The Weekly Grill

With sweeping tariff changes and drastically declining beef production in the US, global instability in the Middle East and Ukraine, lingering effects of drought in southern Australia, there was a lot to talk about in the latest Weekly Grill markets update podcast with regular commentators Chris Howie and Matt Dalgleish. In today’s episode Kerry Lonergan catches up with the pair on cattle price tr...

In the 1980s, farmers were concerned that union intransigence and rigidity, as exemplified by the Mudginberri dispute, threatened the future of Australian agriculture and industry productivity in general. Mudgenberri presented the opportunity for the NFF, with AFFF support, to challenge and defeat the old, inward-looking standards that had long passed their used-by date. Farmers ‘put their hands i...

In this week's episode, podcast host Kerry Lonergan catches up with processor Roger Fletcher, the man behind Australia's most successful integrated sheep meat processing business, Fletcher International. In a wide ranging conversation, the pair discuss Roger's humble beginnings droving sheep around Glen Innes; the opportunities he seized along the way to help build his $1.4b empire; and current hi...

With frenched cutlets now selling in some metro butcheries for $95/kg. and even the humble shank retailing in supermarkets for the equivalent of $7.50 each, domestic lamb prices are today testing the boundaries of what the market ever thought possible. But even at those ticket prices, independent retailers say there is no margin in lamb at current wholesale levels, two leading independent butchers...

Some salient lessons in succession planning were aired during last Friday’s annual Rural Press Cub breakfast held as part of the Brisbane Ekka, where three generations of the Hart family from Stockyard Beef shared the stage in front of an audience of 700. Founder Robin Hart, his son Lachie and granddaughter Ali later sat down with Weekly Grill host Kerry Lonergan to talk about multi-generational f...

In this weeks' podcast episode, host Kerry Lonergan chats with recruitment and labour specialist Tom Reardon, on the ongoing labour challenges in regional and rural Australia.   Two years ago in a previous conversation, Mr Reardon, the head of labour resourcing firm PeopleIn, described the labour situation in rural Australia was as bad as he had ever seen it. What's happened since?   PeopleIn curr...

In this weeks' podcast episode, host Kerry Lonergan chats with LAWD's gregarious property marketing identity, Danny Thomas.   Among other topics, the pair discuss:   The federal super tax and its' impacts on rural properties  SMSF rules and listings of rural properties  Interest in Australia’s ag properties from US Canadian super funds China - are they turning their attention to South America? Vie...

In this weeks’ podcast episode, host Kerry Lonergan chats with MLA’s General Manager – International Markets, Andrew Cox.   While their discussion was recorded prior to the recent announcement about re-approval of US beef imports to Australia, the pair discuss a range of topics including the impact of US tariff measures on global beef trade, and where Australia sits in relation to other nations’ t...

In an era when leading restaurant chefs are viewed more like rock-stars than food purveyors, Sydney restaurateur Neil Perry is the Bruce Springsteen of the Australian fine-dining industry.   His Sydney restaurants Margaret and (part-owned) Rockpool recently featured among the World’s Top 100 steak restaurants, ranking No 2 and No 12 respectively. What does he think about the future of Australian r...

Paul Harris has built a successful Rockhampton-based rural accountancy practice over the past 40 years – but outside spread One of the Fullblood industry’s true pioneers, Paul and family have quietly built up one of Australia’s largest Fullblood Wagyu herds on showcase pulled scrub buffel grass and leucaena grazing country in Central Queensland. In this podcast, host Kerry Lonergan chats with the...

Prof Jim Pratley is one of Australia's best known ag educators, with a distinguished  40 year career. In this wide ranging discussion with Weekly Grill podcast host Kerry Lonergan, he discusses what governments and industry could be doing to attract more students  to careers in ag, and how ag education could be tailored for indigenous students. Prof Pratley began his teaching career in 1972 at Wag...

With sweeping tariff changes in the US, dramatic currency movements, floods and widespread late summer rain in pastoral areas of QLD and NSW, there was a lot to talk about in the latest Weekly Grill markets update podcast with regular commentators Chris Howie and Matt Dalgleish. In today's episode Kerry Lonergan catches up with the pair on US President Trump's evolving tariff negotiations and the...

