The Weekly Grill

In this episode Kerry Lonergan interviews Felicity Richards, Chair of FarmSafe Australia, about recent on‑farm fatality statistics, leading causes (quad bikes, side‑by‑sides and tractors), and common contributing factors such as lack of helmets/seatbelts, speed, and unsafe mounting/dismounting. In the lead up to Farm Safety Week, the conversation covers vulnerable groups (older farmers and young c...

Counting down to LambEx 2026, The Weekly Grill host Kerry Lonergan explores booming lamb prices and the new carcass feedback program adopted at GMP Gundagai. He chats with GMP CEO Will Barton about DEXA scans, MEQ probes, GLQ scoring and producer bonuses for premium outcomes. Kerry then chats with lamb producer Jenny Bradley as she shares her experiences with the new feedback program and her opera...

In today’s episode of The Weekly Grill host Kerry Lonergan is joined by Beef Central's Jon Condon as they dial in AusMeat Chair, Allan Bloxsom, to discuss AusMeat’s new, industry-agreed rules for breed-specific content claims that take affect from July 1. The conversation covers how the new export trade descriptions will work (e.g., Angus F1, Angus 50, Angus Composite), verification options (pheno...

This week on The Weekly Grill, host Kerry Lonergan sits down with Simon Irwin, CEO of Beef 2027, to talk about learnings from Beef 2024 and the plans for the next event in Rockhampton; they discuss record attendances, exhibitor demand, and the event's economic impact. The episode covers major challenges and innovations: accommodation shortages and solutions (Airbnb partnerships, Camplify and carav...

Along with eight other young beef industry stakeholders, NSW's Millie Unthank is one of this year's Graeme Acton Beef Connections program participants. In this episode of The Weekly Grill, Kerry Lonergan interviews Millie, Ag Tech Manager for the McDonald family's MDH operations in North Queensland. She outlines her rural upbringing, studies in bioengineering and computer science, and how she move...

In today's episode of The Weekly Grill, host Kerry Lonergan interviews Darren Thomas, CEO of Thomas Foods International, about the company’s growth from family beginnings to a multi-billion-dollar global business. They discuss key issues including China tariffs and trade challenges, the rebuilding of Murray Bridge after the 2018 fire, expansion into the US, goat and seafood operations, feedlot gro...

In this episode of The Weekly Grill Kerry Lonergan interviews veteran cattleman Dick Slaney about his extraordinary career from North Queensland to Venezuela, the US and across Asia. Dick recounts hands-on experiences in live export, feedlots and abattoirs, his role in introducing stunning practices in Indonesia, and reflections on the resilience and changing dynamics of the Australia–Indonesia be...

In this episode Kerry Lonergan interviews respected Australian Cattle Vet Dr Ross Ainsworth about the growing threat of exotic livestock diseases discussed at the recent Wagyu Edge 26 conference in Brisbane. Dr Ainsworth explains how foot-and-mouth disease could abruptly close export markets, devastate herd values and force mass culling, and describes how lumpy skin disease spreads, its impacts an...

In this week's episode of The Weekly Grill Kerry Lonergan speaks with Andrew Henderson of AgSecure about how fuel and fertiliser shortages expose critical weaknesses in Australia’s food system. They discuss diesel as a ‘‘master constraint,’’ the risks of just-in-time supply chains, and the need for a national food security strategy, strategic stockpiles and greater domestic and regional production...

In this episode of The Weekly Grill host Kerry Lonergan is joined by Matt Dalgleish and Chris Howie to break down the latest market movements and regional conditions affecting Australian livestock. They discuss the BOM El Niño forecast and its regional impacts, the record sell-off of cows in New South Wales, diesel and urea supply pressures, disruptions to live sheep exports and changing export de...

In this weeks episode of The Weekly Grill, host Kerry Lonergan takes the roving microphone through Wagyu Edge 26 in Brisbane, talking with more than 900 breeders, exhibitors and international guests about genetics, market opportunities, biosecurity risks and the growing quality of Australian Wagyu. Attendees share insights on breeding, phenotype data, export markets... and their cooking preference...

In today's episode of The Weekly Grill, host Kerry Lonergan visited Wagyu Edge 26 in Brisbane to catch up with AWA's president Laird Morgan and CEO Matt McDonagh to explore the explosive growth of Australian Wagyu, export markets, genetics (WBVs), feeding trends and industry opportunities...  plus a new $100,000 Wagyu feeding competition and more.   AWA President, Laird Morgan   AWA CEO, Matt McDo...

