DIGGING DEEPER - AG CHATS WITH AL

Send us Fan Mail Visualising Australia’s Soil Data: Pete on the VASS Portal, FAIR Standards, and Trusted Insights for Farmers Host Alister Micallef kicks off 2026 for Digging Deeper Ag Chats, outlining more practical guests, more local producers, and monthly segments from Chelsea (Herd Solutions) with veterinary updates and Mor (Elders) with livestock market reports. In a remote episode, Al interv...

Send us Fan Mail Every Decision Counts: Tom Cosentino on Stacking Farm Enterprises and Knowing Your Numbers Host Alister Micallif welcomes Tom Cosentino, a South Australian farmer from Hindmarsh Valley near the Murray Mouth, who runs dryland beef cows and is adding 1,000 laying hens in October while managing bird flu risk through planning, water treatment, and adaptable infrastructure. Speaking at...

Send us Fan Mail In this Digging Deeper Ag Chats with Al episode from the Gippsland Agriculture Group, host Alister Micallef speaks remotely with Chelsea about a busy late-winter period of calving assistance, bull testing, and preg testing, plus her recent Red Meat Conference talk on Focus on Weighty Weaners (nutrition, trace elements, and parasite management) and an upcoming MLA webinar in Octobe...

Send us Fan Mail Host Al launches Digging Deeper Ag Chats with Al for 2026 after a first full year of podcasts, outlining plans for more practical guests and more local producers, plus monthly segments from Chelsea (Herd Solutions) with veterinary/animal health updates and Morgs (Elders) with livestock market updates. At the Red Meat Conference in Gippsland, Al interviews Frank Archer, co-principa...

Send us Fan Mail Host Alister introduces Digging Deeper Ag Chats and speaks with Pete Norwood of Full Circle Nutrition after he contributed to the Gippsland Soil School, including a practical farm visit at Rohan Bigley’s. Pete recounts growing up on a mixed farm near Mendooran, NSW during the 1982 drought, studying ag science at Charles Sturt University, and later building farms in Stratford and n...

Send us Fan Mail Host Al welcomes back stock agent Morgan Davies to discuss current livestock markets and seasonal conditions in Gippsland and beyond. Morgan reports strong cattle prices at local sales, including light cows around $3–$3.50/kg, bullocks up to $3,700–$3,800, and light black weaner steers reaching $7/kg, with feeders and feedlot/paddock prices also elevated. He notes cattle are movin...

Send us Fan Mail In this Digging Deeper episode, host Al interviews Leecia Angus, paid chair of the Gippsland Ag Board, about her varied career and views on agriculture. Angus describes growing up on Gippsland farms at Glenaladale and later Goon Nure amid droughts, floods, and fires, studying science (genetics, chemistry, biochemistry), and early roles at La Trobe University and the Regional Veter...

Send us Fan Mail Al opens the 2026 season of Digging Deeper Egg Chats with plans for more practical guests and more local producers, plus monthly veterinary updates from Chelsea (Herd Solutions) and a monthly livestock market update from Morgs (Elders). He then speaks with Brad Obst for a market update and a walkthrough of listing cattle on AuctionsPlus while assessing 17 Gippsland Ag Group heifer...

Send us Fan Mail Host Al opens 2026 by thanking listeners and outlining more practical guests plus monthly segments from Chelsea (Herd Solutions) on animal health and Morgs (Elders) on livestock markets. He interviews John Keiller, stud principal of Keiller, Cashmore Park in western Victoria, about his background in agriculture, mentors, and a data-driven approach to sheep breeding. John describes...

Send us Fan Mail Al opens 2026 by thanking listeners and outlining plans for more practical guests, more local producers, and regular monthly segments from Chelsea (Herd Solutions) on animal health and Morgs (Elders) on livestock markets. Chelsea recounts a recent cattle-yard concussion after a cow kicked a crush door into her leg, causing her to fall and hit her head; the discussion stresses gate...

Send us Fan Mail Al welcomes listeners back to Digging Deeper Ag Chats for 2026, thanking supporters and outlining plans for more practical guests, more local producers, and monthly segments from Chelsea (Herd Solutions) on animal health and Morgs (Elders) on livestock markets. Brett then reviews Gippsland seasonal conditions and provides current fertiliser pricing and availability, noting high co...

Send us Fan Mail Host Al opens 2026 by thanking listeners and outlining plans for more practical guests, more local producers, and monthly segments from Chelsea (Herd Solutions) on animal health and Morgs (Elders) on livestock markets. In this episode, Al and Mor discuss recent warm, windy weather in Gippsland, the possibility it’s a seasonal blip, and drought preparedness, including hay on hand,...

