Pastoral Poddy - Australian Farming

What can your soil tell you about how your country is functioning?

In this episode of the Pastoral Poddy, host Edgars Greste speaks with soil scientist Karl Anderson about what makes rangeland soils unique and how rainfall, landscape position and soil type influence productivity.

Karl explores the role of carbon and organic matter, explains common constraints such as salinity and sodicity, and shares practical insights into groundcover, water infiltration and managing highly variable country.

It’s a conversation about looking beneath the surface, understanding how soil systems function, and recognising what happens across the landscape when the rain finally arrives.

EPISODE TIMESTAMPS

● (00:00) Why rangeland soils are different

● (02:40) Why organic matter matters

● (08:35) The soil tells a story of time and place

● (10:50) Reading the landscape after rain

● (13:40) Salinity and sodicity explained

● (16:55) Practical tools to rebuild productive country

● (19:00) Managing for variability and climate extremes

Resource links

https://www.dpird.nsw.gov.au/dpi/about-us/research-and-development/projects/soil-and-water-research/rangelands-living-skin

The Pastoral Poddy is proudly brought to you by Western Local Land Services in partnership with the New South Wales Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water under the Primary Industries Productivity and Abatement program.

This episode was mixed and produced by Grow Love Project.

Can sheep be bred to produce less methane without sacrificing productivity?

In this episode of the Pastoral Poddy, host Edgars Greste speaks with Ed Clayton, Livestock Research Officer with the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, about the science and practical realities behind low methane sheep.

Together they explore how methane is produced in ruminants, why emissions have become an important focus for the livestock industry, and how researchers are measuring methane production in individual sheep. The conversation also examines the NSW DPIRD Low Methane Sheep project, emerging opportunities in genetics and feed efficiency, research into pasture systems, and practical steps producers can take today to improve productivity while reducing emissions intensity.

Whether you're curious about the science or looking for practical on-farm insights, this episode offers a grounded discussion on one of the biggest conversations shaping the future of livestock production.

Episode timestamps

(00:00) Why methane matters and the role sheep play in the emissions conversation.

(06:30) Understanding how ruminants produce methane and its link to productivity.

(14:15) Inside the NSW DPIRD Low Methane Sheep project.

(23:45) Genetics, feed efficiency and opportunities for lower methane flocks.

(34:00) Practical steps producers can take to improve productivity and reduce emissions intensity.

Useful links

NSW DPIRD Low Emissions Agriculture Programhttps://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/climate-and-emergencies/climate-change/primary-industries-and-climate-change/low-emissions-agriculture

NSW DPIRD Emissions Researchhttps://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/climate-and-emergencies/climate-change/primary-industries-and-climate-change/low-emissions-agriculture/emissions-research

NSW On-Farm Carbon Advice Programhttps://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/climate-and-emergencies/climate-change/primary-industries-and-climate-change/low-emissions-agriculture/on-farm-carbon-advice

NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Developmenthttps://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au

The Pastoral Poddy is proudly brought to you by Western Local Land Services in partnership with the New South Wales Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water under the Primary Industries Productivity and Abatement program. This episode was mixed and produced by Grow Love Project. 

In this episode of The Pastoral Potty, host Edgar Greste sits down with Brendan Cullen, who manages a 60,000 hectare sheep and cattle station southeast of Broken Hill, alongside Matt Kennedy from the Good Neighbours Program. 

Together, they explore the importance of coordinated pest and weed management across far western New South Wales, from tackling Hudson pear and wild dogs to building stronger communication and collaboration between neighbours. Brendan shares powerful reflections on mental health, vulnerability, and the parallels between asking for help personally and asking for support with biosecurity challenges on the land. 

This episode is a story of resilience, practical action, and the power of community in the bush. 

Key Moments 

[00:01:20] Brendan introduces the challenges facing far western properties.

[00:02:00] Why coordinated baiting programs are essential for pest control.

[00:03:00] How neighbours worked together to dramatically reduce fox numbers.

[00:05:00] Brendan explains why collaboration is the only way large-scale control works.

[00:06:10] Native wildlife returns and the emotional reward of seeing change.

[00:07:30] How support networks and relationships help landholders feel less alone.

[00:10:45] Brendan shares his mental health journey and lessons about vulnerability.

[00:13:00] Final takeaways: collaboration, confidence and asking for help.

For more information:  

Good Neighbours Program - nsw.gov.au/good-neighbours 

More about Brendan Cullen - brendancullen.com.au 

Need advice on pest animals and weeds?  

For pest animals, contact your Local Land Services Biosecurity Officer on 1300 795 299.  

