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AgWatchers

231 episodes - English - Latest episode: 4 days ago -

Dive into the what, why and how of agricultural markets. Join Andrew Whitelaw, Matt Dalgleish and guests, as they breakdown the market. Expect a lighthearted, sardonic and irreverent discussion.

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Episodes

Causing a Hassell

March 26, 2024 00:17 - 1 hour - 35.1 MB

We are joined by John Hassell, President of WA Farmers and Vice President of the National Farmers Federation. John is from Pingelly, Western Australia.  In this chat, we discuss everything from climate change, live export, increasing efficiency in farm representation, protests in Europe, animal activism and a whole lot more. 

Pip off the old block

March 22, 2024 03:47 - 1 hour - 33 MB

This week, we welcome Pip Courtney, the host of ABC Landline, onto the podcast. In this podcast, we talk about a range of topics from her favourite story, is Landline is representative of farming, the impact of technology on media and a whole lot more.  If you enjoy the podcast leave a review on apple, and share with your friends and family. 

Will AI take over our farms?

March 14, 2024 04:02 - 1 hour - 34.3 MB

We have a chat with Ben Pankhurst of Agtech by Design. Ben founded a business that uses AI/machine learning to detect and spray weeds in paddocks.  During this discussion we explain what AI actually is, whether it will lead to our demise and a whole lot more. 

What in the world?

March 12, 2024 02:54 - 32 minutes - 18.9 MB

It's just the two of us, as Matt and Andrew chat about what's happening in grain and livestock markets. We also give an educational lesson on the Hawthorne effect. 

Getting new foods on supermarket shelves.

March 07, 2024 05:56 - 1 hour - 38.3 MB

We chat with Angeline Achariya, CEO of Innovation Gamechangers. Angeline worked in some of the world's biggest food companies, developing new products that end up on supermarket shelves.  In this interesting discussion, we discuss everything from cinnamon twisties to fried food.  Angeline will be presenting at the Futureagexpo in Melbourne in April alongside Andrew and Matt. You can find out about the expo at futureagexpo.com.au

It's a bug's life.

March 05, 2024 00:21 - 56 minutes - 33.6 MB

We have a chat with Olympia Yarger, CEO of Goterra. A company turning food waste into fertilizer and food/feed.  Olympia is was the Australian of the year for ACT in 2023, and has a species of fly named after her. She will be presenting at the future ag expo in Melbourne next month (futureagexpo.com.au).  In this very lighthearted podcast we chat about everything from waste removal, animal feed and fertilizer shortages, and crossfitters use of cricket powder.........

AgWatchers go to the movies with Just a Farmer.

February 27, 2024 01:43 - 59 minutes - 34.4 MB

We were excited to have the producer, writer and main after of the new movie 'Just a Farmer'. Leila and Sean McDougall are farmers from Western Victoria who have moved into the movie business.  This film, set in Tatyoon, Western Victoria, is a fascinating film funded and created by farmers and has a host of big-name Australian actors. Unfortunately, the AgWatchers were not picked up in the casting of this.  The film is being released in cinemas around the country on the 21st of March; make...

Market Morsel - A conversation about commodities.

February 21, 2024 00:10 - 32 minutes - 75.3 MB

Just the two of us.  Matt and Andrew have a conversation about livestock, grain and fertilizer pricing. Along with a few other tangents. 

Keeping it rural

February 16, 2024 00:11 - 1 hour - 139 MB

We have a chat with Dimity Smith, of Gro Events and Gro Rural.  As always we cover a huge range of topics; should events be rural or in cities, finding rural talent for contracts, running an EP3 commodities course in New Caledonia, Barnaby Joyce on a night out and a whole lot more. 

Agriculture for all

February 09, 2024 00:43 - 1 hour - 168 MB

We have a chat with Madeleine Stuchbery, a journalist with the Weekly Times. We chat about our recent article about the inclusion of women on agricultural boards.  In this chat we delve into diversity, inclusion, access to services in regions, paying for content and a whole lot more.   You can read her article by clicking here

The Queen of Sheepa

February 05, 2024 23:31 - 1 hour - 145 MB

On this podcast, we have Jo Hall, CEO of Wool Producers Australia (WPA). Jo represents the interests of wool growers across the country.  She discusses why WPA have removed support for the governments plan to mandate EID tags in sheep, their views on the new biosecurity levy and the prospect of processing more wool within Australia rather than sending it all to China. 

Ute ban, MV Bahijah and the NFF relationship with government.

February 02, 2024 02:08 - 45 minutes - 104 MB

We have David Jochinke, the current president of the NFF and the immediate previous VFF president onto the podcast for a chat after 3 months in the NFF president role. In this podcast, we discuss various topics, including government policy, the MV Bahijah in Freo, the ban on utes and a lot more.  Remember to share the podcast with your friends and family.  

