Join host Chris McDonough straight from the Grain Automate Expo in Loxton as he catches up with 3 growers and a machinery reps about how farmers are tackling the big leap into ag tech.

🎧 Stick with us—there’s about 30 seconds of background noise at the start as we resolve some mic issues, but the audio improves quickly!

In this episode, Chris chats indoors with:

• Mick Caughey, WA grower managing 5,000ha with VRT & trial strips

• Bryson Rudiger, Mallee farmer about his gradual shift into adopting new technologies.

• David Daniel, a Pinnaroo grower who shares his thoughts on the learning curve of tech 

• Damien Fielke, machinery expert and rep, providing insights into the gear that’s getting attention.

Together, they explore what it takes for farmers to move from curiosity to full commitment when adopting agricultural technology.

📌 Part 2 will take you out into the paddock for a deep dive into autonomous machinery, featuring SwarmFarm and thoughts from a local grower.

🙌 The Grain Automate event was supported by the GRDC and SPAA, giving growers the chance to see new tech up close, ask questions, and think critically about what fits their farming business.

Support the show: https://msfp.org.au/about/membership/

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This MSF FarmTalk episode is part of the 101 Soils Questions Series. We explore the basics of dry saline land—how it forms, why it gets worse in drought years, and what steps you can take to support recovery. Dr Chris McDonough, Insight Extension for Agriculture, joins host Tanja Morgan to discuss:

• What causes dry saline patches to emerge or expand

• How rainfall and evaporation affect salt movement

• Realistic strategies for recovery and long-term management

This conversation is a must-listen if you’re managing low rainfall mixed farming systems and need practical support navigating drought-affected salt patches.

Useful Links & Resources:

Dry Saline Land Resources
A practical decision tool to assess your site and select appropriate management actions:
🔗 Dry Saline Land Decisions Tree

101 Soils Questions Book (Chapter on Salinity)
Explore common questions and answers about managing dry saline land and other soil constraints:
🔗 101 Soils Questions Book

Learn about identifying and managing Mallee Seeps (a different form of salinity):
🔗 Mallee Seeps Decision Tree

This podcast episode is supported by the South Australian Grain Industry Trust (SAGIT).

Support the show: https://msfp.org.au/about/membership/

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What does "building soil carbon" really mean on Mallee farms and why should you care?

In this episode, we cut through the confusion and get straight to the facts. Nick Paltridge sits down with Amanda Schapel from PIRSA to unpack what soil carbon actually is, how it interacts with soil function, and what practical steps farmers can take to improve carbon levels on broad acre cropping land.

We cover:

• The types of carbon in your soil (and which ones matter)

• How organic matter breaks down—and how to slow the loss

• Whether cover crops and stubble retention are worth it

• What carbon means for water-holding capacity, fertility & resilience

• Key limitations for increasing soil carbon in low rainfall zones

If you’ve ever wondered whether carbon farming is realistic in your paddock—or just want to know how to make your soil more productive and resilient—this episode is for you.

Resources mentioned:
📘 Explore the 101 Soils Questions Book – www.soilsconnect.com.au
📍 Join the Soils Connect Facebook Group for weekly updates https://www.facebook.com/groups/soilsconnect

This episode is part of the Farm Talk – 101 Soils Questions podcast series and is supported by the South Australian Grain Industry Trust (SAGIT).

Support the show: https://msfp.org.au/about/membership/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of the MSF Farm Talk podcast, we dig into what’s really happening beneath the soil surface. Soil biology expert Dr Gupta Vadakattu from CSIRO joins us to explore the hidden microbial world in our paddocks.

We talk through:

• What soil biology actually is

• How microbes help crops survive drought, disease, and nutrient stress

• The role of stubble retention, crop diversity, and nutrients in promoting soil life

• Whether herbicides and drought impact soil biology

• Why microbes might be chewing through stubbles faster than they used to

• And yes… the science behind burying cotton underpants in your soil!

Whether you're managing sandy soils or wondering how to build a stronger biological base for crop production, this episode offers practical insights backed by decades of research.

🔗 Want to learn more about soil biology and other soil constraints?
Check out Chapter 6 of the 101 Soils Questions Book and more on the Soils Connect website:
👉 https://www.soilsconnect.com.au/resources

🎧 This podcast is part of the “Enhancing Farmer Knowledge of Soil Function to Improve Management Outcomes” project, proudly supported by the South Australian Grain Industry Trust.

Support the show: https://msfp.org.au/about/membership/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of MSF Farm Talk, we take a look at on-farm adoption of autonomous spraying technology. Merredin grower Brad Jones chats with Kylie Matthewson about his journey bringing Swarm Bot onto his family farm, how it’s working, what it took to get started, and whether it’s stacking up economically.

Brad shares his take on why he made the switch, the efficiencies he’s seeing, and the learning curve that came with handing over the reins (or in this case, the spray boom) to automation.

If you’ve been thinking about getting into autonomous machinery, or you’re curious whether it really pays off, this is one worth tuning into.

Topics covered:

• What drove Brad to purchase a Swarm Bot

• How it compares with traditional spraying methods

• Efficiency gains and unexpected wins

• Downtime, learning curves, and what surprised him

• Future opportunities and how the system might evolve

This podcast is part of the GRDC Grain Automate project, supported by the Grains Research and Development Corporation.

