AgTalk Podcast

The Marcus Oldham Centre for Professional Development (CPD) is proud to present the Marcus Oldham AgTalk Podcast.

Hosted by David Cornish, join us he talks with the movers and shakers of the Ag world about the issues affecting the agribusiness sector.

AgTalk is available on iTunes, Spotify, your favourite podcast platforms or on the player below:

Latest Episode

AgTalk S4E5 – The Importance of Food Security to Australia’s National Security With Andrew Henderson

Join us this episode as we chat with Andrew Henderson, Principal of ⁠Agsecure⁠, on the importance of food security to Australia’s national security.

Andrew is a leading strategic policy specialist with a passion for building the sustainability and prosperity of rural and regional Australia and enhancing the recognition of its role in the economy and its place in national security.

Andrew’s mission is to support industry and government to understand each other and work better together for the benefit of the nation, working across private enterprise, industry, not-for-profits, and governments.

Andrew is presenting at the FutureAg Expo this April with more information available ⁠here⁠.

The discussions on this podcast are for general information and education use only. These discussions should not be taken as constituting professional advice from the either AgTalk, Marcus Oldham College or our guests.
Marcus Oldham College, AgTalk or our podcasts guests are not liable for any loss caused, whether due to negligence or otherwise arising from the use of, or reliance on, the information provided directly or indirectly, by listening to this podcast.

AgTalk Season Four

AgTalk S4E4 - Creating a Resilient Business with Joanne Stevenson

Join us this week as we talk with Joanne Stevenson, Principal Consultant at ⁠Resilient Organisations⁠ as she chats to David Cornish about how we can create Resilient Businesses.
Over the past decade, Joanne has accumulated post-disaster research and consulting experience in several countries, examining recovery and resilience of communities, economies, and organisations.

She enjoys grappling with complex systems and developing practical solutions to work with these, using her background in geospatial assessment and network analysis.
Jo farms in partnership with her family on a commercial sheep and beef property where the risks and opportunities of running a business in a dynamic environment are lived every day.

Marcus Oldham College, AgTalk or our podcasts guests are not liable for any loss caused, whether due to negligence or otherwise arising from the use of, or reliance on, the information provided directly or indirectly, by listening to this podcast.

AgTalk S4E3 - Back to Basics - Focusing on Farm Profit Drivers with Agrista Director John Francis

AgTalk S4E3 – Back to Basics – Focusing on Farm Profit Drivers with Agrista Director John Francis

Join us this episode as we chat with Agrista Director and consultant, John Francis, about getting back to basics and looking at Farm Profit Drivers.

Agrista is an agricultural consultancy focused on improving farm business performance based in Wagga Wagga in Southern New South Wales.

Agrista provides consulting services to corporate and family farms, the rural finance sector, government and industry bodies and the agricultural services sector.
You can learn more about Agrista ⁠here⁠ and connect with John on LinkedIn ⁠here⁠.

AgTalk S4E2 - AgTalk S4E2 - AI and Agriculture - What’s the potential? With Dr Nici Sweaney

AgTalk S4E2 – AgTalk S4E2 – AI and Agriculture – What’s the potential? With Dr Nici Sweaney

Dr Nicole (Nici) Sweaney grew up with a fascination for animals and science, and always knew it was something she wanted to pursue.

But after completing a PhD in which she studied how native butterfly species interact with farmlands and pine plantations. From this Nici saw the power of information and data and the opportunities AI present to us.

This led her to found ‘Ai Her Way’ which is dedicated to helping women learn how to use AI in their everyday lives so they can achieve their wildest dreams.

Nici is passionate about gender equality and sees AI as a powerful tool to help women thrive in the workforce. Join us as we take look at AI and how it can benefit people working in Agriculture.

AgTalk S4E1 - Commodity Market Update with Robert Herrmann

AgTalk S4E1 – Commodity Market Update with Robert Herrmann

Join us for the first episode of season four of the AgTalk podcast as we discuss meat and wool commodity markets with Robert Herrmann.

Robert is a founder of Mecardo, a specialist in agricultural advisory with a focus firmly on the financial enhancement of primary production and price risk management.

The company was established by Robert in Adelaide in 1996 under the Ag Concepts Advisory brand. With a longstanding background in agriculture, Robert’s commitment was to deliver a high quality proactive risk analysis and management service to clients.

Robert has in excess of thirty years’ experience in agriculture, including eleven years as a senior wool specialist with Elders Ltd advising in the marketing and risk management of agricultural commodities.

AgTalk Season Three

AgTalk S3E6 - Buy or Lease? The Crucial Question with John Francis

AgTalk S3E6 – Buy or Lease? The Crucial Question with John Francis

Join us this episode as we chat with Agrista Director and consultant, John Francis.

Agrista is an agricultural consultancy focused on improving farm business performance based in Wagga Wagga in Southern New South Wales.

Agrista provides consulting services to corporate and family farms, the rural finance sector, government and industry bodies and the agricultural services sector.

You can learn more about Agrista here and connect with John on LinkedIn here.

AgTalk S3E5 - Triple Bottom Line with Lucinda Corrigan

AgTalk S3E5 – Triple Bottom Line with Lucinda Corrigan

Join us this week as we chat with Rennylea Angus Director, Lucinda Corrigan.

Lucinda Corrigan joined Rennylea Angus in 1986. Rennylea Angus is a performance recorded Angus stud of 3.500 head. The ‘head office’ is situated in the South West Slopes of New South Wales between Albury and Holbrook NSW.

Her childhood was spent on a large merino sheep property, she has first class honours degree in Agricultural Science, and worked in agribusiness for a number of years.

Lucinda has skills and experience in governance, business management, marketing, research, climate change and innovation through the value chain. At Rennylea she guides finance, marketing, strategy, research and succession.