This is a conversation starter

January 31, 2024 02:20 - 53 minutes - 121 MB

Mental wellness is a huge issue in regional areas, and one that we need to more open about and remove the stigma. We have a chat with Jason Banks, the CO-Ceo of TIACS aka This is a conversation starter. This organisation, set up by the founders of Trade Mutt (See here), is a counselling service for blue-collar workers - truckies, tradies and farmers.  This service provides eight free counselling sessions for those who need to get on top of their mental fitness. The conversations was very e...

Skyes the limit in agtech.

January 28, 2024 23:11 - 45 minutes - 104 MB

We have a chat with Skye Raward, co-founder of Farmers2Founders, a program to assist Australian food producers in collaborating with tech developers.  In this discussion, we cover topics from getting investment to women in tech. As a bonus, a list of Scottish inventions is provided. 

The ag minister from the shadows.

January 24, 2024 23:14 - 49 minutes - 112 MB

We had a chat with shadow agricultural minister David Littleproud about a wide variety of topics and how he thinks the current government is performing.

Biosecurity - a new levy or a tax?

January 21, 2024 23:19 - 48 minutes - 110 MB

We have a chat with Colin Bettles, CEO of Grain Producers Australia. Last week, a huge section of agricultural representatives sent a letter to the government advocating for the removal of the new biosecurity levy.  In this chat, we discuss this, along with the cost of living pressures for everyday Australians - specifically beer!

You're so Wyn*, you probably think this auctions about you

January 19, 2024 02:10 - 52 minutes - 120 MB

We have a chat with Wyn Snyman, the new CEO of Auctionsplus. We chat about the COVID impact on online livestock auctions, new competitors in the space, the Auctionsplus foray into media and a whole lot more.  *Wyn is pronounced vein

Meat Vending Machine

January 17, 2024 23:27 - 44 minutes - 103 MB

We have a chat with Jacob Wolki (@jakewolki), who has set up a direct-to-customer meat retailing business. We chat about how this works with no retail staff. In our conversation we also learn about how he makes money from vegan complaints. 

#205 The end of 2023

December 30, 2023 19:01 - 29 minutes - 67.6 MB

We had a quick chat about what we found interesting about 2023. 

#204 Thinking outside, or on the box.

December 19, 2023 00:34 - 55 minutes - 126 MB

We had a chat with livestock market analyst Tim McRae, head of markets at On the Box. On the box is a new addition to the online auction space. We find out about the new start-up, but also have a lot of debate about livestock markets and markets in general.

#203 It’s all smoke and clear mirrors.

December 14, 2023 04:05 - 57 minutes - 38 MB

"I used to have a job cleaning mirrors. It's something I could really see myself doing." We have a chat with Trent Smoker, General Manager at Clear Grain. Trent talks about his biggest career achievement - bringing Andrew into Australian agriculture.  We also talk about change in the grain industry, transacting online, grain 'marketing' plans and a whole lot more. 

#202 Love me tender, love me inputs.

December 07, 2023 04:17 - 45 minutes - 103 MB

Inputs have been an issue in recent years; they have increased dramatically in price, and there have been supposed shortages. We hard about a new start-up called iinputs.com, which wants to be the website for farm tenders, allowing farmers to tender out their input purchases in agchem.  We like to hear about new ideas, so invited the founder, Fraser on to explain what it is.  

#201 The king of black pudding.

November 30, 2023 02:37 - 50 minutes - 116 MB

In this episode, we have a hero of the agwatchers hosts - Jim Arrowsmith of Pacdon Park. Pacdon Park are a supplier of British smallgoods from pork pies to black pudding.  We chat about setting up a small goods business, the costs of business, access to staff and a whole lot more. 

#200 Grabrielle sounds the trumpet.

November 22, 2023 05:10 - 1 hour - 143 MB

It is judgement day at AgWatchers. After a couple of years, we hit episode 200. Gabrielle Chan, author of 'Why you should give a F$#k about farming' and 'Rusted off', and well-known rural journalist, takes over the podcast to chat with us.    The discussion covers a range of topics, including why we are dodgy, live export of sheep, advocacy in agriculture, getting in trouble with fertilizer and swearing in agriculture. 

#199 Raising the steaks.

November 13, 2023 21:36 - 53 minutes - 122 MB

We have a chat with Adam Coffey, the interim CEO of the newly(ish) formed Cattle Australia organisation. As usual, we cover a range of topics, from advocacy to emissions in the livestock industry.  

#198 It’s just not cricket with Brad Hogg.

