With another hot, dry summer on the cards for Australia, we’re continuing to look back at our early episodes to glean the best knowledge from farmers who lived through the last drought.

In this episode, these farmers will emphasise the importance of flexibility on the farm and adapting their business practices during a drought. They’ll also share the vital lessons they learned from the mistakes they made along the way.

Seeds for Success will be back to our regularly scheduled programming in Feb 2024.

 

Full episode links:

• Gabriel Passmore episode
• Tallah Looten episode
• Jack Brennan episode

 

Connect:

• Central West LLS website
• Central West LLS on Facebook
• Central West LLS on Twitter
• Central West LLS on YouTube

 

The views contained in this podcast series are not necessarily endorsed by Central West Local Land Services. Listeners are advised to contact their local office to discuss their individual situation.

This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com for more information.

We’re doing something a little bit different this summer!

With another hot, dry outlook for Australia in 2024, we’re revisiting some of our early podcast episodes to hear how farmers fared through the last drought.

In this episode, these farmers are opening up about how they managed their properties through the drought and the lessons they learned along the way. From destocking, alternative herd management, and modifications to feeding and housing, to the importance of mental health and focusing on family. One couple will even share their surprising response when the drought broke.

Seeds for Success will be back to our regularly scheduled programming in Feb 2024.

 

Full episode links:

• James Morse episode
• Kieran McHugh episode
• Elliot Shannon episode
• Jarrod and Emma Amery episode
• Andrew and Meegan Young episode

 

Connect:

• Central West LLS website
• Central West LLS on Facebook
• Central West LLS on Twitter
• Central West LLS on YouTube

 

The views contained in this podcast series are not necessarily endorsed by Central West Local Land Services. Listeners are advised to contact their local office to discuss their individual situation.

This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com for more information.

Nicole Samodol is the owner of Rowlee Wines near Orange. Rowlee Wines is a boutique winery with a huge variety of wines made using grapes from their vineyard and locally sourced additional grapes.

In this episode, Nicole shares how “smoke taint” from bushfires in 2018 led to the diversification and restructuring of her family’s vineyard. She explains how a strong business plan was vital for achieving their goals which included the addition of on-site wine production, a cellar, and an agritourism strategy. She also spoke about what makes a good wine and how to pick one for yourself.

Local Land Services Mixed Farming Advisor, Rohan Leach caught up with Nicole at the Rowlee Wines cellars. 

 

Nominate a Mate:

• If you would like to nominate a mate or yourself, send your suggestion to [email protected] as well as the guest location and a bit of background info on their farming business.

 

Resources and links:

• Rowlee Wines website
• Nicole Samadol on LinkedIn

 

Connect:

• Central West LLS website
• Central West LLS on Facebook
• Central West LLS on Twitter
• Central West LLS on YouTube

 

The views contained in this podcast series are not necessarily endorsed by Central West Local Land Services. Listeners are advised to contact their local office to discuss their individual situation.

This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com for more information.

Tony Horan is a Farmer at “Briar Rose” just west of Bedgerabong. Tony operates a cattle enterprise along with cereal cropping for hay and silage production. 

In this episode. Tony explains how the Travelling Stock Reserves near his property reduce grazing pressures on his farm and how they’ve helped him out through both floods and drought. Tony will also share the number one thing a cattle farmer needs in their life: at least one pet cow.

Local Land Services Mixed Farming Advisor, Rohan Leach sat down with Tony at “Briar Rose” for this chat.

 

Resources and links:

• NSW Travelling Stock Reserves

 

Connect:

• Central West LLS website
• Central West LLS on Facebook
• Central West LLS on Twitter
• Central West LLS on YouTube

 

The views contained in this podcast series are not necessarily endorsed by Central West Local Land Services. Listeners are advised to contact their local office to discuss their individual situation.

This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com for more information.

Scott Vincent is a Farmer at “Wirragai” just outside Narromine in NSW. Scott and his family run a mixed farming operation of beef cattle along with both irrigated and broadacre cropping. 

In this episode, Scott digs into soil health, how he uses chaff lining to improve weed control, and how his management has changed in the last few seasons. He also walks through how a flexible production system allows him to make the most of new and exciting opportunities.

Local Land Services Cropping Officer, Tim Bartimote, caught up with Scott outside on the verandah at “Wirrigai” to have this chat.

 

Connect:

• Central West LLS website
• Central West LLS on Facebook
• Central West LLS on Twitter
• Central West LLS on YouTube

 

The views contained in this podcast series are not necessarily endorsed by Central West Local Land Services. Listeners are advised to contact their local office to discuss their individual situation.

This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com for more information.

Will Lambell is a Farmer at “Weenya” and a Board Member of Tooraweenah Prime Lamb Marketing Co-Op. Will and his family run a mixed farming operation with cropping, shorthorn cattle, and over 2,000 head of self-replacing merino sheep. He is particularly focused on the livestock side of the business and sits on the board of the local marketing cooperative.

