AgVic Talk

When two dry seasons hit hard, Bessiebelle dairy farmer Will McDonald faced a make-or-break decision: spend half a million dollars on fodder or rethink his entire approach. In this episode, Will shares how buying extra land transformed his business, secured feed, and even solved staffing challenges. Tune in for practical tips on planning ahead, building resilience, and why acting early can save mo...

In this episode, we explore the deeper meaning of resilience—not just as a trait, but as a process of building strength and capacity through adversity. This concept resonates strongly in farming, where daily decisions are made under uncertainty, and long-term outcomes are shaped by forces beyond control.   Michael Gordon, who is a farmer and consultant who has worked with rural and regional commun...

This episode explores how joining farmer groups can transform farming businesses and personal well-being. Gippsland farmer Simon Lawler and consultant Chris Mirams share how networks like BetterBeef help farmers learn from each other, adapt to challenges, and build supportive communities. Want to learn more or get involved? Explore the BestWool/BestLamb and BetterBeef networks or subscribe to News...

After losing his entire farm to a fire in 2020, Matt Zagami chose resilience by rebuilding and diversifying his business, Avagrow Farms. For him, farming in Australia means facing challenges head-on, solving problems pragmatically, and adapting to whatever the climate throws his way. The Farm Business Resilience Program is jointly funded through the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund and...

Providing shade and shelter on your property has multiple benefits for livestock, biodiversity and amenity.  Join John-Paul Murphy and Kylie Macreadie to learn more about the how to plant the right trees in the right places to enhance farm business profitability and productivity. The Farm Business Resilience Program is jointly funded through the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund and the...

Recreational beekeeper Mike Allerton shares his personal experience with Varroa mite, hive loss, and recovery, while Jamie Perry-Meijer, Resilience Officer Officer for the National Varroa Mite Management Program, discusses mental health impacts and support strategies for apiarists.   Learn how peer networks, biosecurity, and resilience tools are helping beekeepers adapt.  Further Information: Beek...

This podcast episode discusses the engagement of culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) workers in the Victorian dairy industry, featuring insights from Jenny Wilson of the Gardiner Foundation and dairy farmer Christine Sebire. They highlight the challenges faced by CaLD workers and strategies for creating culturally safe workplaces, emphasizing the importance of community connections and on...

In this Farming Safe and Well episode, we explore how farm safety starts with inclusive inductions—especially for the 1 in 5 Australians affected by dyslexia.  Samantha Pritchard shares her journey from corporate HR to developing dyslexia-friendly safety tools like short videos, simplified apps, and face-to-face communication strategies. She emphasises the importance of a full-week induction and t...

In this Farming Safe and Well episode, we delve into the topic of Q fever, a disease that is notably prevalent in Victoria, especially in the Gippsland region. Our guest, Karen McLennan from GippsDairy, shares valuable insights on the importance of vaccination and awareness among dairy farmers.  Further information: The Farming Safe and Well program is delivering activities and resources to improv...

In this episode of AgVic Talk, listen to Jacquie Lee from Emerging Minds talk about strategies for supporting children's mental health during challenging times, particularly in rural areas affected drought and natural disasters like bushfires. Jacquie shares insights on the importance of parent-child relationships, understanding emotions and behavior, maintaining routines, effective communication,...

In this episode of AgVic Talk, Simon Craig discusses the critical issue of fatigue in farming. He shares his journey managing a broad-acre grain and sheep farm in Kooloonong in North-western Victoria, and the steps he has taken to reduce fatigue on his property.    Simon highlights the importance of recognising fatigue signs, implementing training sessions for seasonal workers, and creating a cult...

In this episode of AgVic Talk, Jason Letchford from the Shearing Contractors Association of Australia and Craig French from Australian Wool Innovation discuss the safety challenges and improvements in the shearing industry. They delve into key safety issues such as musculoskeletal injuries, exposure to viruses, and the importance of improved shearing shed safety. The episode also highlights the Sa...

In this episode of AgVic Talk, Nigel Corish, the 2023 Farmer of the Year and Chair of Ability Agriculture shares his journey of farming with cerebral palsy, the challenges he has faced, and how he has overcome them. He also discusses the importance of inclusivity in agriculture and how technology is creating new opportunities for people with disabilities. Josie Clarke, founder of Ability Agricultu...

