Beyond the Farm Gate

David Christie is a fourth-generation dairy farmer in Northwest Victoria. David and his wife Katrina run his family’s farm in Rochester, where they’ve introduced an innovative approach to reducing heat stress on their cows. In this episode, David shares why they choose to use a day shed and a night shed, the role of compost in their farming operation, and how they increased their outpu...

Emily Stanton is the Owner of The Nyngan. The Nyngan is a boutique hotel and pub that Emily and her husband James bought and restored almost four decades after it originally closed. In this episode, Emily discusses why she and James felt drawn to the ambitious renovation project, what reopening the pub has meant for the Nyngan community, and the toll that stress took on her body throughout the pro...

Leila McDougall is a Farmer and the writer and star of the film Just A Farmer. Just A Farmer follows Alison, a mother who is left to care for her children, an alcoholic father-in-law, and a failing farm alone following the death of her partner by suicide. In this episode, Leila shares her inspiration for writing Just A Farmer and discusses the process of making a movie. She explains why she’...

Alana Johnson AM is a Founding Member of Australian Women in Agriculture (AWiA). For over thirty years, Alana has dedicated herself to advancing gender equality, empowering communities, and advocating for change in rural Australia. In this episode, Alana opens up about how free university tuition in the seventies led her to a life of advocating for equality and reflects on how the needs of rural w...

Angie Nisbet and Shona Larkin are sisters and Co-founders of FarmHER Hands. FarmHER Hands offers stylish and practical UPF50+ sun protection gloves for women, men, and children. In this episode, Angie and Shona explain how their experiences with sun damage and skin cancer led them to create FarmHER Hands. They share their passion for agriculture, innovation, and community and how they intend to em...

Jason Hagan is a Farmer at McIvor Farm Foods with his wife and business partner, Belinda. Jason and Belinda operate a regenerative free-range pig farm and have recently introduced sheep and cattle into their regenerative model. In this episode, Jason shares how McIvor Farm Foods approaches regenerative practices and why they bring in steam-treated green waste from Melbourne. He also opens up about...

David Jochinke is a Farmer in the Wimmera and President of the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF). The NFF is the peak national body representing and advocating for farmers and the agricultural industry in Australia. In this episode, David discusses his experiences as a farmer and how they inform his ability to serve as the head of the NFF. He shares his insights about leadership, what the a...

We’re doing something slightly different to round out 2024 on Beyond the Farm Gate! In this episode, Zali introduces Matt and Helen as they all discuss how their experiences brought them to host the podcast. They share why ag matters to them, the lessons Matt has learnt by running a farm with his wife, how Helen and Zali both embraced lives in different countries, and they answer the all-imp...

Quentin and Renee Mooney are the husband and wife duo behind Mt Mooney Simmentals in Culburra, South Australia. Mt Mooney Simmentals is a family-owned and operated cattle stud focused on producing tough, healthy cattle. In this episode, Quentin and Renee explain why they breed Simmentals and where they think the breed is headed. They also share their journey of buying their farm, how they supporte...

This episode is part two of our two-part chat with Mark Wootton. In the last episode, Mark shared his journey with carbon-neutral farming and why he became an early adopter in Australia. In this episode, Mark explains the role of vegetation in carbon sequestration and the challenges involved in trying to achieve net-zero targets. He emphasises ongoing efforts towards methane and carbon reduction,...

Mark Wootton is the Owner-Operator of Jigsaw Farms with his wife, Eve. Jigsaw Farms is a carbon-neutral sheep, cattle, and agroforestry farm near Hamilton. In this episode, Mark explains how integrating sustainable practices such as agroforestry and biodiversity in 2010 has transformed Jigsaw Farms. He also discusses the challenges of maintaining carbon neutrality, understanding the carbon market,...

John Blore is a Grazier on Belmont Station at Silverton near Broken Hill. Belmont Station is a fully operational sheep and goat farm that regularly hosts some of the biggest celebrities in Aussie music including Missy Higgins, Birds of Tokyo, The Angels, Kasey Chambers, and more. In this episode, John shares how he balances his farming operation with hosting the massive Mundi Mundi Music Festival,...