As well as her day job Lucinda is also a Director of Data Gene, Director of Animal Genetics and Breeding Unit at UNE and most recently has been appointed to Genetic Australia’s Board.

You can learn more about Rennylea Angus here and connect with Lucinda on LinkedIn here.

AgTalk S3E5 - Triple Bottom Line with Lucinda Corrigan

AgTalk S3E5 – Triple Bottom Line with Lucinda Corrigan

Join us this week as we chat with Rennylea Angus Director, Lucinda Corrigan.

Her childhood was spent on a large merino sheep property, she has first class honours degree in Agricultural Science, and worked in agribusiness for a number of years.

As well as her day job Lucinda is also a Director of Data Gene, Director of Animal Genetics and Breeding Unit at UNE and most recently has been appointed to Genetic Australia’s Board.

You can learn more about Rennylea Angus here and connect with Lucinda on LinkedIn here.

AgTalk S3E4 - Commodity Market Update with Robert Herrmann

Join us this week as we discuss commodity markets with Robert Herrmann.

Robert is the Managing Director of Mecardo, a specialist in agricultural advisory with a focus firmly on the financial enhancement of primary production and price risk management.

AgTalk S3E3 - Australian Farm Land Values in 2022 With Elders Analyst Matt Ough

My guest today Matt Ough who grew up in Edenhope in the West Wimmera region of Victoria.

He worked on the family’s sheep farm in his teens learning about animal husbandry and pasture management. When he finished his VCE at Edenhope College, Matt took a gap year working as a teller at a local bank branch. During his gap year, Matt decided to combine his love for farming and business by enrolling in the Bachelor of Agribusiness at Marcus Oldham College. While studying, Matt was awarded a Rural Finance scholarship which perked his interest in agricultural commodity markets and analysis.

In 2014, Matt joined Rural Finance as part of their insights team and produced reports on a number of topics including livestock, dairy, horticulture and his pet topic Australian farmland values. In late 2021, Matt had a change of shirts and now does much of the same in-depth analysis and reporting that he has become renowned for as a Senior Communications Specialist (Market Insights) with Elders.

Outside of work, Matt is the husband of Lauren and father of little Henry, they live in Geelong and frequently escape to the country to visit family and dream about farm ownership.

AgTalk S3E2 - Success is a Very Poor Teacher With Nigel Kerin

Nigel Kerin is the founder and director of Kerin Poll Merino Stud.

Kerin Poll Merino stud was established in 2009 with the goal to build the traits that made the terminal industry a success into the Merino breed, “fast early growth”, “fertility” and “doing ability”.

Nigel chats to us about his key learnings he has had in creating a successful agricultural business and why success can be a very poor teacher.

You can learn more about Kerin Poll from their website www.kerinpoll.com.au, on Twitter @KerinPollMerino or on their Facebook page

AgTalk S3E1 - 2022 Ag Industry Update With NAB Economist Phin Ziebell

This week we are lucky enough to have Phin Ziebell join us for another AgTalk episode to discuss what may lie ahead for 2022.

Phin is NAB’s Agribusiness Economist. He is responsible for analysing and reporting on the trends and developments in the agribusiness industry and works closely in conjunction with bankers in NAB’s Agribusiness division.

Phin graduated with bachelor degrees in Commerce and Arts from the University of Melbourne and joined NAB in mid-2014. He was previously an economist at the Victorian Department of Primary Industries and Victorian Treasury.

AgTalk Season Two

AgTalk S2E14 - What does 2022 have in store for us? Wrapping up 2021 and looking at the year ahead with Robert Herrmann

Join us this week as we recap 2021 and look at what 2022 may have in store for us with Robert Herrmann.

Robert is the Managing Director of Mecardo, a specialist in agricultural advisory with a focus firmly on the financial enhancement of primary production and price risk management.

AgTalk S2E13 - 2021 Marcus Oldham Flock leader award Winner – Jennifer Medway

It is our pleasure to welcome Jennifer Medway to the Marcus Oldham AgTalk podcast.

Jennifer Medway is a fifth generation farmer from Gunning , NSW. Together with her Husband and parents run a 17,000 head self-replacing merino flock.

As well as being involved in the day to day running of the farm she has also held a range of roles including Executive officer of Tablelands Farming Systems, a board member of Merino Link, non-for-profit merino genetics livestock organisation and is a Senior Manager of Rural Futures at AgriFutures Australia.

Jen holds a bachelor of Agricultural Economics from Sydney University and completed the MLA Producer fast Track Program.

In July 2021, Jennifer was awarded the Marcus Oldham Flock leader award as part of the Lambition awards.

AgTalk S2E12 - Soil Carbon - Sorting the wheat from the chaff with Professor Richard Eckard

It is our pleasure to welcome Professor Richard Eckard to the Marcus Oldham AgTalk podcast.

Richard is Professor of Sustainable Agriculture at the University of Melbourne and Director of the Primary Industries Climate Challenges Centre, a research centre addressing the impacts of a changing climate on agriculture. His research focuses on sustainable agricultural production, with a recent focus on carbon neutral agriculture and options for agriculture to respond to a changing climate.

Richard developed the first greenhouse gas accounting tools for agriculture with his research and expertise provided the science basis for the development of six carbon offset methods in Australia.

He is a science advisor to the Australian, New Zealand and UK (ADAS) governments, the International Livestock Research Institute , UN FAO and EU , on climate change adaptation, mitigation research and policy development in agriculture. He is a network leader in the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gasses. He is a member of the newly formed Victorian Agriculture and Climate Change Council and sits on numerous government and industry advisory committees.

Richard has published over 150 peer reviewed papers, with 80 peer-reviewed papers, 7 book chapters, and 140 conference papers on climate change, carbon farming and agriculture since 2010.