This podcast episode features Maggie Bridgewater, a Wellbeing Counsellor with the Rural Financial Counselling Service in Western Victoria, discussing the unique challenges farmers face, such as financial instability and unpredictable weather, and the importance of recognising and addressing burnout, anxiety, and stress. Maggie shares strategies for managing stress, including working with counsello...

In this episode Catherine Velisha, Managing Director of Velisha Farms, discusses the importance of cultural safety in the workplace, emphasising treating employees as individuals with unique needs and values. Vy Pham, a production manager, shares her experience of receiving language support and training, highlighting the benefits of a culturally inclusive work environment.  Further information: Th...

This podcast episode focuses on farm safety, particularly the safe handling of livestock during loading and unloading processes. It features interviews with Joel Haberfield, a livestock transporter, and Peter Miller, a farmer, who share their experiences and insights on improving safety standards in the agricultural sector.  Further information: The Farming Safe and Well program is delivering acti...

Welcome to season 10 of AgVic Talk. This podcast season covers farm safety and wellbeing in Victoria. In this introduction, Beth Jones, Chief Executive of Agriculture Victoria discusses the rewarding yet high-risk nature of farming, stressing the importance of raising awareness, sharing stories, and fostering a culture of safety. Tune in to help make positive changes on our farms.

In this episode, we discuss demonstration sites across the Mallee aimed at protecting and improving the productivity of vulnerable Mallee soils. Discover how to boost Mallee soil productivity and protect the soil with expert tips from Darryl Pearl and Richard McKee. The Farm Business Resilience Program is jointly funded through the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund and the Victorian Gove...

Richard Collins, a 3rd generation beekeeper plans for the unexpected but with climate variability this can be challenging.   Learn about Richard’s tips for planning for the unexpected and future climate risks. The Farm Business Resilience Program is jointly funded through the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund and the Victorian Government’s Future Agriculture Skills Capacity Fund.  Access...

This podcast shares key tips from Peter Brown, a beef farmer from East Gippsland who participated in the Farm Business Resilience (FBR) Program and Farm Business Consultant Paul Blackshaw from Meridian Agriculture. Peter and Paul speak about embracing on-farm uncertainty, documenting the farms strategic direction, and regularly reviewing and updating the farm’s plan to adapt to changing conditions...

In this episode, Deb Hancock and Dr Regina Fogarty provide best-practice biosecurity advice to help you raise happy, healthy pigs and protect Victoria’s pig industry. Learn more on the Agriculture Victoria Feeding Livestock webpage Subscribe to the Agriculture Victoria Backyard Biosecurity newsletter  Learn more on the Agriculture Victoria Backyard Biosecurity webpage       Enroll in the biosecuri...

In this episode, we’re talking to Cathy Ronalds and Dr Dianne Phillips to learn more about looking after the health and wellbeing of your chooks and maintaining good at-home biosecurity practices.  For information on the current avian influenza response in Victoria Access templates to develop and/or update your biosecurity plan Subscribe to the Agriculture Victoria’s Backyard Biosecurity newslette...

Jacob Pearce has been battling weeds for a decade, some posing a biosecurity risk. Listen to this episode to hear what he has learned and steps you can take to reduce weeds and biosecurity risks on your property. Subscribe to the Agriculture Victoria Backyard Biosecurity newsletter  Learn more on the Agriculture Victoria Backyard Biosecurity webpage       Enroll in the biosecurity eLearn courses ...

How much do cattle eat? How can I create a balanced diet for my cattle? In this episode, join Brett Davidson, Agriculture Victoria’s Dairy Regional Manager in Tatura and Rachael Laukart, Education Officer with the RSPCA as they share information about feeding cattle a balanced diet, and what to do if you need to transition their diet. Learn more on the Agriculture Victoria Feeding Livestock webpag...

Dr Hannah Manning and rare sheep and chicken breeder Ben Pickles discuss Biosecurity Management Plans and the sort of protection these plans provide to help farmers manage biosecurity. Subscribe to the Agriculture Victoria Backyard Biosecurity newsletter   Learn more on the Agriculture Victoria Backyard Biosecurity webpage   Enroll in the biosecurity eLearn courses at   Access templates to develop...