Harry Pye is the Owner of Gingie Pastoral near Walgett. Harry's 26,000-hectare property is split between arable cropping country and grazing for Dorper ewes and wagyu cattle. Due to the skilled labour shortage, Harry and his family have embraced automation and robotics in their operation. In this episode, Harry explains how SwarmFarm has changed his cropping operation and the impact he believes driverless tractors will have. Local Land Services Mixed Farming Advisor, Rohan Leach, caught up with Harry for all the details. This episode is part one of our two-part chat with Harry. Join us for the next episode, where Harry discusses his sheep enterprise and why he chose to switch from merinos to Dorpers. Connect: Central West LLS website Central West LLS on Facebook Central West LLS on Twitter Central West LLS on YouTube The views contained in this podcast series are not necessarily endorsed by Central West Local Land Services. Listeners are advised to contact their local office to discuss their individual situation.

Stan Noonan is a Crop Protection Specialist and Farmer at ‘Retford Park’, a small property along the Macquarie River near Dubbo. With the help of his family, Stan focuses on buying calves and growing them out with introduced pastures and grazing crops. In this episode, Stan explains how he achieves high growth rates by focusing on quality feed for his livestock to reach their weight targets quickly. He also breaks down how he extends the life of feed from a good season by using baled silage, the challenges involved, and the lessons he’s learnt along the way. He also dives into how he works with growers as a Crop Protection Specialist to improve their spray application and weed control on the property. Resources and links: NSW DPI - Silage and hay information GRDC - GrowNotes - Spray application manual GRDC - Spray application tips and tactics Connect: Central West LLS website Central West LLS on Facebook Central West LLS on Twitter Central West LLS on YouTube The views contained in this podcast series are not necessarily endorsed by Central West Local Land Services. Listeners are advised to contact their local office to discuss their individual situation.

Sherrie Whitty, alongside her husband Luke, runs Mount Pleasant Limousins, a robust herd of 100 stud cows on a sprawling 2,000-acre property near the Jemalong Range, near Forbes. Their commitment to quality and animal welfare shines through in their operation, which stands as a beacon of excellence in the industry. In this episode, Sherrie emphasises the significance of selecting for temperament and docility in her cattle. She also explores the benefits of crossbreeding with limousin bulls. The conversation also covers Sherrie’s effective pasture management techniques, particularly her strategic approach to weed control, which plays a crucial role in optimising feed and maintaining healthy pastures. Local Land Services Mixed Farming Advisor, Rohan Leach caught up with Sherrie to hear all about it in person. Resources and links: MLA - Guidelines for selecting the breeding system Mount Pleasant Limousins Mount Pleasant Limousins on Facebook Connect: Central West LLS website Central West LLS on Facebook Central West LLS on Twitter Central West LLS on YouTube The views contained in this podcast series are not necessarily endorsed by Central West Local Land Services. Listeners are advised to contact their local office to discuss their individual situation.

Peter Grant and his wife Samantha own and operate “Nerreman”, a 530-hectare property on the Lachlan River, west of Forbes. They run a mixed farming enterprise, which includes irrigation, crops, and cattle.  In this episode, Peter shares his passion for growing different crops, especially his favourite one, sweetcorn. He also reveals how he has improved his water use efficiency and how he is dealing with the fall armyworm threat in his corn fields. You’ll also learn how Peter has adopted the use of drones on his farm to cope with the labour, skills, and time challenges.  Local Land Services Mixed Farming Advisor, Rohan Leach joined Peter for this conversation during a break from the sweetcorn harvest. Resources and links: Fall armyworm - GRDC Connect: Central West LLS website Central West LLS on Facebook Central West LLS on Twitter Central West LLS on YouTube The views contained in this podcast series are not necessarily endorsed by Central West Local Land Services. Listeners are advised to contact their local office to discuss their individual situation.

Kylie Matthews and her husband Adrian own “Kooyong”, just off the highway between Forbes and West Wyalong. Kylie manages their cattle and chicken meat operation and keeps the wheels turning while Adrian works full-time away from the farm. In this episode, Kylie explains how they built up their farming operation to incorporate cattle and chickens, and how their massive 3-kilometre vegetation corridor project has impacted the farm. She also opens up about their new agritourism venture: The Silo House, which has been both challenging but also rewarding. Connect: Central West LLS website Central West LLS on Facebook Central West LLS on Twitter Central West LLS on YouTube The views contained in this podcast series are not necessarily endorsed by Central West Local Land Services. Listeners are advised to contact their local office to discuss their individual situation.

Trent Frazer is a Producer on his family farm “Warree”, southwest of Stuart Town. Trent and his family run a predominantly sheep and cattle operation with a little bit of cropping. In this episode, Trent lets the cat out of the bag about his passion for wool and the challenges and rewards of being part of this staple industry. He reflects on how producers can use local trials to give themselves the information needed to make good decisions. Finally, he opens up about struggling to manage St John's wort on the property and how they're approaching it now. Local Land Services Cropping Officer, Tim Bartimote, caught up with Trent to chat at his farm, "Warree". Resources and links: NSW DPI’s fact sheet for St John’s wort NSW DPI’s best practice management guide for St John’s wort  Connect: Central West LLS website Central West LLS on Facebook Central West LLS on Twitter Central West LLS on YouTube The views contained in this podcast series are not necessarily endorsed by Central West Local Land Services. Listeners are advised to contact their local office to discuss their individual situation.

Summer’s not quite over yet and we’re revisiting more farmers who’ve lived through drought and the lessons they’ve learnt along the way. In this episode, these farmers will explain how you can “minimise your geographic risk” to your herds by spreading them across properties, how tagging can be used to identify your highest performing breeding stock, and one option for keeping your stock fed during a drought. Seeds for Success will be back to our regularly scheduled programming in Feb 2024. Full episode links: Tess Herbert episode Georgia White episode Trent Johnstone episode Connect: Central West LLS website Central West LLS on Facebook Central West LLS on Twitter Central West LLS on YouTube The views contained in this podcast series are not necessarily endorsed by Central West Local Land Services. Listeners are advised to contact their local office to discuss their individual situation.

