There's an Elephant in my Paddock!

When Queensland University of Technology researchers Dr Carol Richards and Dr Rudi Messner first embarked on a social research project into sustainable grazing they found an unexpected gem. Everyone wanted to talk about it, but not many understood it. Some had dismissed it from their businesses, some couldn't wait to incoporate it. Carbon. It's well understood it's going to be part of beef busines...

Wellness and self care- they aren’t concepts talked about too often when you’re running a busy farming business. But should they be? This is the second episode in a series with Dr Carol Richards and Dr Rudi Messner- researchers from the Queensland University of Technology. We’ll hear what producers are doing to look after themselves and by default their businesses and how goals are being achieved,...

Are you worried about food security in Australia? Maybe you should be. For the most part, we have it pretty good- but to maintain market access and get food to where it needs to be, more work needs to be done. This is the first of a three part series on sustainable food production. In this episode we’re looking at food security and food system shocks with producers and researchers. Thanks to Dr Ru...

How important is wellness to rural communities? It’s time to take the broad brushstrokes out of referring to rural and regional Australia. Between the Regional Wellbeing Survey and initiatives like the Rural Community Wellbeing Initiative, there’s enough tangible evidence to ensure rural and regional communities have access to the resources they need. So why don’t they? In this episode we take a d...

For generations, rural Australians have grappled home schooling their children between running businesses, households and being parents. Where there's an increasing emphasis on the quality of education, should these home tutors be paid for teaching their children? In this episode we hear from long term rural and remote education lobbyists, the Isolated Children's Parents Association, the parents t...

Buying more land is an impossible choice for many Australian beef businesses. So how can they be more profitable with what land they have?  With rising costs of living, land, seed, livestock, fuel and power, the agricultural sector is becoming increasingly savvy at finding solutions that mean that businesses can expand and increase profits without having to buy more land. Join host Jayne Cudd...

In Part 2 of our feature on building resilience in the Australian horticulture industry, we hear how improving the mental health of farmers is key to the industry’s longevity. Rural Aid is an organisation dedicated to improving the mental health outcomes of rural Australia. They often have multi-tiered roles in natural disasters… https://www.ruralaid.org.au/ Lauren Stracey is their national manage...

In this episode we discuss a question posed by Richard Shannon- how do we ensure that horticulture is more resilient in the face of extreme weather events? To set the scene, what conditions are Australian horticulture growers operating under and how are they ensuring they remain financially viable when dealing with natural disasters? Central Queensland’s Sandi Groves has ensured multiple disaster...

Imagine getting an insurance payout if you didn’t get your annual expected rainfall? It seems an idyllic, yet perhaps expensive solution to modern farming. Researchers at the University of Southern Queensland’s Centre for Applied Climate Sciences are revolutionising the way farmers engage with the insurance industry. Leading the charge is Prof Shahbaz Mushtaq who is applying his expertise in agric...

The humble workboot; it’s a staple of every Australian bush setting. They can be leather boots, or old sneakers, some people prefer none and sacrifice their feet to the harsh environs of the cattle yard. But one brand synonymous with rural Australia is RM Williams. In this episode we’re going to take a look at what made the humble leather workboot world famous and what it means when something that...

David from Barcaldine has a question- " Why isn't Australian government investing heavily through various CRCs to discover how we can make the most of all the renewable free energy that we've got here in Australia?" Join host Nicole Bond as she questions some of the greatest minds in Australian renewable energy research and investment and discovers why politics has turned it's back on one of the m...

Rural and regional Australia has record level of job vacancies. In a year where job security in cities is far from stable, it's still a hard sell to get prospective workers to the regions. In this episode we hear from John Langbridge- Manager, Corporate and Industry Affairs for Teys Australia with a tricky question, and some wonderful discussion with Campbell McPhee from Western Meat Exports, Roha...

