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Description
Real farmers, real conversations, practical insights and inspiring stories.
Join Al Micallef and special guests to help unlock your farm's production potential.
Whether it's in relation to drought or economic shifts, this podcast is your go-to for developing resilience in agriculture.
This podcast is made possible by the Future Drought Fund Regional Drought Resilience Planning Program co-funded by the Victorian and Australian Governments.
30 Episodes
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Send us a text In this episode of 'Digging Deeper,' host Al sits down with Chelsea to discuss the latest developments and best practices in managing bulls and rams for breeding. Chelsea highlights the increased workload in the business and delves into various veterinary procedures and observations, including bull testing, body condition scoring, and addressing common reproductive issues such as malpresentations, uterine twists, and episiotomies. The conversation also covers seasonal impacts o...
Send us a text In the latest episode of Digging Deeper, host Alistair from the Gippsland Ag Group welcomes Joel Williams, an independent educator specializing in soil science, to discuss the intricacies of soil health, nutrient management, and sustainable farming practices. Joel shares his international experiences from Canada, insights on the renewed interest in soil biology, and practical advice for leveraging soil chemistry and physics for better farming outcomes. The episode covers the im...
Send us a text In this episode of Digging Deeper, Jackie and Kelvin Pendergast discuss their experiences and insights into sheep breeding and farming life. The couple recently participated in the Gippsland Stud Merino Breeders ram sale, achieving remarkable success with an impressive clearance rate and top price ram. They share the history of their farm and their journey in sheep breeding, including their unique approach to maintaining quality genetics and dealing with challenges like drought...
Send us a text In this episode of Digging Deeper, the host welcomes Taylor, the youngest guest so far at just 15 years old. Taylor, who lives on a farm and has a deep-rooted passion for agriculture, shares her early memories of farm life, including feeding a neighbour's calf at the age of four. She discusses her involvement in cattle showing, working at a dairy, and managing her own stud, Lookout Angus. Taylor aims to study agriculture at Marcus Oldham College after completing a 12-month farm...
Send us a text In this episode of 'Digging Deeper,' host Al catches up with Chelsea, a visiting vet, to discuss a range of veterinary topics. They delve into Chelsea's busy start to the carving season while managing the clinic solo. A significant portion of the discussion focuses on lameness in cattle and sheep, highlighting causes like foot rot and nutritional issues, along with treatments including foot baths and hoof trimming. They also explore a rare case of malignant catarrhal fever in c...
Send us a text In this episode of Digging Deeper Ag Chats with Al, the team provides updates from the Gippsland Research Farm. Topics include new projects, soil testing results, and upcoming events like Spring Field Day in October. Special guests Rick Blackshaw and Jen Smith discuss ongoing trials, such as soil sampling, cereal variety research, grass trials, and brassica comparison. They also touch on efforts related to improving soil fertility, livestock management, and the broader impact o...
Send us a text In this episode of Digging Deeper Ag Chats with Al, Alistair from the Gippsland Ag Group returns after a mid-season break to discuss the cattle and sheep market trends with guest speakers Morgan Davies and Joey, livestock agents from Euroa. They explore recent price movements, market predictions, and share insights on livestock handling and MSA accreditation. Additionally, they delve into various factors influencing livestock value and the evolving landscape of sheep and cattle...
Send us a text In this episode, the discussion centers on best practices for yard weaning and artificial insemination (AI) in cattle. Topics include the importance of adequate space to prevent disease, acclimating calves to feedlot conditions, and the benefits of keeping calves longer after weaning. The conversation also delves into optimal vaccination strategies and the logistics and challenges of AI, with a focus on synchronization protocols, benefits in terms of conception rates, reduced d...
Send us a text In this episode of 'Digging Deeper,' host Al welcomes back Mors after a brief hiatus. Mors shares updates about his recent holiday in Broome and discusses upcoming vacation plans. They dive into the cattle market, analyzing current trends and prices, the impact of weather conditions on livestock, and forecasts for winter and early spring. They also touch on the global scene, the effect of economic and political factors on exports, and the strong performance of the lamb market. ...
