Bridgitte Brooks is rewriting the story of Australian wool - and of rural women. The fifth-generation sheep farmer has launched a wool athleisure brand from her farm in Yuna, Western Australia in a bid to connect modern consumers with a natural fibre that she feels is undercelebrated. From baby blankets to wool athleisure wear, Bridgitte is stitchi…

In this episode, Oli sits down with Australia’s Federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry — Julie Collins — live from the National Farmers’ Federation Conference on the Gold Coast. From her Tasmanian roots to leading one of the nation’s most important portfolios, Julie shares how her background shaped her approach to agriculture, sus…

Passionfruit farmer Mitchell East is flipping the script on food waste, giving unsellable fruit a second chance. Mitchell returned to his family farm in Manjimup WA on a mission to find a tasty use for surplus, speedily perishable fruit like passionfruit and cherries. The horticulture industry is always looking for new ways of squeezing value from …

This month Tom and Mick catch up with New England livestock agent Mat Larkings about what he’s seeing on the ground—from post-drought price shifts to clients swapping breeding for trading. They dive into the growing interest in coastal markets, the cautious optimism among producers, and why quality stock still rules. It’s a great listen for anyone …

A decade ago, if Ben 'Wundy' Wundersitz spotted a mate's ute parked on the main drag in town he'd assume they were at the pub sinking a pint. These days, there's more chance of Wundy finding his mates working out at the gym across the road from the pub in his local town of Maitland in South Australia, which has fully embraced the Fat Farmers moveme…

Autor: Humans of Agriculture

A knowledge tour around Brazil cotton farms has blown the minds of a group of Aussie growers. Imagine having a cotton gin on every single farm?... or a family-led business with a breezy 220,000 hectares in crop? Rabobank Area Manager Felicity Taylor says the sheer sophistication and scale of Brazilian cotton production has to be seen to be believed…

WA sheep farmers do things "bloody well" if you ask Fraser Stewart, which is why he wrestled the 2025 Rabo WA Sheep & Wool tour to the west side of the country. Fraser was proud to see curiosity and ideas bounce between the 21 big industry players visiting from the Eastern States and New Zealand to WA's Great Southern region last month. WA is a key…

We're keen to know what's going on with sheep - there seems to be records hit week after week at sale yards across the country. Are farmers getting FOMO? Tom & Mick chat with stock and station royalty Todd Clements and Nick Fogarty about the underlying drivers of current sheep and lamb prices and what's likely to come. Todd and Nick are from Bowyer…

There’s more to meat than what Aussies might think. After graduating from uni, Sophie Marriott couldn't wait to leave the bright lights of Brisbane to explore the seemingly endless opportunities in red meat processing. She never expected she'd end up in Tasmania, working for family-owned beef processing company Greenham, on the north-western coast.…

When buying eggs, what matters to you? In this chat with Martin Rohde, of Rohde Egg Co, Oli learns what free range actually means, as well as some other intricacies of running a rapidly expanding higher-welfare egg business in South Australia's Clare Valley region. Even when navigating challenges around COVID-19 and avian influenza, the Rohde famil…

A new voice joins Humans of Agriculture! Liv Thorn pokes her face from behind the curtain to share a bit about her background in media and what she brings to her (relatively) new role as Content Specialist in our ever-evolving team. Liv is a passionate storyteller and determined to propel more authentic, human-led stories from the bush into the mai…

At the heart of Australia’s meat processing industry are the people. From graduates to CEOs, and those who work on the floor, we're letting their stories shine through this special More To Meat series. In part two, we meet the unforgettable Stephen Duncan, aka Chainy, from Casino Food Company in NSW. Chainy has been in the red meat processing game …

In the first episode of our three-part More To Meat series, we're revealing a side of meat production you don't often get to see. Oli visits Australian Country Choice (ACC) in Brisbane where they've recently processed 6000 head of cattle in just one week. That's enough beef for 49 million spaghetti bolognese meals... enough to feed every Australian…

An 'overnight success' is often many years in the making and that's certainly the case for the Our Cow empire. Husband and wife duo Dave McGiveron and Bianca Tarrant scraped together a deposit to buy a small cattle property in 2019 and fulfill their dream of being 'mad weaner producers'. With just one steer to their name, they launched a direct-to-…

Beware, the burn! Tom & Mick got more than they bargained for in this chat with Wagyu breeder Charlie Perry. Apart from minor ego bruising, the fellas discovered that breeding some of the country's best Wagyu cattle is about more than just marbling. Charlie explains how sophisticated genetic tools are helping him grow a more balanced and functional…

There are many fascinating pockets of Aussie agriculture and Grace Griffiths is keen to explore them all. A few years ago, Grace created 101 Ag Pathways to showcase the plethora of roles and career pathways into agriculture. Grace is an agronomist, cotton grower, GIS specialist and part of her family business Data Ag, based in Goodiwindi QLD. She c…