With another hot, dry summer on the cards for Australia, we’re continuing to look back at our early episodes to glean the best knowledge from farmers who lived through the last drought. In this episode, these farmers will emphasise the importance of flexibility on the farm and adapting their business practices during a drought. They’ll also share the vital lessons they learned from the mistakes they made along the way. Seeds for Success will be back to our regularly scheduled programming in Feb 2024. Full episode links: Gabriel Passmore episode Tallah Looten episode Jack Brennan episode Connect: Central West LLS website Central West LLS on Facebook Central West LLS on Twitter Central West LLS on YouTube The views contained in this podcast series are not necessarily endorsed by Central West Local Land Services. Listeners are advised to contact their local office to discuss their individual situation.

We’re doing something a little bit different this summer! With another hot, dry outlook for Australia in 2024, we’re revisiting some of our early podcast episodes to hear how farmers fared through the last drought. In this episode, these farmers are opening up about how they managed their properties through the drought and the lessons they learned along the way. From destocking, alternative herd management, and modifications to feeding and housing, to the importance of mental health and focusing on family. One couple will even share their surprising response when the drought broke. Seeds for Success will be back to our regularly scheduled programming in Feb 2024. Full episode links: James Morse episode Kieran McHugh episode Elliot Shannon episode Jarrod and Emma Amery episode Andrew and Meegan Young episode Connect: Central West LLS website Central West LLS on Facebook Central West LLS on Twitter Central West LLS on YouTube The views contained in this podcast series are not necessarily endorsed by Central West Local Land Services. Listeners are advised to contact their local office to discuss their individual situation.

Nicole Samodol is the owner of Rowlee Wines near Orange. Rowlee Wines is a boutique winery with a huge variety of wines made using grapes from their vineyard and locally sourced additional grapes. In this episode, Nicole shares how “smoke taint” from bushfires in 2018 led to the diversification and restructuring of her family’s vineyard. She explains how a strong business plan was vital for achieving their goals which included the addition of on-site wine production, a cellar, and an agritourism strategy. She also spoke about what makes a good wine and how to pick one for yourself. Local Land Services Mixed Farming Advisor, Rohan Leach caught up with Nicole at the Rowlee Wines cellars.  Nominate a Mate: If you would like to nominate a mate or yourself, send your suggestion to rohan.leach@lls.nsw.gov.au as well as the guest location and a bit of background info on their farming business. Resources and links: Rowlee Wines website Nicole Samadol on LinkedIn Connect: Central West LLS website Central West LLS on Facebook Central West LLS on Twitter Central West LLS on YouTube The views contained in this podcast series are not necessarily endorsed by Central West Local Land Services. Listeners are advised to contact their local office to discuss their individual situation.

Tony Horan is a Farmer at “Briar Rose” just west of Bedgerabong. Tony operates a cattle enterprise along with cereal cropping for hay and silage production.  In this episode. Tony explains how the Travelling Stock Reserves near his property reduce grazing pressures on his farm and how they’ve helped him out through both floods and drought. Tony will also share the number one thing a cattle farmer needs in their life: at least one pet cow. Local Land Services Mixed Farming Advisor, Rohan Leach sat down with Tony at “Briar Rose” for this chat. Resources and links: NSW Travelling Stock Reserves Connect: Central West LLS website Central West LLS on Facebook Central West LLS on Twitter Central West LLS on YouTube The views contained in this podcast series are not necessarily endorsed by Central West Local Land Services. Listeners are advised to contact their local office to discuss their individual situation.

Scott Vincent is a Farmer at “Wirragai” just outside Narromine in NSW. Scott and his family run a mixed farming operation of beef cattle along with both irrigated and broadacre cropping.  In this episode, Scott digs into soil health, how he uses chaff lining to improve weed control, and how his management has changed in the last few seasons. He also walks through how a flexible production system allows him to make the most of new and exciting opportunities. Local Land Services Cropping Officer, Tim Bartimote, caught up with Scott outside on the verandah at “Wirrigai” to have this chat. Connect: Central West LLS website Central West LLS on Facebook Central West LLS on Twitter Central West LLS on YouTube The views contained in this podcast series are not necessarily endorsed by Central West Local Land Services. Listeners are advised to contact their local office to discuss their individual situation.

Will Lambell is a Farmer at “Weenya” and a Board Member of Tooraweenah Prime Lamb Marketing Co-Op. Will and his family run a mixed farming operation with cropping, shorthorn cattle, and over 2,000 head of self-replacing merino sheep. He is particularly focused on the livestock side of the business and sits on the board of the local marketing cooperative. In this episode, Will explains how “strength in numbers” is beneficial to farmers participating in a co-op. He also opens up about how he tries to practise what he preaches to only send prime, high-quality animals to sale. Local Land Services Mixed Farming Advisor, Rohan Leach caught up to chat with Will at his property overlooking the picturesque Warrumbungle Range. Resources and links: Tooraweenah Prime Lamb Marketing Co-Op website Tooraweenah Prime Lamb Marketing Co-Op Facebook Connect: Central West LLS website Central West LLS on Facebook Central West LLS on Twitter Central West LLS on YouTube The views contained in this podcast series are not necessarily endorsed by Central West Local Land Services. Listeners are advised to contact their local office to discuss their individual situation.

