Looking Over the Fence
Episode Title: Precision P for Long-Term Soil Health
Hosts: Tanja Morgan & Nick Paltridge
Supported by: The Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund Extension and Adoption Project

In this episode, Tanja and Nick visit the Northern Sustainable Soils region to dig into how growers are using strip trials and variable rate technology (VRT) to make smarter phosphorus fertiliser decisions. They share what happens when long-treated paddocks still respond to P, how simple tools and local support can make VRT accessible, and why soil testing for plant-available phosphorus matters. From building confidence through yield maps to adjusting inputs by zones, not just the season, this episode is packed with insights for improving soil health and long-term productivity.

Full case study available at Soils Connect

Disclaimer: The practices discussed are based on regional trials and may not suit all farms. Please seek independent advice before applying these approaches on your property.

This project is supported by Mallee Sustainable Farming, through funding from the Australian
Government’s Future Drought Fund.

Looking Over the Fence Episode Title: Precision P for Long-Term Soil Health Hosts: Tanja Morgan &amp; Nick Paltridge Supported by: The Australian Government&rsquo;s Future Drought Fund Extension and Adoption Project
In this episode, Tanja and Nick visit the Northern Sustainable Soils region to dig into how growers are using strip trials and variable rate technology (VRT) to make smarter phosphorus fertiliser decisions. They share what happens when long-treated paddocks still respond to P, how simple tools and local support can make VRT accessible, and why soil testing for plant-available phosphorus matters. From building confidence through yield maps to adjusting inputs by zones, not just the season, this episode is packed with insights for improving soil health and long-term productivity.
Full case study available at <a href="https://soilsconnect.com.au/resource/building-drought-resilience-with-precision/">Soils Connect</a>
Disclaimer: The practices discussed are based on regional trials and may not suit all farms. Please seek independent advice before applying these approaches on your property.
This project is supported by Mallee Sustainable Farming, through funding from the Australian Government&rsquo;s Future Drought Fund.

Welcome to the Looking Over the Fence podcast series — a dedicated playlist exploring how farmers across South Australia are building more resilient farming systems through better soil management.

Hosted by Nick Paltridge and Tanja Morgan, each episode dives into a different South Australian region to uncover practical, on-the-ground examples of how soil-based practices are driving change.

Through conversations around local farmer examples, this series highlights real-world case studies of those who have successfully adopted cost-effective, yield-responsive soil and fertiliser strategies. These practices are not only improving productivity but also helping future-proof farms against the impacts of drought.

This podcast is part of Mallee Sustainable Farming’s project ‘Building farming systems resilience and future-proofing the impacts of drought through accelerating the adoption of proven soil and fertiliser management practices by farmers across southern Australia’, funded through the Future Drought Fund (FDF) Extension and Adoption of Drought Resilience Farming Practices Program.

This project received funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund.

Welcome to the Looking Over the Fence podcast series &mdash; a dedicated playlist exploring how farmers across South Australia are building more resilient farming systems through better soil management.
Hosted by Nick Paltridge and Tanja Morgan, each episode dives into a different South Australian region to uncover practical, on-the-ground examples of how soil-based practices are driving change.
Through conversations around local farmer examples, this series highlights real-world case studies of those who have successfully adopted cost-effective, yield-responsive soil and fertiliser strategies. These practices are not only improving productivity but also helping future-proof farms against the impacts of drought.
This podcast is part of Mallee Sustainable Farming&rsquo;s project &lsquo;Building farming systems resilience and future-proofing the impacts of drought through accelerating the adoption of proven soil and fertiliser management practices by farmers across southern Australia&rsquo;, funded through the Future Drought Fund (FDF) Extension and Adoption of Drought Resilience Farming Practices Program.
This project received funding from the Australian Government&rsquo;s Future Drought Fund.

