MSF Farm Talk Podcast

In the inaugural episode of 'Farming a Growth Mindset' from the MSF Farm Talk podcast series, hosts Tanja Morgan and resident mindset expert Dennis delve into the importance of restorative sleep. They discuss the differences between restorative and regular sleep, share techniques for creating an optimal sleep environment, and explore procedural habits for quality rest. The episode covers environme...

In this episode of the Better Frost Decisions podcast, Tanja Morgan discusses advanced frost management techniques with Chaiyya Cooper, a Research Scientist from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) Western Australia. Chaiyya explains the impact of ice-nucleating bacteria on frost damage in crops and shares new findings on products being tested to mitigate this ris...

In this episode of the MSF Farm Talk podcast, Paige Cross converses with Peter Boutsalis from Plant Science Consulting on the intricate challenges of managing weeds during one of the driest years on record in Southern Australia. The discussion delves into the complexities of herbicide resistance, especially concerning ryegrass and broadleaf weeds, and emphasises the importance of strategic weed ma...

Join Tanja Morgan and consultant Chris McDonough as they discuss the critical issue of dry saline land exacerbated by drought. Learn about the new Dry Saline Land Decision Tree tool, designed to help farmers and advisors with practical strategies to prevent land degradation. Tune in to understand how to maintain soil health and crop productivity despite challenging conditions. 00:00 Introduction t...

In this episode of the Farm Talk podcast, host Tanja Morgan welcomes Dennis Hoiberg from Lessons Learnt Consulting, who shares over 30 years of expertise in navigating challenging times. As farmers face severe drought conditions, Dennis provides practical tools and heartfelt advice on building resilience, protecting emotional well-being, and taking actionable steps forward. The discussion covers t...

In this episode of the MSF Farm Talk Podcast, Nick Paltridge from Mallee Sustainable Farming interviews Steph Schmidt, a farmer and psychologist specialising in agricultural mental health. They discuss the challenges faced by farmers due to drought and frost conditions in the Southern region, leading to financial strain and stress. Steph shares practical tips on managing mental health, the benefit...

In today's episode of the MSF Farm Talk podcast, hosts Tanja Morgan and Nick Paltridge provide a regional seasonal update as part of the Future Drought Fund De-Risking Seeding Project and the Extension and Adoption Project. They discuss the latest trials from New South Wales, exploring the benefits of early and deep sowing techniques, varietal differences in wheat, and soil amelioration efforts. I...

In this episode of MSF Farm Talk, Tanja Morgan speaks with Barry Mudge, a Port Germain farmer involved in the GRDC Risk-Wise Project, about the critical nature of understanding production costs and managing risks in low rainfall environments. They review discussions held with the Lowbank Ag Bureau and delve into Barry's expertise in growing and harvesting lentils amidst challenging conditions. Key...

In this episode of the MSF Farm Talk podcast, consultant Chris McDonough speaks with farmer Matt Cook about his strategies for using early-season rainfall to establish crops and managing grazing to prevent soil degradation. Cook discusses the challenges of farming in areas with dry saline land and issues with resistant weeds like ryegrass and barley grass. He also shares insights on the impact of...

In this episode of the MSF Farmtalk podcast, the focus is on soil carbon and carbon farming in the Mallee. Over the past 12 months, pilot projects supported by the South Australian government's Department of Primary Industries and Regions have explored the feasibility of storing carbon post-soil amelioration. The podcast includes a field day discussion with consultant Ed Scott and various farmers...

In this episode of the MSF Farm Talk podcast, Chris McDonough talks with Philip Johns about the ongoing issues of dry saline land in Australian agriculture. Philip shares his 40 years of experience in managing such land by maintaining cover, using more salt-tolerant crops, and managing livestock effectively. Philip highlights the importance of cover, the challenges of maintaining it, and practical...

In this episode of the MSF Farm Talk podcast, we have a conversation with Terry Schmucker, a farmer from Cootra on the Eyre Peninsula, and consultant Chris McDonough. The discussion focuses on Terry's innovative approach to soil amelioration on his dry salinity-affected land. By utilising sand and clay from high sand hills to enhance heavy flats, Terry shares how these practices are significantly...

In this episode of the MSF Farm Talk podcast, Tanja Morgan discusses recent field day events, focusing on various soil amelioration treatments observed at Jock McNeil's paddock at Paruna. Chris McDonough and Tanja take a walk describing the effects observed from the different techniques such as deep ripping, inversion plowing, and spading, analysing their impacts on soil profiles, root growth, cro...

