Humans of Agriculture

Hey! We're back and this week we thought given it's the first of May, we'd do a quick check in with what's happening at Humans of Ag. We've been out filming with goFARM, NSW DPI, Dairy Australia, and the team at BlackBox. Our Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) in conversation series are alive and well on their channels. We've had the chance to sit on the banks of the Namoi river with Greg Rummery in Walgett, on Tom Coggan's deck overlooking a creek and in a few paddocks with Anna and Steve Madden. We're on the road to Beef Australia, Elders FarmFest and more Welcome to our newest Partner - Rabobank, we're really excited to have them on a sponsor of the Humans of Agriculture podcast and keep your eyes peeled for a few ads from their Rabobank Research team. Podcast Sponsor Rabobank Rabobank's RaboResearch Food & Agribusiness team has 90 analysts working in local teams across the worldwide Rabobank network. They generate knowledge, and develop views and insights on businesses, topics and developments in the food & agribusiness sectors across the globe. All analysts have their own sector specialisations—ranging from meat and fish to dairy, vegetables, fruit and floriculture, coffee and cocoa. Listen on your favourite podcast app or here

We won't be able to give Esther Price justice in these show notes, but if you have ever been in the room with her then you know just how ExtraOrdinary she is. The influence she has on people around her is incredible, particularly when she is on stage, she really is absolutely captivating. Esther calls Western Australia (WA) home and always has. She is about to become a Grandmother and is more physically fit than ever. "I've had the privilege of work and a love for adventure taking me all over the place, but always return home to WA." Esther started her career in livestock journalism before she was even 18 years old, at a time well before social media where people really wanted to have a journalist in their life, because it was their only way of getting their voice heard if they needed to. "I would take down my P Plates down as I drove into work because I didn't want people to know how young I was." The connections Esther made in this role that gave her the kick-start into soon managing National agricultural conferences and starting her own business. She had the tenacity, people skills, foresight and brains to know there was as a huge gap in the industry at the time for events, marketing and PR, and so she capitalised on it. Fast forward to now, and Esther is still a powerhouse in the industry, but she has also developed a love for hiking, adventuring and mountaineering. She has tackled some of the greatest climbs in the world and there's not much that deters her - not even a crash in a 12-seater plane the day before embarking up a mountain in Uganda. This is the incredible Esther Price. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Gratitude for Opportunities 06:17 Early Memories in Agriculture and the Power of Storytelling 12:18 Celebrating Agriculture and Creating Positive Stories 32:07 The Challenges and Rewards of Mountaineering Podcast Sponsor Rabobank Rabobank's RaboResearch Food & Agribusiness team has 90 analysts working in local teams across the worldwide Rabobank network. They generate knowledge, and develop views and insights on businesses, topics and developments in the food & agribusiness sectors across the globe. All analysts have their own sector specialisations—ranging from meat and fish to dairy, vegetables, fruit and floriculture, coffee and cocoa. Listen on your favourite podcast app or here

“I never thought I'd be chatting on an agriculture podcast.” Founder and CEO of IVM Group, Nick Bloor describes his business as having a mission to improve people's lives through plant science. At only 19 years old, Nick founded his first business in vegetation management space. To us, Nick’s work is pretty mind-blowing. And he is so humble in how he talks about the business growth and people. To Nick, people are everything. “I don't grow a business, our people do.” Podcast partnership: Nick Bloor was announced as the recipient of theJudges Choice Award in the category of Innovation at the 2023 Syngenta Growth Awards. This podcast episode is in partnership with Syngenta Australia featuring recipients of the Syngenta 2023 Growth Awards. Chapters 00:00 Introduction: Challenging Stereotypes in Agriculture 08:04 From Weed Control to Building a Business 15:32 The Evolution of IVM Group: Milestones and Success 24:40 The Future of Agriculture: Sustainable Plant Management Podcast Sponsor Rabobank Rabobank's RaboResearch Food & Agribusiness team has 90 analysts working in local teams across the worldwide Rabobank network. They generate knowledge, and develop views and insights on businesses, topics and developments in the food & agribusiness sectors across the globe. All analysts have their own sector specialisations—ranging from meat and fish to dairy, vegetables, fruit and floriculture, coffee and cocoa. Listen on your favourite podcast app or here