Nathan and Kieran Simpson are Farmers at “Binginbar Farms” at Gollan, 50km east of Dubbo. Together the brothers run a cropping and grazing enterprise that has been in the family for 155 years. Kieran is in charge of the livestock enterprise and Nathan is in charge of the cropping side of the business.  In this episode, Nathan and Kieran explore how their business has changed since the drought. Kieran shares his experiences with sheep feed lotting, before sharing the story of a highly successful joining in confinement lots. Nathan explains their cropping rotation, and breaks the complexity of perennial pastures. Plus, you’ll hear Nathan’s experience with soil amelioration and variable nutrition.  Local Land Services Mixed Farming Advisor, Rohan Leach sat down with the Simpson brothers for this chat. Connect: Central West LLS website Central West LLS on Facebook Central West LLS on Twitter Central West LLS on YouTube The views contained in this podcast series are not necessarily endorsed by Central West Local Land Services. Listeners are advised to contact their local office to discuss their individual situation.

Rodney Guest, along with his wife Leonie, owns and manages "Thornburn" near Rankin Springs. This year, the pair celebrate the milestone of 100 years of family farm ownership. In this episode, Rodney shares how he's been enjoying the recent good seasons, and how the introduction of technology such as WEED-IT has been a game changer in their cropping operation. Rod also explains how over the last 40 years, he's been involved in the fight to conserve the threatened malleefowl by hatching his own chicks and releasing them into an exclusion zone.  Local Land Service Senior Natural Resource Management officer, Jasmine Wells sat down with Rodney at home on "Thornburn" to bring you this chat. Connect: Central West LLS website Central West LLS on Facebook Central West LLS on Twitter Central West LLS on YouTube The views contained in this podcast series are not necessarily endorsed by Central West Local Land Services. Listeners are advised to contact their local office to discuss their individual situation.

Ed Blackburn is the Manager of “Wongaboori Station”, a 23,000-acre farm near Mendooran. He's also heavily involved with his family's nearby operation, “Gowenbrae”. As a former commercial agronomist, Ed has relished the opportunity to oversee the livestock production and cropping enterprises on "Wongaboori Station". In this episode, Ed explores the world of dual-purpose cropping and explains the process of producing a quality dual-purpose crop. He shares how important timeliness is in management, especially when considering grazing. Ed also shares the big benefits of dual-purpose crops, and how their flexibility and adaptability have worked for him. Local Land Services Mixed Farming Advisor, Rohan Leach sat down with Ed at "Gowanbrae" over a cuppa and a delicious slice of orange cake, to bring you this chat. Connect: Central West LLS website Central West LLS on Facebook Central West LLS on Twitter Central West LLS on YouTube The views contained in this podcast series are not necessarily endorsed by Central West Local Land Services. Listeners are advised to contact their local office to discuss their individual situation.

Ambrose Doolan and his wife Lisa run a commercial Angus cattle enterprise and a small stud bull operation, alongside some fodder cropping, on their property “Toorawandi” near Coonabarabran. On top of his family farming endeavours, Ambrose is also the proud Mayor of Warrumbungle Shire. In this episode, Ambrose explains the pros and cons of family farming in the Central West, and shares how the failure of conventional farming in his environment 20 years ago led him to adopt minimum tillage, and to become the first Australian importer of Seed Hawk Air Drills. He also shares the story of how he became involved with his community and local council, even now acting as the Mayor. Mixed Farming Advisor, Rohan Leach sat down with Ambrose over a cuppa in this chat at "Toorawandi". Connect: Central West LLS website Central West LLS on Facebook Central West LLS on Twitter Central West LLS on YouTube The views contained in this podcast series are not necessarily endorsed by Central West Local Land Services. Listeners are advised to contact their local office to discuss their individual situation.

Nathan Border is an Agronomist and Broadacre cropper, who farms alongside his family on their property "Oriel", just outside of Parkes near Goonumbla. In the last 15 years, the family has shifted from a mixed-farming system to a cropping-only enterprise, following the mindset of doing "As much as you can, as quickly as you can." In this episode, Nathan shares how the family has shifted to a cropping-only operation, and explains how it enabled the adoption of practices like chaff decking and summer cropping, to help maintain a proactive business. He also breaks down the changes that have allowed the business to improve production and overcome new challenges. Local Land Services Cropping Officer, Tim Bartimote, caught up with Nathan on the back veranda at "Oriel" for this chat. Connect: Central West LLS website Central West LLS on Facebook Central West LLS on Twitter Central West LLS on YouTube The views contained in this podcast series are not necessarily endorsed by Central West Local Land Services. Listeners are advised to contact their local office to discuss their individual situation.

Jack and Julie Gordon are the owners of Quartz Aussie White sheep stud, which they run on their 150 ha property just east of Forbes. On the farm, they oversee a flock of 250 self-replacing stud ewes, sourced directly from Tattykeel genetics. Alongside selling rams throughout NSW, they cultivate grazing cereals to supplement their perennial grazing system. Recently, they both completed the Central West LLS PROGRAZE course, which served as a helpful refresher on grazing management. In this episode, Jack and Julie explain the intensity of their sheep breeding enterprise, despite their rather small land area. They share how they invest in high-quality genetics, and actively track individual performance using eID and BreedELITE. They also explain how they have consciously selected Aussie Whites for their simplicity of management, and how it's allowed them to pursue off-farm careers whilst running the profitable stud. Local Land Services Mixed Farming Advisor, Rohan Leach sat down with Jack and Julie at their Quartz Aussie White stud just outside Forbes. Resources and links: Register for PROGRAZE Quartz Australian White website Quartz Australian White Stud on Facebook Australian White Sheep Breeders Association website Connect: Central West LLS website Central West LLS on Facebook Central West LLS on Twitter Central West LLS on YouTube The views contained in this podcast series are not necessarily endorsed by Central West Local Land Services. Listeners are advised to contact their local office to discuss their individual situation.