AgTalk S2E11 - Culture - The Key to a Successful Farm Business with Danielle England

It is our pleasure to welcome Danielle England to the Marcus Oldham AgTalk podcast.

Danielle England is a recognised leader within Australian agriculture based in the South East of South Australia.

Over the past 20 years, Danielle has built a strong reputation for delivering agricultural extension and change management programs

She works closely with grower groups, research organisations, private advisors and farm businesses to deliver programs that optimise farm profitability and productivity.

Danielle has been listed in the Emerald 2014 100 Women in Australian Agribusiness, and was the 2013 Western Australian RIRDC Rural Woman of the Year. Both of these awards recognise her outstanding leadership and passion for the Australian agricultural industry.

Danielle has managed multiple mixed-farming research and development programs, including Grain and Graze 3, in WA for Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) in cooperation with the Facey Group. She is currently working with Ag Excellence Alliance to deliver a GRDC mixed farming program across the Southern Region.

Danielle studied a Bachelor of Agribusiness Marketing at the Curtin University Muresk Campus, and has a Graduate Certificate in Rural Systems Management from the University of Queensland, as well as a Diploma in Project Management and is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

AgTalk S2E10 - Lets talk about Regenerative Agriculture with Dr Ken Giller

It is our pleasure to welcome Dr Ken Giller to the Marcus Oldham AgTalk podcast.

Dr Ken Giller is Professor of Plant Production Systems at Wageningen University. His research focuses on smallholder farming systems in sub-Saharan Africa, and in particular problems of soil fertility with emphasis on the temporal and spatial dynamics of resources within crop/livestock farming systems.

He leads a number of initiatives such as N2Africa – Putting Nitrogen Fixation to Work for Smallholder Farmers in Africa. He is co-chair of the Thematic Network 7 on Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) of the United Nations and a member of the Unilever Sustainable Sourcing Advisory Board.

Ken joined Wageningen University in 2001 after holding professorships at Wye College, University of London, and the University of Zimbabwe.

AgTalk S2E9 - Future Leader Series - Making a Career in the Live Export Market with Kari Moffat

It is our pleasure to welcome Kari Moffat to the Marcus Oldham AgTalk podcast.

Kari is the first of a series of ex-Marcus Oldham students who I will be profiling on this podcast from time to time as part of the Future Leader Series.

The reason I am doing this is that I believe that agriculture today is one of the most exciting industries to be involved in and I want to showcase some of the opportunities out there for young people in this industry.

Kari completed a Bachelor of Business (Agriculture) in 2017 at Marcus.

Originally from Northern Victoria, since leaving Marcus, Kari has made a career in the live export industry. Her current role sees here as the Animal Welfare Assurance Manager for AUSTREX. AUSTREX is a leader in the global livestock industry and a pioneer of the livestock export trade.

Kari is also the Chair and Co-Founder of the Young Livestock Exporters Network and is a mentor partner of the Graeme Acton Beef Mentoring Programme. Kari is driven to bridge what she sees as a fundamental gap in understanding the difference in cultural values between Australia and our exporting destination.

Most recently Kari was recognised as a winner of the 2021 CCA NAB Agribusiness Rising Champion Initiative. This program is designed to foster the leadership and business skills of emerging beef industry leaders aged between 21-40.

AgTalk S2E8 - The Carbon Market and what it means to Australian farmers with Oscar Pearse

It is a pleasure to welcome Oscar Pearse to the Marcus Oldham AgTalk podcast to talk Carbon Trading.

Oscar and Susannah Pearse operate a 2800ha grain and beef farm at Moree, New South Wales.

Prior to coming back to the family farm 11 years ago, Oscar worked for a number of agricultural organization in policy and management roles including AgForce QLD, Cattle Council of Australia, Australian Lot Feeders Association, and the MLA.

Since then, he has been a member of the NSW Farmers Association Conservation and Resource Management (CRM) committee, a participant of Grain Grower’s Australian Grain Farmers Leadership Program, and Australian Farm Institute Research Fellow, and until March this year was Project Manager for the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment funded National Farmer’s Federation ‘Australian Agricultural Sustainability Framework’.

Oscar is a graduate of UNE, where he studied Agribusiness majoring in Rural Science.

Oscar and Susannah have 3 children and deeply miss sending them to school!

AgTalk S2E7 - The Story of the Roaring Forties Lamb with James Madden

It is my pleasure to welcome James Madden, CEO of Flinders + Co to the Marcus Oldham AgTalk Podcast.

Flinders + Co is a premium food production and distribution company founded in 2010 by James father David Madden. As the name suggest it is based on Flinders Island which is situated in the Bass Strait just off the northeast coast of Tasmania.

As started, James is the CEO which makes him responsible for the day to day operations of the company. He oversees brand design, marketing and sales strategy, and production and process improvements.

He was responsible for the purchase, renovation, and initial production of the company’s abattoir on Flinders Island
Flinders + Co started by using a direct distribution model into Victoria that has grown into a successful stand alone operation.

James describes himself as a jack of many trades and a master of none. His childhood was spent on the farm, adolescence in the suburbs, and his early adulthood in the city. He first studied to be a pilot, and his first job was in a sheep skin salting shed.

In 2018 James changed the identity of the company from Flinders Island Meat to Flinders + Co (the reason why we will be discussing). He describes the business as a purpose driven organization with a vision he is proud of which is “To Cultivate a Better Food World”.

Also on 1st Dec 2018, Flinders + Co became the first meat company in the world, to fully offset all carbon emissions from not only their business, but every kilogram of meat they sell.

He said to me, “We’ve got no idea what we’re doing, but we are learning and trying to do our best at every step of the way” which makes him an ideal guest for the podcast.