The biotech at the fingertips of farmers is super exciting. But is regulation keeping pace with scientific leaps? Biotech like gene editing has the potential to revolutionise the industry - by not only enhancing crop yields, but supporting sustainable farming practices, and helping address global climate change and food security. Michael Leader's j…

When Tim Felan was exploring career options fresh out of uni a decade ago, marrying his love for agriculture and finance together just made sense. But he says 'falling into' a trial internship at Rabobank is what really fast-tracked his career to becoming National Manager of Major Agribusiness Clients. He was pleased to see the Rabo Graduate Progra…

Choosing to get along seems to be the mindset critical to the success of the Coggan family mixed farming business over five generations. Juggling a massive beef, lamb and grain operation in Queensland's Western Downs, siblings Emily, Tom and Sarah are fast becoming a leading force in the early adoption of ag technology. They're the first beef farme…

They say you can't be what you can't see, and thankfully there are many incredible role models for women in agriculture these days. When entering the workforce and feeling a little untethered, Maddie Morgan saw a need to better connect those women and grow support networks for industry professionals. As if being an agribusiness lawyer and helping o…

Charlie Perry reckons he might know more intricate details of the health of his Wagyu bulls than he does of his kids! He's fascinated by the genomic data behind every calf he breeds, which allows him to make incremental genetic gains for the betterment of the supply chains he services. And he'd have to be pretty patient too, with the results of the…

Yesterday’s surprise move to lift biosecurity restrictions on US beef imports has sent ripples through Aussie ag - with historical concerns around potentially devastating diseases like foot and mouth or mad cow entering our shores. It comes as rumours swirl about a possible hike in tariffs on Aussie exports to the US. Is this a long-planned, scienc…

If one word could sum up the current agricultural land market - volatile - is how Rabobank analyst Paul Joules would describe it. He reckons the unprecedented 80% growth in land prices in recent years is changing the way farmers make decisions... shifting their focus to productivity over expansion. This bite-size chat touches on the influence of co…

You won't find too many fellas as genuinely happy and passionate about their job as Glenn 'Yogi' Kendall. Yogi is a prominent figure in the trucking community - a celebrity even - with a cult following on TV show Outback Truckers and well known for his tireless work mentoring rookie drivers. Yogi is a big believer in the value of good old fashioned…

Tom Redden of Naparoo Pastoral never thought he'd circle back to the family farm after a stint in the corporate world but the opportunities he saw in the red meat supply chain were too enticing. Tom chats with Tom & Mick about the 'sweet spot' he's found in the paddock to plate business model, based in Coonabarabran NSW. Takeaways Tom Redden is a f…

As the geopolitical situation shall we say... deteriorates, what impact are overseas conflicts and trade disputes having on Aussie grain markets? Vitor Pistoia, Senior Grains and Oilseeds Analyst for Rabobank, is watching global events closely and joins Oli to explain the resulting market dynamics, as well as the opportunities for canola growers as…

When you're in the grip of drought, with livestock to feed and budgets to recalibrate, it can feel impossible to escape the business for a mental break. But the Bayer Big Fish Challenge is giving farmers the perfect excuse. It's an all-year-round nationwide fishing competition, which anyone can be part of, and every big fish caught raises money for…

It's a good thing Aly Bunton loves talking to people, as her Public Affairs role with Bayer Crop Science Australia depends on good relationships. And it's not just with the suits in Canberra; Aly is well-connected with scientists and farmers all over to ensure Bayer stays on the front foot of industry issues globally, and that Governments are aware…

In an increasingly noisy world, how can ag speak with a unified, consistent voice? The changing dynamics of agricultural advocacy in Australia has caught our attention, and we're keen to explore whether industry representation is still 'fit for purpose' in a rapidly shifting political and social landscape. With around 270 farm advocacy bodies in Au…

Cattleman Stuart Austin doesn't shy away from a challenge and his next venture is no exception. Stuart is well-known for his work in the natural capital space in his former role as General Manager of Wilmot Cattle Company, a regenerative grass fed beef operation in NSW. In this chat with Tom & Mick, Stuart explains the various arms of his new ventu…

It's not often you get the chance to hit the pause button, zoom out and look at the bigger picture of your farming business. Farmers are often great at being operational - getting the crop in, or managing livestock cycles - but perhaps not as well practiced at thinking through a strategic plan: where you want your business to go and how you want to…

Six years ago, South Australian accountant Tom Cosentino ditched his day job and bought a cattle property without ever having touched a cow before. Relying on YouTube to learn the basics, Tom reckons his naivete has also helped endear him to other farmers willing to teach. Hear how Tom feels great freedom without the ‘generational inertia’ behind h…

