Rural Focus

Bayer has revealed a potential new weedkiller - icafolin - to be lodged with the regulator in 2026, with the goal of a 2028 release. Bayer's Tim Sippe has the latest for us.    DFES Superintendent Wayne Green is back to talk working as a team when putting out paddock or machinery fires.   Burando Hill's Stew Mckenzie tells us about their latest Arcusin bale autostackers.  ...

Rural Aid's Roger Hitchcock has some helpful advice on looking after ourselves throughout harvest.   We chat to RRR Network's Liz Brennan as she steps down from the board after seven years.   Merrifield Real Estate's Jeremy Stewart has the latest listings in the greater Albany region.   And Nutrien's Harry Carol has the Mt Barker market report and weighs in on today's GOAT Lead Sing...

A recent report from Bendigo Bank Agribusiness shows the value of farmland across WA has fallen 9.5% year-on-year to a median price of just over $6,000 per hectare. We had an insightful chat with Agribusiness Senior Agricultural Analyst, Sean Hickey.    A check in with Women In Farming secretary Laura Butler as she prepares for their annual Picnic in a Paddock.    And Erin...

Our second time chatting with CBH Chief Operations Officer Mick Daw about preparation ahead of harvest. (See October 6 episode for first interview).    Aussie feed grain and China’s swine industry are the focus of a project for Grains Australia. We speak to CEO Richard Simonaitis after his recent overseas trip.    Nutrien's Craig Walker has the latest from yesterday's Muc...

Today's guests: DFES Great Southern Superintendent Wayne Green talks fire preparedness ahead of harvest.   Nutrien Farm Services Agronomist Tom Shaw has advice on budworm, fertiliser prices and crop topping.   Bill Crabtree from 4 Farmers calls in from the ACE expo in China!   And GRDC's Head of Digital Lee Vereschildt tells us about the launch of the MyGRDC portal and app.  Se...

DPIRD research scientist Christiaan Valentine is urging canola and pulse growers to monitor crops regularly for native budworm, after a recent surge.    Milne Feeds' Paul Nenke gives us an update on next year's LambEx event and carcass competition.   Boekeman Machinery's Dillan Elliott has updates and extended trading hours ahead of harvest.   And Burando Hill's Stew Mckenzie t...

This morning, we spoke to Peter Elliot-Lockhart, Elders senior agronomist about how the season has gone and what we need to keep an eye on ahead of harvest.    Regional Men's Health's Michael Kaufman tells us about the importance of looking after our testosterone levels.   Nutrien's Harry Carol gives us the Mt Barker market report,   And Heart Kids CEO Marcus Sandmann talks abo...

We caught up with Milne Feeds' Paul Nenke after his trip to the US, to get a glimpse of their beef and lamb industry.   We also check in with Rhi Fleming from Pioneer Seeds about their new hybrid, PY432T.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ahead of a predicted 23 million tonne harvest, Michael Harding from Freight Lines Group has a reminder for us all.    Safe Farms WA's Stephen Brown also jumps on to talk safety over harvest.   Nutrien's Craig Walker has an update from the Muchea sale yards.   And Farm Weekly editor Darren O'Dea gives us the latest local stories.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inf...

Shelter Brewing in Busselton has launched 'Support On Tap', a West Coast Pale Ale made for WA farmers. Raising funds for Rural Aid, every sip counts! Shelter's Head Brewer Jason Credaro joins Holly for a chat about supporting our rural communities.    Another interesting one today: frost protection research! DPIRD research scientist Brenton Leske recaps their annual Dale Research Field D...

Green-on-brown optical spray systems have been around for a while now, but over the last five years green-on-green optical spray systems have begun appearing on farms across WA. Co-founder of Agtecnic's SenseSpray, Rob Johnson, tells us how AI camera technology is improving.    It's looking like a big harvest this year, so we chat to CBH Chief Operations Officer Mick Daw about how they'r...

This morning, Head of NBN WA/SA/NT Naomi Evans tells us how their Innovate with NBN grants program, celebrating regional businesses across the state.    Rural Aid's Roger Hitchcock has a message for us ahead of Mental Health Week,   Pioneer Seeds' Kim Mayfield has the latest on hybrids,   and Nutrien's Harry Carol gives us a Mt Barker sale yard update while he sips his coffee.&...