AgTalk S2E6 - Making Money in the Northern Beef Industry With Ian McLean

AgTalk S2E6 – Making Money in the Northern Beef Industry With Ian McLean

Ian established Bush AgriBusiness in 2009, combining his enthusiasm for agriculture and business.

He grew up in the bush, doing primary school through Charleville School of the Air before going to boarding school in Toowoomba. He studied accounting at University before moving to the Northern Territory.

In the NT he did station work and worked for a large accounting firm, before working in training and extension within the NT DPI. From the DPI he moved to the NT Cattlemen’s Association, initially working in member services and project management and later as Executive Officer. Ian and his young family left the NT to spend a couple of years on his parent’s property in South West Queensland before moving to Toowoomba to work full time in Bush AgriBusiness.

Ian holds a Master of Business Administration and is accredited as a Chartered Agriculturist by the Ag Institute of Australia.

AgTalk S2E5 - Is this as good as it gets for Australian Agriculture? With Phin Ziebell

AgTalk S2E5 – Is this as good as it gets for Australian Agriculture? With Phin Ziebell

This episode we are lucky enough to have Phin Ziebell join us for another AgTalk episode to discuss whether it currently is as good as gets for Australian Agriculture.

AgTalk S2E34 - The business of running a business with Nigel Kerin

AgTalk S2E34 – The business of running a business with Nigel Kerin

About Nigel Kerin
Nigel Kerin is the founder and director of Kerin Poll Merino Stud.

Nigel chats to us about his key learnings he has had in creating a successful agricultural business. What are the key drivers you need to get right to make money in this industry?

You can learn more about Kerin Poll from their website www.kerinpoll.com.au, on Twitter @KerinPollMerino or on their Facebook page

AgTalk S2E3 - Crops People Money & You with Dr Kate Burke

AgTalk S2E3 – Crops People Money & You with Dr Kate Burke

About Kate

Kate Burke founded Think Agri after identifying a need for corporate and institutional investors to have access to astute experience based advice when considering key agri-investment decisions. Knowing the right questions to ask is fundamental to sound decision making. Kate’s 26 years of experience forms a library of critical questions to ask about any agricultural investment.

Kate also recognised that leading farm families could further improve their performance by taking the lead from corporate business practices when it comes to business planning and reporting. This is especially the case for any farm business considering intergenerational succession or contemplating accessing external capital from sources other than traditional debt funding via lending institutions.

Kate is a highly experienced independent farm consultant with a PhD in agronomy. Kate spent time in the corporate sector as commercial manager of one of the largest grain producers in Australia and knows what it takes to run a profitable farm business.

This background enables Think Agri to offer the very best strategic advice and guidance to investors and family farmers alike.

Equally comfortable in boots or suits, Kate’s great people skills and high level of expertise can help you to thrive in the agricultural industry, so contact us today to find out more.

Kate recently wrote Crops People Money & You which you can purchase here.

AgTalk S2E2 - Driving Profitability in the Northern Cropping Zones with Simon Fritsch

AgTalk S2E2 – Driving Profitability in the Northern Cropping Zones with Simon Fritsch

About Simon

Founder of Agripath, Simon has over 20 years experience in agriculture with his client base encompassing irrigation, dry land farming and grazing operations.

He has Southern, Central, and Northern NSW farming systems experience. Simon’s particular strengths have been in financial analysis and planning to deliver profitable outcomes for client businesses. Simon has worked as an irrigation agronomist for Twynam Cotton at Warren, a dry land consultant agronomist for Hassall & Associates and team leader Farm Business Consulting for Hassall & Associates.

Simon has worked in many parts of Australia, giving him a broad understanding of all facets of farming in diverse environments and an excellent network of skilled land managers/farm advisors. Simon has a degree in Rural Science.

AgTalk S2E1 - Commodity Market Update with Robert Herrmann

AgTalk S2E1 – Commodity Market Update with Robert Herrmann

Join us this week as we discuss meat and wool commodity markets with Robert Herrmann.

Robert is the Managing Director of Mecardo, a specialist in agricultural advisory with a focus firmly on the financial enhancement of primary production and price risk management.

AgTalk Season One

AgTalk Episode 32 - Why famers should be excited about science with Professor Kevin Folta

About Kevin Folta

Kevin M. Folta is a Professor in the Horticultural Sciences Department at the University of Florida. His research program examines how light signals are sensed in plants and how different parts of the spectrum can change shelf life and high-value fruit and vegetable traits. His group also uses novel genomics approaches to identify genes related to flavor and disease resistance. An innovative new project is testing a method to create new small-molecule drugs for use in everything from plant growth regulation to MRSA.

He has been recognised for his science communication efforts, speaking with public audiences, and training scientists and agricultural producers to be better communicators. In 2016 he was recognised with the prestigious CAST Borlaug Award in Agricultural Communications and was named as the Ag Pro Person of the Year. He also hosts the weekly podcast Talking Biotech (www.talkingbiotechpodcast.com), with over 200 episodes and one million downloads.

AgTalk Episode 31 - What Drives Farmland Values? With Rural Bank Analyst Matt Ough

About Matt Ough

Our guest this week was Matt Ough who grew up in Edenhope in the West Wimmera region of Victoria.

Over the past seven years Matt has written and presented on a number of topics including livestock, dairy, horticulture and his pet topic Australian farmland values which why I have him here today. He also co-hosts RFC’s podcast – Beyond The Farm Gate which takes listeners to -inside the minds of farmers and agribusiness professionals, and well worth a listen.

Outside of work, Matt is the husband of Lauren and father of little Henry, they live in Geelong and frequently escape to the country to visit family and dream about farm ownership.

When asked why he works in agriculture he replies, ‘to change the image of farming that’s been sold to consumers over the years, I don’t have a farm but that won’t stop me advocating for those that do and selling the image that my relatives, parents and grandparents sold to me.’

