The Prosperous Farmer

In this episode we catch up with Dr William van Wettere, Associate Professor from the Davies Livestock Research Centre and Dr Jamee Daly, Senior Research Scientist, SARDI, Turretfield Research Centre, talking about the effects of heat stress on sheep and its impact on mating and reproduction. Working with farmers across the Limestone Coast and beyond, the trials highlighted some interesting results!

If you'd like to join the study, contact Dr van Wettere at [email protected].

Resources:

MFMG Project: Improving the climate resilience of the Australian Sheep Flock

In this episode of The Prosperous Farmer we welcome Pat Harrold, owner of Harrold Services, to find out a little more about his journey in agriculture and the growth of his bulk haulage company based in Penola. 

Dr Mariana Caetano is Lecturer in Animal Nutrition & Metabolism in the School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences at the University of Adelaide. Mariana takes us behind the scenes of her latest project looking at reducing methane emissions throughout the beef cattle production cycle in southern Australia.

If you'd like to join as a project participant, please contact Dr Caetano via email [email protected].

MFMG Project: Methane reduction in beef cattle in commercial production systems

MFMG Project: Methane throughout the beef cattle production cycle in southern Australia

Simon Quilty, leading independent meat and livestock analyst and broker of physical meat products worldwide, works with international companies and is founder of ‘Global Agritrends Downunder’. Fresh from his June 2024 MacKillop Farm Management hosted presentation at Padthaway Estate, Simon shares his global, domestic and regional observations on both current global trends across key markets, and Australian domestic supply and demand and pricing for cattle and sheep.

Molly Kalman, Elders Naracoorte Livestock Production Specialist and coordinator of Feed Testing for MFMG's Filling Feed Gaps Project, together with Jake Phillips, participant of the Filling Feed Gaps Project and Angus Australia Extension Officer discuss best practice hay and silage production and the importance of Feed Tests for optimum animal nutrition.

MFMG Project: Filling Feed Gaps: Best practice hay and silage production

Adam Hancock, Elders Naracoorte Agronomist and Manager of the Nitrogen Project, discusses nitrogen fertiliser decision making on durum wheat, both to maximise agronomic return and minimise environmental impact.

MFMG Project: Nitrogen decisions: Improving the sustainability and efficiency of nitrogen fertiliser decisions in Durum wheat

Michael Nash an applied invertebrate ecologist together with Amanda Pearce, Senior Research Officer with the PIRSA South Australian Research and Development Institute discuss Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus, commonly referred to as BYDV. We examine how it impacts wheat yields in the high rainfall zone of the Limestone Coast.

MFMG Project: Reducing wheat yield loss from Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus in the HRZ

Discover how a weather station network can combat agricultural spray drift. Damon Grace co-founder of the COtL Mesonet discusses the information the Mesonet network provides and how it helps growers make spray decisions and the value of the network to the wider agricultural community. Find out more at COtl Mesonet

Research agronomist James Manson discusses how to unlock higher yield potential in beans. Amanda Pearce, Senior Research Officer with the PIRSA South Australian Research and Development Institute, discusses the results from the MFMG bean seeding rates and variety trials conducted at Bool Lagoon. 

• Yield response to plant density in faba beans: management and profitability implications - GRDC
• Benchmarking the response of grain yield to plant population density across environments and management: A case study for faba bean - ScienceDirect

Today we’re turning the tables, putting the spotlight on our regular host Meg Bell.  We’re going to find out what drives Meg’s interest in agriculture.