Michael Spencer has spent more than 30 years across livestock agency, corporate agriculture, cattle processing and pastoral operations, including roles with Elders, AACo and Bindaree Beef before helping build Adcock Partners.

In this episode of The Tom & Mick Show, Michael joins Tom and Mick to unpack what good livestock agency actually looks like, why Adcock Partners deliberately operates under the radar, and what he is seeing across cattle markets from northern Australia through to the eastern states.

They discuss:

•  Michael’s unconventional path through Elders, AACo, Bindaree Beef and into Adcock Partners 
•  Why relationships and people remain the foundation of a strong agency business 
•  Building a business around agility rather than corporate complexity 
•  Why Adcock Partners has deliberately stayed relatively quiet and selective 
•  How livestock agency has changed over the past 30 years 
•  What good service looks like when clients span enormous distances 
•  Seasonal conditions across Queensland and the Northern Territory 
•  Why producer confidence can move cattle prices quickly 
•  The relationship between live export and domestic cattle markets 
•  Why live export remains critical to northern Australia and Indonesia 
•  What Michael expects from cattle markets heading through spring and into 2027

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Michael Spencer and Adcock Partners
05:24 Michael’s path from Melbourne to livestock agency
12:41 From Elders and AACo to Bindaree
18:05 Building Adcock Partners and the business philosophy
23:34 What good livestock agency service looks like
29:48 Seasonal conditions across northern Australia
35:12 The cattle market and influence of the farmer
40:36 Live export, Indonesia and changing cattle markets
46:18 What happens next for the cattle market
50:20 The Charbray question and wrapping up

Gerard Hines and Chris Duff have spent nearly four decades working alongside each other, building one of Australia's most respected independent agribusinesses from a single rural store into a national business. 

What does it take to build an agribusiness from a handful of people into a national business, without losing the culture, relationships and local connection that made it successful in the first place?

Gerard Hines and Chris Duff are the co-founders of Delta Agribusiness. Their working relationship stretches back almost 40 years, from a small rural business near Young, NSW, through the creation of Delta Agribusiness in 2006 and more than 20 acquisitions, before Delta ultimately became part of Elders.

This is a conversation about much more than growth. Gerard and Chris unpack the decisions, people and principles underneath it, from backing themselves during drought, putting their own money on the line and using employee ownership to create alignment, to learning why balance sheet strength, local relationships and great people matter when building a business for the long term.

Key insights from the conversation:

• How Gerard and Chris built a partnership spanning nearly 40 years through trust, respect and shared values
• Why bringing independent agronomy into agricultural retail fundamentally changed their business model
• The role mentors and early equity opportunities played in shaping Delta's inclusive ownership philosophy
• What IAMA, Wesfarmers and AWB taught them about leadership, governance, systems and financial discipline
• Why Delta was founded during the middle of a severe drought and how backing themselves changed everything
• The importance of maintaining a strong balance sheet so opportunities can be seized during difficult seasons
• How focusing on people, culture and local relationships drove more than 20 successful acquisitions across Australia
• Why equity ownership became one of Delta's greatest tools for attracting, retaining and aligning great people
• How staying connected to customers and the frontline has remained critical, even as the business has grown nationally
• The lessons learned from succession planning, bringing in private equity, and ultimately partnering with Elders to secure Delta's next chapter

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Gerard Hines and Chris Duff's Journey

01:52 Early Days of Agriculture and Agronomy

04:00 Founding of Delta Agribusiness and Initial Challenges

08:05 The Impact of Industry Changes and Mergers

11:57 Lessons Learned from Industry Challenges

15:57 Growth Strategies and Private Equity Involvement

20:08 Building Company Culture and Leadership

25:02 Managing Growth, Succession, and Industry Dynamics

31:47 The Decision to Start Delta and Early Risks

36:04 Timing and Market Conditions During Launch

40:03 Resilience During Droughts and Market Cycles

45:07 The Role of Relationships and Trust in Business

49:48 Strategic Acquisitions and Private Equity Partnerships

54:58 Adapting to Industry and Market Changes

59:55 Leadership, Culture, and the Future of Delta

Podcast Keywords

Delta Agribusiness, Gerard Hines, Chris Duff, Australian agribusiness, agronomy Australia, agricultural leadership, agribusiness entrepreneurship, rural business, agriculture careers, agricultural retail, private agronomy, Australian farming, business growth, mergers and acquisitions, employee ownership, business culture, drought resilience, leadership development, succession planning, Elders, regional business, entrepreneurship in agriculture

Action Steel Sales Coordinator Role - Find here.