AgTalk Episode 30 - Profit Drivers in the Dairy Industry with Neil Lane

About Neil Lane

One of the biggest lesson I leant when working as a banker was that I can learn hell of a lot about my own farm performance by looking outside the industry I grew up in. I was very fortunate as a young bank manager to be exposed to the dairy industry when I was stationed at Warrnambool in South-West Victoria. The lessons I learnt about grazing management and running a profitable farm I still teach today at Marcus.

So I want to use this weeks podcast to discuss profit drivers and the concept of resilient farm enterprises and what can we learn from the dairy industry about these concepts. I am lucky to have one of Oceania’s leading experts in dairy production systems and industry analysis to navigate us through this discussion.

Neil Lane was raised on his family’s dairy farm and has a lifelong association with the industry. He has a detailed knowledge of both the technical and financial aspects of a dairy business and how they influence profitability under the various dairy production systems. He has run his own consultancy business for 15+ years, has worked in the farm business management program at Dairy Australia and has overseen a large family corporate dairy farming business in Northern Victoria. He has co-authored a number of reports analysing farm profitability using industry data sets. He also has experience in milk supply management and has a detailed knowledge of the various milk pricing models employed through the industry.

AgTalk Episode 29 - Food 5.0 - The future of Agriculture with Robert Saik

About Robert Saik

Robert Saik has had forty years of experience as a Professional Agrologist, entrepreneur and an international consultant who’s worked with a wide variety of agriculturalists from Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture to Bill Gates on implementation of ag tech to help developing economies.

Over his life he has founded over 15 companies in the areas of Farming, Agri-Retail, Distribution, Media and Ag Tech including The Agri-Trend/Agri-Data Group of Companies which were acquired by Trimble.

Robert is CEO of AGvisorPRO Inc and Saik Management Group Inc. AGvisorPRO is a new way for the agriculture sector to solve problems through a brand-new connectivity platform for farming. As CEO of his holding company, Saik Management Group Inc., he provides consulting services to many organizations and serves on several boards and advisory committees.

Robert up until recently was CEO of DOT Technology Corp an Autonomous Robotic Farming Company which I am looking forward to discuss in more detail over this podcast.

Rob has wide interests in the ag tech space and facilitates the PowerFARM peer group for progressive food producers.

He is an author with over 50 published articles, Executive Producer of the Know Ideas media, a keynote speaker and recognized as 2016 Canadian Agri-Marketer of the Year by the Canadian Agri-Marketing Association.

AgTalk Episode 28 - Grain market update - What's happening and where is it heading? With Brett Stevenson

About Brett Stevenson

Join us this week as we check in with the Founder and Managing Director of Market Check, Brett Stevenson, for a grain market update.

Brett Stevenson, comes from a pioneer farming family in the Central West of NSW, founded AgRisk Management Pty to provide a range of grain marketing and risk management services to Australian grain growers.

Brett brought a team of expert analysts and advisers together in anticipation of the deregulation of the wheat industry and in 1996 the trading name “Market Check” was established. The company has grown to become Australia’s most highly respected and widely used independent grain marketing program for grain farmers with over 4,000 growers having attended Market Check Seminars and over 1,000 becoming members of Market Check.

The discussions on this podcast are for general information and education use only. These discussions should not be taken as constituting professional advice from the either AgTalk, Marcus Oldham College or our guests. Marcus Oldham College, AgTalk or our podcasts guests are not liable for any loss caused, whether due to negligence or otherwise arising from the use of, or reliance on, the information provided directly or indirectly, by listening to this podcast.

AgTalk Episode 27 - The Modern Merino and Sustainability; a farmers view with Andrew Bouffler

About Andrew Bouffler

My guest this week is someone who I probably first bumped into at the back bar of the Tatts Hotel in Armidale over 30 years ago. At that stage we where both on a road to completing a Bachelor of Ag Economics from the University of New England

Andrew Bouffler hails from Lockhart in Southern NSW, 70kms West of the town Wagga Wagga in the State of NSW.

Andrew is the Managing Director of Valera Pastoral Company, a mixed sheep/wheat family-controlled business that has maintained a traditional balance between cropping and livestock enterprises.

However, Andrew is probably better known to many as the principal of the company’s seed stock business, Trigger Vale Poll Merino and White Suffolk stud.

Andrew states that the basic principle of his seed business is to maximise genetic gain and client profitability by performance testing using MLA’s LAMBPLAN and MERINOSELECT genetic evaluation technologies. The business is a leader in the early adoption of new tools to aid genetic gain the most recent one being genomics.

Andrew holds a firm belief that you can never stop learning and has always sort out opportunities to learn from his peers and challenge his own knowledge and beliefs. This has lead him to completing:

An Australian Nuffield Scholarship in 2007, becoming a Graduate of the Duchy College ‘Challenges of Rural Leadership” Course’ held in the United Kingdom in 2009

A graduate of Institute of Company Directors Course and in 2019 participating in Rabobank’s Global Farmers Masterclass in Brazil

After nearly 40 years in the game, Andrew believes that the basic principle of farming is “managing risk.”

AgTalk Episode 25 - Budget, Pandemic and Recession - What does it mean for Ag? With Phin Ziebell

About Phin Ziebell

Nearly six months ago to the day, David Cornish sat down with NAB Agribusiness Economist, Phin Ziebell, to discuss what current world events meant for farmers and how it may impact them for our first episode of AgTalk.

With the recent release of the Australian budget, the first recession in close to three decades and the worldwide pandemic still causing havoc, Dave caught up with Phin to chat about what this all means for Ag.

Episode 24 - How sustainable are Australian cropping systems? With Professor Tim Reeves

About Professor Tim Reeves

Professor Reeves is a distinguished international leader in agricultural research, development and extension. He was a pioneer of no-till and sustainable agriculture at the Rutherglen Research Institute in north-eastern Victoria and has held a high number of senior international roles including as Director General of the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT) in Mexico from 1995-2002.