Looking over the fence podcast series 

MSF's Farm Talk Podcast proudly brings Farmers, Researchers and Ag Industry connections together to chat innovative farming practices to help build a sustainable farming future for our Mallee growers. Mallee Sustainable Farming is a farmer-driven organisation specialising in Research, Development and Extension for NSW, VIC & SA's low-rainfall Mallee region. For more information visit: www.msfp.org.au/podcast 

MSF's Farm Talk Podcast proudly brings Farmers, Researchers and Ag Industry connections together to chat innovative farming practices to help build a sustainable farming future for our Mallee growers. Mallee Sustainable Farming is a farmer-driven organisation specialising in Research, Development and Extension for NSW, VIC &amp; SA's low-rainfall Mallee region. For more information visit: <a href="http://www.msfp.org.au/podcast">www.msfp.org.au/podcast</a>&nbsp;

MSF Farm Talk Podcast

MSF's Farm Talk Podcast proudly brings Farmers, Researchers and Ag Industry connections together to chat innovative farming practices to help build a sustainable farming future for our Mallee growers. Mallee Sustainable Farming is a farmer-driven organisation specialising in Research, Development and Extension for NSW, VIC & SA's low-rainfall Mallee region.

MSF's Farm Talk Podcast proudly brings Farmers, Researchers and Ag Industry connections together to chat innovative farming practices to help build a sustainable farming future for our Mallee growers. Mallee Sustainable Farming is a farmer-driven organisation specialising in Research, Development and Extension for NSW, VIC &amp; SA's low-rainfall Mallee region.

MSF Farm Talk

Precision P  for Long Term Soil Health

 🎧 Join host Chris McDonough live from the Grain Automate Expo in Loxton 🌾 as he takes you out into the paddock for a deep dive into autonomous machinery 🚜 — featuring SwarmFarm and insights from a local grower 👨‍🌾

In this episode, Chris chats with:
Bailey Kilpatrick from SwarmFarm Robotics, who shares insights into how on-farm robotics can transform time, data and spraying management.
Harry Brown, a Lameroo grower, who reflects on how autonomy could fit into their farming system

🙌 The Grain Automate event was supported by the GRDC and SPAA, giving growers the chance to see new tech up close, ask questions, and think critically about what fits their farming business.

🌾 If you want to hear more, like 👍 and subscribe 🔔 to the MSF Farm Talk Podcast 🚜🎙️

If you missed Part 1 of this podcast, head to https://msfp.org.au/podcast/ 

For more information on SwarmFarm Robotics head to https://www.swarmfarm.com/

&nbsp;🎧 Join host Chris McDonough live from the Grain Automate Expo in Loxton 🌾 as he takes you out into the paddock for a deep dive into autonomous machinery 🚜 &mdash; featuring SwarmFarm and insights from a local grower 👨&zwj;🌾
In this episode, Chris chats with:
<ul>
<li>Bailey Kilpatrick from SwarmFarm Robotics, who shares insights into how on-farm robotics can transform time, data and spraying management.</li>
<li>Harry Brown, a Lameroo grower, who reflects on how autonomy could fit into their farming system</li>
</ul>
🙌 The Grain Automate event was supported by the GRDC and SPAA, giving growers the chance to see new tech up close, ask questions, and think critically about what fits their farming business.
🌾 If you want to hear more, like 👍 and subscribe 🔔 to the MSF Farm Talk Podcast 🚜🎙️
If you missed Part 1 of this podcast, head to <a href="https://msfp.org.au/podcast/">https://msfp.org.au/podcast/</a>&nbsp;
For more information on SwarmFarm Robotics head to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.swarmfarm.com/">https://www.swarmfarm.com/</a>

Part 2 Curiosity to Commitment - Farmers Navigating Ag Tech Adoption

Join host Chris McDonough straight from the Grain Automate Expo in Loxton as he catches up with 3 growers and a machinery reps about how farmers are tackling the big leap into ag tech.

🎧 Stick with us—there’s about 30 seconds of background noise at the start as we resolve some mic issues, but the audio improves quickly!

In this episode, Chris chats indoors with:
Mick Caughey, WA grower managing 5,000ha with VRT & trial strips


Bryson Rudiger, Mallee farmer about his gradual shift into adopting new technologies.


David Daniel, a Pinnaroo grower who shares his thoughts on the learning curve of tech 


Damien Fielke, machinery expert and rep, providing insights into the gear that’s getting attention.

Together, they explore what it takes for farmers to move from curiosity to full commitment when adopting agricultural technology.

📌 Part 2 will take you out into the paddock for a deep dive into autonomous machinery, featuring SwarmFarm and thoughts from a local grower.