In this episode, Will explains how “strength in numbers” is beneficial to farmers participating in a co-op. He also opens up about how he tries to practise what he preaches to only send prime, high-quality animals to sale.

Local Land Services Mixed Farming Advisor, Rohan Leach caught up to chat with Will at his property overlooking the picturesque Warrumbungle Range.

Resources and links:

• Tooraweenah Prime Lamb Marketing Co-Op website
• Tooraweenah Prime Lamb Marketing Co-Op Facebook

 

Connect:

• Central West LLS website
• Central West LLS on Facebook
• Central West LLS on Twitter
• Central West LLS on YouTube

 

The views contained in this podcast series are not necessarily endorsed by Central West Local Land Services. Listeners are advised to contact their local office to discuss their individual situation.

This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com for more information.

Nathan and Kieran Simpson are Farmers at “Binginbar Farms” at Gollan, 50km east of Dubbo. Together the brothers run a cropping and grazing enterprise that has been in the family for 155 years. Kieran is in charge of the livestock enterprise and Nathan is in charge of the cropping side of the business. 

In this episode, Nathan and Kieran explore how their business has changed since the drought. Kieran shares his experiences with sheep feed lotting, before sharing the story of a highly successful joining in confinement lots. Nathan explains their cropping rotation, and breaks the complexity of perennial pastures. Plus, you’ll hear Nathan’s experience with soil amelioration and variable nutrition. 

Local Land Services Mixed Farming Advisor, Rohan Leach sat down with the Simpson brothers for this chat.

Connect:

• Central West LLS website
• Central West LLS on Facebook
• Central West LLS on Twitter
• Central West LLS on YouTube

 

The views contained in this podcast series are not necessarily endorsed by Central West Local Land Services. Listeners are advised to contact their local office to discuss their individual situation.

This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com for more information.

Rodney Guest, along with his wife Leonie, owns and manages "Thornburn" near Rankin Springs. This year, the pair celebrate the milestone of 100 years of family farm ownership.

In this episode, Rodney shares how he's been enjoying the recent good seasons, and how the introduction of technology such as WEED-IT has been a game changer in their cropping operation. Rod also explains how over the last 40 years, he's been involved in the fight to conserve the threatened malleefowl by hatching his own chicks and releasing them into an exclusion zone. 

Local Land Service Senior Natural Resource Management officer, Jasmine Wells sat down with Rodney at home on "Thornburn" to bring you this chat.

 

Connect:

• Central West LLS website
• Central West LLS on Facebook
• Central West LLS on Twitter
• Central West LLS on YouTube

 

The views contained in this podcast series are not necessarily endorsed by Central West Local Land Services. Listeners are advised to contact their local office to discuss their individual situation.

This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com for more information.

Ed Blackburn is the Manager of “Wongaboori Station”, a 23,000-acre farm near Mendooran. He's also heavily involved with his family's nearby operation, “Gowenbrae”. As a former commercial agronomist, Ed has relished the opportunity to oversee the livestock production and cropping enterprises on "Wongaboori Station".

In this episode, Ed explores the world of dual-purpose cropping and explains the process of producing a quality dual-purpose crop. He shares how important timeliness is in management, especially when considering grazing. Ed also shares the big benefits of dual-purpose crops, and how their flexibility and adaptability have worked for him.

Local Land Services Mixed Farming Advisor, Rohan Leach sat down with Ed at "Gowanbrae" over a cuppa and a delicious slice of orange cake, to bring you this chat.

 

Connect:

• Central West LLS website
• Central West LLS on Facebook
• Central West LLS on Twitter
• Central West LLS on YouTube

 

The views contained in this podcast series are not necessarily endorsed by Central West Local Land Services. Listeners are advised to contact their local office to discuss their individual situation.

This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com for more information.

Ambrose Doolan and his wife Lisa run a commercial Angus cattle enterprise and a small stud bull operation, alongside some fodder cropping, on their property “Toorawandi” near Coonabarabran. On top of his family farming endeavours, Ambrose is also the proud Mayor of Warrumbungle Shire.

In this episode, Ambrose explains the pros and cons of family farming in the Central West, and shares how the failure of conventional farming in his environment 20 years ago led him to adopt minimum tillage, and to become the first Australian importer of Seed Hawk Air Drills. He also shares the story of how he became involved with his community and local council, even now acting as the Mayor.

Mixed Farming Advisor, Rohan Leach sat down with Ambrose over a cuppa in this chat at "Toorawandi".

 

Connect:

• Central West LLS website
• Central West LLS on Facebook
• Central West LLS on Twitter
• Central West LLS on YouTube

 

The views contained in this podcast series are not necessarily endorsed by Central West Local Land Services. Listeners are advised to contact their local office to discuss their individual situation.

This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com for more information.