November 07, 2023 07:44 - 1 hour - 166 MB

We have a chat with elite cricket player Brad Hogg. We delve a little into his cricketing, but have a much bigger focus on his post-retirement work in mental health awareness.  This discussion covers a wide range of tough areas, and we recommend you listen (and we aren't just biased). 

#197 Urea, you gotta see her with Chris Lawson

November 01, 2023 00:49 - 46 minutes - 108 MB

Chris is the head of fertilizers for CRU Group, and has been a regular on the podcast over the past two years. He joins us from his New York City penthouse apartment to talk about the fertilizer market.  Topics covered include; fertilizer pricing, supply and demand, shortages in Australia, conflict in the Middle East, minerals for batteries and a lot more. 

#196 Finding the people of agriculture

October 25, 2023 00:09 - 1 hour - 149 MB

How do we find staff? We have a chat with Ryan Hoiberg aka Chris Hoiberg of Rimfire Resources. As is always the case with Ryan, we cover a range of topics related to recruitment, retention and the job supply situation.   

#195 The big events in ag in twenty minutes

October 20, 2023 00:39 - 19 minutes - 45.5 MB

You give us twenty minutes, we'll give you the world (of ag). In this episode, the two of us briefly chat about the following major topics in agricultural markets.  The middle eastern conflict and its potential to impact markets. The Russian-Chinese grain trade deal and whether it threatens Australian producers. The Australian fertilizer shortage of 2023 The beef processors making the big bucks. Trading cattle online, and the price premium. 

#194 Plowing Politics: The Journey to NFF Presidency - Tony York

October 11, 2023 01:22 - 28 minutes - 64.2 MB

The nominations are in for the position of NFF president as Fiona Simson steps down after more than six years at the helm. Later in the month, member organisations of the NFF will vote on who will become the next president and effectively represent farming to Canberra.  We thought it would be interesting to chat briefly with them to see what makes them tick, and their views of agriculture. In this episode, we talk with Tony York. (The connection wasn't great, but we made it through!)

#193 Plowing Politics: The Journey to NFF Presidency - Georgie Somerset

October 09, 2023 20:25 - 37 minutes - 86.2 MB

The nominations are in for the position of NFF president as Fiona Simson steps down after more than six years at the helm. Later in the month, member organisations of the NFF will vote on who will become the next president and effectively represent farming to Canberra.  We thought it would be interesting to chat briefly with them to see what makes them tick, and their views of agriculture. In this episode, we talk with Georgie Somerset.  

#192 Plowing Politics: The Journey to NFF Presidency - David Jochinke

October 09, 2023 00:48 - 27 minutes - 61.9 MB

The nominations are in for the position of NFF president as Fiona Simson steps down after more than six years at the helm. Later in the month, member organisations of the NFF will vote on who will become the next president and effectively represent farming to Canberra.  We thought it would be interesting to chat briefly with them to see what makes them tick, and their views of agriculture. In this episode, we talk with David Jochinke,  commonly called DJ. 

#191 Pigs might fly.

October 04, 2023 04:10 - 48 minutes - 110 MB

We had a chat with Dawson Bradford, a pig, sheep and grain producer from Western Australia. He is also a local councillor and director of Australian Pork.  This discussion covers off on topics from animal rights activists to building a mill on farm. 

#190 We are going to need a smaller flock.

September 28, 2023 03:12 - 1 hour - 148 MB

We had a chat with Tom Bull, GM of Lambpro. In this episode we talk about the state of the industry, where it is going, and whether the future is bright or not?

#189 Sheep sliding, grains gaining and hilux for sale.

September 20, 2023 07:41 - 34 minutes - 79.6 MB

It is just the two of us this time. We are having a chat about what is happening in the sheep industry in relation to price. Why is the price so low, and when will it turn?    We also chat about grain prices, what is driving the domestic premium and what is happening overseas. In a tangent, we also talk about cars, so if anyone is looking for a 2019 Toyota Hilux, 100k km with full service history - let us know. 

#188 Who the f#$k is Alice?

September 15, 2023 02:32 - 1 hour - 171 MB

We have a chat with Alice Mabin, we talk about the accident that put her into a coma and changed her life, and about moving into the position of creating images for agriculture.    A great natural chat with some big tangents throughout. 

#187 The war on water?

September 08, 2023 22:34 - 1 hour - 149 MB

Who is Murray? who is his darling? - and what is his plan for her? It was Clint Jasper's childhood dream to come on the Agwatchers podcast. We help him achieve his wish today by inviting him on to talk about the Murray Darling Basin Plan. Clint is a multi-award winning agricultural journalist with the ABC. He has finally hit the big leagues.  What is the plan, why are people annoyed by it, and a whole lot more.

#186 Misinformation and disinformation - voices in agriculture.

