MSF Farm Talk Podcast

In this podcast episode, results from Anthony Rowe's vari-rate and sowing time demonstration in Millewa are discussed. Pete Treloar and Anthony Rowe talk about the outcomes presented to the Millewa agronomy group, focusing on the benefits of increasing seeding rates on sandhills for crop yield and ground cover, and the mixed results on different soils. Despite the underwhelming response to reduced...

In this year's first episode of the MSF Farm Talk podcast, we are thrilled to announce the winner of the prestigious 2024 David Roget Award for Excellence. This award is an opportunity to celebrate the legacy and contribution of David Roget, a principal research scientist at the CSIRO, who revolutionized the field by taking research out of the lab and into the paddock. David's passion, enthusiasm,...

The flashback podcast episode features a discussion with Tanja Morgan from MSF and Jess Koch from Breezy Hill Ag Services in 2021. Jess has been investigating the impact of frost in the Murray Town Valley, an area prone to heavy frost conditions. They discuss the use of precision ag data, temperature sensors, and landscape change maps in identifying frost-prone areas. Jess shares observations from...

The episode discusses the issues of Mallee seeps and introduces a new digital support tool called AgriSolve. The new tool uses satellite NDVI maps for the early identification of Mallee seeps. This tool is a product of collaborative work between MSF and independent consultant Chris McDonough with funding from the Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board Grassroots Grant.  Chris and Tanja discuss...

What is the influence of sowing time on wheat yields in the Mallee region? Tune in to this podcast to hear how variable rate technology can enhance crop performance. Join Nick Paltridge from Mallee Sustainable Farming as he engages in a down to earth conversation in the field with Millewa farmer Anthony Rowe, agronomist Peter Baird, and SARDI Soilborne Diseases researcher Blake Gontar. Learn about...

Discover the impact of Variable Rate Technology on cereal cropping in the Millewa in the latest MSF Farmtalk podcast. Join us as we dive into Andy Marwood's experience implementing seeding rate test strips at Carwarp this year. Gain valuable insights from local agronomist Peter Baird and SARDI Soilborne diseases researcher Blake Gonter as they share their perspectives on the current season and rev...

Coming to you from the GRDC Grain legume Production hub site field day at Loxton, we catch up with SARDI Research Scientist and Pulse Pathology Sub Program Leader, Sara Blake.  Making the right decision about fungicide application in a low rainfall region can be tricky.  Sara gives us a better understanding of what to consider before making the decision to apply fungicides and making sure the cond...

As the spring season is now upon us it can be an anxious time for many, as the fruits of our labour sit exposed to the elements as we approach the seasonal finish line. We can see that harvest is on the horizon but we are not quite there yet. So what could possibly go wrong? Heat stress, moisture stress, and the f word....frost! At this time of year it’s all out being prepared. Hope for the best b...

There are many farms across the Mallee that have salt scalds form in their cropping paddocks, usually at the bottom of a sandhill. This forage shrub podcast looks into the way that Blue Wyatt has used his stand of saltbush to fix a salt scald area. If Blue's experience is anything to go by, the degraded land can be reclaimed quite simply with the shrubs and provide a useful source of sheep feed at...

In this third podcast in our shrubs series, we hear from mixed farmer and forage shrub veteran John Arentz. Over the past two decades, John has learned some valuable lessons on how to keep shrubs at grazing height and how to manage stands so that productive pasture can be grown in amongst the shrubs. John reckons the shrubs pasture stand makes it a lot easier to run stock in the Mallee and has tur...

In the fourth and final of the Forage Shrubs podcast series, Nick, Tanja and Daniel  'shoot the breeze' about the lessons learned from growing fodder shrubs over many years in the Mallee. We chat about the experiences shared by Mallee farmers and summarise the critical success factors. Thanks to Daniel Schuppan, Nutrien Livestock Production Specialist for his expertise on the subject, and for shar...

Welcome to the Better Frost Decisions Podcast, where we explore innovative strategies and expert insights to help you make informed decisions in the cropping season. In this limited series, our engaging conversations with industry leaders bring you the latest frost research and practical solutions for managing risk and optimizing yield. In this episode, we're thrilled to chat with Peter Hayman, Pr...

