Salt of the Earth Farm Stories

Send us Fan Mail Timing, Tiller Talk & Tech — Part B with Jason McAinch We continue our conversation with grazing management expert Jason McAinch.  This time, we get practical: how often  should  you be moving stock? Jason unpacks everything from plant growth points to the role of mother and daughter tillers, and explains how shifting stock movement can even help livestock gut health through a...

Send us Fan Mail Jason McAinch — a grazing management expert. We explore the art of rotational grazing. From the importance of plant recovery to the role of leaf area as a solar panel, Jason shares how working  with  nature leads to healthier pastures and more resilient livestock. He covers everything from the dangers of Phalaris staggers to building strong foundations in the paddock — and why he...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we sit down with Lyn Coulston — a passionate environmental advocate, community leader, and driving force in the Upper Murray. From her early experiences with environmental destruction to founding a large-scale native nursery, Lyn shares her remarkable journey of resilience, leadership, and love for the land. She opens up about supporting her community through disa...

Send us Fan Mail We head into the southern tributaries of the Murray-Darling Basin to meet the mighty Murray spiny crayfish — a spiky, freshwater giant full of surprises.  Dr. Scott Raymond shares fieldwork do’s and don’ts, how to tell if a female is carrying eggs without uncurling her tail, a bloody pinch story, and his unforgettable moment with Sir David Attenborough.  A sharp and surprising lis...

Send us Fan Mail From Paddock to Plate: The Story of Provenir with Chris Balazs When Chris Balazs sold his first lot of calves, he had no idea where they were headed — and that moment changed everything. In this episode, we look into the creation of Australia’s first mobile abattoir and the ethical, on-farm meat processing movement it sparked. Co-founder Chris takes us on a journey of innovation,...

Send us Fan Mail We continue our conversation with the insightful Louis De Jaeger—award-winning filmmaker, international speaker, and author of  SOS: Save Our Soils . This time, we dive into how generations-old farmers are adapting to a fast-changing world. From biodiversity to perennial agriculture to gut-brain health, Louis connects the dots in ways that might surprise you. And yes, we throw a f...

Send us Fan Mail Louis De Jaeger—award-winning filmmaker, international speaker, and author of  SOS: Save Our Soils . Fresh off a journey across the globe, Louis shares insights from farmers rewriting the rules of agriculture and asks a powerful question:  How can we feed the world without poisoning it? This episode isn’t about blame—it’s about breakthroughs. From ancient wisdom to cutting-edge te...

Send us Fan Mail We’re back with The Unbreakable Farmer, Warren Davis. Warren speaks openly about fear, mental health, and the power of staying connected—especially during tough times like the current droughts and floods. He shares what’s in his “resilience toolbox” and why speaking up is key:  “If you can’t talk, you can’t get support.” This episode is a timely and thought-provoking look at how r...

Send us Fan Mail Warren Davis, known as The Unbreakable Farmer, has a raw and powerful story. City-born but drawn to the land, he bought his first farm at 22. When drought and hardship hit, so did a mental health crisis. Walking off the farm after 20 years was heartbreaking—but it became the turning point. Now, Warren shares his story across Australia, helping rural communities build resilience, o...

Send us Fan Mail We’re back with the amazing Leila McDougall. In this episode, we go behind the scenes of the movie Just A Farmer.  We hear about the films release on the big screen and in country cinemas and how these events are bringing rural communities together.  She’s a gifted story teller with a powerful mission: to make the world a better place for Australian farmers.  And get ready for the...

Send us Fan Mail When Leila McDougall sets her mind to something — look out, it’s all go...! In this episode, we learn about the incredible journey behind the making of  Just A Farmer . From the spark of inspiration to writing the script, researching, rallying a crew, and funding it all — Leila takes us through the highs and heavy pressures of bringing an Australian story to life on her own family...

Send us Fan Mail We continue our powerful conversation with Leila McDougall. She opens up about life on the farm in Western Victoria, and the reality of the current drought. Leila shares her deep personal stories and the challenges of a recent health scare of her own. And she also discusses the incredible impact of the movie Just A Farmer. Leila's strength, honesty, and passion continues to i...

Send us Fan Mail This special four-part mini-series features the remarkable Leila McDougall — writer, producer, and star of the powerful Australian film  Just A Farmer . In Part A, Leila shares her deep personal journey: from childhood learning difficulties and shying away from the spotlight, to fashion design in the big smoke. We explore the turning points that led her back to the land and into f...