Greg Wynn, or Wynny as he's known to his mates, is a Cropping Manager at AAM Investments where he oversees Sunshine Farms aggregation in Corinella, near Forbes. He also runs his own mixed farming business, "Stratford", along with his wife, on a soldier settler block just south of Condobolin. In this episode, Greg shares how he's been able to approach business at "Stratford" with a clean slate, following the flooding on the Lachlan River last year. He explains how he's used flood lines and mapping to assign land use based on soil type and capability, and breaks down the interesting strategies he's put in place to reduce machinery overheads and attract farming contractors. Local Land Services Mixed Farming Advisor, Rohan Leach sat down with Wynny at home at "Stratford" to bring you this chat. This episode is part two of our two-part chat with Greg. Check out our last episode, where Greg shares what a day in his life is like in the world of corporate ag. Connect: Central West LLS website Central West LLS on Facebook Central West LLS on Twitter Central West LLS on YouTube The views contained in this podcast series are not necessarily endorsed by Central West Local Land Services. Listeners are advised to contact their local office to discuss their individual situation.

Greg Wynn, or Wynny as he's known to his mates, is a Cropping Manager at AAM Investments where he oversees Sunshine Farms aggregation in Corinella, near Forbes. In this episode, Greg shares his experiences in the world of corporate agriculture, and how his background has given him the valuable experience he needs to make big decisions on the farm. He also explains the importance of cost-benefit analysis, before breaking down the difference a good budget can make. Mixed Farming Advisor, Rohan Leach travelled to Corinella on a rainy June morning to bring you this chat with Greg. This episode is part one of our two-part chat with Greg. Join us for the next episode, where Greg shares the story of his personal mixed farming business. Connect: Central West LLS website Central West LLS on Facebook Central West LLS on Twitter Central West LLS on YouTube The views contained in this podcast series are not necessarily endorsed by Central West Local Land Services. Listeners are advised to contact their local office to discuss their individual situation.

Warren "Chaddy" Chad is a local Condobolin character, builder, and bird enthusiast. From a young age, Chaddy has taken a keen interest in native wildlife, and is especially passionate about the incredible variety of birds that live across the Central West. In this episode, Chaddy shares how his love of birds has led to him working with farmers, landcare groups, and government agencies including Local Land Services, to conduct important bird surveys across the region. He'll explain how he's grown to appreciate the benefits of birds on farms, and break down the role that local farmers have in the protection of our native birds. Local Land Services, Senior Natural Resource Officer, Jasmine Wells caught up for a chat with Chaddy while undertaking a recent bird survey. Resources and links: Warren "Chaddy" Chad on Instagram Malleefowl Matter - Local Land Services Website BirdLife Australia Website Connect: Central West LLS website Central West LLS on Facebook Central West LLS on Twitter Central West LLS on YouTube The views contained in this podcast series are not necessarily endorsed by Central West Local Land Services. Listeners are advised to contact their local office to discuss their individual situation.

Bill Ferguson is a fourth-generation producer who runs Dunedin Pastoral, a company based in Trangie that owns and manages "Horrigen Park" and "Warrawee". Both farms primarily produce dryland crops and irrigated cotton, with Bill working in his overtime to automate his farming practices wherever he can. In this episode, Bill explains the exciting opportunities he sees for new advancements in technology for agriculture, and how this has recently become reality on his farms with the trialling of modified machinery that automatically sprays paddocks. Bill also shares his ultimate goal of improving efficiency on farm, and what he's doing to find the perfect balance between valuable farm labour, and new-age automation.  Local Land Services Cropping Advisor Tim Bartimote sat down with Bill over a cuppa to see what the future of farming might look like. Resources and links: Automation: opportunities for adoption in agriculture - GRDC Connect: Central West LLS website Central West LLS on Facebook Central West LLS on Twitter Central West LLS on YouTube The views contained in this podcast series are not necessarily endorsed by Central West Local Land Services. Listeners are advised to contact their local office to discuss their individual situation.

Original publish date: Tue 06 Dec 2022. Paul Sinderberry, along with his wife and daughter, farm at "Carawatha", 50km north of Condobolin. Alongside a traditional mixed farm with wheat, canola and pulse cropping, they also run commercial and stud Angus cattle herds.  In today's episode, Paul explains how their stud cattle operation, "Moogenilla Angus", led to their investigation and trailing of hard-seeded legumes in their pasture system. He shares how the low-bloating nature of hard-seeded legumes like biserrula and serradella was enticing to Paul, after losing expensive stud animals on bloating legume pasture, like lucerne and clover. Finally, Paul shares some useful tips for anyone considering growing hard-seeded legumes on their own farm.  Local Land Services Mixed Farming Advisor, Rohan Leach, joined Paul on the lounge at Carawatha over a cuppa and a toasted sandwich to bring you this great chat. Resources and links: Central West Farming Systems on Facebook Producer Demonstration Site info Connect: Central West LLS website Central West LLS on Facebook Central West LLS on Twitter Central West LLS on YouTube The views contained in this podcast series are not necessarily endorsed by Central West Local Land Services. Listeners are advised to contact their local office to discuss their individual situation.

Katrina Swift is a Director and Agronomist for her family's farming operation, "Kebby and Watson", which runs farms at Nelungaloo and Tichborne, near Parkes. Katrina and her family run a dryland farming operation, with a variety of crop types, including regional staples like wheat and canola, and summer crops like mung beans and sorghum. In this episode, Katrina explains why crop diversity helps mitigate risk on the farm, but keeps the operation busy all year round. She also shares how this system has helped reduce casual labour and maximise productivity with their machinery and permanent state. Katrina also shares her tips for growing summer crops in the Central West and notes that their profitability isn't without its challenges. Local Land Services Mixed Farming Advisor Rohan Leach caught up with Katrina for a chat around the kitchen table at “Parkes Plains”. Connect: Central West LLS website Central West LLS on Facebook Central West LLS on Twitter Central West LLS on YouTube The views contained in this podcast series are not necessarily endorsed by Central West Local Land Services. Listeners are advised to contact their local office to discuss their individual situation.

