In this podcast we have a chat with Shanna Whan, the founder of Sober in the Country. At AgWatchers, we are partial to a little tipple, but her charity is not anti-grog, it is about helping those who have a problem.  Shanna set up SITC to help people who have alcohol dependency problems in rural areas. In this chat, we go on a range of topics about alcohol dependency, from our favourite tipples to the difference between Scottish and Australian drinking culture. 

In conjunction with AuctionsPlus, AgWatchers provides a fortnightly update on the drivers of the main agricultural markets in Australia. This week, we are having a Trump victory special. We will cover off on tariffs, global economy, and RFK. This podcast is a quick way to find out about the big market moves in agriculture, from an independent point of view. To make this podcast possible, our friends at AuctionsPlus are powering this segment of the Agwatchers podcast.  Remember to support the sponsor of this segment by subscribing by clicking here: AuctionsPlus

In this podcast recorded in early October, we have a chat with fellow EP3 contributor Chris Lawlor. We talk about a range of topics from the differences between ag in NZ and OZ, foreign investment in ag land, where the cheap land is and a whole lot more.

In conjunction with AuctionsPlus, AgWatchers provides a fortnightly update on the drivers of the main agricultural markets in Australia. This week, we focus on cattle, sheep, and wheat. This podcast is a quick way to find out about the big market moves in agriculture, from an independent point of view. To make this podcast possible, our friends at AuctionsPlus are powering this segment of the Agwatchers podcast.  Remember to support the sponsor of this segment by subscribing by clicking here: AuctionsPlus

We have a chat with Rachel Smith the Executive Director at Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters Association. Trucking in Australia has many challenges. We chat about electric trucks, live exports, automated trucks, getting staff and a whole lot more.

We will all experience grief at some point during our lives, and its something we can all deal with better. We recently met Michelle Moriarty at an event and she had a very interesting story, which we thought was worthwhile sharing. She won the 2023 WA Agrifutures Rural Women's Award for her organisation, Griefconnect. 

In conjunction with AuctionsPlus, AgWatchers provides a fortnightly update on the drivers of the main agricultural markets in Australia. This week, we focus on cattle, sheep, and wheat. This podcast is a quick way to find out about the big market moves in agriculture, from an independent point of view. To make this podcast possible, our friends at AuctionsPlus are powering this segment of the Agwatchers podcast.  Remember to support the sponsor of this segment by subscribing by clicking here: AuctionsPlus

As a pair, we go through the news daily and discuss what is happening. We thought, why not record it? So regularly, we will each choose a news topic to have a yarn about and give our views on, and we will select one together. On this podcast, we chat about dockworker strikes in the US, Chinese stimulus and the APVMA banning another ag chemical. 

In conjunction with AuctionsPlus, AgWatchers provides a fortnightly update on the drivers of the main agricultural markets in Australia. This week, we focus on cattle, sheep, and wheat. This podcast is a quick way to find out about the big market moves in agriculture, from an independent point of view. To make this podcast possible, our friends at AuctionsPlus are powering this segment of the Agwatchers podcast.  Remember to support the sponsor of this segment by subscribing by clicking here: AuctionsPlus

In this podcast we have David Jochinke aka DJ, the current president of the National Farmers Federation. DJ has been the president for a year now, so we thought it was time for a review.  We chat about SFO's pulling funding, the peak bodies, the Canberra rally and a whole lot more. 

As a pair, we go through the news daily and discuss what is happening. We thought, why not record it? So regularly, we will each choose a news topic to have a yarn about and give our views on, and we will select one together. On this podcast, we chat about an article from the past about controversial 'rainmaker' David Miles, the survey that says that over a third of veg growers want to quit, and the investigation into the supermarkets and uncompetitive behaviour. 

In conjunction with AuctionsPlus, AgWatchers are providing a fortnightly update on the drivers of the main agricultural markets in Australia. This week, we focus on cattle, sheep and wheat.  Grain pricing impacted by black sea conflict, and frost in Australia. Sheep yardings have increased in line with seasonal expectations. Cattle market trending sideways with strong US demand. To make this podcast possible, our friends at AuctionsPlus are powering this segment of the Agwatchers podcast.  Remember to support the sponsor of this segment by subscribing by clicking here: AuctionsPlus    

We have Adam Clarke on to have a chat about the grain market. We cover off on grain quality, Chinese trade, local trade, ISCC and sustainability and a whole lot more. 

Zeitgeist : the general intellectual, moral, and cultural climate of an era On the Agwatchers podcast, we are never fearful of failure and trying new things. As a pair, we go through the news each day and discuss what is happening. We thought, why not record it? So regularly, we will each choose a news topic to have a yarn about and give our views on, and we will select one together. In this podcast we chat about the dairy industry, ag chemical issues and the national ag rally. 