Welcome back to the Tom and Mick Show! In this episode they are joined by special guest - Justin Oakenfull, from Elders at Inverell and recently the 2024 National Young Auctioneer Of The Year! Key Topics: *Note this was recorded in early April and the livestock markets have shifted since. Podcast Sponsor Rabobank Rabobank's RaboResearch Food & Agribusiness team has 90 analysts working in local teams across the worldwide Rabobank network. They generate knowledge, and develop views and insights on businesses, topics and developments in the food & agribusiness sectors across the globe. All analysts have their own sector specialisations—ranging from meat and fish to dairy, vegetables, fruit and floriculture, coffee and cocoa. Listen on your favourite podcast app or here

To describe Sarah Sivyer as worldly and business savvy would be absolutely under-selling her. Sarah describes herself as a ‘serious data nerd’ and a ‘serious business model nerd’. After sitting down with her to record the podcast, we believe it and love it! “I'm going to sound a bit wacky, I just love excellent businesses.” Sarah has some incredible experiences and habits that have led to this appetite for continual growth and data-driven success. Just to name a few: Sydney UniversityOxford UniversityBHPSyngentaNuffield Scholarship“How I Built This” with Guy RazAs life would have it, it’s of course never quite that linear progression. Now back on the family farm, Sarah chose to generate impact in her own way that wasn't the traditional dairy farm she had always known... She instead developed a subscription model for pastuerised eggs that has social impact. There’s so much more to Sarah’s story, from raising a toddler while running the business, marketing strategies and her most recent endeavours in agritourism. Sarah's story is part of our partnership with the Nuffield Australia - Nuffield Scholar program - Where we are shining a light on some of the incredible stories of some of their scholars. A message from this episode sponsor, ANZ Agribusiness: Farming in Australia is never without opportunity, nor challenge. From season to season, and from day to day, producers manage a myriad of risks and rewards as they produce the vast range of commodities global markets now demand. At ANZ Agribusiness, we’ve been supporting farmers to take opportunities and manage through challenges for over 150 years. We’re a proud and long term partner of Nuffield Australia, supporting its goal of capacity building for producers, their businesses, industry and rural community. Our network of regionally based Agribusiness bankers are ready to support both our existing customers, and any farming business seeking a review of their banking arrangements at any time. Find your local ANZ Agribusiness manager at ANZ.com. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 06:14 Growing Up in a Farming Family 16:00 Studying for an MBA and Networking 29:58 From Ginger Beer to Egg Subscriptions 44:16 Competing with Excellence and Building Customer Relationships

This week we're sitting down with Nancy Crawshaw, the New Zealand winner of the Zanda McDonald Award. Nancy shares her journey in agriculture and the importance of connection to the land. She discusses the multi-generational impact in agriculture and the responsibility of caring for the land for future generations. Nancy talks about her experiences as a Quality Assurance manager in Naracoorte and the challenges and growth that came with managing a team through COVID. She highlights the power of networking and the value of mentoring in the agricultural industry. Nancy's career aspirations include staying involved in the family business and focusing on people management in agriculture. Takeaways The connection to the land and the responsibility of caring for it for future generations is a core value in agriculture. Podcast Sponsor Rabobank Rabobank's RaboResearch Food & Agribusiness team has 90 analysts working in local teams across the worldwide Rabobank network. They generate knowledge, and develop views and insights on businesses, topics and developments in the food & agribusiness sectors across the globe. All analysts have their own sector specialisations—ranging from meat and fish to dairy, vegetables, fruit and floriculture, coffee and cocoa. Listen on your favourite podcast app or here