Mel Kiel, along with her husband David, runs a grass-fed cattle trading business on their property "Mione", near Yeoval. As David works as a mobile mechanic across NSW, Mel has taken the lead on farm, and has worked hard to build their cattle business whilst regenerating their soils, pastures, and general biodiversity. In this episode, Mel explains how various training courses have led to their business success, and why she is such a big believer in building knowledge and continuous planning. She also shares the tools she uses to make timely decisions in her business, before sharing how and why she trades cattle with profit in mind before even making the purchase. Central West Local Land Services Senior Natural Resource Officer, Jasmine Wells, caught up with Mel fresh out of the paddock for this chat at home on "Mione". Connect: Central West LLS website Central West LLS on Facebook Central West LLS on Twitter Central West LLS on YouTube The views contained in this podcast series are not necessarily endorsed by Central West Local Land Services. Listeners are advised to contact their local office to discuss their individual situation.

Emmanuel Azzopardi is an irrigated hay and vegetable farmer who runs "Durmore" near Forbes, along with his wife Catherine and son Benjamin. Emmanuel is a third-generation farmer, with his family's farming origins starting with his grandparents and parents near Blacktown and Richmond, continuing through to his first major operation in Cowra in 2002, and now to his current property near Forbes. In this episode, Emmanuel dives into his experiences with planning farm infrastructure projects, starting from scratch, and managing labour shortages and market factors. He also discusses how industry changes have required him to adjust his enterprise mix from horticulture dominated to a more broadacre farming focus in recent years. Plus, Emmanuel shares his passion for watermelon farming and explains the waiting game involved in growing this unique crop. Local Land Services Mixed Farming Advisor, Rohan Leach sat down with Emmanuel on a windy day at “Durmore” for this chat about veggie farming. Connect: Central West LLS website Central West LLS on Facebook Central West LLS on Twitter Central West LLS on YouTube The views contained in this podcast series are not necessarily endorsed by Central West Local Land Services. Listeners are advised to contact their local office to discuss their individual situation.

Bill Castleden is a harvest contractor based in Warren in Central West New South Wales. Bill discovered his passion for contract harvesting while working on farms in the area, and with the help of some useful connections, he started his own contracting business in 2017. In this episode, Bill gives us an inside look at what it takes to run a successful harvest contracting business. He also dives into the intricacies of machinery setup, attracting and retaining quality workers, and managing the day-to-day operations of a harvesting business. Plus, Bill shares his experiences working and travelling from the top of Queensland to the bottom of Victoria, and what he learnt along the way. Local Land Services Cropping Advisor, Tim Bartimote caught up with Bill near Warren, in a couple of armchairs, at his home on "Drungalear". Connect: Central West LLS website Central West LLS on Facebook Central West LLS on Twitter Central West LLS on YouTube The views contained in this podcast series are not necessarily endorsed by Central West Local Land Services. Listeners are advised to contact their local office to discuss their individual situation.

Emma Bowman is an Advisor and Technician of sheep artificial reproduction at Genstock. Emma is passionate about the sheep industry, having grown up on Uardry Merino Stud near Hay, where her father was the manager for almost 20 years. This instilled a passion for ag in Emma and in particular, sheep genetics, which led to her working in the industry and specialising in sheep reproduction. In this episode, Emma explains the process of artificial insemination (AI), and how farmers in the Central West are increasingly turning to artificial breeding services to fine-tune their livestock reproduction. She'll also break down the pros and cons of artificial reproduction,  and share how farmers can maximise their genetic gain and accelerate production in their livestock system. Local Land Services Mixed Farming Officer, Rohan Leach, sat down with his good mate Emma for this chat, one relaxed Sunday afternoon in Dubbo. Connect: Central West LLS website Central West LLS on Facebook Central West LLS on Twitter Central West LLS on YouTube The views contained in this podcast series are not necessarily endorsed by Central West Local Land Services. Listeners are advised to contact their local office to discuss their individual situation.

Jacob Knight is a 3rd generation farmer at "Boxwood", a 2,200-ha property near Mendooran, that he runs with his family. In this episode, Jacob explains how his family have spent the last few decades slowly improving their business through self-evaluation, in an attempt to determine the best mix of enterprises. He also explains their decisions to increase their focus on dual-purpose cropping and establishing temperate pastures to maximise production in their prime lambs. Local Land Services Cropping advisor Tim Bartimote sat down with Jacob for a cuppa and this chat at Boxwood. Connect: Central West LLS website Central West LLS on Facebook Central West LLS on Twitter Central West LLS on YouTube The views contained in this podcast series are not necessarily endorsed by Central West Local Land Services. Listeners are advised to contact their local office to discuss their individual situation.

Ian McCutcheon is the owner of "Berida", a mixed-farming operation located just west of Gilgandra. "Berida" boasts one of the largest and oldest woolsheds in the district, having been built in 1899, which has become a hotspot for agritourism opportunities. In this episode, Ian discusses the challenges of running a cattle, sheep, and grain operation simultaneously. He also shares his insights on the importance of surrounding yourself with good advisors and how it helps with critical decision-making. Finally, Ian shares his experience with agritourism and how it has helped connect the local community with the farming history of Gilgandra. Cropping advisor Tim Bartimote caught up with Ian for this chat one sunny afternoon around the kitchen table. Connect: Central West LLS website Central West LLS on Facebook Central West LLS on Twitter Central West LLS on YouTube The views contained in this podcast series are not necessarily endorsed by Central West Local Land Services. Listeners are advised to contact their local office to discuss their individual situation.

Ian Clifton, better known as Harry, runs a commercial Angus cattle herd with his family, on their 12,000-acre property "Keronga", near Coonabarabran. Harry specialises in using Wagyu bulls over his Angus females, to create a crossbred or F1 steer, destined for the Japanese market. In this episode, Harry explains how his pastures, like slender leaf serradella, have helped his less productive soil types to pull their weight. He also breaks down the Wagyu market across seasons, thanks to his eight years of experience in the enterprise. Finally, Harry discusses the importance of relationships in his business, and what this means in the Japanese Wagyu market. Central West Local Land Services Mixed Farming Officer, Rohan Leach, sat down with Harry for this chat, after a morning out in the paddock collecting some slender leaf serradella seed. Connect: Central West LLS website Central West LLS on Facebook Central West LLS on Twitter Central West LLS on YouTube The views contained in this podcast series are not necessarily endorsed by Central West Local Land Services. Listeners are advised to contact their local office to discuss their individual situation.