Send us Fan Mail Judy Brewer is leading an incredible initiative at  The Farm Mudgegonga  — a groundbreaking social farm designed to help people reconnect, heal, and feel better through nature.  She calls it a “natural health prescription,” and it’s changing lives. Judy shares powerful insights into the deep bond between farmers and their animals — and how that can sometimes come with its own emot...

Send us Fan Mail Blue Ridge Speckle Park. Today, we look into the Speckle Park beef breed with Wayne Munt.  This unique breed is known for its impressive feed efficiency—getting to market weight with less feed. Munty’s done the hard yards, researching genetics from around the globe. He is importing and exporting semen straws. Today we are in Gundowing in North East Victoria.  Lets hear from Munty.

Send us Fan Mail This week, we look into the fascinating world of a Robotic Dairy Barn.  Mark Trigg has taken their dairy operation to the next level. These cows even have their own nutritionist, back scratchers, and soft foam mats to sleep on. It’s a truly remarkable setup, and a testament to the hard work and innovation at the Trigg family Farm. 

Send us Fan Mail Sowing Seeds of Change: The Pete McAdam Story A backpacker from Scotland arrives in Bungaree, Victoria, looking for work on a farm. Nearly 20 years later he is still there. Pete has a deep passion for agriculture and hard work. He has a brilliant mind when it comes to soil health and growing diverse crops, blending traditional knowledge with modern technology.  This is a fascinati...

Send us Fan Mail Farming in Bungaree, Victoria. Marks story is about innovation, hard work, and a true passion for farming. Mark’s journey began in the paddocks, where he started life on the farm, then an apprenticeship in town and later to a Queensland station – before ultimately returning to the generations-old family farm. We hear about growing seed potatoes, cover crops, a large scale robotic...

Send us Fan Mail In Part Two of our deep dive into biodiversity on farms, we explore the delicate balance between farm production and environmental preservation, highlighting the vital role farmers play in maintaining a healthy ecosystem. We’ll also look into the growing pressures from environmental markets, the carbon footprint of agriculture, and the magic that happens when diverse habitats come...

Send us Fan Mail I sit by a creek with Dr. Mason Crane as we discuss how the landscape may have looked before European settlement, the role of dingoes, and the modern challenges posed by kangaroo numbers. Mason shares his insights on biological control and how maintaining strong biodiversity can boost wool, milk, and lambing production by up to 20%. Join us for a fascinating conversation about the...

Send us Fan Mail At just 23 years old, Mia Stephenson is already making waves in the agricultural world. We hear about her Bachelor of Agricultural Science, her upcoming Honors project, and why nitrogen is the reason we’re growing legumes. Mia has such an interesting story to tell. Growing up on the northern Sydney beaches, with family farming in Ireland, studying Ag at CSU and gaining hands-on ex...

Send us Fan Mail On today’s adventure, we’re heading back to The Farm Mudgegonga, for an update. Our guide for this tour is the one and only, 94-year-old Mary Brewer.  Mary is driving the Kubota, and she’s a bit of speedster… We catch up with team members and have a laugh. It's a special place where the spirit of community, nature and resilience thrives. A must listen.  Also check out thefarm...

Send us Fan Mail Holbrook Landcare Network is leading the charge in agriculture, conservation and community. CEO Dr. Alison Southwell shares many exciting projects like the Southern Pygmy Perch Program, innovations in ag,  and the work around acidic soils and liming. We also explore the role of soil chemistry, the importance of perennial pastures, and environmental markets.  Being a good environme...

Send us Fan Mail We head north of Holbrook, NSW, where Dr. Alison Southwell and her husband are cropping and running Merinos. We’re joined by Alison, a woman with an incredible depth of knowledge and expertise.  We’ll dive deep into the importance of getting deeper-rooted grasses into our farming systems, and why agriculture needs a 'systems approach' to thrive.  We’ll talk about of soil...

Send us Fan Mail In Part two with Mason we talk about his fat lamb enterprise, and selling direct to the local butcher.  How fencing off an area can look like a giant hay stack and be a great back up in dry times.  Plus, we learn about managing conservation on private land. We even hear about making tea from weeds.