We sit down with Lennie Grace to learn more about Action Steel and the current opportunities available in his sales team. 

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Action Steel and family business
01:27 How Action Steel started
02:01 Growing up in the family business
03:33 Why Action Steel chose agriculture
04:53 The importance of focus
06:21 Building a network for growth
08:18 Team, culture and specialist skills
10:03 The Sales Coordinator opportunity
12:43 Understanding the role and customer experience
18:26 Transparency, incentives and the future of Action Steel

Building a premium beef brand isn't just about producing exceptional cattle. It's about understanding markets, embracing data, building the right team, and having the patience to make decisions years before the product reaches a customer's plate.

In this episode, Harry Kemp shares the story behind King River, the family-owned Wagyu business that has grown from a bold partnership between two Queensland families into a premium beef brand supplying customers across more than 35 countries.

Harry reflects on growing up in a family grazing business, leaving school early to return to the land, and how his approach to learning has evolved alongside the rapid transformation of Australian agriculture. What began as a traditional cattle operation has become a data-driven business where genetics, consumer demand, and long-term thinking shape every decision.

Together, Oli and Harry explore the realities of building a premium export brand, why consistency matters more than chasing perfection, and how strong relationships have underpinned King River's remarkable growth over the past five years.

From genetics and data to leadership, teamwork, and customer relationships, this conversation offers a fascinating insight into what it takes to build a modern beef business that delivers quality from paddock to plate.

Key insights from the conversation:

• Harry's journey from the family cattle property to co-founding King River
• Why two family businesses joined forces to build a premium Wagyu brand
• The challenges of building a business with a four-year production cycle
• How genetics, data, and consumer demand are transforming beef production
• Why consistency matters more than producing the highest marbling scores
• Building a business that now supplies premium Wagyu to more than 35 countries
• Lessons on rapid business growth, leadership, and putting people in the right roles
• The importance of relationships, accountability, and shared values in successful partnerships
• Why producing great food is ultimately about bringing people together, regardless of language or culture

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Harry Kemp and King River Beef
02:20 The significance of the Ekka week and industry events
04:00 Harry's background and early life in farming
07:32 Changes in beef farming over 21 years
10:07 The formation of King River Beef in 2019
11:30 Utilising Wagyu to optimise feedlot infrastructure
14:05 Transition from selling cattle to branding and marketing
16:22 Meeting the Rich family and forming the partnership
19:45 Managing rapid growth and team restructuring
24:55 Impact of genetics and breeding on marbling
29:38 The importance of data and technology in decision-making
34:22 Building a global customer base and maintaining quality
44:01 The future vision for King River Beef
45:20 Harry's perspective on being a food producer
46:47 The universal language of good food and beef
47:22 Closing remarks and next steps for the business

In the second of a two-part panel series with the Southern Queensland and Northern New South Wales Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub, Oli Le Lievre sits down with St George producers Jake Moon of Moonrocks and cotton grower Craig Saunders to explore how innovation is being used to solve real problems within two very different farming businesses.

Jake shares how Moonrocks identified labour and weed management as a growing constraint before adopting an AI-powered green-on-green sprayer, while Craig reflects on how the pursuit of growing more cotton with less water led him to rethink irrigation and develop automation for bankless systems.

This conversation is not about promoting a particular product. It is about what happens before and after a technology is adopted: identifying a problem, researching potential solutions, working through the economics and building the people, systems and processes needed to make it work.

Jake and Craig discuss the importance of measuring performance, understanding return on investment and being willing to challenge the way things have always been done. They also share the limitations, frustrations and unanswered questions that remain, from integrating data across a business to deciding which investment should come next.

From robotics and irrigation automation to labour, software, profitability and long-term planning, this is a practical conversation about using innovation to build more productive, adaptable and drought-resilient farming businesses.

The Southern Queensland and Northern New South Wales Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub is supported by funding from the Australian Government's Future Drought Fund. Learn more at www.unisq.edu.au/sqnnswhub.