Jenny Bradley, alongside her son Jack and her husband Craig, farm at "New Armatree", just outside of Armatree in the Central West. The family operates a winter-based cropping program, although Jenny is the first to admit that her heart is with livestock, as they also run a successful commercial merino enterprise. In this episode, Jenny and Jack will share how they've spent the recent years focusing on building their Border Leicester seed stock enterprise. Jenny discusses how an innovation grant through the Local Land Services was the catalyst behind enhancing the recording of their performance data for individual animals, and how breeding objectives that shape the style of an animal are possible through the use of electronic tags. Plus, Jack will explain how the integration of new technologies not only reduces the labour component on farm, but also helps eliminate human error, and better analyse performance data. Local Land Services Mixed Farming Advisor, Rohan Leach, sat down with Jenny and Jack at home on New Armatree to learn more about the importance of performance-tested and measured animals for the future of our red meat industry. This episode is part two of a two-part conversation with Jenny and Jack. Check out our last episode for part one, where we hear how the family continues the conversation about succession planning, and how data-driven decision-making is leading them to success. Special thanks: This episode is supported by Central West Local Land Services, through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program. Connect: Central West LLS website Central West LLS on Facebook Central West LLS on Twitter Central West LLS on YouTube The views contained in this podcast series are not necessarily endorsed by Central West Local Land Services. Listeners are advised to contact their local office to discuss their individual situation.

Jenny and Jack Bradley are a mother and son who farm "New Armatree", their property just outside of Armatree in the Central West. The family operates a successful commercial merino enterprise, joining to Border Leicesters, alongside running a winter-based cropping program. In this episode, Jenny shares her family's history of farming at "New Armatree", which spans over 70 years and across three generations. She'll explain how succession is a process they've worked on for a long time, that's all made possible through good communication and a shared vision. They'll also explain how managing pasture, on-farm biosecurity, and data-driven decision-making have been the keys to their success. Local Land Services Mixed Farming Advisor, Rohan Leach, sat down with Jenny and Jack on an unusually cold November morning to learn more about the successful business they are building at New Armatree. This episode is part one of a two-part conversation with Jenny and Jack. Join us in the next episode where we continue our conversation about the importance of eID and new technologies to boost individual animal performance data, and how this is the key driver for production gains both on the farm, and in the growing future of our red meat industry. Special thanks: This episode is supported by Central West Local Land Services, through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program. Connect: Central West LLS website Central West LLS on Facebook Central West LLS on Twitter Central West LLS on YouTube The views contained in this podcast series are not necessarily endorsed by Central West Local Land Services. Listeners are advised to contact their local office to discuss their individual situation.

Tony Single is a 4th generation farmer who works alongside his family to run “Narratigah”, their family property, located southeast of Coonamble. They primarily run a winter and summer cropping program to maximise the productivity of stored soil moisture.  In today's episode, Tony explains why every decision on their farm is influenced by the goal to make every drop count. He also breaks down the potential risks in their farming system, including herbicide resistance, and how the family's venture into the ag-tech space is helping them identify weed populations, and maximise efficiency. Local Land Services Cropping advisor Tim Bartimote caught up with Tony for this chat on a strangely clear-skyed afternoon around the kitchen table at “Narritagah”. Resources and links: Single Agriculture Website Connect: Central West LLS website Central West LLS on Facebook Central West LLS on Twitter Central West LLS on YouTube The views contained in this podcast series are not necessarily endorsed by Central West Local Land Services. Listeners are advised to contact their local office to discuss their individual situation.

Gabby Neal is a fashion designer and entrepreneur, who was born into a wool-growing family in Condobolin. She eventually moved to Sydney to attend high school, where she stayed to study fashion before moving to New York to advance her career. In 2017, she returned home to the farm in the middle of a drought and was inspired to create INTACT — a fashion label focused on ethically and sustainably sourced products that celebrate the versatility of wool. In this episode, Gabby explains how helping her family feed sheep during the recent drought inspired her to create change for her family, and the wool industry as a whole, beyond the farm gates. She shares her realisation of the wool-shaped gap in the market, as a sustainable response to fast fashion. Finally, Gabby breaks down the outdated perceptions of wool and explains how she's showcasing the fibre in a whole new light. Resources and links: INTACT Website INTACT Instagram Connect: Central West LLS website Central West LLS on Facebook Central West LLS on Twitter Central West LLS on YouTube The views contained in this podcast series are not necessarily endorsed by Central West Local Land Services. Listeners are advised to contact their local office to discuss their individual situation.

Paul Sinderberry, along with his wife and daughter, farm at "Carawatha", 50km north of Condobolin. Alongside a traditional mixed farm with wheat, canola and pulse cropping, they also run commercial and stud Angus cattle herds.  In today's episode, Paul explains how their stud cattle operation, "Moogenilla Angus", led to their investigation and trailing of hard-seeded legumes in their pasture system. He shares how the low-bloating nature of hard-seeded legumes like biserrula and serradella was enticing to Paul, after losing expensive stud animals on bloating legume pasture, like lucerne and clover. Finally, Paul shares some useful tips for anyone considering growing hard-seeded legumes on their own farm.  Local Land Services Mixed Farming Advisor, Rohan Leach, joined Paul on the lounge at Carawatha over a cuppa and a toasted sandwich to bring you this great chat. Resources and links: Central West Farming Systems on Facebook Producer Demonstration Site info Connect: Central West LLS website Central West LLS on Facebook Central West LLS on Twitter Central West LLS on YouTube The views contained in this podcast series are not necessarily endorsed by Central West Local Land Services. Listeners are advised to contact their local office to discuss their individual situation.

