Humans of Agriculture

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 mental health charity The Fly Project. A win-win!

Hear farmer Brad Stillard and program facilitator Matt Tripet share their personal stories, and how Bayer's initiative is fostering connections and strengthening the mental fitness of...

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 of how different policies impact Aussie farmers.

With no previous ties to farming, a career in agriculture was a little unexpected for Aly.  She explains what led her to a job in ag science communications with a...

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 Australia with a combined annual spend of $400-600 million, there's no shortage of voices sticking up for ag.  But how effective are they in delivering genuine policy solutions to Government?

To open up this conversation, Oli is joined by Katie M...

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 venture Audacious Agriculture and the land-use challenges he's noticing overseas, which he thinks we could learn from.   
 
Despite the career pivot, his passion for regenerative farming practices and mentoring younger people in Aussie ag has...

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 go about it.

Many of us tend to simply let things unfold and that's why Jeanette Long's pearls of wisdom are so helpful - she's a director, trainer and coach...

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 him, and perhaps under less pressure than those who’ve inherited a family businesses.

He shares his rollercoaster experience as a first-generation farmer, alongside his wife Aimee and tractor-obsessed son, Ted. 

Takea...

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 modern spin on the traditional fruiterer, using his growing social media profile to share entertaining tips on choosing, storing and prepping fruit and veg.  

Thanh wants consumer...

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 seemingly endless dust, to what he can control.

From the humble workshop whiteboard to navigating new apps, Jono explains how simple tools are leading him to better communicate with family members and a smoother operation o...

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 while, but José thinks that can be turned around with a focus on quality and better marketing.  Find out what opportunities there are for growers in 'nature positive' wools and why José is ok wi...

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. 

Succession is delicate stuff, so we thought we'd draw on the experience of accountant Chloe Arthur and lawyer Kirsty Evans to learn what can make the process more positive for farming families.

So, pull up a chair and make yourself comfy, to h...

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:

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 Director of Corporate Affairs.

Carissa shares her unconventional journey from studying history and politics to working on farms and eventually climbing the corporate ladder in agri-business. This conversation explores the wide variety of career paths in agriculture and the importance...

 “If you told me six years ago I’d be on a farm with my own business, I would’ve said you’re bloody joking,” says Hannah Bamford.

I've been thinking about the individuals I've met who have had a diverse set of experiences before landing a career in agriculture. One story caught my attention, and I felt it was time to sit down and get it on the podcast. 

Hannah Bamford's career journey is anything but ordinary. From working in civil construction and patrolling Australian waters as a Marine Tactical Officer, to now being Assistant Ma...

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 bridge traditional agriculture, finance, and the  emerging industry of  — medicinal cannabis.

In this episode of Humans of Agriculture, we dive into the intersection between innovation, agriculture, and public perception, revealing the foresi...

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 with robotics.

Jocie Bate and her husband, Andrew, founded SwarmFarm Robotics, a pioneering agtech business transforming how we think about farming systems. From growing up on her families grazing property in rural Queensland to co-founding o...

“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 leading publicly listed iconic Australian Ag companies, and his mission today at the helm of Impact Ag Australia to help Aussie farmers seize the opportunity in natural capital and regenerative ag systems. 

What we c...

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 to Matamata, New Zealand, to begin her career as a vet and we can’t wait to follow her career! 

00:00 Tess Cook's Journey to Veterinary Medicine<...

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 challenges of succession planning, sustainability, and innovation in agriculture.

In this episode, you will hear:
- Lauren's family journey from Germany to Australia

- The Evolution of Tyuna Farming

- Her parents becoming Cotton Grow...

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 event itself operates like a startup—iterating and improving each year.

In this episode, you will hear about:

- EvokeAg as a Startup
 - What Worked in 2025
 - Emerging Themes & Industry Conversations
 - Engaging the Nex...

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 Jim Gall, CEO of RB Sellars, to discuss why the iconic Australian workwear brand is now incorporating Australian grown cotton into its garments and why this shift isn't just important for Australian growers, but a larger picture around a more sus...