We have a chat with Christian Norgard. Andrew used to work with him, and he still agreed to come on the podcast for a chitchat. Christian works for Pure Grain. Pure grain are an interesting business which farms, researches and deals heavily in the malt industry.  This wide-ranging discussion includes traceability, zero-alcohol beer, barley breeding and global markets.  They are also running field day next week, where you can probably get yourself a few barley based drinks - register here

Our podcasts are generally interviews with guests, and we have probably been neglecting market updates. On a fortnightly basis, we will now be providing an independent update on Australian agricultural markets. To make this possible, our friends at AuctionsPlus are powering this segment of the Agwatchers podcast.  In this podcast, we chat about the cattle, grain and sheep markets.  Remember to support the sponsor of this segment by subscribing by clicking here: AuctionsPlus

We have a chat with Agwatchers semi-regular guest Ryan/Chris Hoiberg about what is happening in the ag job space. We touch upon redundancies occurring and the tightening market. The news of labour policy, which will impact how you can contact employees out of hours have many people concerned. We break this down., 

On the Agwatchers podcast we have spoken to most of the farmer representative groups in Australian agriculture. In this podcast we have on the relatively new organisation Farmers for Climate Action, who have 8000+ members.    We cover a wide range of topics in this podcast from climate change to communism. 

We had a chat with Shona Gawal, CEO of Grain Growers Limited.  This wide-ranging discussion includes the Olympics, breakdancing, Star Wars, paraquat, the election and a whole lot more. 

We have a chat with Marcus Pollock, GM of Agrinous. This company do all the background work for saleyards and agents to reduce the amount of paperwork in the livestock trading space.  We chat about cloud risks, connectivity, and data management in this conversation. We then get into an interesting discussion on misinformation in social media. 

We have a chat with renowned Esperance farmer Mic Fels. Over the years, Mic has expanded his farm, set up a software and machinery implement company, advocated for Australian agriculture, and is now running for preselection in the Swan electorate.    We have a good chat about a range of topics from small business to advocacy. 

We have a chat with Gillian Fennell aka Stationmum101. She has a range of roles in agriculture. In this podcast, we discuss succession, which seems to be a major issue in farming communities.  If you are going through this process, you might get some insights. 

We have a chat with Guy Webb, the founder of Loam Bio. In this podcast, we learn about adding fungal spores along with your seed to increase carbon in soils. This was an interesting chat with a lot of puns.  This is a novel technology that hopes to add carbon but also increase yields. A must-have listen if you are growing crops. 

In this podcast we have a chat with Stevi Howdle, the executive office of Farmsafe Australia. It is farm safety week, and we have a chat about the importance of safety on farm, why there are so many accidents, and what causes the arguments.    You can follow them on twitter/x at @farmsafeaust or visit farmsafe.org.au

A bit more of a lighthearted topic this week. We chat to Mia Ryan, the founder of Howdy. Howdy is a dating app like tinder or grindr but is designed for people in regional areas.  If you want tips on dating, Matt and Andrew give their advice. We also discussed red and beige flags, situationships, catfishing, polyamory, wearing crocs on a first date, and a lot more.  It's a good, fun episode, and if you are single (or cheating), you should consider getting on the Howdy app. 

We have a chat with award-winning Mandy Matthews, AKA rattle ya dags.  Mandy works in the sheep industry in Western Australia, both on farms and livestock vessels.  She was recently the winner of a services to industry award.  We talk about a range of topics, life on a boat, will the boats come back, campaigning for live export and a whole lot more. 

Overnight, the senate voted through the bill to ban live sheep exports from Australia. In May 2028, there will be no more sheep going via boat.  In this podcast, we thought we would have a chat among ourselves about a range of topics: where prices will go, the plan B, changing the government, the timeframe for a ban and a lot more.  If you are struggling with the impact of this phase out, remember there are people you can chat to. Feel free to contact us, if you need a yarn or to vent. 

A quick market update from the two of us. We have a chat about the live export bill going through the senate, the livestock market, grain market and urea imports being record high. 

We have a chat with Colin Bettles, CEO of Grain Producers Australia. We chat about the funding of peak bodies (follow on from Emma Germano podcast), autonomous vehicles in ag, chemical regulation and a whole lot more.  

We have a chat with Will Onus, co-founder of Ruminati. We have a chat about baselines for emissions reporting, and what is going to be happening in this space in the coming years.  You might be opposed to carbon accounting etc, but it is coming, so a worthwhile listen for Australian farmers. 