IN today's podcast episode, host Kerry Lonergan sits down with three women turning the tables in an historically male-dominated meat industry. The Meat Business Women networking and personal development organisation held its annual conference in Brisbane recently, attracting a rowdy crowd of 250. The organisation aims to empower women to make their mark in the meat industry. Founded in the UK in 2...

IN today's podcast episode, host Kerry Lonergan chews the fat with prominent live export identity and veterinarian - Katherine-based Ross Ainsworth. The pair discuss recent live export trade trends, and how the industry manages the growing population of esturine (Asian) buffalo in the NT   Topics discussed:   • Escalating numbers of wild buffalo in Arnhem Land  • The environmental problems  • Comm...

IN today's podcast episode, host Kerry Lonergan sits down with Consolidated Pastoral Co CEO Troy Setter. The pair discuss topics of high interest within the beef industry presently, including the impact of Queensland's foreign owner land tax on investment appetite; the likely trade impacts of Brazil's recent gaining of FMD-freedom without vaccination; CPC's diversification/expansion out of beef in...

IN today's episode podcast, host Kerry Lonergan sits down with up with US animal genetics expert and award winning ag communicator Professor Alison Van Eenaammen. Prof Van Eenennaam is a distinguished Professor of Cooperative Extension in the field of Animal Genomics and Biotechnology in the Department of Animal Science at  the University of California, Davis where she has been on faculty for over...

IN today’s episode podcast host Kerry Lonergan catches up with Dr Frank Mitloehner, in a deep-dive into the beef industry’s climate impact, the importance of accurate accounting methodologies and why the livestock “If we continue to reduce methane emissions in livestock sectors, whether through better grazing and forage, genetics, or tools coming online such as feed additives, livestock can be par...

IN today’s episode podcast host Kerry Lonergan catches up with John Stika, president and CEO of Certified Angus Beef, the world’s largest branded beef program. Over the last 47 years CAB has grown into a red meat marketing colossus, grading around six million cattle each year producing beef sold into dozens of countries worldwide. But it hasn’t always been easy, going within a single vote of being...

IN today's episode podcast host Kerry Lonergan catches up with Angus cattle producers attending the World Angus Congress in Brisbane. Genetic selection of cattle for lower methane, sustainability and consumer attitudes to climate issues were common themes throughout the two-day event. In this podcast, Angus cattlemen and women from across Australia and overseas give their views on how genetic sele...

In today's episode podcast host Kerry Lonergan catches up with Dairy Australia's Sustainable Animal Care Manager Dr Andy Hancock, on progress in beef production from dairy calves.   Dairy Australia, the industry equivalent of MLA, is seeking beef industry input into the project called Calfways – a contraction of Calf Pathways. Developed over the past 18 months, the project originates from a dairy...

In today's episode Kerry Lonergan catches up with prominent nutritionist and food scientist Dr Anneline Padayachee. Anneline is a strong advocate for the role of red meat in a balanced diet, and the broader role of food production and nutrition science in improving public health. She is one of the keynote speakers at the upcoming World Angus Forum being staged in Brisbane on 7-8 May. Beyond weight...

With sweeping tariff changes in the US, dramatic currency movements, floods and widespread late summer rain in pastoral areas of QLD and NSW, there was a lot to talk about in the latest Weekly Grill markets update podcast with regular commentators Chris Howie and Matt Dalgleish. In today’s episode Kerry Lonergan catches up with the pair on US President Trump’s evolving tariff negotiations and the...

As part of Beef Central's Top 25 Livestock Transporters feature running this month (click here to access) Weekly Grill podcast host Kerry Lonergan this week chats to Gerard Johnson, president of the Australian Livestock & Rural Transporters Association. The pair discuss some of the big issues being faced by the livestock transport industry, including regulatory matters, driver access, cost-to-...

Five gun Australian retail butchers are competing in the World Butchers' Challenge taking place in Paris France this weekend. Weekly Grill podcast host Kerry Lonergan talks with team captain, South Australian butcher, Luke Leyson about this unique competition, and Australia's chances among the 24 nations competing.  Kerry and Luke discuss the Australian team's chances at the prestigious internatio...

In this week's episode, Kerry Lonergan discusses possible US Tariff scenarios with global meat trader and analyst, Simon Quilty from market intelligence firm, Global AgriTrends. Then attention turns to MLA's three year projections as Kerry chats with MLA's Market Information Manager, Stephen Bignell.    Simon Quilty, Global Agribusiness • Possible US Tariff implications • The economic factors the...