Key insights from the conversation:

• Why Jake and Craig began looking for new ways to solve labour, water and productivity challenges.
• How Craig’s pursuit of “more profit per drop” led to the automation of bankless irrigation.
• How robotics is helping Moonrocks reduce manual weeding, lower herbicide use and improve crop performance.
• Why measuring water use, labour, inputs and yield is essential when assessing new technology.
• The importance of matching innovation with a clearly defined business problem.
• Why successful adoption depends on people, processes and simple, reliable systems - not just the technology itself.
• How farmers can assess return on investment without chasing every new product or efficiency.
• The role of data, software and connected systems in improving decision-making.
• The value of learning from other farmers, industries and international businesses.
• The practical challenges of adopting technology, including cost, integration, support and uncertainty.
• Why profitability is central to long-term sustainability and drought resilience.
• How innovation can shift farm roles away from repetitive manual work and toward higher-skilled decision-making.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Craig Saunders' farm and innovation focus
01:50 Historical context of farming equipment and evolution
03:52 The rapid pace of agricultural change and innovation
06:53 Craig Saunders' farm history and diversification
10:06 Water management challenges and technological solutions
15:01 Adopting bankless irrigation and automation
20:06 Jake Moon's farm history and crop diversification
24:57 Use of AI-powered sprayers and weed management
30:11 The impact of technology on crop health and yields
34:48 Decision-making processes and data leverage in farming
40:00 The role of grants, strategic planning, and future opportunities
45:11 Lessons learned from travel and industry networks
50:10 The importance of continuous evolution and innovation in agriculture
55:04 Future prospects: local manufacturing, AI, and robotics
57:52 Final thoughts on the future of agriculture and technology

In this episode of Humans of Agriculture, Oli Le Lievre sits down with Josh Tepper, CEO, and Michael Webb, COO and co-founders of Ornata Technologies, to explore how they're transforming farm operations through autonomous machinery and why now is an exciting time to join their growing team.

Following their appearance at evokeAG, Josh and Michael share how Ornata has evolved from launching its first commercial customers to building strong momentum across Victoria. They discuss their unique approach to autonomy, where experienced remote operators work alongside autonomous machinery to deliver the benefits of automation without adding complexity for farmers or requiring them to replace the equipment they already own.

The conversation also provides an inside look at the newly created Area Sales Manager role across Victoria and Southern New South Wales. Josh and Michael explain why this is much more than a sales position. It is an opportunity to build trusted relationships with farmers, understand their operations, demonstrate the technology in the field, and help producers solve one of agriculture's biggest challenges, finding skilled labour.

Whether you're passionate about agriculture, technology or helping farmers adopt new innovations, this episode offers a genuine insight into life inside one of Australia's most exciting agtech startups. Josh and Michael explain what success looks like, why trust sits at the centre of every customer relationship, and how joining Ornata today offers the chance to grow alongside a business shaping the future of Australian agriculture.

To learn more about Ornata Technologies and the Area Sales Manager opportunity, visit the Humans of Agriculture careers page.

The role is live now, and we'd love to hear from people who are ready to help bring the next generation of autonomous farming technology to Australian agriculture.

Key insights from the conversation:

• How Ornata has progressed from its first commercial deployments to a growing customer base.
• Why Ornata's remote operations platform makes autonomous farming practical for today's producers.
• How the business helps farmers address labour shortages while using the machinery they already own.
• Why building trust with farmers is the foundation of every customer relationship.
• What the Area Sales Manager role looks like day to day.
• Why understanding farming systems matters more than having deep technical knowledge.
• How customer referrals are driving growth across regional farming communities.
• What it is like working in a fast-growing Australian agtech startup.
• Why joining early creates opportunities to grow with the business.
• What success looks like after the first 12 months in the role.

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Ornata Technologies and the new role
02:34 Six months of progress and milestones
05:31 The importance of local customer relationships
12:00 Why Victoria and New South Wales are key markets
15:10 What success looks like in the territory manager role
22:45 Customer profiles and farm types
26:54 Onboarding and what to expect in the role
36:51 The future of autonomous farming technology

In the first of a two-part panel series with the Southern Queensland and Northern New South Wales Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub, Oli brings together Alex Archer from Webster Grain & Grazing at Lundavra and Ewen Beaton, Aminya Pastoral Pty Ltd, Manager at Kioma, west of Goondiwindi, to explore how two producers have approached the adoption of virtual fencing within their own grazing businesses.