Tessa Chartres is the 2024 Zanda McDonald Award winner for Australia, in this episode she sits down with host Oli Le Lievre to chat about her background, her role as the General Manager of Business Development at Murray Irrigation Limited (MIL). She highlights the impact of the drought on regional communities and the importance of long-term thinking in preserving agricultural assets for future generations. Tess also shares her involvement with as the Chair of the Southwest Music Regional Conservatorium and her vision for the town of Deniliquin in Southern NSW, emphasising the need for collaboration and positive thinking. Other topics discussed: Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 01:09 The Big Battle of Easter - The Deni Rams vs Finley Cats 03:27 Transition to Deniliquin and MIL 05:12 Impact of Drought on Deniliquin 06:24 Initial Takeaways from MIL 08:04 Overview of Murray Irrigation Limited 09:48 Importance of Long-Term Thinking 11:00 The Future of Regional Communities 12:38 The Role of Southwest Music Regional Conservatorium 13:49 Vision for Deniliquin as a Town 16:18 The Zanda Mentoring Trip and Areas of Interest 21:04 The Importance of Collaboration and Positive Thinking Podcast Sponsor Rabobank Rabobank's RaboResearch Food & Agribusiness team has 90 analysts working in local teams across the worldwide Rabobank network. They generate knowledge, and develop views and insights on businesses, topics and developments in the food & agribusiness sectors across the globe. All analysts have their own sector specialisations—ranging from meat and fish to dairy, vegetables, fruit and floriculture, coffee and cocoa. Listen on your favourite podcast app or here

We're about a quarter of the way through 2024 (HOW?!) and we thought it was time to give our Community a bit of an update. It's almost exactly 4 years since the release of our first ever podcast, and there's been almost 250 podcasts since then which feels HUGE. In that time so much has evolved as we continue to grow and adapt. A quick shout out to all the ExtraOrdinary humans who have shared their story with us in that time! In this episode, Oli and Milly talk about where HOA is today, compared to where Oli thought it might be. Oli also gives us a bit of an insight into perhaps where it's going and the potential to tap into our Community more. Podcast Sponsor Rabobank Rabobank's RaboResearch Food & Agribusiness team has 90 analysts working in local teams across the worldwide Rabobank network. They generate knowledge, and develop views and insights on businesses, topics and developments in the food & agribusiness sectors across the globe. All analysts have their own sector specialisations—ranging from meat and fish to dairy, vegetables, fruit and floriculture, coffee and cocoa. Listen on your favourite podcast app or here

Mark Peart believes that purpose should drive a business, closely followed by Profit. It's a concept that may take a bit to digest, however, Mark's views are that with profit, the opportunity to do good can continue for a longer term. Mark has had an extraordinary career, in his early 30s he decided the dream job and life he was living was not necessarily the pathway he wanted to continue to take. He transitioned through various roles, working across Australian agriculture, property development and aviation before settling back into agriculture. His approach to business is one of innovation and thinking outside the box, whether it was crowdfunding capital to support the business or looking at new ways to provide livestock with the supplements they need via the water they drink every day. This weeks chat is fascinating and we can't wait for you to get into it. To find out more about DIT Agtech, check out their website! Podcast Sponsor Rabobank Rabobank's RaboResearch Food & Agribusiness team has 90 analysts working in local teams across the worldwide Rabobank network. They generate knowledge, and develop views and insights on businesses, topics and developments in the food & agribusiness sectors across the globe. All analysts have their own sector specialisations—ranging from meat and fish to dairy, vegetables, fruit and floriculture, coffee and cocoa. Listen on your favourite podcast app or here

This is the Tom and Mick Show! In this episode they are joined by special guest - cattle buyer Jimmy Blain, AKA 'Bull Train'. They cover the following: Podcast Sponsor Rabobank Rabobank's RaboResearch Food & Agribusiness team has 90 analysts working in local teams across the worldwide Rabobank network. They generate knowledge, and develop views and insights on businesses, topics and developments in the food & agribusiness sectors across the globe. All analysts have their own sector specialisations—ranging from meat and fish to dairy, vegetables, fruit and floriculture, coffee and cocoa. Listen on your favourite podcast app or here