For weeds, contact your local council Weeds Officer.  

For a transcript of this episode:   

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ZAEH9ZnVmukv_DNcQ4QO-Ds7PZESht-s/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=103831811474414598304&rtpof=true&sd=true

This podcast series is produced by Grow Love Project and hosted by Western Local Land Services, supported through funding from the NSW Government as part of the Good Neighbours Program. 

How do you manage animals that don't recognise fence lines or property boundaries? Across New South Wales, vertebrate pests like feral pigs, deer, rabbits and foxes are causing millions of dollars in damage to agriculture every year, destroying crops, competing with livestock and impacting fragile ecosystems. 

In this episode we'll unpack what integrated pest management actually looks like on the ground and explore the power of monitoring using a digital tool called FeralScan. 

Episode key moments

[00:00] Welcome and Overview 

[01:12] NSW pest threats 

[03:09] Pest resilience 

[09:07] FeralScan explained 

[13:16] Collaboration successes 

[14:57] Getting help from LLS 

[16:16] Future of biosecurity 

[17:31] Wrap up and credits

For more information: 

Good Neighbours Program - nsw.gov.au/good-neighbours 

FeralScan - feralscan.org.au 

Previous Feral Scan podcast episode https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/the-big-shift/episodes/Managing-animal-pests-on-farm-e10n27h/a-a5rht0m

For a transcript of this episode:  

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xTyJHmwOs0-OaRWY6IOSjeu9ir55Lmu6/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=103831811474414598304&rtpof=true&sd=true

This podcast series is produced by Grow Love Project and hosted by Western Local Land Services, supported through funding from the NSW Government as part of the Good Neighbours Program.

Herbicides have long been the go-to for weed control, but what happens when they’re no longer enough? In this episode, we explore biological control and how it works alongside traditional methods to create more sustainable, long-term solutions. Featuring insights from NSW DPIRD and Local Land Services, we unpack real-world examples, the science behind biocontrol, and why collaboration across property boundaries is key to managing weeds effectively. 

Key Moments 

[00:00:00] Australia ranks high for herbicide resistance risk.

[00:02:00] What biological control is and how it works.

[00:04:00] Why integrated weed management is essential.

[00:06:00] Prickly pear success story with cochineal insects.

[00:08:00] Rigorous testing ensures safe biocontrol release.

[00:10:00] Biocontrol and herbicides work best together.

[00:13:00] Collaboration across landholders drives outcomes.

[00:16:00] Future tools like gene tech may shape weed control. 

For a transcript of this episode:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1rmv2C3SaTXfTpsz_lMdAXRkKhgbFTnN_/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=103831811474414598304&rtpof=true&sd=true

Useful Links for Show Notes 

Good Neighbours Program https://www.lls.nsw.gov.au/regions/western/projects/good-neighbours-program 

NSW DPIRD Weed Biocontrol Best Practice Guide https://www.dpird.nsw.gov.au/dpi/biosecurity/invasive-plants-and-animals/weeds/identification-and-control/weeds-biocontrol

WeedWise App (NSW WeedWise) https://weeds.dpi.nsw.gov.au/WeedWise 

The Pastoral Poddy is proudly brought to you by Western Local Land Services and is supported through funding from New South Wales Government as part of the Good Neighbours Program.

Are you concerned about invasive weeds or pests on your place? This four-part series focuses on working with neighbours to manage weeds and pests across boundaries in the rangelands.

This episode features Local Land Services’ Dale Kirby and Matt Kennedy, from the NSW Government’s Good Neighbours Program.

00:00 Welcome to The Pastoral Poddy + Why ‘Good Neighbours’ Matter 

01:17 Good Neighbours Program origin story and the 4 pillars 

02:54 On-the-ground example: Tackling boxing glove cactus at Tibooburra 

04:30 Real-world challenges: Timing, scale, reinvasion and coordination 

08:23 The human side: Isolation, stress and getting support 

10:54 Behavioural insights: Different landholder ‘types’ and how to engage 

14:25 Shifting biosecurity thinking: From fence lines to landscape scale 

17:23 Call to action + Wrap-up and credits 

For a transcript of this episode:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bfyMCAASS70VV1q35omrU8ltkCH2mgom/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=103831811474414598304&rtpof=true&sd=true

For more information:

• Good Neighbours Program - nsw.gov.au/good-neighbours
• Behavioural insights - nsw.gov.au/departments-and-agencies/local-land-services/resource-library/improving-landholder-participation-invasive-species-programs-recommendations-report  

Need advice on pest animals and weeds?