August 28, 2023 01:26 - 1 hour - 168 MB

We chatted with Kirsten Diprose, former ABC journalist, Ducks on the Pond podcast host, and advisor to podcast producers.    This podcast talks about misinformation/disinformation in the agricultural space, voices in agriculture, what we are doing wrong on our podcast, and much more. 

#185 Sheep farming in a foreign land.

August 24, 2023 00:16 - 47 minutes - 108 MB

We have a chat with English-born Emily Davis, who is now farming in New Zealand.  Emily doesn't come from a farming background but got into the industry; we talk about what it is like being green to the industry, free trade agreements, carbon farming, and much more.  This is part of our series with the Global Sheep Forum. 

#184 The end days of the economy?

August 18, 2023 05:35 - 47 minutes - 110 MB

We have a chat with FX expert Dion Ciavola about the Aussie dollar, and the wider economy. Is the global economy ready for some tough times?  Matt also provides an insane strategy for reducing inflation. 

#183 The agent of agents.

August 15, 2023 04:22 - 1 hour - 171 MB

We have a chat with Chris Howie, a regular commentator in the livestock market. We talk about a range of topics from the difference between livestock prices in Australia versus other nations, the spread to retail, animal activists and a whole lot more. 

#182 Breaking News: Barley Tariff Removed

August 04, 2023 05:21 - 9 minutes - 22.6 MB

It's not surprising - but the Chinese anti-dumping tariff on Australia barley has been removed. As of tomorrow, we will have no tariffs for barley into China. In this very short podcast we talk about what it means for the trade and the Australian producer. 

#181 Cultural vs Agricultural.

August 04, 2023 04:03 - 1 hour - 164 MB

The Aboriginal Heritage Act has been a cause for concern for Western Australian farmers, on top of other issues. In this podcast we had a chat with Trevor Whittington the CEO of WA Farmers.    What is the act? How does it apply to farmers? What makes something culturally important? Is the ACH impacting sentiment towards the voice? and a whole lot more. 

#180 Grain gains, livestock pains and urea game

July 21, 2023 03:49 - 29 minutes - 67.8 MB

Just the two of us. The actions of Russia and how they have increased grain prices.  Livestock markets - what is happening? The VFF conference. Fertilizer imports into Australia. 

#179 Carbon Cowboys part 2

July 14, 2023 05:53 - 1 hour - 176 MB

In episode #158, 'Carbon Cowboys' we had a chat with Fiona Conroy about her views on carbon trading. In this episode, we have a chat with Oscar Pearse aka @oscarthefarmer. We have a chat about the new mandatory ESG reporting an how it could impact farmers, carbon trading, biodiversity trading and a whole lot more. 

#178 Plowing through the stress of farming.

June 29, 2023 05:27 - 1 hour - 165 MB

We had a chat with Kate Burke of Think Agri. As always, we like a guest that is outspoken and has a laugh with it.  In this discussion, we talk about the uncertainty of farming, stress, flood recovery and many tangents.  Remember, if you want to look like the sharpest person in the paddock or be stylish on the streets, and help with Dolly's Dream, grab one of our polo shirts, where our cut goes to the charity by clicking here.

#177 What’s the backlog with meat processing?

June 23, 2023 05:53 - 55 minutes - 127 MB

We have a chat with Tim Ryan, General Manager of Industry Affairs of the Australian Meat Industry Council.  In our chat we discuss what is the problem holding up processing around the country, along with a bunch of other topics.  

#176 Chilli, competition and confidence

June 15, 2023 00:53 - 25 minutes - 58.8 MB

We talk about our experience with Perth's spiciest pizza, the origin of the F word, competition with the Bunge/Viterra merger, confidence in livestock markets and how wheat markets are boring and exciting at the same time. Please note the sound quality of Andrew is a bit poorer than normal because his microphone wasn't set up correctly. We'll be back to normal next time. 

#175 In defence of meat

May 31, 2023 23:33 - 1 hour - 170 MB

We have a chat with Andrea Bertaglio, an environmental journalist from Europe, who has recently written a book defending the meat industry from misinformation relating to animal welfare, veganism and climate change.  Andrea is also involved in the European Livestock Voice, which aims to dispel misinformation about the livestock industry.  We discuss veganism, animal rights activists, animal welfare, misinformation and the role of livestock in climate change.  You can find the livestock vo...

#174 We welcome our robot overlords

May 26, 2023 02:34 - 1 hour - 154 MB

We have a chat with Tim Neale, founder of DataFarming. Tim is a straight talker when it comes to ag and ag tech and was a guest on episode #78 (click here to listen). In this podcast, we chat about artificial intelligence, the GPS failure last month, insurance in agriculture and a whole lot more. 

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