Lots happening now that Spring has properly arrived! Lots of Perth Royal Show updates and a chat with the 2025 WA Rural Ambassador winner Tiff Davey.    Holyoake's Jo Drayton runs us through today's Turn Up In Blue Day happening in Northam.    4 Farmers' Bill Crabtree has some interesting cost-savings methods for getting rid of budworm and diamond-back moth.   Countryman e...

Happy 25th birthday to Rural Focus!   The show has come a long way since its humble beginnings on October 1st 2000 and the man behind it all, Vin Dawes, joins Holly as they take a trip down memory lane.    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Holly chats to GRDC's Peter Bird about their upcoming New Frontiers Grainstorm event.   We also hear from Boekeman Machinery's Dillan Elliott and Milne Feeds' Paul Nenke about preparation for the end of the year.       See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cereal and lupin growers in WA's Lakes District are tackling increasing populations of pest scarab beetle larvae, better known as cockchafers. DPIRD research scientist Dr Dusty Severtson is urging farmers to report the pest and its damage.   Craig White, Elders State Manager of Advisory Services for Agronomy and Livestock, calls in during some evening ag drone demos out near Esperance. &...

Stronger global beef markets, favourable seasonal conditions and higher local cattle inventory is supporting record-breaking production volumes, according to RaboResearch. We hear from senior animal proteins analyst Angus Gidley-Baird about their latest report.    ADM Trading's Tom Mayfield has the latest canola insights,   And Countryman editor Cally Dupe has the latest headlines.&...

Editor Darren O'Dea gives us the top stories in this week's edition of Farm Weekly, including a rundown of last week's Farm-HER event in Berkshire Valley.    AgVocate WA's Sophie Wooldridge pops in to recap their popular Boots and Ballgowns Ball.    And Pioneer Seeds' Erinn McCartney reminds us of tomorrow's field walk at their York STRIKE site. See omnystudio.com/listener for...

Did you know WA has stronger laws governing bicycle lighting than we do for trains? Railway safety advocate Lara Jensen joins Rural Focus for an eye-opening chat about the long-fought battle for better lighting at rural crossings.    Stew Mckenzie from Burando Hill tells us about the latest hay-handling gear,   And Member for the Central Wheatbelt Lachlan Hunter talks live exports a...

Today's all about recapping! The incredible Brad Hogg (cricket legend and Williams local) recaps the Southwest NRM drought resilience event that took place in Bridgetown last week.   We go back to Friday with Bell Seeds' Kellie Bell and Burando Hill's Stew Mckenzie at the Bell Seeds Pasture Field Day.   Plus, we check in with Brett Johnson from Farm Shield to talk all things risk protect...

Merrifield Real Estate's Jeremy Stewart gives us a snapshot of the latest housing trends in Albany and the Great Southern.    Roger Hitchcock from Rural Aid talks about how to deal with family breakdowns when living rurally.   We chat to Vanessa Scott from Ord Minnett, as they become a corporate sponsor for the Rural, Regional and Remote Women's Network.    And Nutrien's H...

Vice Chair of Women in Farming Naomi Hall joins Rural Focus this morning for a chat about some exciting events coming up.    Pioneer Seeds' Western Region Sales Manager Erinn McCartney gives us the latest on the upcoming joint field walk at their York STRIKE site.    Gerard Roney from Advantage Feeders gives us advice on automated feeders and whether they're worth it.  &nb...

Farm Weekly editor Darren O'Dea gives us this week's main stories, including a sale that did not go ahead for a major sheep station.    4 Farmer's Bill Crabtree gives advice on dealing with potassium deficiency due to all the rain we've been getting.    Southwest Liberal member Steve Thomas talks gun laws and energy breakthroughs.    And the ever-reliable Craig Walker...

Wheatbelt NRM CEO Renata Paliskis encourages the next generation of the wheatbelt to complete the Regional NRM Plan survey.    GRDC western panel deputy chair John Young wraps up last week's Western Panel Spring Tour.   And Statewide Power's Dan the Solar Man has been out and about, training building companies on how to do off-grid correctly.  See omnystudio.com/listener for pr...

Happy Monday! This morning, we spoke to Rick Vincent from the Narrogin Men's Shed about National Men's Shed Week, and Milne Feeds' Paul Nenke pops in with the latest in feeds and fly busters.   Ahead of this week's RegenWA Regenerative Food Systems Conference, we speak to Dr Terry McCosker about the challenges our local soil faces.    And Gerard Roney from Advantage Feeders reminds...