• For pest animals, contact your Local Land Services Biosecurity Officer on 1300 795 299. 

• For weeds, contact your local council Weeds Officer

This podcast series is produced by Grow Love Project and hosted by Western Local Land Services, supported through funding from the NSW Government as part of the Good Neighbours Program.

Are you concerned about invasive weeds or pests on your place? This four-part series focuses on working with neighbours to manage weeds and pests across boundaries in the rangelands as part of the NSW Government’s Good Neighbours Program.

Where do goats really spend their time in a paddock, and what can technology tell us about their behaviour?

In this episode of the Pastoral Poddy, Kieran Smith speaks with Dr Jamie Barwick from the University of New England about a research project tracking goat movements across Western New South Wales.

Using GPS collars and movement sensors, the project explored how far goats travel, how they use water points, where they graze, and how their behaviour changes over time.

The episode also explores the challenges of conducting research in large-scale grazing systems and what these findings could mean for future goat management and livestock decision-making.

Episode Guide

(00:00) Meet Dr Jamie Barwick and precision agriculture research

(02:00) The rise of virtual fencing technology

(05:00) Why track goat movement patterns?

(09:00) GPS collars and research methods explained

(13:00) Discovering how far goats travel daily

(18:00) What the tracking data revealed

(31:00) Choosing the right ag technology

For a transcript of this episode:

hhttps://docs.google.com/document/d/1pQ5KL9kq-8zmLNUHGfOZF1hR-RwTanbK/editusp=drive_link&ouid=103831811474414598304&rtpof=true&sd=true

This podcast series is produced by Grow Love Project and hosted by Western LocalLand Services, supported through funding from the NSW Government as part of the Going Ahead with Goats project.

What diseases are quietly impacting goat reproduction in Australia, and what should producers be watching for? Veterinarian and researcher Lauren Eggins joins host Kieran Smith to discuss groundbreaking research into reproductive performance and disease exposure in managed rangeland goats across western New South Wales. The conversation explores body condition, pregnancy rates, biosecurity risks, zoonotic diseases and several world-first findings that could shape the future of goat production in Australia.

(00:00) A world-first discovery reveals hidden biosecurity risks in Australian goat herds.

(01:30) Lauren shares her dream goat enterprise and the breeding system she'd use to maximise productivity.

(06:35) Inside the research project tracking 2,500 does across Western NSW to improve reproductive performance.

(08:50) The body condition and liveweight "sweet spot" that delivered the best pregnancy results.

(12:20) Why diseases shared between goats, sheep and cattle make biosecurity everyone's business.

(14:20) The zoonotic diseases producers need to know about, including Q Fever and leptospirosis.

(17:00) Disease prevalence results reveal several first-time detections in Australian rangeland goats.

(27:10) Lauren explains the major findings and what they could mean for future goat management and research.

What if every sheep could tell you more about its performance, profitability and potential?

Electronic Identification (eID) tags are becoming a major focus for Australian sheep producers, but the opportunities go well beyond meeting regulatory requirements.

In this episode of The Pastoral Poddy, we explore how producers can use eID technology, data collection and on-farm equipment to make better management decisions. Host Kieran Smith is joined by sheep producer Will MCalpine from Salisbury near Marra, and veterinarian and sheep production advisor Tim Gole from For Flocks Sake.

They discuss how Will has integrated eID into his Merino enterprise to improve fertility, selection decisions and weight gain monitoring, as well as how technologies like automated drafting and in-field weighing can support more targeted management.

Tim shares insights from working with sheep producers across Australia, including where the biggest productivity gains may come from, what data is worth collecting, and practical advice for avoiding common technology headaches.

Whether you’re new to eID or looking to get more value from your existing system, this episode explores how turning individual animal data into decisions can help build more productive and resilient sheep businesses.

Episode Guide

(00:00) Why eID technology is changing sheep production
(02:00) Will’s Merino operation and farming journey
(04:00) Tim’s pathway into sheep data and eID
(07:00) Using eID for breeding and selection decisions
(10:00) Real-time weight data and better decisions
(14:00) Finding productivity gains through data
(18:00) What sheep producers should start collecting
(22:00) Lessons learned implementing eID technology
(25:00) Advice for producers starting their eID journey
(28:00) Setting yourself up for technology success
(35:00) Managing large datasets and making decisions
(40:00) Final thoughts on the future of eID

For a transcript of this episode: 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/13V5LCrjsmNuec17j6ojGHKKKsonIKinP/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=103831811474414598304&rtpof=true&sd=true

This podcast series is produced by Grow Love Project and hosted by Western Local Land Services, supported through funding from the NSW Government.