinking a pint. These days, there's more chance of Wundy finding his mates working out at the gym across the road from the pub in his local town of Maitland in South Australia, which has fully embraced the Fat Farmers movement.Fat Farmers began 13 years ago when Wu
"The adventures agriculture has taken me on is incredible" with Muster Dogs star Blythe Calnan
Adventure pulses through the veins of Pilbara cattle woman Blythe Calnan.From navigating live cattle export supply chains in Jordan in the Middle East, to raising pasture-raised poultry in southern WA - Blythe's habit of saying 'yes' to opportunities in agriculture has taken her to all sorts of climates and farming systems.She's now back in her home state of Western Australia, teaching th
Mind boggling scale: what a trip to Brazil added to Felicity Taylor's bank of cotton knowledge
A knowledge tour around Brazil cotton farms has blown the minds of a group of Aussie growers. Imagine having a cotton gin on every single farm?... or a family-led business with a breezy 220,000 hectares in crop? Rabobank Area Manager Felicity Taylor says the sheer sophistication and scale of Brazilian cotton production has to be seen to be believed.Freshly home from a Rabo Agri Knowledge
East to west: Fraser Stewart connects sheep producers across borders
WA sheep farmers do things "bloody well" if you ask Fraser Stewart, which is why he wrestled the 2025 Rabo WA Sheep & Wool tour to the west side of the country. Fraser was proud to see curiosity and ideas bounce between the 21 big industry players visiting from the Eastern States and New Zealand to WA's Great Southern region last month. WA is a key restocking market nationally, but Fr
FOMO kicking in? Tom & Mick chat sheep market dynamics with Todd Clements and Nick Fogarty
We're keen to know what's going on with sheep - there seems to be records hit week after week at sale yards across the country. Are farmers getting FOMO? Tom & Mick chat with stock and station royalty Todd Clements and Nick Fogarty about the underlying drivers of current sheep and lamb prices and what's likely to come.Todd and Nick are from Bowyer & Livermore in the Central West o
"You’re going where?" Sophie Marriott's leap into Tassie’s red meat world
There’s more to meat than what Aussies might think. After graduating from uni, Sophie Marriott couldn't wait to leave the bright lights of Brisbane to explore the seemingly endless opportunities in red meat processing. She never expected she'd end up in Tasmania, working for family-owned beef processing company Greenham, on the north-western coast. She's become totally smitten by the loca
Discover why Martin Rohde continues to raise the bar of animal welfare in egg farming
When buying eggs, what matters to you? In this chat with Martin Rohde, of Rohde Egg Co, Oli learns what free range actually means, as well as some other intricacies of running a rapidly expanding higher-welfare egg business in South Australia's Clare Valley region. Even when navigating challenges around COVID-19 and avian influenza, the Rohde family has always kept animal welfare at the c
Behind HOA: Meet Our Team Liv Thorn - WA
A new voice joins Humans of Agriculture!Liv Thorn pokes her face from behind the curtain to share a bit about her background in media and what she brings to her (relatively) new role as Content Specialist in our ever-evolving team.Liv is a passionate storyteller and determined to propel more authentic, human-led stories from the bush into the mainstream. A seasoned journalist with over 15
"It just gels with me": Stephen 'Chainy' Duncan has spent 40 years in red meat processing
At the heart of Australia’s meat processing industry are the people. From graduates to CEOs, and those who work on the floor, we're letting their stories shine through this special More To Meat series. In part two, we meet the unforgettable Stephen Duncan, aka Chainy, from Casino Food Company in NSW. Chainy has been in the red meat processing game since 1985 and has worked just about ever
"Bringing people in": Anthony Lee's open door leadership style is shaping the future of red meat processing
In the first episode of our three-part More To Meat series, we're revealing a side of meat production you don't often get to see. Oli visits Australian Country Choice (ACC) in Brisbane where they've recently processed 6000 head of cattle in just one week. That's enough beef for 49 million spaghetti bolognese meals... enough to feed every Australian twice!CEO Anthony Lee welcomes us into t
