The Weekly Grill

IN today's episode, host Kerry Lonergan sits down with regular market commentators Chris Howie and Matt Dalgleish from Ep3, to discuss the impact of recent rain on cattle supply, demand and price, and the prospects for beef heading towards 2027.

The pair discuss the recent performance of store and slaughter cattle markets since October rain, export prospects for 2027 under the current tariff and quota regime, record and volatile lamb values, and growing feedlot expansion.

The conversation also examines export pressures — including Middle East disruption and a US sheep‑meat inquiry — biosecurity and weather uncertainty, and what these trends might mean for producers heading into 2027.

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IN today's episode, host Kerry Lonergan sits down with Herron Todd White's Quality Director and specialist agribusiness property valuer, Doug Knight to dissect the current feedlot sale and expansion boom.

Australia's feedlot sector has doubled in size in the past 11 years to 1.66 million by July 2026, driven by vertical integration, strong overseas demand (notably long‑fed Wagyu) and rising investment from private and corporate buyers.

The episode examines construction timelines and rising per‑head build costs, critical issues around water, waste and regulation, the changing buyer mix, notable sales such as Grassdale, and the main risks — from disease outbreaks to supply and logistics — while concluding the industry outlook remains positive in the short to medium term.

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IN today's episode, host Kerry Lonergan sits down with the 2026 Zanda McDonald Award winners: New Zealander Karn Dhaliwal, a former rural banker turned diversified agribusiness entrepreneur who is developing opportunities in dairy beef, and Australian Bryce Neyland, an engineer leading large-scale almond and macadamia projects.

They discuss practical farm management, strategic planning, leadership, dairy-beef opportunities and lessons from their mentoring tour around Australia.

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IN today's episode, host Kerry Lonergan sits down with Louise Martin, president of the Isolated Childrens' Parents' Association.

Louise explains how rising boarding costs and reduced government support are forcing rural families to leave home for their children’s education.

The ICPA is calling for a one-off $24 million boost to the Isolated Children Boarding Allowance to help close the gap and keep communities viable.

The episode also covers distance education, teacher shortages, the impact of moving the allowance to the Social Services portfolio, and how education costs affect workforce retention and the future of remote towns.

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IN today's episode, host Kerry Lonergan sits down with one of the keynote speakers at the recent BeefEx conference -  retired Australian Armed Forces Brigadier, Professor Ian Langford.

Prof Langford draws parallels between military leadership and intensive beef production, explaining how discipline, clear objectives, and strong culture drive performance in feedlots, and across the broader beef industry.

Among other topics, their conversation covered resilience, contingency planning, biosecurity, supply‑chain risks, and the importance of people and evidence-based communication for sustaining profitable and secure agriculture.

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In today's episode of The Weekly Grill host Kerry Lonergan sits down with a geographically diverse group of lotfeeders attending last week's BeefEx grainfed industry conference, to discuss the current feedlot operating environment, the impacts from the rapidly drying seasonal conditions, grainfed beef trade outlook and the challenges and opportunities they see lying ahead.

Among the cohort Kerry speaks to are Emily Perkins from Ravensworth, Caitlin Herbert from Gundamain; Geoff Cornford from Sandalwood, Lachie, Robin & Ali Hart from Stockyard,  Don Mackay who is leading a new northern feedlot development project and technology provider Trevor Gartner from Vytelle Sense Group, about the opportunities in selecting feeder cattle for feed efficiency and low methane.

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In today's episode of The Weekly Grill host Kerry Lonergan sits down with big thinking US lotfeeder, Dr. Kee Jim. Dr Jim was a keynote speaker at Beef Ex 2026. He discusses his company's vision, the challenges, and benefits of building a modern 200,000‑head feedlot in Nebraska. 

He covers supply strategies including dairy‑beef programs, impacts of low US cattle numbers, trade and import challenges, environmental regulation and manure management, and how scale drives efficiency in modern feedlot production.

In this week's episode Kerry Lonergan catches up with Professor Derrell Peel of Oklahoma State about the U.S. beef market: record‑high prices amid multi‑decade low cattle inventories, limited herd rebuilding, and the roles of drought, feedlot practices and profitability.

Professor Peel also discusses rising imports for lean grinding beef, trade disruptions with Mexico and Canada, Brazil’s growing production, and why short‑term policy moves are unlikely to quickly change supply or retail prices.

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In today’s episode, podcast host Kerry Lonergan interviews veteran cattle industry stakeholder, stock agent and bush poet Dennis Scanlon about his career in Australia’s beef industry — from sale yards and abattoirs to roles with Elders and the earliest days of Computer Aided Livestock Marketing (CALM, now AuctionsPlus), and its predecessor, New England Livestock Computer Marketing (NELCM).

Along his career path he also served lengthy periods with the Australian Agricultural Co (livestock manager) and Elders (National Livestock manager).

An accomplished pianist and recognised bush poet, this episode also features Dennis performing two of his works, “Women from the Bush” and “Bush Justice,” as well as discussing changes in cattle breeds, stock handling and marketing over the decades.

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