Support the show: https://msfp.org.au/about/membership/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this special episode, we say goodbye and thank you to Nick Paltridge, who has been Mallee Sustainable Farming’s podcast host, project manager, communicator, and all-round good sport for the past three years.

Nick reflects on his time with MSF, sharing memories from the paddock, what he’s learned about Mallee farming systems and community, and why he’s optimistic about the future of low rainfall agriculture.

It’s a warm, honest conversation to wrap up an important chapter for MSF's FarmTalk podcast and to celebrate the work that goes on behind the scenes to connect growers with ideas, research, and each other.

Support the show: https://msfp.org.au/about/membership/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Nick Paltridge is joined by MSF's Research Manager, Dr Penny Roberts to explore what it takes to grow profitable, resilient lentils and other pulses in the Mallee.

They discuss the drivers behind the surge in pulse production, practical agronomy tips for low rainfall zones, and a new long-term rotation trial that’s set to provide valuable insights for years to come.

🛠️ Key Topics Covered

• Why pulses are playing a bigger role in Mallee farming systems

• Choosing paddocks and planning rotations

• Early sowing strategies and seeding depth considerations

• Disease management and variety selection

• Inoculation and the latest guides

• An overview of the new long-term rotation trial and what it will measure

💡 Quote from Dr Penny Roberts

“There’s always been that recognised need to have legumes in the system. It’s about getting the right fit and planning ahead.”

🔗 Resources & Links

GRDC Inoculation Guide

This podcast is supported by the Australian Government through funding from the Natural Heritage Trust under the Climate Smart Agriculture program. 

Support the show: https://msfp.org.au/about/membership/

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In this episode of MSF Farm Talk, we kick off a new series inspired by the book 101 Questions about SA Cropping Soils. Host Nick Paltridge is joined by Dr. Nigel Wilhelm from the South Australian Research and Development Institute to explore how cropping systems have evolved over recent decades—especially in low rainfall environments.

The discussion covers key topics such as early sowing practices, nitrogen and phosphorus management during dry seasons, and the expanding role of grain legumes in sustainable crop rotations. Dr. Wilhelm also shares his perspective on the future of farming, highlighting the importance of diversified weed and pest control strategies for long-term productivity.

This practical and forward-looking episode offers valuable insights for farmers, agronomists, and anyone involved in dryland agriculture.

Chapters & Time Stamps:

• 00:00 – Introduction to MSF Farm Talk Podcast

• 00:58 – Meet Dr. Nigel Wilhelm: Career and Contributions

• 01:35 – Evolution of Farming Systems

• 02:40 – Nitrogen and Phosphorus Management

• 03:29 – Profitable Break Crops in Mallee Farming

• 05:06 – Green Manure and Crop Rotation Benefits

• 05:50 – Challenges and Strategies for Dry Seasons

• 07:07 – Long-term Crop Nutrition Strategies

• 09:13 – Future of Farming Systems

• 10:17 – Conclusion and Resources

This episode is supported by the South Australian Grains Industry Trust, the GRDC's RiskWi$e project, and the Mallee CMA, which funds long-term trial work in North Western Victoria.

To visit the 101 Question on Soils visit the MSF website: https://msfp.org.au/projects/enhancing-farmer-knowledge-of-soil-function/

Support the show: https://msfp.org.au/about/membership/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Looking Over the Fence
Episode Title: Reshaping Sandy Soils for Crop Gains in the Mallee
Hosts: Tanja Morgan & Nick Paltridge
Supported by: The Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund Extension and Adoption Project

In this episode, Tanja and Nick head to Bow Hill in South Australia’s Mallee region to share what Mallee Sustainable Farming learned from a one-off soil amelioration demonstration. They explore how active inclusion ripping, designed to bury topsoil and organic matter deep into the profile, compared with conventional deep ripping and untreated paddocks in a challenging dry season.

With faster emergence, deeper roots, and visible changes to the soil profile, this trial showed what’s possible when you rethink how you manage sandy, compacted, and water-repellent soils. The episode also unpacks practical considerations like erosion risk, cost-benefit, and what’s next for longer-term monitoring.

Full case study available at Soils Connect

Disclaimer: The practices discussed are based on regional trials and may not suit all farms. Please seek independent advice before applying these approaches on your property.

This project is supported by Mallee Sustainable Farming, through funding from the Australian
Government’s Future Drought Fund.

Support the show: https://msfp.org.au/about/membership/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Looking Over the Fence
Episode Title: Boosting Productivity on Tough Soils
Hosts: Tanja Morgan & Nick Paltridge
Supported by: The Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund Extension and Adoption Project

In this episode, Tanja and Nick explore how farmers in South Australia's Northern and Yorke region are tackling soil constraints like acidity, salinity, and paddock variability using precision agriculture tools. From NDVI mapping and yield tracking to variable rate lime and gypsum applications, they highlight practical, cost-effective ways growers are reducing input waste and building soil health. With 70% savings on lime in some cases, clearer root growth in limed zones, and better decisions driven by local trials, this episode shows that small, targeted changes can lead to big gains in even the driest years.

Full case study available at Soils Connect

Disclaimer: The practices discussed are based on regional trials and may not suit all farms. Please seek independent advice before applying these approaches on your property.

This project is supported by Mallee Sustainable Farming, through funding from the Australian
Government’s Future Drought Fund.

Support the show: https://msfp.org.au/about/membership/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.