Hamish Marr has been in the room for some of New Zealand Agriculture’s key discussions, yet the moment that he is most proud of and one that has defined his life more than any other was when a young boy asked him if he could teach him to be a farmer. Several years on from that initial conversation, Hamish continues to mentor and coach Fergus on his family's property on the South Island of New Zealand. “Fergus, he's a success story. He couldn't be farming, but now he is, and our industry is very lucky to have him. And I'm hoping in 20 years time, we'll still have him somewhere. I doubt he will be with me, because one day, he will be too good for me.” Amongst his other roles, Hamish has been a Nuffield scholar studying the role of Glyphosate in farming, is New Zealand’s Special Agricultural Trade Envoy and previous roles with Federated Farmers. Podcast partnership appreciation: Hamish Marr was announced as a Community and People Award recipient at the 2023 Syngenta Growth Awards in Sydney. This podcast episode is in partnership with Syngenta Australia featuring recipients of the Syngenta 2023 Growth Awards. Podcast Sponsor Rabobank Rabobank's RaboResearch Food & Agribusiness team has 90 analysts working in local teams across the worldwide Rabobank network. They generate knowledge, and develop views and insights on businesses, topics and developments in the food & agribusiness sectors across the globe. All analysts have their own sector specialisations—ranging from meat and fish to dairy, vegetables, fruit and floriculture, coffee and cocoa. Listen on your favourite podcast app or here

From Italy and French Polynesia to New Zealand and Australia, Roberta Marcoli has committed herself to research in aquaculture. Roberta’s energy is infectious and we learnt so much about the ocean and the world under the sea, how it has evolved to where it is today and how it can help shape the future. Roberta understands how communities around the world rely on fish, and how we can ensure we are not depleting our ocean resources through fishing activity. Co-hosts Oli Le Lievre and Milly Nolan sat down with Roberta at evokeAG. 2024 after her Future Young Leader presentation. She was on stage for 10min in a TED talk style delivery that had us engaged from start to finish. We talk about her journey, the evolution of aquaculture, how consumer sentiment has changed, what to look for when purchasing fish as consumers, wild caught vs. farmed and the opportunity for farmed fish to have an impact in feeding the world in a sustainable way. Our #FutureYoungLeader stories are proudly sponsored by 2024 AgriFutures evokeAG. evokeAG. 2025 applications will open later in 2024. Podcast Sponsor Rabobank Rabobank's RaboResearch Food & Agribusiness team has 90 analysts working in local teams across the worldwide Rabobank network. They generate knowledge, and develop views and insights on businesses, topics and developments in the food & agribusiness sectors across the globe. All analysts have their own sector specialisations—ranging from meat and fish to dairy, vegetables, fruit and floriculture, coffee and cocoa. Listen on your favourite podcast app or here

Katia Taylor was always passionate about making a difference in the environment and climate. She initially began studying politics at University, but soon decided that she could have far more impact through science. And for Katia, agricultural science is the biggest platform to have the influence she wants to have in the world. She is now a Postdoctoral Researcher with CSIRO, looking at all things soil biomes, microbes, carbon, nutrients and crop residues. Essentially looking at ways to build richer, more resilient soils that contribute to a more productive and sustainable sector. Her technical knowledge is incredible and she has a remarkable commitment to her research. Co-hosts Oli Le Lievre and Milly Nolan sat down with Katia at evokeAG. 2024 after her Future Young Leader presentation to delve into more of Katia’s story. Our #FutureYoungLeader stories are proudly sponsored by 2024 AgriFutures evokeAG. evokeAG. 2025 applications will open later in 2024. Podcast Sponsor Rabobank Rabobank's RaboResearch Food & Agribusiness team has 90 analysts working in local teams across the worldwide Rabobank network. They generate knowledge, and develop views and insights on businesses, topics and developments in the food & agribusiness sectors across the globe. All analysts have their own sector specialisations—ranging from meat and fish to dairy, vegetables, fruit and floriculture, coffee and cocoa. Listen on your favourite podcast app or here

Guy Coleman entered the evokeAG. stage and started handing around ANZAC biscuits his Mum had made. He was also holding his Grandmother’s 27th edition Country Women's Association cookbook. And then he started talking about open source weed technology. He explains that open source technology means that a fundamental idea is available for everyone to iterate upon and make different versions of, just like the ANZAC biscuit recipe. This way, improvements and accessibility can be made at a much more rapid pace. Always interested in building things and science, Guy was known to keep his housemates up at night building robots. Now based in Copenhagen doing research in weed technology, Guy says that, ‘Australian agriculture will always have his heart’. Oli Le Lievre and Milly Nolan sat down with Guy at evokeAG. 2024 after his Future Young Leader presentation and chatted about his dream of open-source technologies in agriculture being the way of the future and what he’s seeing on the ground in Europe. Our #FutureYoungLeader stories are proudly sponsored by 2024 AgriFutures evokeAG. evokeAG. 2025 applications will open later in 2024. Podcast Sponsor Rabobank Rabobank's RaboResearch Food & Agribusiness team has 90 analysts working in local teams across the worldwide Rabobank network. They generate knowledge, and develop views and insights on businesses, topics and developments in the food & agribusiness sectors across the globe. All analysts have their own sector specialisations—ranging from meat and fish to dairy, vegetables, fruit and floriculture, coffee and cocoa. Listen on your favourite podcast app or here