In our latest episode, we catch up with Adama Market Development Manager, Alistair Crawford. Alistair is at the coal face of leaf disease management working with growers and advisors to provide research data and expert advice on key crop leaf diseases. Tanja Morgan chats to Alistair about last season, the impact of the wet finish and what to expect going into 2023.  This podcast has been developed...

The project that brought you Mallee Sandy Soils Masterclass events in collab with the GRDC Sandy Soils project now brings you demonstrations investigating sandy soil constraint ID and paddock scale amelioration strategies.  In this episode we catch up with Michael Moodie to talk about a new tool he has been working on to get a better understanding of the nature of the sandy soils we are dealing wi...

Ian and Elizabeth McNabb have over thirty years’ experience with different types of forage shrub, established by both direct seeding and planting tube-stock. They’ve worked out which species survive best and regenerate, and currently have around 800 acres of mostly Old Man Saltbush on heavier, salt-affected land. This stand has helped reduce the spread of saline land on their property. It also pro...

During the 1st week of farmFEST, MSF hosted three livestock nutrition workshops across the tri-state Mallee, at Balranald, NSW, Murrayville, VIC and Peake, SA. Joining project Manager Nick Paltridge and Extension Officer Kylie Matthewson were Emily King National Extension Manager for  Australian Wool Innovation Limited (AWI), and Hamish Dickson, Ruminant Nutritionist from AgriPartner Consulting. ...

As part of FarmFEST '23 and thanks to the SA Drought Hub we tackle the topic of getting set up for VRT on farm. Joined by PA tech expert Peter Treloar and Research Agronomist specialising in nutrition Sean Mason we get straight to the point with how to start making maps and creating zones on farm, and you don't need all the flash machinery, anyone can do it! We also tackle questions such as: how m...

Ben Ranford farms with his family at Cleve on the Eyre Peninsula. The area has an average annual rainfall of 330mm, with 250mm on average falling in the growing season. Their soils include some white non-wetting sands over clay but are mainly sandy loam. They generally work on a cereal and legume rotation, mainly lentils on the flats and vetch or field peas on the sandy rises, with canola also use...

In this episode, Tanja Morgan catches up with Weed Smart agronomist Chris Davey to discuss the tips of the trade when it comes to weed management in lentils. An experienced agronomist from the Yorke Peninsula, working for YP AG, Chris has over 20 years of experience working with growers in a region where lentils are the most abundant crop grown. Chris talks about the lost potential of not controll...

In the episode, Tanja Morgan meets with Dave Keetch to talk about optical spot spray technology and the advantages to using this technology on farm. We cover when to spray, what to spray and and how to get the best out of implementing spot spray technology on farm.  Fast forward a couple of weeks, Tanja wraps up the podcast at the Future of Weed Detection - Putting into practice field day, with a...

On this episode host Tanja Morgan is joined by Matt Strmiska, Consultancy Lead with EE Muir Sons who hails from Fresno, California. Matt has spent a decade of his career working with some of the largest horticultural growers in the region to minimize pesticide use by applying knowledge practically. In this episode, Matt speaks about his experience with area-wide pest management in the United State...

Save money, time and get the soil amelioration result you want! Check out our latest podcast with Mel Fraser who catches up with Tanja Morgan to discuss easily accessible tools you need to make quick and simple assessments of soil constraints in your paddock.  Why is this important? So you can work out the best soil amelioration strategy going forward. Is it ripping, delving, spading etc or will a...

In this episode, Chris McDonough visits cousins Nigel Baird and Peter Baird in a paddock badly drifting in the 2018 and 2019 drought.  They're talking about the GRDC investment 'Practical tactics to improve ground cover and ensure soil preservation following successive low rainfall seasons.' The Baird's is a remarkable story of recovery. Following an extended period of drought, which in itself is...

Following successive years of drought in 2018 and 2019, Chris Hunt reflects on his experiences to get through a difficult period for farming in the Millewa region in Victoria.  Chris McDonough visits Chris Hunt in the paddock in 2022 to talk about the recovery and changes to his farm management if the situation were to arise in the future.  For more information including Case Studies developed by...

The second year of feed nutrition results are in and we catch up with Livestock Consultant Hamish Dickson, AgriPartner Consulting, to discuss the results of the AWI funded Feed Nutrition project.  The last two years has provided a valuable data set of the nutritive value of common crops and pasture species that are common the Mallee and low rainfall mixed cropping regions. These results will provi...