In recent years some of the many roles he has undertaken include: Member, United Nations Millennium Project Task Force on Hunger; Member Senior Expert, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations including as an author of ‘Save and Grow’ – Sustainable Intensification for Smallholder Farmers.

In 2017 he received the C M Donald Medal from the Australian Society of Agronomy, its most prestigious award for lifetime achievements. In 2019 he was awarded the Farrer Medal for his lifetime contributions to agricultural science.

He is currently Professor in Residence Dookie Campus at University of Melbourne.

AgTalk Episode 23 - Asking the Right Questions with Kate Burke

About Kate Burke

Kate Burke is a highly experienced independent farm consultant with a PhD in agronomy. Kate has also spent time in the corporate sector as commercial manager of one of the largest grain producers in Australia and knows what it takes to run a profitable farm business.

She has over thirty years’ experience in the farming sector. This includes Research, teaching, technical and business consulting, and commercial management of institutional ag investment.

Currently Kate is offering tailored contract services to those seeking agricultural insight and expertise through Think Agri Pty Ltd.

I have been fortunate enough to know Kate for now going on a couple of decades and I have found her one of those rare people that truly understand the relationship between what happens in the paddock, people and the bank balance.

Kate states ‘Knowing the right questions to ask is fundamental to sound decision making.’ And I reckon that’s a great place start

AgTalk Episode 22 - Leadership, vision and making a difference with NFF President Fiona Simson

About Fiona Simson

In 2015 Fiona Simson became the first female president of the Australia’s peak farmer group.

Fiona hails from a farming operation near Gunnedah on NSW’s Liverpool Plains, running a farming enterprise with her husband Ed and family including broad acre farming as well as breeding commercial poll Hereford cattle.

2019 was not an easy year for farmers is that part of the world, in fact probably one of the toughest ever seen. However, Fiona is adamant that she doesn’t not want agriculture in Australia to be defined by these tough times and I quote from a recent National Press conference presentation

‘Many farmers, including me, take offence, to the portrayals of the ‘broken down’, ‘hand-out-dependent’ farmer profile peddled by many members of the media.

And she went on to say

‘Ag is not only an industry with a special place in our past, but also an exciting place in our future.

In line with this, it’s not surprising that the NFF has embarked on two ambitious settings for Australian agriculture

1. The value for farm gate output to be valued at $100 billion by 2030. Currently around $70bn

2. That Australian Agriculture reaches Carbon Neutrality by 2050.

Add to this Murray Darlings Basin, Covid and China current trade settings, just to name a few this job is not without it challenges

With these in mind I look forward to chatting to Fiona today about leadership, vision and making a difference.

AgTalk Episode 21 - Collaborative Farming with John Gladigau

About John Gladigau

It was, I think, 2007 when on a typically cold Ballarat day I had the pleasure of sitting down with John Gladigau for a coffee and chat about corporate investing in agriculture. John was in the process of completing his Nuffield scholarship looking into the concept of collaborative farming. It wasn’t long till John and his good mate, Robin Schaefer from the South Australian Northern Mallee put the theory into practice, forming a single farming business called Bull a Burra.

The farming operation today comprises 11,000 hectares. The two families lease their properties to the farming company as well as lease another 6,000 hectares owned by others.

In today’s podcast, I am hoping to understand the decision making process that took John from managing the family farm on 2,000 ha to now running, what is a considered by many as benchmark farming operation that could provide many of the answers to current farming families thinking about where to from here when comes to running a successful farming business in the future

AgTalk Episode 20 - Why do farmers need to care about social license With Robbie Sefton

About Robbie Sefton

This week I had the pleasure of Robbie Sefton joining me on AgTalk.

Robbie is the founder and managing director of Seftons, a communication agency providing services in corporate affairs, government and media relations, strategic communications and marketing, digital and social media, event management, facilitation and community consultation programs.

Robbie specialises in facilitating groups through contentious and challenging issues.

A producer of wool, meat and grains, Robbie is a graduate of the Australian Rural Leadership Program, the 2002 RIRDC NSW Rural Woman of the Year and a member of numerous boards and advisory groups for governments, businesses and not-for-profits. Since 1990 she has lived, worked and traveled all over regional, rural and remote Australia as a rural leader and advocate. She is known and respected by farmers, agribusiness, Ministers, and people at all levels in between.

Robbie was listed in 2015 as a Westpac Women of Influence and last but not least we had the pleasure of Robbie’s presentation at the 2018 Marcus Oldham Rural Leadership Dinner. I consider myself fortunate on several occasions to have spent some time with Robbie discussing the issues of rural Australia and have always found her engaging and insightful and who best to invite on to the 20th episode of Marcus AgTalk podcast to discuss why farmers need to care about social license and how Australian agriculture need to position itself in a post COVID-19 world.

AgTalk Episode 19 - Dealing with Banks with Ian Robinson

About Ian Robinson

This week we are joined by Ian Robinson, director and co-founder of Robinson and Sewell partners.

Ian grew up on a 28,000 acre sheep station near Hay running 15,000 merino sheep and 1,000 acres of irrigated cereal and oil-seed cropping. Ian has had over 15 years of banking experience across a broad range of disciplines including business banking at a regional and corporate level in Australia with a strong agribusiness focus. His tertiary qualifications include a Bachelor of Resource Economics and Grad Diploma in Finance & Investment from the Securities Institute of Australia; and a Bachelor of Business majoring in accounting. Robinson Sewell Partners; is an Agribusiness Debt Advisory firm that has settled in excess of $500,000,000 of transactions over the past 2.5 years.