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, the role of education in understanding food sources, and the innovative practices at Prestige Foods. The conversation highlights the significance of building relationships within the industry, the challenges of managing teams, and the future opportunities in food...

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 Australia and now back home in Harden, NSW.

In this chat we cover;

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 to businesses and households, her role and passion for supporting and promoting the aquaculture industry in New Zealand and what the year ahead has in store.

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, and the future of Australian agriculture.

Highlights:

 – Bert’s family has been growing pineapples for nearly 100 years, adapting to urban expansion and evolving farming techniques.
– Labor shortages, unpredictable weather, and shifting market demands shape the realities of farming today.
– From hand-harv...

What does world-class gelato have to do with agriculture? A whole lot, as it turns out and a world of flavour!

In this episode of Humans of Agriculture, host Oli Le Lievre sits down with Steve Arnold and Keegan Ryan from Gelato Messina, one of Australia's most iconic gelato brands. With over 30 stores across the country, Messina isn’t just about delicious scoops—it’s a vertically integrated food business, growing its own ingredients and sourcing directly from Australian farms. Steve, a former chef-turned-Director of Agriculture, shares how he transitioned from finance and property into farming. Keegan, who bu...

In this week of Humans of Agriculture we have the pleasure of catching Paul Niven. Paul has come back to Australia after a  long career working within China’s dairy industry. He’s a seasoned agricultural leader with a wealth of experience  agribusiness and international consulting. He paints a picture of how his small roots from growing up on a farm in Central New South Wales eventually lead to working in China’s rapidly evolving dairy industry.

Paul provides unique insights into the challenges and opportunities of farming in China, the cultural adaptations required, and the lessons he broug...

For Liz, it was easy to fall for her now husband with their shared love of nature. It became their dream to purchase their first farm and test out a theory they had in Uni - that agriculture and conservation could live in harmony rather than conflict.

In this episode of Humans of Agriculture, Oli Le Lievre sits down with Liz Blair to discuss how agricultural practices can reframe their relationship with the world around them. Liz grew up in Scotland before moving to Australia where she learned the value of sustainable farming. She and her husband...

It’s 35 degrees in this industrial area of Moorabbin on Melbourne’s fringes. 6 Australian butchers are 3 hours into their final preparations before they head to France and we’ve got the privilege of seeing this closed session!

Oli sits down with Luke Leyson and Tom Bouchier, as they prepare to represent Australia at the World Butchers’ Challenge 2025 in Paris. Dubbed the "Olympics of Meat," this high-stakes competition sees teams from around the world showcase their butchery skills, creativity, and teamwork on a global stage.

Luke and Tom share their journeys into butchery, the camaraderie and rivalrie...

Welcome to part 3 of our mini-series on agricultural financing, partnered with Legacy Livestock.

We wrap up our conversation Richard Brimblecombe, CEO of Legacy Livestock, by exploring the transformative role of livestock financing in modern agriculture and how innovative solutions are empowering Australian farming families.

Richard shares his journey from cattle property life in Queensland to leading Legacy Livestock, a company dedicated to helping progressive producers unlock the full potential of their operations. From personalized financing options to navigating challenges like market volatility and access to capital, this conversation is packed with insights for anyone invested...

The three-generation curse. Perhaps you've heard this ominous phrase before. Farming families know the reality all to well that their land and careers are built over generations. So why is it so common to hear stories of how quickly all that hard work can become undone?  And is it possible to avoid this curse?

In this episode of Humans of Agriculture, we sit down with Ben Law, a former financial advisor who had enough of the fluff and became "The Financial Bloke" and founder of AgriCoach. Ben shares growing up on a New South Wales cattle farm t...

James Wagstaff reflects on his 20-year career with The Weekly Times, one of the most consumed print news publications among ag folks. It can feel like print is in flux thanks to the shift to digital platforms and indie social media content creators. However, with a focus on quality over quantity, James shares the big stories that have shaped the agricultural space, his life as a journalist, and the readers who keep coming back for more.

In this episode, Oli sits down with James Wagstaff, the editor of The Weekly Times. They have a chat about James's...