🙌 The Grain Automate event was supported by the GRDC and SPAA, giving growers the chance to see new tech up close, ask questions, and think critically about what fits their farming business.

Join host Chris McDonough straight from the Grain Automate Expo in Loxton as he catches up with 3 growers and a machinery reps about how farmers are tackling the big leap into ag tech.
🎧 Stick with us&mdash;there&rsquo;s about 30 seconds of background noise at the start as we resolve some mic issues, but the audio improves quickly!
In this episode, Chris chats indoors with:
<ul data-start="653" data-end="989">
<li data-start="653" data-end="767">Mick Caughey, WA grower managing 5,000ha with VRT &amp; trial strips</li>
<li data-start="653" data-end="767">
Bryson Rudiger, Mallee farmer about his gradual shift into adopting new technologies.
</li>
<li data-start="768" data-end="883">
David Daniel, a Pinnaroo grower who shares his thoughts on the learning curve of tech&nbsp;
</li>
<li data-start="884" data-end="989">
Damien Fielke, machinery expert and rep, providing insights into the gear that&rsquo;s getting attention.
</li>
</ul>
Together, they explore what it takes for farmers to move from curiosity to full commitment when adopting agricultural technology.
📌 Part 2 will take you out into the paddock for a deep dive into autonomous machinery, featuring SwarmFarm and thoughts from a local grower.
🙌 The Grain Automate event was supported by the GRDC and SPAA, giving growers the chance to see new tech up close, ask questions, and think critically about what fits their farming business.

Part 1 Curiosity to Commitment - Farmers navigating ag tech adoption

This MSF FarmTalk episode is part of the 101 Soils Questions Series. We explore the basics of dry saline land—how it forms, why it gets worse in drought years, and what steps you can take to support recovery. Dr Chris McDonough, Insight Extension for Agriculture, joins host Tanja Morgan to discuss:


What causes dry saline patches to emerge or expand


How rainfall and evaporation affect salt movement


Realistic strategies for recovery and long-term management

This conversation is a must-listen if you’re managing low rainfall mixed farming systems and need practical support navigating drought-affected salt patches.

Useful Links & Resources:

Dry Saline Land Resources
A practical decision tool to assess your site and select appropriate management actions:
🔗 Dry Saline Land Decisions Tree

101 Soils Questions Book (Chapter on Salinity)
Explore common questions and answers about managing dry saline land and other soil constraints:
🔗 101 Soils Questions Book

Learn about identifying and managing Mallee Seeps (a different form of salinity):
🔗 Mallee Seeps Decision Tree

This podcast episode is supported by the South Australian Grain Industry Trust (SAGIT).

This MSF FarmTalk episode is part of the 101 Soils Questions Series. We explore the basics of dry saline land&mdash;how it forms, why it gets worse in drought years, and what steps you can take to support recovery. Dr Chris McDonough, Insight Extension for Agriculture, joins host Tanja Morgan to discuss:
<ul data-start="693" data-end="995">
<li data-start="693" data-end="747">
What causes dry saline patches to emerge or expand
</li>
<li data-start="862" data-end="932">
How rainfall and evaporation affect salt movement
</li>
<li data-start="933" data-end="995">
Realistic strategies for recovery and long-term management
</li>
</ul>
This conversation is a must-listen if you&rsquo;re managing low rainfall mixed farming systems and need practical support navigating drought-affected salt patches.
Useful Links &amp; Resources:
Dry Saline Land Resources A practical decision tool to assess your site and select appropriate management actions: 🔗 <a href="https://msfp.org.au/dry-saline-land-2/">Dry Saline Land Decisions Tree</a>
101 Soils Questions Book (Chapter on Salinity) Explore common questions and answers about managing dry saline land and other soil constraints: 🔗 <a href="https://soilsconnect.com.au/soil-faqs/">101 Soils Questions Book</a>
Learn about identifying and managing Mallee Seeps (a different form of salinity): 🔗 <a href="https://msfp.org.au/mallee-seeps-decision-tree/" data-start="1705" data-end="1742">Mallee Seeps Decision Tree</a>
This podcast episode is supported by the South Australian Grain Industry Trust (SAGIT).

Precision P for Long Term Soil Health

Looking over the fence podcast series

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