We had a long discussion with Emma Germano, the outgoing president of the Victorian Farmers Federation. In this podcast, we discuss the events of the VFF over the past year, including three court cases.  In breaking news, Emma tells us that she is canceling the VFF funding of several peak bodies.  Remember, the AgWatchers podcast is an unbiased platform. If you want to come on for a chat, get in touch. 

We have a chat with Tony Maher, CEO of the National Farmers Federation. In this discussion, we ask the important questions, like did they manage to eat their breakfast before walking out of the Crop Life budget breakfast. You will only find out that exclusive, and much more by listening to this podcast.  Remember to subscribe and share with your friends and family.     

We have Milly Nolan on the podcast, who was formerly with Humans of Agriculture and the livestock collective. We talk about communication between ag and non-ag, advocacy in general, our shared experience after dark, the live sheep export phase, her goals for a new job beyond the dole and psychology/personality tests. 

A quick chat where we cover off on baby reindeer, livestock and grain pricing. 

We have a chat with David Littleproud about the live export phase-out, the biosecurity levy, the cattle live ex payout and a whole lot more. 

We have a chat with an old colleague of AgWatchers, Michael De Kleuver. Michael has just set up the world's nearly completely autonomous wool-handling warehouse.   A range of topics are covered - Matt losing, getting labour, Trump winning, the wool market being a frog and the concerns about the sheep industry.   

Just the two of this week, as we haven't had the time to get a guest on. A quick market update covering the rally in the wheat market, bird flu in the US cattle, our predictions for Trump and a bit more. 

We have another chat with Trevor Whittington, CEO of WA Farmers and author of the Dry Farmer (click here). As always on our chat with Trevor, we discuss a range of topics.  Dry weather in WA, the future of the sheep industry, the announcement of state funding in WA to help dry farmers and a lot more. 

We record a podcast with animal scientist Robert Hewitt; Robert goes by the Twitter handle @meat_evangalist and has a very data and objective approach to his online debates.  In this podcast, we talk about how the pig industry has advanced production, lessons that cattle/sheep could learn from pork, how animal activists have some value and the retailing of pork. 

We do a quick market summary of what is happening across grains and livestock. 

We have Natalie Green, event organiser of the future ag expo, a new expo and conference held at the Melbourne showgrounds in April, which will display new ag technology and speakers (including us)

We are joined by John Hassell, President of WA Farmers and Vice President of the National Farmers Federation. John is from Pingelly, Western Australia.  In this chat, we discuss everything from climate change, live export, increasing efficiency in farm representation, protests in Europe, animal activism and a whole lot more. 

This week, we welcome Pip Courtney, the host of ABC Landline, onto the podcast. In this podcast, we talk about a range of topics from her favourite story, is Landline is representative of farming, the impact of technology on media and a whole lot more.  If you enjoy the podcast leave a review on apple, and share with your friends and family. 

We have a chat with Ben Pankhurst of Agtech by Design. Ben founded a business that uses AI/machine learning to detect and spray weeds in paddocks.  During this discussion we explain what AI actually is, whether it will lead to our demise and a whole lot more. 

It's just the two of us, as Matt and Andrew chat about what's happening in grain and livestock markets. We also give an educational lesson on the Hawthorne effect. 

We chat with Angeline Achariya, CEO of Innovation Gamechangers. Angeline worked in some of the world's biggest food companies, developing new products that end up on supermarket shelves.  In this interesting discussion, we discuss everything from cinnamon twisties to fried food.  Angeline will be presenting at the Futureagexpo in Melbourne in April alongside Andrew and Matt. You can find out about the expo at futureagexpo.com.au

We have a chat with Olympia Yarger, CEO of Goterra. A company turning food waste into fertilizer and food/feed.  Olympia is was the Australian of the year for ACT in 2023, and has a species of fly named after her. She will be presenting at the future ag expo in Melbourne next month (futureagexpo.com.au).  In this very lighthearted podcast we chat about everything from waste removal, animal feed and fertilizer shortages, and crossfitters use of cricket powder.........

We were excited to have the producer, writer and main after of the new movie 'Just a Farmer'. Leila and Sean McDougall are farmers from Western Victoria who have moved into the movie business.  This film, set in Tatyoon, Western Victoria, is a fascinating film funded and created by farmers and has a host of big-name Australian actors. Unfortunately, the AgWatchers were not picked up in the casting of this.  The film is being released in cinemas around the country on the 21st of March; make sure you support local film production (and farmers) by going along.  Watch the trailer by clicking here Find a cinema near you by clicking here