It's time to level up our produce game! There are few things more disappointing than biting into a floury apple, or cutting open a bruised avocado... if only we knew what mango to choose based on skin spots, or how to best store pears so they ripen perfectly… That, friends, is the mission of our next guest, Thanh ‘The Fruit Nerd’ Truong. He's put a…

In this second episode of our AgRi-silience series, Jono Mudge gives a glimpse into the realities of stepping up as the next generation in a family business. It hasn't been an easy run of seasons for mixed farmers in South Australia's mid-north, but the AgRi-silience program came at the perfect time for Jono - deflecting his attention away from the…

After a brief hiatus, Tom and Mick are back at it... This time they sit down with their first international guest, José Paz Vermal of Argentina, to discuss the current state of play in the wool market. Summary This chat delves into the dynamics of the global wool market, discussing current trends and challenges. The market hasn't been flash for a w…

Succession planning is complicated territory for any business, but perhaps more so in farming with families at the core of most operations. It's not just relationships and family legacies that hinge on effective succession planning, it also plays a critical role in building strategic foresight, sustainability and continuity into a business. Success…

In the first episode of this special AgRi-silience series, we visit Mark and Rachel McInerney at Riverton, South Australia, to hear how they navigate adversity by redefining their roles on the farm and turning professional development into a catalyst for business renewal. In this chat you'll hear: How an HR masterclass became the starting point for…

A couple weeks back, I spotted through the Global Food Forum that Nutrien Ag Solutions has decided to partner with Primary Industries Education Foundation Australia. This move marks a big investment in how the ag industry interacts with the next generation of producers. So I decided to ring up Carissa Buckland, who works in Nutrien as their Directo…

Derek Peterson has had a colorful career. He's found himself at the head of ROAM, an agriculture tech company trying to solve the problem of methane emissions. But he didn't get there following the 'traditional path.' In this chat we cover his career so far, from working on Wall Street to becoming a visionary entrepreneur whose journey expertise br…

When I got a chance to head to evokeAg this year, I heard Jocie Bate speaking and thought to myself, we need to get her on the podcast! I came across an extraordinary character whose ideas may just revolutionise the future of agriculture. "It's amazing how quickly the sector is evolving," says Jocie Bate on her mission to fully automate the paddock…

“If we don’t get it right, the opportunity will be given to people post the farm gate. And it’ll happen to farmers again.” Hugh Killen's CV is incredibly impressive, he's spent decades working across the globe in finance and markets, before returning home to work in aussie agriculture. In this chat, we explore Hugh's time in finance, his time leadi…

Tess Cook grew up on her families beef property in Queensland. When she was on stage at evokeAG, she mentioned the challenge and lack of understanding of different career pathways in Ag. Now this is so interesting because it’s being talked about a lot, but talking isn’t solving much - we want to know more to see what we can do! Tess recently moved …

We’re sitting down with Lauren Roellgen this week. She wears a few different hats including aa an Associate Director at LAWD, a farmer-in-training on her family farm, and the Chair of the Future Farmers Network. She shares her family’s inspiring journey from Germany to Australia, how they built a successful cotton farming enterprise, and the modern…

EvokeAg is one of the premier events for agrifood tech and innovation, and this year’s edition in Brisbane took things to a new level. In this episode, Oli catches up with Harriet Mellish, General Manager at AgriFutures Australia, to unpack what went into making EvokeAg 2025 a success, the evolving conversations in the agri-tech space, and how the …

This episode is part of our partnership with Cotton Australia, we’re joined by Liz Stott, a cotton grower and the Deputy Chair of Cotton Australia. She brings a plethora of insights into the industry's innovations, sustainability efforts, and leadership development programs that are defining the Australian Cotton industry. Then, I have a yarn with …

I first met Ed Currenti in the sheep yards at Mount Hesse, over more than 15 years we've stayed in touch and followed each others journeys closely. Ed is the General Manager at Prestige Foods, in our chat he shares his journey from a city upbringing to a successful career in agriculture and food production. He discusses the importance of mentorship…

Joining us from his ute on top of a hill during a busy week of shearing is the 2025 Zanda McDonald Award winner from Australia, Jack O'Connor. Jacko is the General Manager at his family mixed farming operation, Oxton Park. His career has seen him working on farms in developing countries such as Uganda, in the Head Office for Meat and Livestock Aust…

Maegen Blom is the Operations Manager within her family owned business Mills Bay Mussels. She is the 2025 Zanda McDonald Award winner from New Zealand, so we thought we would love to get to know a bit more about her and share it with you! We cover: How she found out that she'd won, a bit more about the vertically integrated business selling direct …

In this episode of Humans of Agriculture, host Oli Le Lievre sits down with fourth-generation pineapple farmer Bert Harris. From his family's century-long farming legacy in Queensland to the modern-day challenges of growing pineapples, dragon fruit, and pumpkins, Bert shares insights into the evolution of farming, his deep connection to the land, a…