This episode is part two of our two-part chat with Brent Finlay. In the last episode, Brent shared how one conversation sparked a decade-long leadership journey. He opened up about the importance of advocating for farmers domestically and internationally and what he learned from the experience. In this episode, Brent shares how he got involved with RELA, an organisation committed to generating ren...

Brent Finlay is an Agricultural Advocate and Farmer from Southeast Queensland. Throughout his career, Brent has served as President of AgForce in Queensland, President of the National Farmers’ Federation, and on the board of the World Farm Organisation in Rome. In this episode, Brent discusses his journey from his farm to becoming a leader in the agricultural space. He shares a few of his achievem...

Amanda Moohen is the COO of Condabri Beef and the Founder of Women of Lot Feeding (WOLF). Condabri Beef is a family-owned and operated integrated beef enterprise between Miles and Condamine. Women Of Lot Feeding is a group of passionate women in feedlotting who aim to provide support and networking opportunities for those in the field. In this episode, Amanda shares where her passion for beef star...

Tim McClelland is a Farmer from Birchip in North West Victoria. Together with his wife Julie, they operate their farm using a unique blend of family council and management board. In this episode, Tim opens up about their approach to succession and how it led to their current management structure. He also shares how his experience as a researcher influenced his approach to farming and the benefits...

Mat Goddard is the Founder and CEO of Aquacultr. Aquacultr aims to shake up the seafood production industry by bringing its operation inland to create land-based aquaculture systems. In this episode, Mat talks about how identifying a disconnect in food systems was the genesis for Aquacultr and how their land-based aquaculture systems can bring about real environmental change while benefiting produ...

Sally Bethune is the co-owner of Bethune Lane Dairy with her husband Paul at Lake Boga in Northwest Victoria. Bethune Lane Dairy is a large-scale dairy farm with on-farm milk and cheese processing.  In this episode, Sally discusses how Bethune Lane Dairy has changed, from the lessons learnt during the Millennium Drought to expanding into on-farm milk and cheese production in 2020. She shares how t...

Nusqe Spanton is the CEO and Founder of Provectus Algae. Provectus Algae aims to reduce the environmental impact of livestock farming by providing an algae-based supplement to reduce methane production from cows. In this episode, Nusqe explains the development of their asparagopsis-based supplement and how to incorporate it into farming operations. He also talks about the history and future of Pro...

Anne Bennett is the Marketing Communications Manager of Ashgrove Cheese in northern Tasmania. Ashgrove Cheese is a vertically integrated dairy farm owned and operated by the Bennett family for over a hundred years. With more farmers embracing sustainable production than ever, the Bennetts have announced their next step forward in reducing their carbon footprint: eco-milk. Eco-milk is fresh milk pr...

Mandy Dee is a Farmer with Clydevale Holsteins in Northwest Victoria. Clydevale Holsteins is a multi-generational family-owned and operated Holstein dairy stud. In this episode, Mandy outlines the history of Clydevale Holsteins and opens up about how they’re embracing new technologies going into the future. She digs into how they decided to upgrade their farm to include a housed farming system and...

Kelly Pearce is the Director of the Western Australia Agricultural Research Collaboration (WAARC). WAARC focused on solving tomorrow’s problems today by undertaking research, development, and extension projects catering to the unique landscape of Western Australia. In this episode, Kelly shares her career highlights after 30 years in the farming research space. She explains the mission of  WAARC,...

Mary O’Brien is the Founder and CEO of Are You Bogged Mate? Are You Bogged Mate? is an organisation committed to spreading mental health awareness in the bush with a focus on helping rural men experiencing depression. In this episode, Mary tells the story behind Are You Bogged Mate? She discusses the work the organisation is undertaking in rural communities, their upcoming programs and plans for t...

Kim Kiss is the Owner of Grassland Poultry in Central NSW. Together with her husband Bryan, they operate a free-range poultry farm using regenerative farming practices. In this episode, Kim discusses why they chose a path of sustainable, regenerative farming practices and how that has impacted their operation. She also emphasises the importance of animal welfare and how focusing on creating a heal...

Sheena Carter is a Development Officer at NSW DPI focusing on Dairy Farm Business Management. Claire Waterman is a Program Manager in the Farm Business Economics branch of Agriculture Victoria. Sheena and Claire have a wealth of ag industry experience and have worked within the dairy industry for over a decade. They recently released a collaborative study about the economics of Total Mixed Ration...