Rural Focus

DPIRD research scientist Ciara Beard joins us to give us on an update for WA lupin growers who are facing increasing pressure from sclerotinia, with disease prevalence rising in recent years. She shares some strategy's on the show this morning you can also find in the online publication  Lupin sclerotinia disease risk assessment guide . Stephen Brown from SafeFarms WA also joined us to share...

Did you know trucks can turn left from the right hand lane? This morning we learnt something new With Niomi Hurley from Transafe WA. Their purple InsTRUCKta truck was at the Wagin Woolorarma and is teaching people across the state about truck and road safety. Dan from Sunwise Energy was also back to remind us about the battery rebates and what we need to know.   See omnystudio.com/listener fo...

The big news of the weekend is the new canola tariffs China is bringing in on canola from Canada, so what does it mean for growers here in Australia. Rabobank grains and oilseed analyst Vítor Pistóia joined us to give us the insights. [at 3.29min] AMF have a new team member, Craig Higgins who joins me to discuss soils and all things microbes. Plus, did you know we have an education g...

Lots of interesting conversations in the show today. We find out about a new smoke sensor that can detect levels of smoke taint in grape varieties, potentially saving growers millions when a fire is in the region. Plus the latest Horticulture Handbook is out with insights into the industry, we found out how important this component of agriculture is to Australia. See omnystudio.com/listener for pr...

Today on the show Mia Davies joined us one last time before the State election to remind us on the importance of voting. Plus we have updates from GRDC, Farm Weekly and the Wheatbelt Natural Resource Management. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Back after a long weekend - we get the latest out of Mt Barker from Harry Carol from Nutrien in the cattle market report. Plus we find out about the latest tech in 4x4 and tractors with Lindsay Allan from Bunbury 4x4 and CLAAS Harvest Centre's Neil Wigley. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An exciting marathon is happening this weekend with money raised to support local charity Hurt to Help. We spoke to Lynda Cornish director of Hurt to Help about the marathon and how you can get involved this weekend. Plus Craig White is the new Elders WA State Advisory Services Manager in the Agronomy and Livestock Production Adviser team, and joined Leah on the program this morning giving an insi...

The Rural Health in Australia Snapshot 2025 paints a grim picture of health inequities between rural and metropolitan areas and on the show this morning we spoke to National Rural Health Alliance chief executive Susi Tegen about the data and what it means for us living regionally. Plus Tiff Davey from The Livestock Collective shares an update and where to find them at Wagin Woolarama, and Cally Du...

On the show today we chatted with MLA and found out about there new social media academy aimed at upskilling read meat producers to showcase the work they do via TikTok and Instagram. Plus Daniel from Sunwise Energy gave an update on battery rebates and we heard from John Ackerman the keynote speaker at the GRDC Grains Research Update Perth event. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informatio...

Over the weekend ADM loaded its first bulk faba bean cargo from Western Australia, we caught up with Managing Director of Ag Services Australia and New Zealand, Tim Henry about the significance of the load being shipped from Esperance to Egypt. Plus Harry Carol from Nutrien was back to give us the cattle report and Bill Crabtree from 4Farmers shared insights on his top herbicides.   See omnys...

On the show today we got a grain trading market update from Tom Mayfield of ADM Trading, plus Roger Hitchcock from Rural Aid was back to talk risk and vulnerability. We also got an inside look at real estate with Jeremy Stewart from Merrifield Real Estate. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When it comes to our money, many of us feel on the back foot. Today on Rural Focus we Spoke with Nyssa Millington from Fin-Cap Co Op to learn how we can start taking control of this tricky area. Plus we were joined by the Liberal Member for Southwest Steve Thomas and David Clegg from Nutrien shares more on seed varieties for this year. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Craig Walker from Nutrien shares some insights into why prices are the way they are in this weeks market report. Plus it's a jam packed show with Darren O'Dea from Farm Weekly giving us the headlines, Stuart Gray, divisional fertiliser manager from Nutrien talking about soil testing and Women In Farming provided an update on some excellent events on the way. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy...

The Bureau of Meteorology seasonal outlook was released earlier in the month and Jessica Lingard joined Leah this morning to take us through what we can expect from March and April. Plus GRDC Senior Regional Manager West Peter Bird takes us through next week's Grains Research Update - Perth program and Renata Paliskis from the Wheatbelt Natural Resource Management shares projects you can get invol...

On the show this morning we found out about Alexia Phillips a women who is looking to break the Women's Shearing World Record of how many merino ewes can be shorn in 8 hours. Plus Mel Parnell from CLAAS Harvest Centre Northam joins us to talk through some impressive spreader technology and of course it wouldn't be Monday without Harry Carol from Nutrien giving us the cattle report from Mt Barker....

On Rural Focus this morning we found out about the early stage trials that DPIRD are conducting on coffee bean varieties at three sites across WA. Plus we find out the results of the RAC Risk Roads Survey, and Terry Melrose from Regional Men's Health Initiative joins Leah to help us stay motivated if we are struggling with the back to work blues. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information...

On the show today we took both a legal and safety planning look at the firearm legislation changes that are coming into affect on the 31st of March. Rebecca Mync from Bailiwick Legal take us through the legal implications and Stephen Brown from SafeFarms look at the safety planning changes you need to be on top of.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Craig Walker gives us the latest out of Muchea in the livestock report. Daniel from Sunwise Energy shares the risks and implications of creating your own off grid network (aka don't do it), plus Professor Ross Kingwell from DPIRD takes us through what he thinks needs to change with the supply chain, taking grain from farm to port. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kulin local Gen Whisson is a 2025 finalist in the WA AgriFutures Rural Women's Awards for her Kulin to Cambodia Initiative, we found out all the details. Plus - Tom Frost from Australian Mineral Fertilisers goes through soil testing, and Heechung Sung joins us to take a look at the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) and CSIRO new tool - The Towards Net Zero Agriculture Pathfinder. See om...

Looking for options for your growing program this year? Researcher from DPIRD Rob Harrison joins me to talk about a new legume cultivar that's available now. Harry Carol from Nutrien is back to give me the Mt Barker Cattle report, plus we talk looking after yourself in the wake of fire and natural disasters with Roger Hitchcock from Rural Aid Australia. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy info...

Looking for love? We might just have the app for you. On Rural Focus this morning Leah spoke with Mia the founder of Howdy Global a dating app just for farmers and people living in the regions. Plus Dave Paton from CBH joined us to give us the final numbers for the 2024/2025 grain harvest and Nutrien Ag Solutions took us through the crop protection market. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy i...

Rail safety advocate Lara Jensen is back on the show to share where we are at with the new campaign Rail Fail, and if there has been any change in improving train lighting and making level crossings safer. Plus Cally Dupe editor of The Countryman shares this weeks headlines. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Craig Walker takes us through this weeks sheep cattle report right out of Muchea. Plus we talk to Bill Crabtree from 4Farmers about the return of some classic herbicides, and Darren O'Dea gives us the headlines from Farm Weekly. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the show today we were joined by the Member for Central Wheatbelt Mia Davies to find out what she's been up too and discuss some topics that are front of mind. Plus we speak with Lauren Patane to talk about horticulture and the onion season. We are also joined by Grower Relations Manager Berin Gibbons from the GRDC to get an update on upcoming events. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inf...

Last week the Australian Meat Industry Council released updated standards for livestock processing, one of the changes is the introduction of mandatory video surveillance for accredited processing facilities. We spoke to acting CEO Tim Ryan about the changes. We were also joined by Harry Carol and Matt Watts from Nutrien Ag Solutions to give us the market report out of Mt Barker and look at an out...