MSF Farm Talk Podcast

Looking Over the Fence
Episode Title: Managing Soil Variability with VRT
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 the Mid North High Rainfall Zone are using variable rate technology (VRT) to address pH and nutrient variability, improve input efficiency, and unlock yield potential. With real examples from local paddocks, they discuss using NDVI to guide lime applications, the impact of acidity on lentil production, and how service providers are helping bridge the knowledge gap. The focus is on making precision ag tools accessible—showing that even older machinery and simple approaches can make VRT a valuable part of a farmer’s toolkit.

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 Podcast Series
Episode Title: Boosting Productivity on AIR EP’s Sandy 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 take us “over the fence” to the Eyre Peninsula to explore how AIR EP is helping farmers tackle tough sandy soils and make break crops like lentils a more viable option. They uncover practical strategies for managing compaction, salinity, and poor water retention using deep ripping, on-row sowing, and smart phosphorus management.

What you’ll hear about:

• Why lentils struggle on sandy soils—and how to manage it

• Key nutrient advice: phosphorus importance, nitrogen exclusion, and copper considerations

• MAP vs. DAP fertiliser decisions in saline environments

• The benefits (and risks) of deep ripping for pulse crops

• How early biomass relates to yield potential

• Practical paddock planning for lentils

• The value of peer-to-peer learning and the need for long-term trials

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.

Ever caught yourself muttering, "I'm losing my mind"—half-joking, but mostly serious?

In this final episode of the Farming a Growth Mindset series, Dennis Hoiberg returns for a down-to-earth, practical conversation about mental overload.

He shares clear, relatable ways to hit pause, sort through the clutter, and take small steps forward when your head and heart are at capacity.

This isn’t about perfection—it’s about regaining clarity in the middle of chaos and learning how to check in with yourself before everything spins out.

Whether it’s the season, the workload, or life piling up, this episode offers tools that genuinely help.

🛠️ What You’ll Hear:

• Why “losing your mind” doesn’t mean you’re broken

• How to spot when your internal load is too heavy

• Dennis’s top go-to strategies to reset your thinking

• Why “closing your mental tabs” might be the smartest thing you do today

• One powerful mindset shift that can stop the spiral

This episode is part of the Farming a Growth Mindset series, brought to you by the South Australian Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub, 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.

In this powerful and practical episode, Nick Paltridge sits down with Mary O’Brien, founder of the grassroots mental health initiative Are You Bogged Mate?

Mary shares her trademark no-nonsense approach to rural mental health, offering honest reflections on the pressures faced by farmers, how mental load builds quietly, and why mateship and straight talk are sometimes the best tools we've got.

The conversation dives into:

• Why rural men often go quiet when they’re struggling

• How Mary uses relatable language (and a bit of humour) to cut through the stigma

• The signs to look for in yourself or your mates

• Why being available—and being real—makes a difference

• Simple ways to start a conversation that could save a life

Whether you’re personally doing it tough or just want to be a better support to your mates, this episode is worth your time.

This episode is part of our "Farming a Growth Mindset" series - practical conversations that focus on the mental and emotional wellbeing when living life on the land.

🔗 Links and Resources

• Visit Are You Bogged Mate?

• Check out TIACS for free and confidential phone or text support

This episode is brought to you by the South Australian Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub, 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.

What’s the best way to bring fresh energy into farming systems research? In this episode of the MSF Farm Talk podcast, we introduce Simone Kluge, our first-ever MSF intern!

Simone has joined the MSF team to gain hands-on experience in farming systems research and extension. We chat about what drew her to agriculture, how she’s settling in, and the exciting trial work she’s contributing to across the Mallee.

This internship is not just a win for Simone, it’s a valuable opportunity for MSF to build future capacity and foster new talent in the ag industry.

👉 Want to learn more about Simone and the trial work she’s part of? Head to the MSF website’s Projects page for all the details. Click here for more

This episode is proudly supported by the South Australian Grain Industry Trust (SAGIT) and the South Australian Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub 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.

In another tough start to the cropping season, with no subsoil moisture and the drought showing no signs of breaking, 'The Agronomist' Jeff Braun took part in the Planning for the Unknown Webinar to help growers work through the complexities of seeding decisions for 2025.

Jeff reflects on lessons learned from 2024 dry sowing, what worked, what didn’t, and explains why 2025 presents a different set of challenges. He covers critical topics including:

• How soil types and moisture profiles are influencing seeding decisions

• Weed control performance in dry sowing systems

• Managing herbicide residue risks

• Flexible strategies for crop selection and timing

• Avoiding common pitfalls like “weather analysis paralysis”

Jeff’s practical, down-to-earth advice is aimed at helping farmers apply what they know while staying flexible and resilient in the face of ongoing uncertainty.

