Agriminders

Remote agriculture is not for the faint-hearted. The farmers who take on the challenge must deal with unpredictable climates, heat tolerant animals and managing properties larger than small countries. So how successful have Australian graziers been at overcoming these challenges? And what is the potential contribution of remote agriculture to the supply of meat locally and overseas? Host Chris Russell speaks with Annabelle Coppin, the owner and operator of Yarrie Station in far north-west Western Australia, about how they're overcoming the challenges of remote agriculture to meet the demands of their local and international consumers. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With virtually unlimited water and a warm predictable climate, the Ord River Scheme in far north-west Western Australia has the potential to be one of the most exciting opportunities for food and fibre production in Australia today. Many crops have tried to make use of the abundant water but just as many have failed due to the remoteness from highly competitive markets or insect pests. But will investment from Shanghai-based company Kimberly Agricultural Investment be the key to realising the full potential of the area? Host Chris Russell speaks with General Manager of Kimberly Agricultural Investment, Jim Engelke, about the crops that have been tested (and failed) in the Ord before and what KAI are doing differently. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is the plan for ensuring reliable connectivity in regional and remote Australia? Connectivity in regional and remote Australia has always lagged behind the cities, yet the growth in digital and robotic agriculture demands the same access and speeds as urban business and industry. Host Chris Russell speaks to Federal Minister for Communications, Minister Paul Fletcher, about his government's plans to meet the connectivity needs of the bush. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How can Australia make better use of its vast underground water storage? The practice of water banking injects excess surface water into underground aquifers during wet times, to be used during dry times. Host Chris Russell speaks to postdoctoral research fellow in groundwater management at the US-based Environmental Defence Fund Andrew Ross about the feasibility of water banking in Australia and what would need to happen to make it a reality. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia is the second most urbanised country in the world after Singapore and the distances to bring food from the regions to the cities are huge. How can we bridge the increasing geographical and psychological gap between Australian producers and the urban consumers who buy their produce? One solution is peri-urban agriculture and the practice of growing food on the fringes of capital cities. Host Chris Russell speaks to CEO of Urban Ecological Systems Andrew Bodlovich about the feasibility of large scale food production close to the supermarkets that distribute it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are plant-based "milks" better for you than dairy milk? A 2020 study from the Grains & Legumes Nutrition Council found that the nutrients in plant-based milks aren’t an adequate substitute for dairy milk, in spite of popular perceptions. Host Chris Russell speaks to Nutritionist and General Manager of the Grains & Legumes Nutrition Council Sarah Grafenauer about the perceived health benefits of plant-based milks compared to the reality. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is Australia a major player in global food production? Or has it, or should it, take advantage of its unique provenance story and become a specialist supplier of niche products to a growing global and affluent middle class? Host Chris Russell speaks to former President of the Australian Lotfeeders Association Kevin Roberts about the growing popularity of Australian grain fed-beef overseas. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How can farmers make informed production decisions based on food trends? For farmers looking to expand their production to include value-added products, it can be hard to distinguish between legitimate trends and marketing spin. Host Chris Russell speaks to Founder and CEO of New Nutrition Business Julian Mellentin about how they predict food trends and how Australian farmers can take advantage. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do farmers in remote communities socialise when their closest neighbour might be hundreds of kilometres away? In the eyes of most Aussies - living in the bush and mateship seem to go together – but is it the reality in modern farming? Active Farmers is a non-profit organisation using group fitness classes to build stronger, fitter and more resilient rural communities. Host Chris Russell speaks to Acting CEO of Active Farmers Marliese Heffernan about the mental and social benefits of staying active and why farmers need group fitness classes when their work is already physically demanding. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The response to a natural disaster, as planned by state and federal governments, have been implemented, tried and tested during the 2020 bushfires...but how did they go? Our agriminder is the appointed Scientist responsible for the Dairy industry Response in NSW is Dr Neil Moss and he speaks to host Chris Russell about how farmers have been aided by these plans in the immediate aftermath of the devastating 2020 bushfires, as well as the lessons learned  along the way to help improve the government's response in the future. 

Our animals and wildlife have been devastated by the fires, and for those that have survived, the aftermath of having dead and injured animals on our lands also poses a significant risk. Host Chris Russell speaks with former Commonwealth Inspector General of Biosecurity and NSW Chief Vet, Dr Helen Scott Orr, about how we can manage this effectively and sensitively. 

What can we learn about bushfires and the management of our land from our Indigenous  people, who have managed bushfire with bespoke methodology for 40,000 years? Our agriminder Soil Scientist Phillip Mulvey returns to discuss the use of fire as a land management technique in Australia with host Chris Russell, what effect the 2020 bushfires have had on our soil and  the opportunity we have to start again, collaboratively, as the soils have effectively been sterilised by fire.

Fire looks random but there is a scientific dedication to understanding how it behaves. Host Chris Russell speaks with leading Fire Scientist and former forest fire-fighter, Dr Thomas Duff, about his studies into how bushfires behave in hot, dry climates. Our agriminder  Dr Duff explains how we can use this information to predict where and when areas might be affected and what the best way is to limit loss of life and property.

Should we have predicted the severity 2020 bushfires? Our Agriminder, Former NSW Fire and Rescue Fire Commissioner, Greg Mullins says that they did predict it. Greg explains to host Chris Russell why the 2020 fires different from the bushfires of previous years, the cause and effect of these types bushfires and what can we learn from that to help us plan for future bushfire events. 

What is the future of the Australian dairy industry? As the cost of dairy production increases and the price of supermarket milk decreases to less than that of bottled water, the future is uncertain for many farmers. Host Chris Russell speaks to former President of Dairy Australia and dairy farmer, Max Roberts about ensuring a fair return for farmers and the best ways to keep young farmers in the dairy industry.

What is behind the rise in value-added milk products? With over 11% of the milk consumed in Australia & New Zealand now being A2 milk, the A2 Milk Company is experiencing rapid growth within a struggling dairy industry. Host Chris Russell speaks to CEO of the A2 Milk Company, Jayne Hrdlicka, about the growth of their value-added products and the data supporting its popularity.

Should we be using Australia’s native grasses more in our food production? Aboriginal populations harvested native grains and grasses for bread for 40,000 years prior to European settlement, yet we have largely ignored these naturally evolved crops in modern food production. Host Chris Russell speaks to Principal Consultant at Ag & Environment Consulting, Dr Peter Ampt, about the potential use of these grasses in the future of food & pasture production in Australia.

Can blockchain solve agricultural producers’ provenance problems? Tracking the conditions of production animals and paying suppliers for goods could all be covered by blockchain in the future if there is uptake of the AgriDigital program. Host Chris Russell speaks to Bridie Ohlsson, CEO of Geora, a blockchain protocol designed for agriculture, about the potential solutions it could offer farmers around the world, at every level of their production.

Is organic food more nutritious for you? Organic food is popular among urban consumers and perceived by many to be tastier and better for you. But is it really healthier or tastier? Host Chris Russell speaks to accredited dietitian and career nutrition scientist, Dr Tim Crowe about whether claims about the benefits of organic food stack up.

What makes a farm ‘organic’? Organic farming has assumed a reputation of purity based on the use of 'organic' inputs and sustainable practices. However, this excludes the use of many fertilisers and disease prevention systems that are safe and even 'near natural'. The cost can be productivity, efficiency and food wastage due to shorter shelf life. Host Chris Russell speaks to Head of Standards and Regulation at Australian Organic Limited, Owen Gwilliam about what's permitted in organic farming and what’s excluded.