Long before Sam Lambert was immersed in agriculture, he was an aspiring musician and studied economics in Canberra. Now, Sam is the Co-Founder of zenGate Global where they believe everyone should have equal access to technology and innovation. They work with different ag markets around the world to deliver supply chain resilience solutions, like in Sri Lanka where they work with their tea producers to connect buyers and sellers. Hosts Oli Le Lievre and Milly Nolan sat down with Sam at evokeAG. 2024 after his Future Young Leader presentation and chatted about his upbringing and how he is bringing his ideas to life. Our #FutureYoungLeader stories are proudly sponsored by 2024 AgriFutures evokeAG. evokeAG. 2025 applications will open later in 2024. Podcast Sponsor Rabobank Rabobank's RaboResearch Food & Agribusiness team has 90 analysts working in local teams across the worldwide Rabobank network. They generate knowledge, and develop views and insights on businesses, topics and developments in the food & agribusiness sectors across the globe. All analysts have their own sector specialisations—ranging from meat and fish to dairy, vegetables, fruit and floriculture, coffee and cocoa. Listen on your favourite podcast app or here

In today’s episode, Oli chat’s with Fiona and Liam Mann from Eradu in Western Australia. Their journey into the space of Agriculture and farming today is as creative as it is inspiring. Both raised on farms, Liam originally from Scotland, moved to Australia for a harvest season in 2004 and never left after meeting his neighbour's daughter, Fiona. Through their fate meeting, and an incredible amount of hard work to follow, Fiona and Liam have turned their dream into a reality. And all with the help of oil. [Not the black stuff that made the Beverly Hillbillies a fortune from however]. It has been through the development of their premium product, Block275 Cold Pressed Canola Oil. Their commitment to their farming journey recently led them to being announced as winners in the category of “Innovation” at the Syngenta Growth Awards in 2023. Admitting they may have been the smallest farmers in the room filled with award candidates hasn't stopped them from achieving their goals. Starting out leasing land, borrowing machinery, working in off farm employment and raising a family while establishing their business, make it clear that perseverance and thinking outside of the box to value-add to their high grade Canola seed oil, all seem to be part of the secret sauce of their success in establishing themselves to where they are today. “It is absolutely really hard to get into farming. But if you want to, if you want it bad enough, and you've got some luck on your side, then absolutely, you can do it” - Fiona Mann The Mann's story serves as an inspiration to those aspiring to start their own farming journey, free from tradition, embracing innovation, and crafting a unique path in an ever-evolving industry. This is the fifth podcast episode in a partnership with Syngenta Australia featuring recipients of the Syngenta 2023 Growth Awards. Podcast Sponsor Rabobank Rabobank's RaboResearch Food & Agribusiness team has 90 analysts working in local teams across the worldwide Rabobank network. They generate knowledge, and develop views and insights on businesses, topics and developments in the food & agribusiness sectors across the globe. All analysts have their own sector specialisations—ranging from meat and fish to dairy, vegetables, fruit and floriculture, coffee and cocoa. Listen on your favourite podcast app or here

Natalie Bell's grandma told her, "It's not a risk, it's an adventure". Natalie has lived by that since growing up in Sydney and shifting to a career immersed in Australian livestock. Natalie has since founded Hylo Ag, designed to repurpose plastics used in cattle ear tags. We sat down with Natalie at evokeAG. 2024 after her Future Young Leader presentation to find out more about her journey and recycling endeavours. She has big goals that are aligned with the National Waste Policy to recover 80% of all waste by 2030. Our #FutureYoungLeader stories are proudly sponsored by 2024 AgriFutures evokeAG. evokeAG. 2025 applications will open later in 2024. Podcast Sponsor Rabobank Rabobank's RaboResearch Food & Agribusiness team has 90 analysts working in local teams across the worldwide Rabobank network. They generate knowledge, and develop views and insights on businesses, topics and developments in the food & agribusiness sectors across the globe. All analysts have their own sector specialisations—ranging from meat and fish to dairy, vegetables, fruit and floriculture, coffee and cocoa. Listen on your favourite podcast app or here