"We started with one steer": how David McGiveron and Bianca Tarrant built mega meat biz Our Cow
An 'overnight success' is often many years in the making and that's certainly the case for the Our Cow empire.Husband and wife duo Dave McGiveron and Bianca Tarrant scraped together a deposit to buy a small cattle property in 2019 and fulfill their dream of being 'mad weaner producers'.With just one steer to their name, they launched a direct-to-consumer meat business which soon exploded
Tom & Mick quiz Charlie Perry on breeding wagyu for a volatile market
Beware, the burn!Tom & Mick got more than they bargained for in this chat with Wagyu breeder Charlie Perry.Apart from minor ego bruising, the fellas discovered that breeding some of the country's best Wagyu cattle is about more than just marbling. Charlie explains how sophisticated genetic tools are helping him grow a more balanced and functional animal, so he and his clients can endu
The 101 hats of Grace Griffiths
There are many fascinating pockets of Aussie agriculture and Grace Griffiths is keen to explore them all. A few years ago, Grace created 101 Ag Pathways to showcase the plethora of roles and career pathways into agriculture. Grace is an agronomist, cotton grower, GIS specialist and part of her family business Data Ag, based in Goodiwindi QLD. She chats about the chaos of juggling multiple
Innovation vs regulation: Michael Leader on whether ag is getting the balance right
The biotech at the fingertips of farmers is super exciting. But is regulation keeping pace with scientific leaps?Biotech like gene editing has the potential to revolutionise the industry - by not only enhancing crop yields, but supporting sustainable farming practices, and helping address global climate change and food security. Michael Leader's job with Bayer is an interesting one - he's
"Be curious and give it a crack": how the Rabo Grad Program super-charged Tim Felan's career
When Tim Felan was exploring career options fresh out of uni a decade ago, marrying his love for agriculture and finance together just made sense.But he says 'falling into' a trial internship at Rabobank is what really fast-tracked his career to becoming National Manager of Major Agribusiness Clients.He was pleased to see the Rabo Graduate Program formalised in 2023, exposing more uni gra
"Stronger together": get to know the Coggan siblings powerhouse
Choosing to get along seems to be the mindset critical to the success of the Coggan family mixed farming business over five generations. Juggling a massive beef, lamb and grain operation in Queensland's Western Downs, siblings Emily, Tom and Sarah are fast becoming a leading force in the early adoption of ag technology.They're the first beef farmers in Australia to use halter collars, all
Spotlight: Maddie Morgan on what drives her to better connect Women In Agriculture
They say you can't be what you can't see, and thankfully there are many incredible role models for women in agriculture these days. When entering the workforce and feeling a little untethered, Maddie Morgan saw a need to better connect those women and grow support networks for industry professionals. As if being an agribusiness lawyer and helping on her family's farm in Condamine QLD wasn
“The decisions I make today? They won’t hit a plate for four years" with Charlie Perry, Trent Bridge Wagyu
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 tod
In The Know: What does opening our doors to US beef mean? with Andrew Henderson
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 mo
Agricultural land boom: analyst Paul Joules explains the market dynamics at play
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 o
Steering the future: trucking legend Glenn ‘Yogi’ Kendall on pride in career and community
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
Corporate to country: Tom & Mick find the red meat supply chain 'sweet spot' with Tom Redden
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. TakeawaysTom Redden is a fourth-generation farmer who transition
Geopolitical turmoil: Vitor Pistoia explains what's going on with grain markets
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
Angling for better mental wellbeing: the Bayer Big Fish Challenge with Brad Stillard and Matt Tripet
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
How 'city girl' Aly Bunton finds joy in communicating ag science
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
How can ag advocacy shift from fragmented to future-fit? With Katie McRobert and Tyson Cattle
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 $4
