The Weekly Grill

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...

The use of drones on farms and grazing properties has grown dramatically over the past few years. Drones are now routinely being used for monitoring, mapping, spraying... and in some situations mustering stock. This week podcast host Kerry Lonergan caught up with one of the industry's early adopters, Jack Sykes, co-principal of AgriDrone, to discuss the rise of the use and application of drones fo...

On the eve of next week’s Cattle Australia seminar and AGM in Dalby, MLA’s executive chef and Product Business Development Manager Sam Burke chews the fat with The Weekly Grill, host Kerry Lonergan. The pair discuss consumer trends during the current cycle of rising beef prices, how food service operators are adjusting their businesses to remain competitive, the role value-adding is playing in del...

In this week's episode of The Weekly Grill, host Kerry Lonergan chews the fat with independent red meat and livestock analyst Simon Quilty, covering the opportunities ahead for Australian beef and lamb in a global market facing shortages, tariff challenges, and trade access issues for the next year or two.     Barring weather setbacks or some form of exotic disease incursion, it's hard not to be b...

In this week's episode of The Weekly Grill, host Kerry Lonergan chews the fat with red meat wholesaling identity David McNally, head of Australian Wholesale Meats.    Since 2001 AWM has grown to become one of the largest domestic beef wholesalers in the country, with offices in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne supplying food service customers across the restaurant, pubs and clubs sector, retail butc...

In this week's episode of The Weekly Grill, host Kerry Longergan catches up with two veterans who took part in Australia's incredible feat in the 1970s-80s era in eradicating Brucellosis and Tuberculosis from the national beef herd. Ron Granville was Queensland's chief veterinary officer during the BTEC era, and Brian Radunz was a senior cattle vet in the Northern Territory. The pair talk about th...

In this week's episode of The Weekly Grill, host Kerry Longergan catches up with newly crowned Young Organic Champion of the Year, Stephanie Frankham.  Stephanie has been instrumental in developing the organic red meat sector, transitioning more than 50,000 cattle to organic production, and pioneering sustainability initiatives, including emissions reduction strategies for producers.     The Weekl...

This week, podcast host Kerry Lonergan dials in Patrick Hutchinson, Chair of the Australian Beef Sustainability Framework. The pair discuss the hot topics of environmental stewardship, animal welfare and economic resilience. Sector by sector, how is the industry performing in the sustainability space, and how best to achieve our future sustainability targets? A lot has already been achieved and a...

This week, podcast host Kerry Lonergan catches up with Livecorp CEO, Wayne Collier. The pair's wide-ranging discussion covers: Indonesian, Vietnamese and Middle Eastern markets, and how they are performing The current mood in Western Australia Crewing live export ships - staffing shortages/who foots the bill? The success of shipboard management and improvements of mortality numbers Biosecurity iss...

Artificial intelligence is now starting to creep into the Australian red meat supply chain, whether it is accurately counting sheep or cattle off a truck into a meatworks holding yard, or picking the shape of tri-tips from a range of primals passing down a processing conveyor belt and packing them in a carton. In today’s Weekly Grill podcast, host Kerry Lonergan chews the fat with Dr Tom Lee from...