Productivity and Profitability Media Series

Input costs continue to rise, but according to Ken Solly, that is no excuse for standing still. In this episode, Ken joins our new host, neXtgen Agri CEO Mark Ferguson, to discuss why producers need to understand their own rate of inflation, benchmark their business against itself, and continually look for gains in productivity rather than relying on strong market prices to protect margins. Drawin...

Welcome to Episode 20 of the MLA Productivity and Profitability media series! In this episode, we're joined by Dr Gordon Refshaugee to explore fertility and fecundity in Australian sheep flocks over the past decade.  Your host, Ellie Hays, and Gordon discuss the average pregnancy rate in Australian sheep flocks and share practical tips to improve fertility and manage the resulting obligations...

Welcome to episode 19 of the MLA Productivity and Profitability media series. This episode features Tim Gole from For Flocks Sake. Tim and I will dive into all thing BredWell FedWell and setting up your breeding flock for success.  Your host, Ellie Hays and Tim discuss the importance of pre-joining exams, body condition scoring, scanning, ASBVs and how eID's can be used as an advantage. To fi...

Welcome to episode 18 of the MLA Productivity and Profitability media series. This episode features Ed Riggall from AgPro Management. Ed and I will dive into integrating livestock into mixed farming systems with the main focus on summer nutrition.  Your host, Ellie Hays and Ed briefly discuss on a life on a consultant before diving into summer nutrition, feed requirements for sheep, different grai...

Welcome to episode 17 of the MLA Productivity and Profitability media series. This episode features Natalee Johnston from Skilful Decisions . Natalee Johnston was the Royal Australian Navy’s first female pilot and with over 24 years of military experience, Natalee has led teams in high-stakes situations, taught as a helicopter instructor, and now runs her own consultancy focusing on human factors,...

Welcome to episode 16 of the MLA Productivity and Profitability media series. This episode features Deb Scammell from Talking Livestock. Deb dives into the key questions around mineral supplementation for beef and sheep.  Your host, Ellie Hays and Deb discuss the importance of mineral supplementation, when they need supplements and which essential minerals to focus on. Find out how minerals intera...

Welcome to episode 15 of the MLA Productivity and Profitability media series. This episode features Matt Ferguson from NeXtgen Agri. Mark talks about the importance of embracing change to continue to be successful in agriculture. Your host, Tanisha Shields and Mark discuss exciting technologies including genomics, robotics, artificial intelligence, augmented reality and big data. They discuss the...

Welcome to episode 14 of the MLA Productivity and Profitability media series. This episode features Elke Hocking from Elke Hocking Consulting. Elke talks about the importance of measuring and monitoring to manage for reproductive success in heifers.  Your host, Tanisha Shields and Elke discuss that by proactively managing weaner heifers to achieve critical mating weight targets and condition score...

Welcome to episode 13 of the MLA Productivity and Profitability media series. This episode features Callen Thompson from AgSTAR Projects. Callen talks about growing beef from dairy, the benefits, barriers and next steps for the industry.  Your host, Tanisha Shields and Callen discuss the importance of relationships and understanding what the end user of your product wants. Callen highlights the be...

Welcome to episode 12 of the MLA Productivity and Profitability media series. This episode features Sally Martin from SheepMetriX. Sally talks about how electronic identification can be used in your business to add value.  Your host, Tanisha Shields and Sally discuss the importance of being clear on what you want to achieve when collecting data. Sally highlights that there are multiple avenues for...

Welcome to episode 11 of the MLA Productivity and Profitability media series. This special edition episode features Dr Shane Thompson from Holbrook Vet Clinic, Ed Rigall from AgPro Management and Felicity Turner from Turner Agriservices. In this episode we discuss the business, pasture and livestock management considerations when managing a late seasonal break or failed autumn period.  Your host,...

Welcome to episode 10 of the MLA Productivity and Profitability media series. This episode features Anne Collins of AC Ag Consulting. Anne talks about how to maximise dorper reproductive performance, particularly in challenging environments.  Your host, Tanisha Shields and Anne discuss how to utilise condition scoring as a management tool to inform decision making, the importance of pregnancy scan...

Welcome to episode 9 of the MLA Productivity and Profitability media series. This episode features Dr Jason Condon from Charles Sturt University. Jason talks about how implementing improved soil sampling intervals will enable better decisions about liming. Your host, Tanisha Shields and Jason discuss the movement and effect of liming to address lower soil acidity layers. We also discuss the how th...

Welcome to episode 8 of the MLA Productivity and Profitability media series. This episode features Shawn McGrath from Charles Sturt University. Shawn talks about the role of dual-purpose crops in livestock production businesses.  Your host, Tanisha Shields and Shawn discuss the benefits of dual-purpose crops, when to sow a dual-purpose crops and how to manage grazing with different livestock speci...

Welcome to episode 7 of the MLA Productivity and Profitability media series. This episode features Cam Nicolson from Nicon Rural. Cam talks the carbon space which is rapidly evolving, we should expect the ‘rules’ and assumptions to change in the future. Your host, Tanisha Shields and Cam discuss why you should care about carbon, where it all began and how to get an understanding of the emissions i...

Welcome to episode 6 of the MLA Productivity and Profitability media series. This episode features Sally Murfet from InspireAg. Sally talks about the importance of managing and working with people in agriculture. Your host, Tanisha Shields and Sally discuss the internal and external factors impacting human agronomy, the importance of clarity, communication and culture and how to get the recruitmen...

Welcome to episode 5 of the MLA Productivity and Profitability media series. This episode features John Francis from Agrista. John talks about how to drive production in your business to manage risk and cost of production to drive profitability. Your host, Tanisha Shields and John discuss what some of the targets for production are, how to design a cost structure to meet these production targets a...

Welcome to episode 4 of the MLA Productivity and Profitability media series. This episode features Dr Jillian Kelly from Animal Health and Nutrition Consulting. Jill talks about how containment feeding can be a proactive management strategy for drought, fire, flood or to meet production targets. Your host, Tanisha Shields and Jill discuss why to use containment areas, how to set up a containment a...

Welcome to episode 3 of the MLA Productivity and Profitability media series. This episode features Basil Doonan, Technical Director of Pinion Advisory. Basil speaks about how to manage your pastures during spring, in wet, dry and average seasons. Your host, Tanisha Shields and Basil discuss why spring is the time to "attack" your pasture management, how to deal with excess feed, how to a...

Welcome to episode 2 of the MLA Productivity and Profitability media series. This episode features Dr Penny Schulz, Livestock Technical Specialist with the SA Drought Resilience, Adoption and Innovation Hub. Penny presents an overview of what a value chain approach is, what this means for livestock producers and how genetics play a role. Your host, Tanisha Shields and Penny discuss meeting market...

Welcome to episode 1 of the MLA Productivity and Profitability media series. This episode features Phil Graham, of Graham Advisory, who presents a current seasonal update and implications of this for producers. Your host, Tanisha Shields and Phil discuss how to assess your exposure to a dry spring, taking into account the impact across southern Australia.  Phil shares information about a range of...