🎥 Watch the full webinar replay here

This webinar was part of the GRDC RiskWi$e project and the De-Risking Seeding Project, proudly funded by the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund.

This podcast was supported by the Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board with funding from the landscape levies. 

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, host Nick Paltridge discusses water repellency in sandy soils with Professor David Henry from Murdoch University.

They delve into the chemistry behind non-wetting soils, seasonal behaviors, and various solutions. They discuss topics from the 101 Soils Questions book, as well as touching on topics like the impact of crop rotations, the effectiveness of wetting agents, and new projects focusing on developing predictive tools and cost-benefit analyses for different soil management techniques.

00:00 Introduction to Water Repellent Soils

00:43 Meet the Expert: Professor David Henry

01:58 Understanding Soil Water Repellency

03:04 Seasonal Variations and Farmer Experiences

04:39 Innovative Solutions and Techniques

05:52 Current Research and Future Directions

07:22 Field Studies and Case Analyses

09:43 Conclusion and Resources

For more information on this topic, visit the Soils Connect website.

This podcast was supported by the South Australian Grain Industry Trust (SAGIT) as part of the project Enhancing farmer knowledge of soil function to improve management outcomes.

Thanks to Professor David Henry from the Centre for Sustainable Farming Systems at Murdoch University for joining us, and to GRDC for supporting ongoing research into practical solutions for managing soil water repellency.

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, host Nick Paltridge talks with Rick Llewellyn from CSIRO about farm decision making and the GRDC RiskWise project.

They discuss the decision making processes of farmers, from gut feel to analytical approaches, and the various challenges they face, such as machinery investment and crop sowing times. Rick highlights the importance of practical grower input in the RiskWise initiative and the benefits of reviewing decisions to improve future outcomes.

The episode also touches on upcoming topics like autonomous vehicles and nitrogen management in the ongoing five-year project.

00:00 Introduction to Farm Decision Making

00:36 Meet Rick Llewellyn and the RiskWise Project

01:02 Understanding Risk and Reward on Farms

02:09 Decision Making Approaches in Agriculture

05:31 Tools and Techniques for Better Decisions

07:25 Future Insights and Upcoming Topics

09:14 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

This podcast was supported by the Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board through funding from the Landscape Levies and the GRDC RiskWi$e Project.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After a dry season In this episode of the MSF Farm Talk podcast, host Nick Paltridge sits down with soil fertility specialist Sean Mason to discuss optimising fertiliser strategies after a challenging 2024 season. 

They cover the critical importance of identifying nutrient-responsive soils to maximise returns on nitrogen and phosphorus inputs, the use of various data layers like NDVI and yield maps for precision agriculture, and the evolving strategies of variable rate technology (VRT).

Sean Mason also highlights the relevance of Phosphorus Buffering Index (PBI) and best practices for avoiding fertiliser toxicity, particularly in lentils.

The episode wraps up with practical advice on managing residual herbicides and maintaining root health to ensure a productive 2025 season.

00:00 Introduction Rethinking Fertiliser Strategy

00:09 Welcome to MSF Farm Talk Podcast

00:12 Expert Insights: Nutrition Decisions Post-2024

00:51 Understanding Nutrient Responsive Soils

01:57 Data Layers for Crop Performance

03:47 Variable Rate Technology Evolution

04:53 Phosphorus Buffering Index and Fertiliser Application

07:29 Root Health and Fertiliser Toxicity

11:19 Managing Residual Herbicides

12:54 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

This episode is supported by the Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board through funding from the landscape levies. 

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, hosts Sean Mason and Peter Treloar discuss the performance and practical applications of Variable Rate Technology (VRT) in a challenging agricultural season.

They cover topics such as zoning, testing, troubleshooting, and what NDVI maps tell us, even during drought years. This episode provides valuable insights and real-world takeaways for farmers looking to optimise their yield and input costs through precision agriculture.

00:00 Introduction to the VRT project

00:42 Easy VRT Workshop Insights

01:05 2024 Season Recap and VRT Performance

02:41 Drought Year Data and Zoning

06:41 Practical Applications of NDVI Maps

07:50 Managing Constraints with VRT

10:37 Fertiliser Safety and Soil Testing

12:27 Conclusion and Future Outlook

This episode is supported by the SA Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub, 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.