While each operation uses a different virtual fencing platform, this conversation is not about comparing technology. It is about the decision-making process behind adopting innovation, identifying opportunities within a farming business and understanding how new tools can support more productive, resilient grazing systems.

Alex shares how virtual fencing has unlocked more than 160 hectares of previously underutilised country within a predominantly cropping enterprise, while Ewen reflects on how the technology is changing the way his team thinks about pasture utilisation, forage management and livestock movement. Together, they discuss the practical realities of implementation, the importance of good systems and the lessons they've learned along the way.

From business decisions and grazing management to resilience and continuous improvement, this is a conversation about using innovation to solve real problems on farm.

The Southern Queensland and Northern New South Wales Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub is supported by funding from the Australian Government's Future Drought Fund. Learn more at www.unisq.edu.au/sqnnswhub.

Key insights from the conversation:

• Why both businesses started looking for new grazing solutions and what drove their investment decisions.
• How virtual fencing is helping improve pasture utilisation and unlock previously underutilised country.
• The importance of matching technology adoption with business goals and economic outcomes.
• What successful implementation looks like beyond the technology itself.
• The role of management systems, people and processes in making innovation work.
• How virtual fencing is changing the way producers think about grazing intensity, livestock movement and pasture management.
• The practical challenges, limitations and lessons learned during adoption.
• Why curiosity, continuous learning and asking questions are essential when adopting new technology.
• How innovation can help farming businesses become more productive, adaptable and drought resilient.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Virtual Fencing and Guests

02:02 Why Virtual Fencing is a Game Changer

03:05 Alex Archer's Farm and Grazing Innovation

05:01 Ewan Beaton's Experience with Halter

05:48 Adoption Timeline and Decision Factors

09:04 Economic Drivers and Farm Benefits

11:55 Training Cattle and Managing Boundaries

16:03 Animal Behaviour and Welfare Insights

19:58 Seasonal Grazing and Pasture Management

28:05 Challenges, Connectivity, and Lessons Learned

32:08 Future Potential and Next Steps in AgTech

Third-generation cattle producer Tom Lahey always knew he wanted to return home to the family farm near Goondiwindi. But after working across Western Australia and travelling through the United States to visit some of the world's leading regenerative ranches, he came back with a different perspective on what the future of Australian grazing could look like.

Rather than chasing quick wins, Tom has focused on building a more resilient business by improving soil health, measuring grazing performance and making better decisions with data. Over the past five years, AgriWebb has become a central part of that journey, helping the family move from relying on notebooks and memory to having real-time information that supports day-to-day management and long-term planning.

In this episode, Tom shares how travel reshaped his thinking, why healthy soil and healthy people go hand in hand, and how technology is helping his family make more confident decisions while creating a stronger future for the next generation.

Key insights from the conversation:

• Growing up on a family cattle property near Goondiwindi
• How travelling through the US changed his approach to grazing and soil health
• Bringing new ideas back into a multi-generational family business
• Why AgriWebb became the foundation for better decision-making
• Using grazing data to navigate dry seasons with confidence
• How technology supports carbon projects and tells the story behind farming practices
• The importance of measuring progress instead of relying on memory
• Why the future of farming will rely on connected technology and better data
• Building a legacy focused on healthy soils, healthy businesses and healthy people

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Tom Lahey and his farm journey

00:28 Tom's background and family farm in Wyaga

02:08 Growing up on the family farm and passion for farming

04:56 Adopting a progressive mindset in agriculture

06:53 Experience in Western Australia and genetic improvements

07:35 Trip to the US and insights into regenerative ranching

09:42 Soil health, environment, and profitability

11:30 Implementing grazing techniques post-US trip

13:20 Using AgriWebb for farm management and decision making

17:52 Integrating data and technology in farm operations

20:26 Evolution of farm management tools over five years

22:38 Future plans for technology and farm legacy

John Fargher grew up on a sheep and cattle station in South Australia's Flinders Ranges, where innovation wasn't a buzzword. It was a necessity.

From School of the Air and life on a remote station to practising law in London, John's path looked a long way from building one of agriculture's most recognised technology companies. But a conversation in a London pub changed everything.