He is passionate about corporate finance and agribusiness investment. You can get in contact with Ian by visiting https://robinsonsewell.com.au/who-we-are/ian-robinson/

The discussions on this podcast are for general information and education use only. These discussions should not be taken as constituting professional advice from the either AgTalk, Marcus Oldham College or our guests. Marcus Oldham College, AgTalk or our podcasts guests are not liable for any loss caused, whether due to negligence or otherwise arising from the use of, or reliance on, the information provided directly or indirectly, by listening to this podcast.

AgTalk Episode 18 - Livestock production and Greenhouse gases - The Facts with Dr Frank Mitloehner

About Dr Frank Mitloehner

In this weeks episode we speak with Dr Frank Mitloehner

Dr. Frank Mitloehner is a professor and air quality specialist in cooperative extension in the Department of Animal Science at the University of California, Davis. As such, he shares his knowledge and research, both domestically and abroad, with students, scientists, farmers and ranchers, policy makers, and the public at large.

He is passionate about understanding and mitigating air emissions from livestock operations, as well as studying the implications of these emissions on the health of farm workers and neighbouring communities. In addition, he is focusing on the food production challenge that will become a global issue as the world’s population grows to nearly 10 billion by 2050.

Frank is also director of the CLEAR Centre, which has two cores – research and communications. The CLEAR Centre brings clarity to the intersection of animal agriculture and the environment, helping our global community understand the environmental and human health impacts of livestock, so we can make informed decisions about the foods we eat and while reducing environmental impacts.

Frank received a Master of Science degree in animal science and agricultural engineering from the University of Leipzig, Germany, and a doctoral degree in animal science from Texas Tech University.

He was also awarded in 2019, the prestigious Borlaug CAST Communication Award for outstanding communication efforts in the field of agricultural field.

You can follow Frank (@AGHGGuru) on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/GHGGuru

AgTalk Episode 17 - Communication and Science - The keys to successful farming with Jason Trompf

About Jason Trompf

It is my pleasure today to introduce to you Jason Trompf. Jason is the inaugural winner of the Marcus Oldham Flock Leader award, part of the Lambition awards that were kicked of this year

Jason grew up on sheep properties and developed from an early age a passion of the Sheep Industry. I first ran into Jason many years ago when he was completing his PhD. What stuck out for me about that PhD and I believe has underpinned Jason journey to date has been around the issue of communication and the uptake of science in a practical setting.

One of Jason’s key abilities is to take science and make it understandable and usable for everyday farmers. To me this is such an important skill that we need to encourage if the industry is going to continue to move forward.

Jason has been a major driver in the sheep industry extension program having made a significant contribution to Life Time Ewe Management Course (Which I rate as one of the best course I have ever done) Bred Well Fed Well and now the founder of the Lambs Alive program whose core aim is lift production rates resulting in more profit and better welfare outcomes for the animals and the farmer. It brings together a large group of like-minded farmers who are keen to impact their lot in life by producing more from less.

Along with his wife Penny and her parents, He now manages a significant livestock enterprise near Glenrowan in north east Victoria, with 3000 ewes and 250 cows. This self-replacing high productivity operation provides him with a great practical background and a constant reality check with the challenges that all producers are facing on a day to day basis. A key focus for the last 10 years or more has been to improve lamb survival, with the flock now achieving 90% survival rates of foetuses scanned.

AgTalk Episode 16 - Leadership lessons from the Cotton Industry with Mike Logan

About Mike Logan

My guest speaker this week has had a very long and illustrious career in agriculture. Mike Logan’s ag management journey started out in Narrabri NSW where for thirty years He managed a cotton operation. In that time he was instrumental in the development of the Cotton industry Best management Practice guide. The Cotton Industry Best Management practice program is recognised as world leader in industry wide environmental programs.

Various industries have benefited from Mike’s experience. He was the Chief Executive Officer of Dairy Connect, Chairman of Cotton Research & Development Corporation and has served on the boards for numerous organisations, including the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation which delivers the ARLP.

In 2019 Mike Logan was recognised in the Australian honours as a Member of the Order of Australia for service to primary industry through rural research and sustainable development in the fields of cotton, dairy and water conservation.

Mike is now a Professional Advisory Board Chairman, Business Coach and Author.

You can buy a copy of Mike’s book, “The Asking Leader”, here.

AgTalk Episode 15 - Decision Making with the Rule of Thumbs with guest Zoe Creelman

About Zoe Creelman

One of the main themes running through this podcast series is the concept around good decision making. In this podcast episode, I want to explore decision making in a little bit more depth. To help me with this I am joined by Zoe Creelman

Zoe’s a freelancing agriculturalist based in south west Victoria. She cut her teeth with Southern Farming Systems, working on the Grain and Graze project that looked at mixed farming practices.

Whilst working on the project, she completed her honours thesis looking at some of the complexities around making decisions on mixed farms, and contributed to the ‘Decision Making book’ published through the Grain and Graze project.

In recent years, her work has ranged from working with small scale producers, consulting with an environmental agency, making agricultural instructional videos, and working with a youth justice centre to incorporate farming in their vocational training of inmates.

AgTalk Episode 14 - The Leadership Challenge with Debbie Nicol

About Debbie Nicol

The issue of leadership is an ever-increasing topic of discussion around the world especially in these times of covid. You often here someone say ‘All we need is better leadership and we wouldn’t be in this situation’.

But what is leadership? It’s a question that has interested me for a long time. Many years ago I was fortunate enough to be a participant in the Australian Rural Leadership Course. We were given several books to read most of which I have long forgotten about except for one in particular.

That Book was called the Leadership Challenge written by Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner. What stood out for me about this book was that it, was evidence based and broke the concept of leadership down into tangible parts that frankly just made sense to a boy from the bush.