Send us Fan Mail Al opens 2026 by thanking listeners for the podcast’s first full calendar year and outlining plans for more practical guests, more local producer stories, and monthly segments from Chelsea (Herd Solutions) with veterinary updates and Mor (Elders) with livestock market reports. In the first remote-recorded episode, Chelsea shares a personal update about recovering from a broken toe...

Send us Fan Mail Host Al opens 2026’s Digging Deeper by thanking listeners, announcing more local producers, and adding monthly segments from Chelsea (Herd Solutions) on animal health and Morgs (Elders) on livestock markets. Guest Grant Sims, a sixth-generation farmer from Echuca and qualified electrician, describes returning to the family cropping/livestock farm in 2006 and applying a “trace the...

Send us Fan Mail In a discussion about farm business performance, the speaker explains ballpark cost-of-production calculations using accountant figures and cautions that benchmarking can mislead because farms differ by growth stage and maintenance investment. He says their operation is increasingly a “land business” as lifestyle-driven prices distort productive value, making expansion difficult a...

Send us Fan Mail Host Al opens 2026 by thanking listeners and outlining more practical guests, more local producers, and monthly segments from Chelsea (Herd Solutions) with veterinary updates and Morgan Davies (Elders) with livestock market updates. Morgan reviews the move of the mountain calf sales to the Bensdale facility, noting strong results, accurate weighing and presentation, good seasonal...

Send us Fan Mail Host Al opens 2026 by thanking listeners and outlining plans for more practical guests, more local producers, and monthly segments from Chelsea (Herd Solutions) on animal health and Morg's (Elders) on livestock markets. He then interviews Mansfield-based Rod Manning, a retired vet turned large-scale beef producer and consultant, who recounts starting a veterinary practice in...

Send us Fan Mail Al opens 2026 by thanking listeners after the first full podcast year and outlining plans for more practical guests and more local producers, with monthly veterinary updates from Chelsea (Herd Solutions) and monthly livestock market updates from Morgs (Elders). Chelsea returns, briefly updates her healed foot injury, then discusses an increase in plant-toxicity risk with warm, hum...

Send us Fan Mail Host Al opens 2026 by thanking listeners, outlining more practical guests and local producers, and announcing monthly veterinary updates with Chelsea (Herd Solutions) and livestock market updates with Morgs (Elders). He interviews PJ Budler, a South African-born, Fort Worth–based cattle consultant with Trans Ova Genetics (embryos) and Global Livestock Solutions, speaking at an eve...

Send us Fan Mail Al opens 2026 by thanking listeners and outlining plans for more practical guests and local producers, plus monthly veterinary updates from Chelsea (Herd Solutions) and livestock market reports from Morgan (Elders). In the episode, Morgan discusses heavy rain arriving after a dry, fire-affected period, boosting confidence and tightening cattle supply; he notes feeder steers rising...

Send us Fan Mail Season two of Digging Deeper begins with host Alister (Gippsland Ag Group) interviewing Simon Faulkiner of Murdeduke. Faulkiner describes his background across sheep, Angus cattle and soil health, and outlines Otway Pork’s outdoor breeding and eco-shelter finishing system that composts manure and returns nutrients to pastures and high-rainfall crops (canola, wheat, barley), includ...

Send us Fan Mail Alistair from the Gippsland Ag Group interviews Ensay farmer and Hereford stud breeder Barry Newcomen on Season 2. Barry describes extremely dry high-country conditions after a cold winter and windy, low-rain spring, poor hay results, and ongoing concerns about feed and water. Barry explains his farming background (in Ensay since 1960), his earlier work as an A.M.L./Elders agent,...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Digging Deeper, Al expresses gratitude for the support from listeners over the past year and outlines exciting plans for 2026. Special guest Chelsea from Herd Solutions discusses her experiences over the Christmas break, including dealing with property maintenance and a personal injury caused by a horse. Chelsea also shares valuable insights into managing livest...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of 'Digging Deeper,' Alister from the Gippsland Ag Group talks to Brad Smith and Brett Tonkin about the steps and considerations involved in establishing perennial pastures. The discussion covers soil testing, weed management, nutrient application, and grazing practices, highlighting the importance of good preparation and tailored advice. They share real-...

Send us Fan Mail In the latest episode of Digging Deeper, host Al reflects on a successful first year of podcasts and unveils exciting plans for 2026, including featuring local producers, regular updates from industry experts Chelsea from Herd Solutions and Morgs from Elders.  Al talks with Morgan Davies about recent cattle and lamb markets, highlighting seasonal trends, strong sales, and challeng...