Send us a text In this episode of Digging Deeper, Alistair welcomes Dr. Enoch Bergman, a renowned cattle vet originally from WildHorse, Colorado. They discuss Dr. Bergman's journey from America to Australia, sharing tales of his early life, the challenges of relocation, and his significant contributions to veterinary medicine. The conversation delves deeply into Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus (BVDV), also known as Pesty Virus in Australia. Dr. Bergman explains the epidemiology of BVDV, its effec...
Send us a text Optimizing Livestock Management: Insights on Carving, Lambing, and General Animal Husbandry Join Chelsea and Al on 'Dig In Deeper' as they discuss the challenges and best practices in livestock management, focusing on carving and lambing preparations. From dealing with busy schedules and adverse weather to handling specific livestock health issues like abortions, disbudding, and bull problems, Chelsea provides a comprehensive overview of their current veterinary projects, incl...
Send us a text In this episode, Nathan shares his non-traditional path into agriculture, from growing up in Geelong to running a successful farm consultancy. He discusses the importance of translating scientific research into practical on-farm applications and offers advice on managing sheep operations, including lamb survival strategies and the benefits of scanning for multiples. Nathan also highlights the value of focusing on practical, actionable insights and understanding animal behavior....
Send us a text In this episode of 'Digging Deeper,' the hosts welcome Paul from Rabobank and local guest Ellie Caldwell to discuss the current trends and factors influencing farmland prices in Australia. Paul, a Commodities and Farm Inputs Analyst originally from Wales, shares insights from Rabobank's Australian Farmer and Price Outlook 2025 report. They delve into topics such as the recent decline in median land prices, factors affecting farmland values, corporate and foreign investmen...
Send us a text In this episode of 'Digging Deeper,' the hosts welcome Neil Moss, a veterinary consultant with Cbus, to discuss his extensive experience in agriculture, particularly in the dairy and beef industries. Neil talks about his work in various regions, including Gippsland and Melbourne, navigating the challenges of different climates, and the impact of recent floods and fires on farming practices. He shares insights on improving farm productivity, animal nutrition, and resilienc...
Send us a text In this episode of Digging Deeper, hosts Al and Charles welcome back Chelsea to discuss the hectic peak months in livestock management, particularly during the carving and lambing seasons. The conversation explores the various types of prolapses seen in sheep and cattle, their causes, management practices, and the challenging nature of these issues for both farmers and vets. Chelsea shares her experiences with uterine, vaginal, and rectal prolapses and offers insights on how to...
Send us a text In this episode of Digging Deeper, host Al welcomes special guest Sally Murphy from Tasmania and Jen Smith, General Manager of the Gippsland Ag Group. Sally introduces the concept of 'human agronomy' and emphasises the importance of understanding human behavior in driving business performance on farms. The discussion covers topics such as the Great Resignation in agriculture, managing employee motivation, and the costs associated with disengagement and rehiring. Sal...
Send us a text In this episode of 'Digging Deeper,' hosts Alan and Morgan Davies discuss the latest trends in livestock sales, market conditions, and local footy updates. Barry Newman, a client from East Gippsland, is mentioned as a keen follower of the podcast. The discussion covers a variety of topics including the performance of Barry Newman's cattle, the optimal conditions for NSAID and Romeo regions, and how dry conditions are affecting various areas, including the need for feeding cattl...
Send us a text In this episode of 'Digging Deeper,' hosts Alistair and Jen Smith welcome special guest John Francis, a former jackaroo, agronomist, and the director of Agrista, a consultancy firm in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales. The discussion focuses on the importance of integrating scientific knowledge with financial management in farm businesses. John shares his expertise on farm benchmarking, a method that compares farm business performance metrics with other similar farms or ...
Send us a text In this episode, Al welcomes back Chelsea from Herd Solutions for her third appearance. The discussion begins with an update on Chelsea's young horse, which she decided to give a six-month break. The main topics of the podcast are facial eczema and pasture staggers in livestock. Chelsea explains that facial eczema is caused by a fungus and results in severe sunburn-like symptoms due to toxins that block bile ducts, leading to liver damage. Prevention strategies incl...
Send us a text This episode delves into the challenges of scalability in sheep farming. The speaker discusses the intensified difficulties compared to cattle farming, emphasizing the need for more resources and staff to manage sheep operations effectively. 00:00 Understanding Scalability Challenges 00:03 Sheep vs. Cattle Operations 00:12 Labor and Resource Intensiveness in Sheep Farming
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