The Australian and Chinese diplomatic relationship is currently strained. What does that mean for our producers? China is one of our biggest trading partners, but also one of the most temperatmental- or is that just what the media wants us to think? Our political expert says our govenment could do more. Join Nicole Bond as she talks to Patrick Hutchinson from the Meat Industry Council, Tony Russel...

Progressive grazier and entrepreneur James Walker from Longreach in Queensland asks a terrific question- what are the opportunities for Australian agriculture to come from the COVID 19 outbreak? And to talk about the tricky stuff, host Nicole Bond is joined by Fiona Simson from the National Farmers Federation, Tasmanian farmer and television personality Matthew Evans and economist Phin Ziebell fro...

Rural photographer Edwina Robertson asks when Australia will have it's reckoning in regards to sexual harassment in rural Australia. According to some commentators, we're too late- but all agree we are at crisis point and attitudes and employment systems need to change. Join host Nicole Bond and producer Jayne Cuddihy as they discover another Elephant in the Paddock with guests Dr Skye Saunders- A...

Why don't we see greater numbers of cattle producers actively engaging in industry affairs these days? A question put forward by James Nason, publisher of Beef Central (http://www.beefcentral.com/). There's an Elephant in My Paddock host Nicole Bond and producer Jayne Cuddihy hit the phones and gauge interest from a grass roots level, talking to several producers about their engagement with indust...

Mike Stephens from Meridian Ag has asked a particularly sticky question in this episode. It turns out everyone is thinking about it, but no one has the answer... or do they? Join host Nicole Bond as she chats to Chris Mirams, the executive chair of the Sheep Producers Association of Australia, Stephen Moore, General Manager - Corporate and Commercial for the Northern Australia Pastoral Company and...

Australian animal vets graduate knowing that several of their alumni will suicide during the course of their careers. Does that shock you? It shocked our host Nicole Bond when journalist Sally Cripps brought up the subject. In this episode we delve deep into the crisis facing our rural vets- a shocking suicide rate, poor rates of pay, emotional blackmail and a crippling workload. Join us for a can...

This episode was recorded LIVE from the Queensland Rural Regional and Remote Women's Network's High Tea at Queensland's Ekka. Hosted by Nicole Bond and produced by Jayne Cuddihy the question for the amazing panellists centres around creativity and the marketing and monetising of it. Including photographer Edwina Robertson, Rural Room's Bec Bignall, Charlotte Durack of Agri Creative and author and...

Michelle Miller has made a name for herself internationally as the Farm Babe... dedicated to busting myths in the agricultural sector and advocating on behalf of industry. She hails from a farm in Iowa, America and recently visited North Queensland to speak about the role advocacy and storytelling play in modern agriculture. Earlier this year we put out a podcast episode with experts discussing wh...

Renowned Australian rural journalist Peter Lewis asks about a rising level of frustration about existing political representation. What needs to happen to the Australian political landscape to address the big challenges that the bush faces now and that they will face in the short to medium term? It's a big question but our guests tackle it with fierce passion and intelligence. A daughter of a Sing...

What measures can be taken to taken to stop people leaving small towns? It's a question that bothers many small communities all over the World, but in this episode of There's an Elephant in my Paddock we shine the spotlight on a small town in Western Queensland has come back from the brink. Matt Bennetto is a grazier and small business owner in Charters Towers and also chairs AgForce North. He joi...

Julia Telford is one of the most influential women in Australia in 2018, according to the Australian Financial Review. She's also the founder of Engage & Create Consulting- working with rural and remote businesses, industry groups and community organisations across Australia. Her Elephant in the Paddock is about making difficult decisions... and really honing in on exiting the rural industry grace...

AgForce's new President Georgie Somerset ponders a question that's been irking her for some time. What hinders rural Australia from finding its voice? Join host Nicole Bond as she engages some brilliant minds in conversation to try and get some answers! Georgie Somerset is the President of Agforce in Queensland. She is also a cattle grazier and a fierce advocate for remote and regional businesses,...