So today I want to introduce you to the Leadership Challenge as I believe it is a key resource in this area and one we use here at the College in our leadership course. To guide us through we are lucky to have Debbie Nicol join us who is the Managing Director of Business en motion, based out of Dubai.

Debbie is certified Master facilitator in the delivery of the Leadership Challenge content and has had over 28 years of experience in international human resources, organisational development and strategic change management.

AgTalk Episode 13 - Decision Making in the Southern Cropping System

About Dr Harm Van Rees

This week it is my pleasure to have Dr Harm Van Rees as my guest.

In the early 1990s Harm began consulting to growers across the Victorian Wimmera and Mallee.

He became well known and highly regarded throughout the farming industry for his instrumental roles in the MEYCheck (Maximum Economic Yield) and Top Crop programs which were transformative in the 1990s in terms of driving understanding around production constraints such as water use efficiency and nitrogen management.

He was instrumental in the use of farmer groups in the region to assist farmers improving the understanding of crop and pasture production techniques. Bringing growers and researchers together to solve production issues was his focus.

In being awarded the GRDC2020 Excellence award the judges stated that “Cropping in that region of Victoria has come a long way thanks to Harm. And as a result, the community has benefited tremendously.”

AgTalk Episode 12 - Commodity Markets - Meat and Wool Part 4

About Robert Herrmann

Join us this week as we discuss meat and wool commodity markets with Robert Herrmann .

Robert is the Managing Director of Mecardo, a specialist in agricultural advisory with a focus firmly on the financial enhancement of primary production and price risk management.

AgTalk Episode 11 - Commodity Markets - Meat and Wool Part 3

About Robert Herrmann

Join us this week as we discuss meat and wool commodity markets with Robert Herrmann.

Robert is the Managing Director of Mecardo, a specialist in agricultural advisory with a focus firmly on the financial enhancement of primary production and price risk management.

AgTalk Episode 10 - Commodity Pricing - Grain and Oil Seeds Part 2

About Brett Stevenson

Join us this week as we discuss commodity price grain and oil seed forecasting with the Founder and Managing Director of Market Check, Brett Stevenson.

AgTalk Episode 9 - Commodity Pricing - Grains Part 1

About Brett Stevenson

Join us this week as we discuss commodity price forecasting with the Founder and Managing Director of Market Check, Brett Stevenson.

AgTalk Episode 8 - Succession Planning Part 3.2 - Smart Group Properties

Succession planning in Agriculture often can be a highly emotive issue and one that can have a significant impact on the ongoing success of a family farming operation.

This week’s podcast is final episode in a series that has looked closely at this issue and ways we can best manage the process to maximise chances of a successful outcome.

AgTalk Episode 7 - Succession Planning Part 3.1 - Smart Group Properties

Succession planning in Agriculture often can be a highly emotive issue and one that can have a significant impact on the ongoing success of a family farming operation.

This week’s podcast is part three of a series that looks closely at this issue and ways that we can best manage the process to maximises our chance of a successful outcome.

AgTalk Episode 6 - Succession Planning Part 2

Succession planning in Agriculture often can be a highly emotive issue and one that can have a significant impact on the ongoing success of a family farming operation.

This week’s podcast is Part 2 of a three part series that looks closely at this issue and ways that we can best manage the process to maximises our chance of a successful outcome.

AgTalk Episode 5 - Succession Planning Part 1

Succession planning in Agriculture can often be a highly emotive issue and one which can have a significant impact on the ongoing success of a family farming operation. This week’s podcast is part 1 of a three part series that looks closely at this issue and ways that we can best manage the process to maximises our chance of a successful outcome.

AgTalk Episode 4 - The Importance of Decision making and how we can learn to make better ones.

About Cam Nicholson

What makes a good decision and why might that be different to a right decision? Why is it important for farm managers to understand the difference and can we learn how to make better decisions?

It has been my experience, working with farmers across Australia, that successful farmers are very skilled at decision making and these skills of good decision making can be learnt.

Cam Nicholson, Ag Consultant and farmer joins us to discuss and how farmers can improve the decision-making process to make better decisions in a very risky business environment.

AgTalk Episode 3 - John Francis High Performing Farms

About John Francis

John Francis from Holmes and Sackett -Farm Consulting company joins the Marcus Ag Talk Podcast to discuss the questions around high performing farmers and what characterises them and are there common themes that we can identify and learn from .

AgTalk Episode 2 - The future of Biotechnology in Agriculture with Professor Kevin Folta

In 2019, The Centre For The Study of Agribusiness at Marcus Oldham was lucky enough to secure Professor Kevin Folta as the keynote speaker at a special luncheon at Marcus Oldham.

Join us as Kevin discusses the future of Biotechnology in Agriculture.

AgTalk Episode 1 - Dave Cornish and Phin Ziebell - What is going on in the world?

Join Dave Cornish, Director of the Centre of Study of Agribusiness at Marcus Oldham, as he talks with the movers and shakers of the Ag world about the issues affecting the agribusiness world for Marcus Oldham’s AgTalk.

In this episode Dave talks with NAB Agribusiness Economist , Phin Ziebell, about what the current world events means for farmers and how it may impact them.

About the Host

David Cornish – Director of the Centre for the Study of Agribusiness

David has had over 25 years experience in Agribusiness. This experience has included roles such as Agricultural Economist, Agribusiness Marketing Manager as well as senior banking roles in regional NSW and Victoria for NAB. David was the initial CEO of Rabo Financial Advisors and spent five years as a farm consultant with Mike Stephens & Associates focusing on agricultural investment opportunities for wholesale investment funds. In October 2008, David joined Landmark as the regional manager for Western Victoria and then as a strategy manager for the organisation. Before joining Marcus Oldham as a full time lecturer, he worked for Aquila Capital Investments supporting their farm investment strategy in Australia

In his spare time, he is involved in a family farming operation based at Casterton in Western Victoria.