In this episode of the Farm Talk Podcast, part of the Future Drought Fund Project, consultants Chris McDonough and farmer Bruce Heddle from Minnipa discuss an innovative method to manage saline soils using chaff heaps as mulch. They explore how spreading chaff has promoted crop growth in previously barren areas, detailing the practicalities and economic feasibility of this approach. Bruce shares h...

In this episode of the MSF Talk podcast, stemming from the Future Drought Fund Project, hosts delve into innovative solutions for re-establishing vegetation on dry saline soils. Featuring insights from farmer Tristan Baldock of Buckleboo and consultant Chris McDonough, the discussion focuses on using sand mulch as a transformative strategy. Despite the significant logistical challenges, the method...

In this episode of the MSF Farm Talk podcast, Nick Paltridge and Rick Llewellyn from CSIRO discuss the revolutionary concept of fence-free farming through virtual fencing technology. They explore recent trials and successful sheep management at Lameroo, along with the broader implications for cattle farming. The conversation highlights the potential benefits of virtual fencing, including enhanced...

In this episode of the MSF Farm Talk podcast, host Tanja Morgan discusses the potential of long coleoptile varieties with Terese McBeath from CSIRO and Andrew Ware, Research Agronomist with EPAG Research. The conversation covers recent research findings from trials in the Mallee and Eyre Peninsula regions, focusing on soil types, seeding strategies, and optimizing conditions for long coleoptile va...

In this episode, Tim Smythe from Mallee Sustainable Farming and Jack Desbiolles from the University of South Australia's Agriculture, Machinery, Research and Design Centre discuss their pioneering work on strip amelioration. This technique involves alternating strips of ameliorated soil and undisturbed standing stubble, offering a flexible, erosion-reducing solution for high-risk crops like pulses...

In this episode, we revisit a webinar featuring top experts discussing how to manage crops and weeds during a dry start to the season. Join Dr. Chris Preston, Professor of weed management at Adelaide University, as he sheds light on effective strategies for controlling grass weeds, the importance of pre-emergent herbicides, and handling herbicide resistance. 00:25 Expert Insights on Weed Managemen...

In this episode of the MSF Farm Talk podcast, we revisit discussions from the MSF Big Ag Day Out events held earlier this year. The focus is on the advancements in long coleoptile wheat and its impact on farming systems. Long coleoptiles are an emerging technology aimed to improve the ability to establish crops on time under drying autumn soil surface conditions, like the 2024 season. Mallee sands...

Can grain legumes still perform with a late start? In this episode, Paige Cross discusses the potential for grain legume crops with Dr. Penny Roberts, the resident research manager at MSF. They explore the complexities and opportunities of planting grain legumes late in the season, focusing on crop types, subsoil moisture, and best farm practices. Dr. Roberts shares insights on risk management str...

Mitigating Frost Risks: Strategies from the Frost Learning Centre In this episode of the Better Frost Decisions podcast, host Paige Cross speaks with Ben Smith from Agrilink Agriculture Consultants about frost management strategies. They discuss the work being done at the Frost Learning Centre in South Australia, including the role of phenology in mitigating frost risks. Ben shares insights on the...

Navigating Climate Uncertainty in Agriculture for 2024 In this second episode of the 'Better Frost Decisions Podcast' for 2024, hosted by Paige Cross of Mallee Sustainable Farming, the focus is on demystifying climate drivers and their implications for agricultural planning and decision-making. Joined by Peter Hayman, Principal Scientist at the South Australian Research and Development Institute,...

Improving Yields with VRT and Managing Technology Hurdles The discussion revolves around the outcomes and experiences from Variable Rate Technology (VRT) workshops and field implementations in the Mallee region. Tanja Morgan interviews experts Sean Mason and Peter Treloar, focusing on the successes in phosphorus management through VRT, the variability of rainfall effects on harvests, and the econo...

Navigating Frost Management: Insights and Strategies for the 2024 Season This episode of the Better Frost Decisions podcast series delves into reflections on the 2023 season's frost experiences and discusses innovative frost management strategies for the upcoming 2024 season. Hosted by Paige Cross of Mallee Sustainable Farming, the episode features conversations with Mallee farmers Andrew Hanson a...