In this episode Kerry Lonergan speaks with Rawdon Briggs (Colliers Agribusiness) and independent valuer Will McLay about current trends in Australia’s rural property market. They discuss the impact of the Middle East conflict, sector pressures on horticulture, resilient beef and cropping markets, buyer and seller motivations, and major transactions like the potential Paraway offering. Key takeaway...

The recent Northern Beef Research Update Conference in Brisbane was peppered with references to the use of smart tags in various R&D applications, combining geo-location with algorithms used to measure animal behaviour. US animal scientist Professor Derek Bailey first started using primitive forms of geo-location tags as far back as 1998, but the technology has come a long ways since.   This w...

In this week's episode, podcast host Kerry Lonergan sits down with Professor Derek Bailey, one of the keynote speakers at the 2026 Northern Beef Research Update Conference (NBRUC).  Professor Bailey discusses the similarities between US and Australian rangelands (pastures), the role of public-land grazing, and how tracking technology, accelerometers and AI are transforming cattle monitorin. The vi...

The Weekly Grill podcast host Kerry Lonergan spent time at the Northern R&D conference in Brisbane this week, including this discussion with keynote speaker David Foote.     Mr Foote said one of the industry’s biggest R&D opportunities lies not in new scientific breakthroughs, but applying the knowledge that already exists.   “The industry doesn’t suffer from a lack of knowledge. It suffer...

In this week's episode of The Weekly Grill podcast host Kerry Lonergan talks with processor Paul Gibson, who recently retired after a distinguished 35-year career with Australian Country Choice in Brisbane.   Paul's career - most recently as ACC's Research & Development manager - spanned the era from the introduction of Meat Standards Australia grading through to current-day adoption of object...

In this week's episode of The Weekly Grill podcast host Kerry Lonergan talks with Beef Central's genetics editor Al Rayner, posing the question: Is production efficiency the secret to lower emissions?     Alastair observes that productivity and profitability are inextricably linked to lower emissions — and that smarter farm management, not silver-bullet technology, is the most immediate path forwa...

In this week's episode of The Weekly Grill podcast host Kerry Lonergan talks all things AI with Jerome Leray, founder and Managing Director of leading ag tech company, Infarm.   InFarm is an Agricultural AI company focused on delivering ground breaking technology to farmers, using state of the art AI and advance technology to develop tools that will help farmers become more efficient, save money o...

Weekly Grill podcast host Kerry Lonergan this week sits down to chew the fat with independent analyst Simon Quilty, exploring the livestock and meat market prospects for the year ahead.   Together the pair discuss likely impacts on trade this year, from China tariffs and quotas and their impact on Australian exports on imported beef, supply and demand patterns, the US herd size and what it means;...

Beef Central's ever-popular Weekly Grill podcast returns for its sixth season today, with host Kerry Lonergan exploring the livestock and meat market prospects for the year ahead with regular contributors Matt Dalgleish from Episode 3 and Chris Howie GM of RMA.   Together the trio discuss likely impacts on trade this year, from seasonal conditions to China tariffs and quotas on imported beef, supp...

In this week's episode of The Weekly Grill - our final episode for 2025 - host Kerry Lonergan sits down with  newly elected president of the National Farmers Federation, Hamish Macintyre.   In this wide ranging discussion Kerry quizzes new president about: The immediate priorities for the NFF Potential NFF constitutional changes Climate and emissions and the NFF’s environmental arrangements with t...

Respected US meat and livestock economist Derrell Peel chews the fat this week with Weekly Grill podcast host Kerry Lonergan. Prof Peel, extension specialist for livestock marketing at Oklahoma State University, works in all areas of US livestock production economics and marketing for all beef cattle production sectors. Additionally he works on US meat demand and meat supply chain issues, beef pro...

In this week’s episode of the Weekly Grill, host Kerry Lonergan catches up with Mia Ryan, founder of the dating App, Howdy – think Tinder for the bush.   From her family farm in the NSW Hunter Valley, Mia recognised an opening to help bush people make a romantic connection, with more than 20,000 downloads among bush folk using the App in their search for love.   And there’s been plenty of success...

In this week's episode of the Weekly Grill, host Kerry Lonergan catches up with Matt Dalgliesh and Chris Howie to dissect what’s been a ‘goldilocks year’ for the red meat industry.   Reviewing some of the year's major headlines, the trio discuss: The lamb market’s spring flush Lamb fetching upwards of $330 a kilo Australia's highest volumes of processed beef for 47 years Did Trump’s yo-yo approach...