David Watt owns and manages a 5,600 ha mixed farming business, where he runs close to 1000 merino ewes. He also handles winter cropping and an intensive lamb feedlot near Trundle, in Central West NSW. In today's episode, David shares all the important details about developing a sheep feedlot, including what needs to be considered before starting a feedlotting business, and the major changes he has made to his design over time. David also explains the rather particular traits he looks for in his lambs, before reminding us all about the importance of biosecurity on farms. Local Land Services Senior Natural Resource Officer, Jasmine Wells managed to squeeze in this chat with David on one of his recent trips into town for supplies. Connect: Central West LLS website Central West LLS on Facebook Central West LLS on Twitter Central West LLS on YouTube The views contained in this podcast series are not necessarily endorsed by Central West Local Land Services. Listeners are advised to contact their local office to discuss their individual situation.

Robbie Peters and his family run "Burrawang" at Yarrabandai, northwest of Forbes. Robbie runs a mixed-farming operation, where he trades sheep and cattle, alongside crop farming on a short rotation coming out of pasture. In today's episode, Robbie shares how he got his start in ag through cattle trading, and how he ended up cropping in a shared-farming arrangement. He also explains how an overdraft account allowed him to expand his operation, and eventually even purchase his own farm. Local Land Services Mixed Farming Advisor, Rohan Leach, sat down for a cuppa and a yarn with Robbie at "Burrawang" Homestead. Connect: Central West LLS website Central West LLS on Facebook Central West LLS on Twitter Central West LLS on YouTube The views contained in this podcast series are not necessarily endorsed by Central West Local Land Services. Listeners are advised to contact their local office to discuss their individual situation.

Original publish date: Tue 02 Feb 2021. Fiona Aveyard and her husband Bill run Outback Lamb, a vertically-integrated farming business focusing on single-origin pasture-fed lamb. It's part of their commercial sheep and cropping operation, 'Westpoint', near Tullamore. Determined to secure the future for their four children, Bill and Fiona came up with a creative approach to growing their business. And in this episode, you'll hear how this plan, combined with a gradual embrace of social media, has allowed them to extend the reach of their 'paddock to plate' story. Resources and links: Provenance Storytelling for Success Connect: Central West LLS website Central West LLS on Facebook Central West LLS on Twitter Central West LLS on YouTube The views contained in this podcast series are not necessarily endorsed by Central West Local Land Services. Listeners are advised to contact their local office to discuss their individual situation.

Ben Egan is a sixth-generation farmer, who farms on his family property "Kiameron", alongside his wife, three kids, father and mother. Ben is deeply passionate about ensuring the longevity of his farming business and continuing to hand the property down to the next generation in a better condition than it was found. In this episode, Ben explains how to organise succession planning for your farm, and what it means to run an 'infinite farm'. He also shares his experience in cotton farming, and how water access and seasons have such a big impact on decision-making. Connect: Central West LLS website Central West LLS on Facebook Central West LLS on Twitter Central West LLS on YouTube The views contained in this podcast series are not necessarily endorsed by Central West Local Land Services. Listeners are advised to contact their local office to discuss their individual situation.

Maurie Street and his family run "Huanita", east of Dubbo, near Wongarbon. They focus on dryland winter cropping, whilst Maurie works full-time as the GEO of GOA, the Grains Orana Alliance. GOA is a grower-driven research and development organisation based in the Central West, which runs via funding from the Grain Research and Development Corporation. In this episode, Maurie shares what he believes the significant challenges will be for the industry going forward. He touches on the difficulties of maintaining nitrogen levels and managing the price of nitrogen in this market. Maurie also shares some practical ways to increase nitrogen efficiency in your soil and what to be aware of to ensure you're getting the most out of your nitrogen.  Local Land Services cropping advisor, Tim Bartimote caught up with Maurie by the fire on a very wet, rainy morning at "Huanita". This episode is part two of our conversation with Maurie. Check out our last episode for part one, where Maurie explains why he places such importance on nitrogen in his soil. Connect: Central West LLS website Central West LLS on Facebook Central West LLS on Twitter Central West LLS on YouTube The views contained in this podcast series are not necessarily endorsed by Central West Local Land Services. Listeners are advised to contact their local office to discuss their individual situation.

Maurie Street and his family run "Huanita", a dryland winter cropping farm east of Dubbo. Maurie also works as the CEO of Grains Orana Alliance, a Central West-based research and development organisation, which is driven by growers, and funded through Grain Research and Development Corporation investments. In this episode, Maurie explains why his focus is on cropping at "Huanita", and why nitrogen is so important in his production system. He also details his involvement with the Grains Orana Alliance, or GOA, and shares the work they do with producers in the Central West to find solutions to local cropping problems.  Local Land Services cropping advisor, Tim Bartimote, caught up with Maurie by the fire on a very wet, rainy morning at "Huanita". This episode is part one of our two-part conversation with Maurie. Keep an eye out for the next episode, where Maurie shares his tips on how to maximise nitrogen efficiency. Connect: Central West LLS website Central West LLS on Facebook Central West LLS on Twitter Central West LLS on YouTube The views contained in this podcast series are not necessarily endorsed by Central West Local Land Services. Listeners are advised to contact their local office to discuss their individual situation.

Emma Ayliffe, along with her partner Craig, runs "Gleesons", a 1700-acre farm near Lake Cargelligo, alongside running a successful agronomy business, Summit Ag Consulting. Above all, Emma is passionate about helping farmers stay connected through supportive and constructive peer-based networks.  In today's episode, Emma explains how she started in agriculture and shares her lessons about cropping in low-rainfall zones. She also breaks down "Yacker", an app designed to help farmers connect to industry experts and foster knowledge sharing and growth throughout the ag industry. Local Land Services cropping officer Tim Bartimote battled his way around flood waters to catch up with Emma for this chat. Resources and links: Yacker App AgCAREERSTART Gap Year Program Protein Mapping Resource Grid Soil Sampling Resource Connect: Central West LLS website Central West LLS on Facebook Central West LLS on Twitter Central West LLS on YouTube The views contained in this podcast series are not necessarily endorsed by Central West Local Land Services. Listeners are advised to contact their local office to discuss their individual situation.

