DIGGING DEEPER - AG CHATS WITH AL

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of 'Digging Deeper,' the hosts welcome Paul from Rabobank and local guest Ellie Caldwell to discuss the current trends and factors influencing farmland prices in Australia.  Paul, a Commodities and Farm Inputs Analyst originally from Wales, shares insights from Rabobank's Australian Farmer and Price Outlook 2025 report. They delve into topics such as...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of 'Digging Deeper,' the hosts welcome Neil Moss, a veterinary consultant with Cbus, to discuss his extensive experience in agriculture, particularly in the dairy and beef industries.  Neil talks about his work in various regions, including Gippsland and Melbourne, navigating the challenges of different climates, and the impact of recent floods and fires...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Digging Deeper, hosts Al and Charles welcome back Chelsea to discuss the hectic peak months in livestock management, particularly during the carving and lambing seasons. The conversation explores the various types of prolapses seen in sheep and cattle, their causes, management practices, and the challenging nature of these issues for both farmers and vets. Chels...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Digging Deeper, host Al welcomes special guest Sally Murphy from Tasmania and Jen Smith, General Manager of the Gippsland Ag Group.  Sally introduces the concept of 'human agronomy' and emphasises the importance of understanding human behavior in driving business performance on farms.  The discussion covers topics such as the Great Resignation in agric...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of 'Digging Deeper,' hosts Alan and Morgan Davies discuss the latest trends in livestock sales, market conditions, and local footy updates. Barry Newman, a client from East Gippsland, is mentioned as a keen follower of the podcast. The discussion covers a variety of topics including the performance of Barry Newman's cattle, the optimal conditions for...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of 'Digging Deeper,' hosts Alistair and Jen Smith welcome special guest John Francis, a former jackaroo, agronomist, and the director of Agrista, a consultancy firm in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales.  The discussion focuses on the importance of integrating scientific knowledge with financial management in farm businesses.  John shares his expertise on farm...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Al welcomes back Chelsea from Herd Solutions for her third appearance. The discussion begins with an update on Chelsea's young horse, which she decided to give a six-month break.  The main topics of the podcast are facial eczema and pasture staggers in livestock. Chelsea explains that facial eczema is caused by a fungus and results in severe sunburn-like symp...

Send us Fan Mail This episode delves into the challenges of scalability in sheep farming. The speaker discusses the intensified difficulties compared to cattle farming, emphasizing the need for more resources and staff to manage sheep operations effectively. 00:00 Understanding Scalability Challenges 00:03 Sheep vs. Cattle Operations 00:12 Labor and Resource Intensiveness in Sheep Farming

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Dig In Deeper, hosts welcome back special guest Morgan Davies, who discusses his latest endeavors including coaching junior football. The conversation delves into current market trends for sheep and cattle, highlighting recent price fluctuations and the impact of geographical differences in rainfall on market conditions. Additionally, they explore the role of Au...

Send us Fan Mail In this insightful discussion at the Gippsland Ag Centre, Cam and Al delve into the fundamentals of soil fertility and plant nutrition. They explore the critical role of fertilisers in maximising pasture production by promoting 'fat leaves' and discuss how nutrient management is closely tied to effective grazing practices.  Cam shares his extensive background in agronomy...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Digging Deeper Ag Chats, Al welcomes back Dr. Chelsea, a seasoned large animal vet, to discuss the complex and often controversial issue of pinkeye in cattle.  Starting with an update on her personal struggle with her horse's hind limb lameness, Dr. Chelsea delves into the symptoms, treatment options, and environmental strategies to manage pinkeye. Highligh...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Digging Deeper Ag Chats with Al, host Alister Micallef interviews Trevor Caithness, a renowned beef producer and cropper in East Gippsland.  Trevor, also the volunteer CEO of Gippsland Ag Group and the 2024 Beef Farmer of the Year, shares insights from his career which has been characterised by innovation and sustainable practices.  Topics discussed include the...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of 'Digging Deeper', livestock manager Morgan Davies shares his extensive experience in the livestock industry.  From his early beginnings as an 18-year-old trainee to becoming a livestock manager by the age of 21, Morgan describes his career journey and the evolution of his family’s business.  The discussion covers key events such as the High-Country Cal...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, host Alister Micallef discusses livestock nutrition with Jess Revell, an independent livestock nutritionist and founder of Rumenate Livestock Services. Jess shares her journey from growing up in a shearing shed in Tasmania to establishing her career in sheep nutrition.  The focus is on the nutrition and health of sheep in containment and feedlot systems, covering...

Send us Fan Mail In this podcast episode, Chelsea from Herd Solutions shares her journey from growing up on a small farm to becoming a veterinarian.  Chelsea recounts her early experiences with animals on her family's hobby farm in Maffra, her passion for horse riding, and how these formative years influenced her career path.  She details her academic journey, including the challenges and rew...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we sit down with Mark Coleman, a well-known figure in the Wellington farming community, to discuss his journey managing a family farm, the impact of droughts and fires, and the importance of making decisive choices. Mark shares his personal experiences and insights, including moving his family and farm operations during challenging times, and how these experiences...

Send us Fan Mail Digging Deeper is a podcast dedicated to farmers and rural communities, delivering timely and relevant information throughout the farming year—from autumn sowing to summer harvest. Hosted by Alistair Micallef from the Gippsland Ag Group, a grassroots farmer-led organisation in Victoria's East, the podcast shares practical tips and insights to support innovation and profitabil...