Together with fellow co-founders Kevin Baum and Justin Webb, John left his legal career behind to tackle one of agriculture's biggest challenges: helping livestock producers move beyond paper records and make better decisions using data.

More than a decade later, AgriWebb supports producers across Australia, the UK, North America, South America and beyond, helping digitise livestock businesses while connecting farmers more closely with supply chains and the future of food production.

In this episode, John reflects on the journey from startup garage to global ag-tech business, the realities of building a company in one of the world's least digitised industries, and why earning farmers' trust has always mattered more than building software.

The conversation also explores AgriWebb's recent acquisition by URUS, the future of livestock data, and why John believes agriculture still has enormous untapped opportunities for innovation.

Key insights from the conversation:

• Growing up on a remote station in the Flinders Ranges
• Leaving a legal career in London to co-found AgriWebb
• Why agriculture was still running on paper when AgriWebb began
• Building a startup before ag tech was an established industry
• The lessons from growing a global software business
• Expanding into the UK, North America and Brazil
• Why digitising agriculture remains one of the industry's biggest opportunities
• The role of trust, partnerships and culture in scaling a business
• How AI, data and genetics could shape the future of livestock production
• What's next for AgriWebb following its acquisition by URUS

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to AgriWebb and its origins

00:33 John Farger's background and childhood in the Flinders Ranges

01:01 The early days of AgriWebb and its mission

02:24 Recent milestones and the URUS acquisition

06:40 John’s childhood and the influence of farming life

09:39 The start of the AgriWebb story in London

12:00 The founding of AgriWebb in Melbourne

13:40 The state of Australian agtech a decade ago

16:08 The initial problem in livestock digitization

20:51 Pivot from hardware to software focus

23:41 Technological evolution and early challenges

27:55 Business model evolution and market education

30:49 Competitive landscape and category creation

33:11 International expansion and market entry strategies

37:26 Building a global business with a unified culture

41:24 Company culture and employee engagement

45:46 Lessons from market fluctuations and industry challenges

49:00 Managing noise and trends in ag tech

51:46 Future opportunities in agriculture and advice for entrepreneurs

55:33 Vision for the next decade and impact goals

58:57 Connecting farm data to global supply chains

01:03:50 The role of sustainability and corporate responsibility

01:06:01 Reflections on the journey and future outlook

This business spotlight explores how RLF AgTech is turning decades of agricultural research into practical products that help farmers improve productivity and profitability.

Chairman Ben Barlow shares his journey from building and exiting New Edge Microbials to leading RLF AgTech, explaining why commercialisation is often the missing link between great science and widespread adoption. He discusses what attracted him to the business, how RLF has built on more than 20 years of research and field trials, and why the future of Australian agriculture depends on making innovation practical at the farm gate.

This episode explains how RLF AgTech's approach to plant nutrition, biologicals and local manufacturing is helping strengthen farm businesses while positioning Australian innovation for global growth. For anyone interested in ag tech, agricultural productivity or the future of farming, this is a practical and insightful conversation.

RLF AgTech is an Australian agricultural technology company developing plant nutrition and biological solutions that improve crop performance. The business combines decades of research, extensive field trials and local manufacturing to deliver products that integrate into existing farming systems while supporting more productive and resilient agriculture.

Key insights from the conversation:

• How RLF AgTech is commercialising decades of agricultural research
• Why adoption depends on trust, education and on-farm results
• The role of local manufacturing in strengthening Australian agriculture
• Why improving farm profitability is the foundation for future ag tech adoption
• Ben's outlook on the future of Australian agriculture and agricultural innovation

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction and Ben Barlow's background
01:34 Ben's journey since last conversation
02:30 Focus on plant, animal, and soil health
03:57 Deep science and commercial potential of biologicals
05:55 Involvement with RLF AgTech
07:52 Opportunities in biologicals and crop yields
10:54 Australian agriculture's adoption challenges
14:13 Market opportunities and niche products
17:06 Global markets and export potential
20:02 Local manufacturing and supply chain resilience
23:11 Future of agritech and investment challenges
26:08 Leadership, risk, and strategic growth
30:00 Opportunities and pathways for Australian agriculture
32:50 Skills for the next generation of farmers
33:56 Closing remarks and key takeaways