Scott Hickman and his wife run a grazing operation on their 770ha property near Canowindra. They run cattle and sheep with a passion for ecological health principles and holistic management techniques, including time-controlled, planned grazing methods.  In today's episode, Scott details the effects of prolonged dry years on their operation and how this prompted them to find ways to minimise input, financial strain, and stress. He also shares how the adoption of holistic management principles has led to success on the farm. Additionally, Scott discusses his role as a Grazing Officer for Mic-Lachlan Landcare and his passion for group support and mentorship. Local Land Services Senior Natural Resource Officer Jasmine Wells caught up with Scott over a cuppa on the farm at Oakleigh. Resources and links: Growing the Grazing Revolution | Mid Lachlan Landcare Prograze - profitable, sustainable grazing Connect: Central West LLS website Central West LLS on Facebook Central West LLS on Twitter Central West LLS on YouTube The views contained in this podcast series are not necessarily endorsed by Central West Local Land Services. Listeners are advised to contact their local office to discuss their individual situation.

Andrew Charlton and his family run a mixed-farming operation at "Cedar Park", their home property at Ballimore. They currently run around 4,000 Merino ewes and 1,000 cattle, along with dual-purpose cropping and grazing.  In today's episode, Andrew shares his newfound interest in goats and how he balances his new Kalahari Red Goat stud alongside his sheep and cattle trading. He also explains how smart livestock trading helped expand his business and how essential quality pastures are in pushing livestock productivity.  Local Land Services Mixed Farming officer Rohan Leach sat down with Andrew at home at "Cedar Park" for a chat overlooking his newest drop of Kalahari Reds. Resources and links: David Grieg | The right rams: Twinning at the Merino game Connect: Central West LLS website Central West LLS on Facebook Central West LLS on Twitter Central West LLS on YouTube The views contained in this podcast series are not necessarily endorsed by Central West Local Land Services. Listeners are advised to contact their local office to discuss their individual situation.

Luke Dunn and his family run "Oak Hills", a mixed farming operation near Mandagery, 30km east of Parkes in the Central West. They focus on wool and sheep-meat production and are passionate about creating a consistent product.  In today's episode, Luke talks through the process of fleece weighting at shearing time, a process they undertake to help them produce a consistent product and help drive decision-making around their wool enterprise. Luke also shares how he's minimising their farming business's risk with diversified sheep enterprises, including merinos, crossbred lambs, and wool-growing wethers.  Local Land Services Mixed Farming Officer Rohan Leach met Luke in the shearing shed for this chat amongst the sheep. Connect: Central West LLS website Central West LLS on Facebook Central West LLS on Twitter Central West LLS on YouTube The views contained in this podcast series are not necessarily endorsed by Central West Local Land Services. Listeners are advised to contact their local office to discuss their individual situation.

Broden Holland runs a mixed farming operation between Grenfell and Young, alongside his extended family. Like so many others this season, Koolpari Enterprises has been dealing with the price of inputs against potential yields, leading to some clever decision-making on-farm. In today's episode, Broden shares some of the challenges he's expecting during the 2022 cropping season and how basing paddock decisions on grain protein maps rather than yield mapping has been a game-changer for their business. Broden also shares the ag technology used on his farm and how this early adoption has helped increase yields and uniformity in their crops.  Local Land Services cropping officer Time Bartimote caught up with Broden in the machinery shed between a couple of loads of spray rig for this chat. Special thanks: This episode is supported by Central West Local Land Services, through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program. Connect: Central West LLS website Central West LLS on Facebook Central West LLS on Twitter Central West LLS on YouTube The views contained in this podcast series are not necessarily endorsed by Central West Local Land Services. Listeners are advised to contact their local office to discuss their individual situation.

David Greig runs a mixed farming operation near Tottenham, where he works alongside his wife Melissa and their two children. David is passionate about the Merino industry and has spent the last ten years choosing rams with above-average sheep breeding values for fat, muscle, good growth rates, and other desirable traits such as breech cover and breech wrinkle. In this episode, David explains how he's seen their lambing percentages double through the selection of superior rams with desired traits. You'll also hear David's journey and connection to ag, as well as his plans for the future. Plus, an insight into why he's comfortable with less commonly preferred traits, such as smaller-framed ewes. Local Land Services Senior Natural Resource Officer, Jasmine Wells, caught up with David in between jobs on the farm at Tottenham for a cuppa and this chat. Connect: Central West LLS website Central West LLS on Facebook Central West LLS on Twitter Central West LLS on YouTube The views contained in this podcast series are not necessarily endorsed by Central West Local Land Services. Listeners are advised to contact their local office to discuss their individual situation.

Tess Herbert, along with her husband Andrew and their family, runs a 6,000 head cattle feedlot on their property “Gundamain” at Eugowra, along the Lachlan River. Tess is a passionate advocate for the red-meat industry, and currently holds several leadership positions within the industry where she is working on developing innovative approaches to the issues facing Australian agriculture. In today's episode, Tess shares how important goal-setting has been in turning their small-scale family farming business into one of the largest employers for the region. You'll hear Tess talk about the challenges of feedlotting during the drought and floods, and give her perspective on some of the issues facing Australian Agriculture. Plus, Tess shares some handy marketing tips for forward contracts and working out your livestock buy price. Local Land Services Mixed Farming Officer Rohan Leach squeezed in this chat with Tess ahead of the next truckload of stock being delivered into the feedlot.   Resources and links: Big Tech Big Ideas Conference   Connect: Central West LLS website Central West LLS on Facebook Central West LLS on Twitter Central West LLS on YouTube   The views contained in this podcast series are not necessarily endorsed by Central West Local Land Services. Listeners are advised to contact their local office to discuss their individual situation.