“You've just got to be there, in the discussion, because something will trigger something and make you think, and I think that's the best thing.” 18 months ago, tragedy struck at the Langley’s property at Pine Hill in South Australia. After suffering a medical episode, Ted Langley’s brother would pass away. After 30 years in partnership, the succession to the next generation would be immediate. 140 years on from when the Langley family first established themselves on the property, Ted, alongside his daughter and two nephews, continues the families legacy. The constant during their time; the importance of change and evolution. Ted’s open mindset to adoption of continual improved farming practices is inspirational. His recent announcement as a 2023 Syngenta Growth Award recipient in the category of productivity is well deserved. A great listen for where you are tuning in from today! This podcast episode is in a partnership with Syngenta Australia featuring recipients of the Syngenta 2023 Growth Awards. Podcast Sponsor Rabobank Rabobank's RaboResearch Food & Agribusiness team has 90 analysts working in local teams across the worldwide Rabobank network. They generate knowledge, and develop views and insights on businesses, topics and developments in the food & agribusiness sectors across the globe. All analysts have their own sector specialisations—ranging from meat and fish to dairy, vegetables, fruit and floriculture, coffee and cocoa. Listen on your favourite podcast app or here

This year, Australians are expected to spend almost $465m on flowers for Valentine's Day (Australian Retailers Association, 2024)… We had some questions and wanted to know more. We had a bit of trouble finding a flower farmer, but as fate would have it, we found ourselves Liv Coutts. We set off to ‘Pemberley’ in Malmsbury, Victoria to meet Liv and find out more. Liv plays an integral role on her and her husband’s livestock and cropping farm with a bit of a twist – she's also a flower farmer. In this In The Know episode, Liv tells us all about the flower industry’s initiatives in sustainability, consumer trends and how to get started yourself. Resources: https://ausflowertraders.com.au/industry/ & https://www.roymorgan.com/findings/9432-ara-roy-morgan-media-release-valentines-day-2024 Podcast Sponsor Rabobank Rabobank's RaboResearch Food & Agribusiness team has 90 analysts working in local teams across the worldwide Rabobank network. They generate knowledge, and develop views and insights on businesses, topics and developments in the food & agribusiness sectors across the globe. All analysts have their own sector specialisations—ranging from meat and fish to dairy, vegetables, fruit and floriculture, coffee and cocoa. Listen on your favourite podcast app or here

“If you can see it, you can be it” - Marty Lovegrove There’s some conversations that leave you with a smile, they’re raw and real and people that do extraordinary things while not taking it all too seriously. Marty Lovegrove is definitely one of those people! As a kid, Marty wanted to be a shearer – just like his Dad. As a youngen he’d dream about the early days spent in the woolshed on the family farm on South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula. He may never had pursued the shearing thing, however he most definitely has built a remarkable career in agriculture. In this chat, Oli and Marty talk about business ownership, the big leaps, backing yourself and the rewards associated with creating opportunities for the next generation of agronomists coming through. Marty has been recognised as a Syngenta Growth Award winner in the category of Productivity Advisor, so – let’s hear his story and get to know him! Podcast partnership appreciation: Oli recently caught up with Martin Lovegrove after he was an Award recipient at the 2023 Syngenta Growth Awards in Sydney. This is the third podcast episode in a partnership with Syngenta Australia featuring recipients of the Syngenta 2023 Growth Awards. Podcast Sponsor Rabobank Rabobank's RaboResearch Food & Agribusiness team has 90 analysts working in local teams across the worldwide Rabobank network. They generate knowledge, and develop views and insights on businesses, topics and developments in the food & agribusiness sectors across the globe. All analysts have their own sector specialisations—ranging from meat and fish to dairy, vegetables, fruit and floriculture, coffee and cocoa. Listen on your favourite podcast app or here