Uncertainty of reaching the finish line is always on the mind of an ultra-marathon runner like Michael Crowley. But by pushing through, you can make the unbelievable possible. Such is the story for Australian agriculture and the long future ahead of it.

In this episode, Oli sits down with Michael Crowley who recently took up the top job with Meat and Livestock Australia. They dive into Michael's history with AG, the time he ran 100 km for mental health, and his dream of passing on a sense of stewardship to the next generation. He's a big-picture guy. As...

Welcome to part 2 of our mini-series, which we partnered with Legacy Livestock to create.

Many unforeseen factors can shake up things on the farm. Drought, disease, or uncertain family farm succession are just a few in the mix. So how can folks and ag take a long-term view to prepare for those moments, or pull themselves out of it through the assistance of financing?

In episode 2, Oli sits down with Richard Brimblecombe, Legacy Livestock's CEO, to explore the role of financing solutions in supporting Australian farmers. Richard shares insights into the agricultural finance landscape, the...

We're back with a three-part series that we have partnered with Legacy Livestock to bring to life.

Many folks in agriculture have spoken with us about the challenges and rewards of building their dream life. We can empathize with wanting to build a legacy. In this episode Oli shares that dream. He asks how do you bring that dream into reality.

In episode 1 we get to know Richard Brimblecombe, CEO of Legacy Livestock. He shares his journey from growing up on a mixed farming property in Queensland to his career in agricultural finance and ultimately...

We're sitting down with Jo Palmer, co-founder of The Connection Table. After returning to her rural roots in The Rock, New South Wales, following a stint in Singapore, Jo reflects on her journey and her latest endeavour with co-founder Julia Spicer. The Connection Table is a professional network aiming to elevate rural Australians into decision-making roles across government, industry, and community.

Jo shares her insights on the barriers rural Australians face in securing leadership positions and the innovative solutions The Connection Table is offering. From professional development opportunities to fostering networks and advocating for greater rural representation...

Mid this year we were at the Aussie Cotton Conference and it sparked a curiousity into who the big players are, where are they going and what impact is that having for Australian cotton growers.

I grabbed Paul Joules from Rabobank to discuss the current state of the cotton market and farm inputs. Paul shares insights from his experience in global agricultural commodities, particularly focusing on cotton production, demand dynamics, and the impact of global events on prices. The conversation also delves into the volatility of farm inputs, especially fertilisers, and the importance of staying informed as...

In this conversation, Sabrina Davies shares her journey of living on Kangaroo Island, the impact of the Black Summer bushfires, and her initiative, Humans of Kangaroo Island, which aims to tell the stories of the local community. She discusses the challenges of rebuilding after losing her home, the importance of community support, and her reflections on loss and recovery. Sabrina emphasises the beauty of Kangaroo Island and the unique lifestyle it offers, while also providing insights into her personal growth and the lessons learned through adversity.

Pic Credit: Australian Rural Leadership Foundation

Kangaroo Island, community...

This episode was recorded on the 9th of October and that might add a bit of context to the conversation!

Tom & Mick are back to sit down with Scott Bremner from McCulloch Agencies to chat all things Livestock.

Takeaways

In this episode of Humans of Agriculture, Richie Kirkland shares his love of popping off on the buggies, hunting rabbits, and enjoying the life afforded as a farm boy in South Australia. His father showed him how to shear and he quickly realized how wool spun into a nice chunk of change for his teen years. Life in the business has had its highs and lows and he’s realized the importance of a forward mindset in the industry. By focusing on sustainability, innovations, and engaging with the community, Richie believes storytelling and sharing thoughtful perspectives will lead to a...

In this episode of the Humans of Agriculture podcast, host Oli Le Lievre explores the multifaceted operations of a South Australian farm with Alex McGorman. The conversation delves into the history of the farm, the evolution of farming practices, the importance of relationships in agriculture, and the role of family boards and external support in business growth. Alex shares insights on transitioning from a traditional farming mindset to a more business-oriented approach, emphasizing the significance of consistency, adaptability, and good people in achieving success in the agricultural industry.

Takeaways: