A PODCAST OF PASSION
This is Australian Farmers.
Your exclusive behind the farm gate look into the remarkable people who produce the food and fibre we all rely on.
Do you have questions about the produce you eat and the clothes you wear?
You’ll find those answers right here.
I’m your host Angie Asimus, partnering with the National Farmers’ Federation.
We think, you’ll be surprised by the vision, ingenuity and innovation of those living on the land.
This is their story.
EPISODE LIST
Introducing Australian Farmers
This is Australian Farmers - your exclusive behind the farm gate look into the remarkable people who produce the food and fibre we all rely on. Do you have questions about the produce you eat and the clothes you wear? You’ll find those answers right here. I’m your host Angie Asimus, partnering with the National Farmers Federation. We think, you’ll be surprised by the vision, ingenuity and innovation of those living on the land. This is their story.
Today we speak with the president of the National Farmers Federation, Fiona Simson and discuss:
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How we can bridge the gap between the city and the country.
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Fiona shares some of the common misconceptions about how food and fibre is produced in Australia.
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We discuss the big issues in society - climate change, animal welfare and water management.
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The public’s perception of the care farmers have for their land and animals.
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Fiona shares her excitement for the podcast as an opportunity to get to know our famers.
We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers: Telling Our Story with Angie Asimus.
Links:
Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram
Partnered with Australian Farmers
Follow @australianfarmers on Instagram
Connect with Fiona Simson, President of the National Farmers Federation
Produced by Pretty Podcasts
Episode 1- Bales for MJ Bale
We’re all used to walking into a shop and choosing an outfit but what about also choosing the farm where it came from? That’s now possible thanks to a chance meeting between Tasmanian wool grower Simon Cameron and MJ Bale CEO Matt Jensen. The ‘Kingston’ Collection is a single origin range that’s helped the luxury menswear label to call itself - Australia’s first fully carbon-neutral fashion business.
Today we speak with Simon Cameron from Kingston wool and discuss:
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Cameron’s favourite place on his merino wool farm in Tasmania.
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His farm is home to grasslands which are of national significance and he shares why these areas are so important.
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How he came to be working with MJ Bale, which created revenue to support the preservation of the native grasslands of Tasmania.
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Why MJ Bale CEO Matt Jensen agreed to financially contribute to the environmental work at Kingston.
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How Simon became the sole wool provider for MJ Bale’s Kingston Collection.
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MJ Bale’s ‘Net Zero Now’ program, of which the goal is to go carbon-neutral and Simon explains what this means for his sheep.
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Overcoming the societal perception of wool and its environmental impact.
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Why buyers enjoy being able to trace the origins of the fibre they are wearing and Simon’s joy in seeing where his wool ends up.
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The electronic animal management system ensures the welfare of the sheep on the farm.
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And finally, Simon shares what he loves most about life on the land.
We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers: Telling our Story with Angie Asimus.
Links:
Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram
Partnered with Australian Farmers
Follow @australianfarmers on Instagram
Episode 2- A Cherry on Top
It’s almost Christmas time and for most of us, that means a nice cold bowl full of cherries. But have you ever complained about how much they cost? Well, our farmer of the week is cherry royalty in NSW and has a lot to say about that. So how do cherries get from the orchard to international clients in just 48 hours? Did you know they are picked and safely stored inside within 20 minutes? It’s a fascinating process to bring us the tiny superfruit we all love.
Today we speak with Fiona Hall from BiteRiot! and discuss:
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Fiona shares how cherry crops are tracking for this year including the challenges of weather and pickers.
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How in 2016 BiteRiot! was able to supply 10% of the cherries in Australia.
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She explains the BiteRiot! model and how this benefits many growers in the region.
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Fiona’s farm was the first to introduce an optical grader in NSW which ensures consistency.
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The growing market for cherries in China as a luxury gift.
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The hydro cooler, packing, and grading of cherries.
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Fiona shares the pricing structure for cherries and how this can fluctuate year on year.
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Fiona’s favourite cherry variety is Samba – beautiful sweet and large and always eaten fresh – and her recipe for a cherry spritzer.
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Fiona takes us through an average day for her and the challenges associated with a short picking window.
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The ideal conditions for growing and the elements which contribute to sweetness.
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Fiona’s ultimate dream for the track ahead.
We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers: Telling our Story with Angie Asimus.
Links:
Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram
Partnered with Australian Farmers
Follow @australianfarmers on Instagram
Episode 3- Kimo Estate
This story starts with a father and son, a bottle of red wine and a hilltop. What came from that afternoon is the Instagram sensation that is JR’s Eco Hut at Kimo Estate in the South West Slopes of NSW. It’s an Air BnB project David Ferguson credits with drought and flood proofing his family farm, giving them a stable income all year round. But opening up this working sheep and cattle property to the public has also unexpectedly helped bridge a divide between the city and country. No curated cattle or petting zoos here. It’s fair dinkum and visitors have been surprised by what they see.
Today we speak with David Ferguson from Kimo Estate and discuss:
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David Ferguson’s favourite place on the farm and the history of Kimo Estate established in 1832.
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The early 2000s delivered one of the worst droughts recorded since European settlement and, the impact of such events.
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David and his wife have backgrounds in building, photography, sales and hospitality and so began Kimo Eco Huts.
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The impact of the pandemic and the important part the Eco Huts have played on the financial stability of the farm.
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The unique plan and design of the Eco Huts as a self-sufficient and fully sustainable product.
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Making it into Australian Traveller’s ‘Top 100 Unique Stays’ in the country in 2021.
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Reconnecting city folk back to the country and educating the public.
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David shares what it means to him to be a guardian of the Kimo Estate.
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And finally, what David Ferguson loves most about living on the land and his bold plans for the future.
We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus.
Links:
Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram
Partnered with Australian Farmers
Follow @australianfarmers on Instagram
Kimo Eco Huts
Connect with @kimoestate on Instagram
Follow Kimo Estate on Facebook
Produced by Pretty Podcasts
Episode 4- Chick Go The Shears
There are very few young shearers and even fewer female ones. That’s why the delightfully named Joanna Treasure is a rare gem. She shares how she made it into the coveted 200 club (shearing 200 sheep in one day) and how working in the hustle and bustle of the shearing shed can earn you the big bucks.
Today we speak with Joanna Treasure and discuss:
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Her office being a busy working shearing shed.
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Her determination to become a shearer as people kept telling her not to.
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Falling in love with the challenges that come along with this high energy job.
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A typical ewe weighs between 70-100kgs and the physical strength required to lift this weight.
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Joanna has recently joined the ‘200 club’, and shares how long she has been perfecting her skills.
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The average number of sheep sheared in a day.
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Being accepted by an older generation of male shearers and the assumptions that are made.
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The perception of shearers within the agriculture industry.
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The going rate for shearing can be up to $800 per day, it is the perfect job for a young person looking to save for the future.
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Shearing is a seasonal profession and the work satisfaction
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Joanna receives from her job.
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The common misconceptions Joanna receives about the work she does.
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The future for Joanna Treasure.
We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus.
Links:
Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram
Partnered with Australian Farmers
Episode 5 - Beef Meets Big Tech
Did you know only 25% of Australians believe farmers are adapting to climate change? Today’s guest has proven we are in fact world leaders when it comes to adapting to climate pressures. Stuart Austin of Wilmot Cattle Co in the NSW Northern Tablelands has pioneered a deal to sell around $500 000 worth of soil carbon credits to Microsoft. It’s the first sale of its kind in this country. The farm captures more carbon than it releases. Now he wants to share the knowledge he’s learnt along the way to keep the innovations coming.
Today we speak with Stuart Austin and discuss:
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Stuart’s favourite place on the farm.
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He elaborates on the term ‘GSD people’.
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Stuart views farming as a noble profession, and shares how the true meaning of this has revealed itself over time.
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He explains what it means to run a ‘climate positive operation.’
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How Stuart sequesters carbon and the flow on effect to the nutrient content of his beef.
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He is restoring the biodiversity of the farm by planting more than 25 thousand trees.
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How only a quarter of Australians believe farmers are committed to improving the environment or are adapting to climate change, and Stuart's response to this.
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The ‘Microsoft Project’ and how his operation now captures more carbon than it releases.
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As a father himself, Stuart has a vested interest in how he leaves the land behind for the next generation.
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What Stuart loves most about living on the land with his beautiful young family.
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The ultimate dream for the future of Wilmot Cattle Co.
We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus.
Links:
Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram
Partnered with Australian Farmers
Episode 6 - A Cotton Graveyard
Have you ever been roped into the fast fashion frenzy of buying a new piece of clothing on a weekly or monthly basis, only for it to end up in landfill a short time later? There is a world-first movement on the Queensland/New South Wales border to tackle that very issue. On a farm near Goondiwindi, you’ll find a cotton graveyard where customers are welcome to return unwanted clothes to be shredded and deposited back into the soil. Our guest today is the tireless Sam Coulton from Goondiwindi Cotton. The energy and passion he brings to turning rubbish into riches is truly inspiring.
Today we speak with Sam Coulton from Goondiwindi Cotton and discuss:
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Looking over his favorite place on the farm called ‘Blue Knob’.
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At the North Star family farm, Sam is a 3rd generation farmer with now the 5th generation on the ground.
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Since 1924 the farm has been set up for sheep until the early 50s, where Sam’s grandfather switched the focus to crop farming.
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In 1973 they bought an irrigation farm at Goondiwindi, which is where the story of Cotton begins after a flood wiped out all their crops.
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The story of the 212 bales, which make 1000 t-shirts per bale, for brands like Piping Hot.
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The Circular Economy Project whereby old garments are collected, shredded, and spread across his fields.
800-thousand tonnes of textiles go to waste in Australia each year. -
The reason Sam started shredding cotton garments to go back into the soil and the impacts of this pilot.
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If successful, this could change the industry globally as we re-use these natural materials.
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Sam shares what it looks like to have shredded fabric all over the fields at 40cm thick.
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The advantages to cattle and other aspects of farming through the Circular Economy Project.
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Sam accommodates tours on his farm and says, ‘The solution for textile waste is education.’
We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus.
Links:
Angie Asimus
Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram
Partnered with Australian Farmers
Follow @australianfarmers on Instagram
Goondiwindi Cotton
Follow @goondiwindicotton on Instagram
Produced by Pretty Podcasts
Episode 7 - Sunny Side Up
Caged, barn laid, free-range, organic - when did buying eggs become so confusing? Today’s guest could speak about eggs for hours but she didn’t always want to take on the family business. Now, at 29 years old, tired of trespassers and vandalism, Danyel Cucinotta has opened the farm gates using virtual reality and an on-site deli to reveal the truth about eggs.
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Danyel was born into a family whose main business is cage laid eggs and she explains what that means.
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The misconceptions about the caged egg industry and Danyel shares her current views around what she does.
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The benefits of caged eggs - more nutritional eggs, lowers fear and injury on the hens and does it all with a smaller environmental impact.
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At age 28, Danyel was appointed the Vice President of Victoria’s Farmers Federation – the youngest to take that role and the first caged egg producer.
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Her role in changing the Trespassing Laws and protecting the future of farming.
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Danyel’s role in education and building a VR Egg tour and the ‘farmer time’.
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Instead of shutting the farm gate to scrutiny, Danyel has done the opposite – she now has an on-farm deli and fresh food outlet.
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The choice to be the last commercial white egg producer in Australia and the choice not sell to supermarkets.
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The future for Danyel Cucinotta.
We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus.
Links:
Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram
Partnered with Australian Farmers
Follow @australianfarmers On Instagram
Episode 8 - Asian Veggies In The Top End
Imagine fleeing your homeland with nothing but what you could carry and starting a new life in another country. That’s what the Pham family decided to do when they left Vietnam for Australia in 1987. Through lots of hard work and a little creativity, they’ve progressed from farm hands to land owners, operating a successful vegetable farm in Darwin specialising in Asian greens and green mangoes.
We speak with Chris Pham who has just taken over the family business from his parents and is proud to be a second-generation farmer.
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Chris’ parents arrived in Australia in 1987, after being in a refugee camp in Malaysia, and Chris shares his first memories of Australia.
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The decision to move their family to Darwin some 10 years later.
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Eventually, the Pham family saved enough money to buy a small farm - 20 acres in Humpty Doo.
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Chris initially did not take over the farm, instead working in Melbourne for 7 years in banking.
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The reason Chris came back to the family farm to become a second-generation farmer.
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Now, Chris’s father has retired so Chris has taken over the running of the farm with his own family.
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The family farm operation and the produce they grow.
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Chris’ learnings from his father and, the new techniques and technologies he plans to implement.
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The brand ‘NexGen Produce’ and the significance of that name for Chris.
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Mango production in Australia and Chris’ experience of growing produce from seed.
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Work-life balance as one aspect of life on the land that Chris loves.
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The most common misconceptions of being a second-generation farmer.
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The future of NexGen Produce.
We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers – Telling Our Story with Angie Asimus.
Links:
Episode 9 - Rising from the Ashes
Today we are on the road to Woombye on Queensland’s glorious Sunshine Coast.
Our farmer of the week knows what it’s like to work hard, lose it all - and then go on to come back even stronger.
Five years ago, the family’s fresh produce shop was destroyed in an arson attack but the setback ended up being a reset with Mick Dan and his partner Kelly deciding to found Good Harvest Organic Farm.
A green change that paid off - having just been declared Australian Organic Farmer of the Year.
Farmer Mick joins me to discuss:
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Farmer Mick’s favourite time of day on his Organic farm on the Sunshine Coast of Qld.
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Farming is in Mick’s blood, however he first set himself up with a Batchelor of Environmental Science and, became a Lecturer in climate change, physics and ecology!
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Mick’s roots called him back to the farm and he shares the advantages of his education in organic farming.
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The arson attack on his Organic shopfront, which brought an unexpected silver lining.
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The beginnings of Good Harvest Organic Farm
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The feeling of feeding more than 1300 families per week.
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Customer perceptions of organics and food provenance and, the shift in perception during the pandemic.
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Mick tells us what is actually involved in growing Organic produce.
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The requirements for receiving organic certification for Good Harvest Organic Farms.
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Winning Organic Australian Farmer of the year in 2021.
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Mick tells us about the ‘farming incubator’ as a way to build a lasting legacy.
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The biggest misconception from the public when it comes to organic produce.
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The ultimate dream for the future of Good Harvest Organic Farm.
We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus.
Links:
Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram
Partnered with Australian Farmers
Episode 10 - Future Farming
Victoria’s beautiful South Gippsland region is synonymous with dairy, so when Adam Schreurs moved his vegetable farm to the area, it raised a few eyebrows. But if there’s one thing Adam loves doing - it’s planning for the future. The move has been crucial in mitigating climate change. He’s also in the process of converting 25% of his property to native bushland to sequester carbon. In addition, he holds regular robotic field days on site to help uncover which robots will make his job easier in the future and deliver customers a more consistent celery or leek. His future focus has earned him several major awards.
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Adam shares his favourite place on the farm.
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Adam has only been at South Gippsland for about 5 years (having moved from a warmer climate about 100 km’s away). And the locals thought he was crazy to grow vegetables there!
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Celery is Adam’s main crop and shares the impact of a changing climate and large storms
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In another initiative to work with the changing climate – Adam is giving back about 260 acres of productive land to native corridors.
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The supply and demand fluctuations Adam has seen during the pandemic.
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The other challenge during the pandemic has been the availability of labour – How Adam’s interest in robotics has led to reduce the amount human labour which has been critical for them during the pandemic.
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Adam’s predictions for the future of farming using technology in the next 5-10 years.
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He is a third-generation farmer and discusses the importance of farming and family succession.
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The most unexpected thing to happen on the Schreurs & Sons farm.
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The pride that comes from working on the land, with family which is his favourite thing about working on the land.
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Most common misconception about farming.
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Ultimate dream for the future for Schreurs & Sons.
We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus.
Links:
Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram
Partnered with Australian Farmers
Episode 11 - Feather and Bone
Today we are on the road to Marrickville in Sydney’s Inner West. While that doesn’t sound very rural – my guest spends a lot of time on farms. As the owner of Feather and Bone, a butchery of ethically sourced meats, she personally visits all her suppliers ensuring a short, traceable and transparent supply chain. Laura Dalrymple knows how these animals are raised and how they are slaughtered. It’s not an easy conversation to have but Laura is passionate about ensuring her customers know the truth about meat. She hopes education leads us all to choose mindfully and therefore reduce waste.
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Laura shares her favourite part about visiting these farms.
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As a graphic designer by trade, Laura shares how she ended up in the meat business.
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Feather and Bone’s unique approach to sourcing meat.
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Building eco-system health and biodiversity and how meat impacts this biodiversity.
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The importance of being a whole animal butcher.
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Society’s dysfunctional relationship with nature.
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The meat-free movement and Laura’s perspective towards vegan meat substitutes.
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Laura is the Co-Author of a book ‘The Ethical Omnivore’ where she discusses meat not being the problem.
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The most common misconception of meat
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The future for Feather and Bone.
We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus.
Links:
Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram
Partnered with Australian Farmers
Episode 12 - Pearls of Wisdom
Imagine working in an underwater garden where you brush shoulders with whales and sharks while cultivating one of most prized jewels of the sea. That’s all a standard day in the office for James Brown who runs Pearls of Australia on farms at Cygnet Bay in WA and Broken Bay in NSW. At a time when other pearl farmers were going out of business James’ resilience and innovation have earned him the coveted title of Australian Farmer of the Year. James is using the platform to offer rare insights into the magical world of pearling, a fascinating yet painstaking process that takes years to make a single pearl.
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James picks his favourite place on his incredible water-based farm.
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Pearling has such mystery and intrigue and, James shares the secretive early days. The world-famous South Sea Pearl, and the compelling history behind Pearls of Australia.
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James’ grandfather was a pioneer as his pearl farm became the first in Australia to operate without Japanese involvement.
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The family’s working partnership with local Indigenous people, and how this came about.
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James was the first Pearl Farmer to win the Australian Farmer of the Year Award.
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The impact of battling aquatic diseases, natural disasters, the GFC, and now the pandemic, over the last 10 years.
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The increased interest in pearls, where pearls come from and practices behind it.
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Being on the water each day the unexpected is always expected.
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The most common misconception about pearling.
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The ultimate dream for the future of Pearls of Australia.
We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus.
Links:
Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram
Partnered with Australian Farmers
Follow @australianfarmers On Instagram
Follow @pearlsofaustralia on Instagram
Follow @cygnetbaypearlfarm on Instagram
Follow @brokenbaypearlfarm on Instagram
Episode 13 - World's Your Oyster
There are land farmers and there are water farmers but few can say their office is in a National Park. You’ll find today’s guest growing oysters on pristine Nelson Lake on the Far South Coast of NSW. Their specialty is the world-famous Sydney Rock Oyster. This little superfood has earned the family-run business more than 180 awards and recognition from some of our top chefs. But my guest Gary Rodely explains, the oyster is often quite misunderstood.
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Gary’s favourite place on his Oyster Farmer in Tathra.
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Growing oysters on Nelson Lake, in the Mimosa Rocks National Park.
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Gary shares a snippet from Captain Cook’s journal where he wrote about the small Sydney Rock Oyster.
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Oysters are an emotional food and Gary shares some special moments he has experienced since starting his farm in 1988.
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They are a family run business, which will be taken over by their son Sam, a marine scientist.
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Some unexpected facts about this small sweet Oyster.
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Oyster farming is a complicated process and the complete sustainability in this process.
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People build their holidays around their oysters and now, they can be posted live throughout Australia.
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The most common misconception of the Sydney Rock Oyster – it’s not grown in Sydney.
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The growing environment for the oysters has been tested in the lab and found to be a true product of a pristine environment.
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The cholesterol of an Oyster and the fact is, they are a superfood.
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Chefs, like Neil Perry, who are now using Tathra Oysters.
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Gary’s top tips for eating, and shucking Oysters.
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The ultimate dream for the future.
We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus.
Links:
Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram
Partnered with Australian Farmers
Follow @australianfarmers On Instagram
Episode 14 - Biodynamic Lamb
It’s not often you see a queue down the street that leads to a butcher shop but it was that very sight at a store in Canberra that grabbed Vince Heffernan’s attention. That shop sold biodynamic meat and the 6th generation farmer had to know more. He armed himself with a degree in Ecological Agriculture and set out to learn how to manage the entire landscape without chemicals. The result is Moorlands Biodynamic Lamb based in Dalton in the Southern Tablelands of NSW. Today we discuss:
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Vince’s favourite place on the farm.
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Driving past a butcher shop with a line out the door, pushed Vince to start a Biodynamic farming approach.
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Biodynamics – what it means and why it is important.
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Vince’s father was a ‘high input farmer’ and the differences between then, and how the farm runs now.
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What ecological agriculture means.
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Vince’s studies in ecological agriculture and his constant thirst for knowledge.
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Healthy landscapes lead to healthy sheep and the diverse range of pasture for the sheep.
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Texel sheep originating from the Netherlands, and the appeal of this breed of sheep.
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The direct and short supply chain with Feather and Bone, from episode 11 (listen here).
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The stress-free stock handling technique and how it works.
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Vince seeks to understand and incorporate, indigenous knowledge into his farming.
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His favourite thing about life on the land is witnessing the biodiversity grow.
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The community he has created from his direct-to-consumer model.
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The most common misconception about what he does.
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The ultimate dream for the future for Moorlands Biodynamic Lamb.
We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus.
Links:
Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram
Partnered with Australian Farmers
Follow @australianfarmers On Instagram
Episode 15 - The Mysterious World of Mushrooms
Today we are on the road to Monbulk in the Yarra Valley in Victoria. That’s where you’ll find Australia’s largest range of exotic and gourmet mushrooms. Mushrooms for food and mushrooms for medicine. If this food hasn’t been for you in the past – these may go down a little differently. Some taste like macadamia nuts - others taste like lobster. And they come in all shapes and sizes – resembling coral and even lettuce. There is so much more to mushrooms than most of us realise. The founder and chief grower of Unearthed Co Mushrooms have been fascinated by this small mysterious food since he was a boy. John Ford joins me now.
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John’s favourite place on the farm is the foggy mushroom grow-room.
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The art of growing mushrooms and the requirements for mushroom growth.
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Native mushrooms in Australia and the indigenous knowledge that was lost after colonisation.
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John’s passion for Mushrooms began with scouring local forest floors as a teenager.
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The impact of seasons, weather and the elements on growth cycles.
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John started his career as a Marine Scientist but made the switch to the land.
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Interesting varieties - from the more well-known ones like shiitake and king oyster to small orange, slimy button mushrooms.
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The abalone mushroom is highly prized - winning John the ultimate trophy in the “From the Earth” in the 2021 Delicious Produce Awards.
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John’s favourite variety and best way to eat them.
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We explore the benefits of medicinal mushrooms and the health properties associated.
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John is working on permission to grow a wider range to be used for medicinal purposes here in Australia.
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Mushrooms and their fundamental role in the ecosystem.
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The most unexpected thing to happen in the grow rooms.
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Being independent, building teams and growing mushrooms all bring joy for John.
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The most common misconception of Mushrooms.
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The ultimate dream for the future of Unearthed Co. Mushrooms.
We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus.
Links:
Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram
Partnered with Australian Farmers
Episode 16 - Where the Outback meets the Tropics
On a remote farm about 320 kilometres outside Darwin, mangoes grow by the truckload. But the owner of Foxalicious Fruit decided to try something new – adding asparagus into the mix. It turns out, the unique climate poses unexpected challenges like the need to pick the vegetable up to three times a day because it grows so quickly. Mangoes and asparagus are an unlikely combination but a source of great passion for my guest, Andrew Dalglish. Today, we discuss:
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Andrew’s favourite place on his farm in the Northern Territory.
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He is a very popular man as a grower of mangoes and shares his love of connection with consumers.
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There is nothing more labour intense than asparagus on Andrew’s farm as it needs to be cut twice a day and can grow 20cm a day.
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Growing produce in Katherine and, the environmental factors needed for a good season.
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Seasonal workers, Covid travel restrictions and, weather conditions on the farm over the recent past.
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Selling produce through Woolworths and local markets, Andrew loves putting his personal contact details on all packaging so consumers can reach out.
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‘I think, Organics put the fun back into farming’ says Andrew and, the rewards of farming this way.
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The awards Foxalicious Fruit has won for soil health and plant nutrition.
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The difference between Organic and Certified Organic.
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For Andrew, his favourite thing about life on the land is maintaining the soil health.
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The importance of soil health for the future generations.
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The human element of farming and, some of the craziest things to happen on the farm.
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The importance of children learning where their food comes from.
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Andrew’s ultimate dream for the future is to see soil health improve nationwide.
We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus.
Links:
Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram
Partnered with Australian Farmers
Follow @australianfarmers on Instagram
Episode 17 - Easter Show Preview
For many, the Sydney Royal Easter Show is a family tradition. Behind the scenes, the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW works tirelessly to bring 12 days of fun to about 850 000 people. It’s a special year for the not-for-profit organisation, celebrating 200 years of service to agriculture. So, with each ticket you purchase, you’ll be supporting real farmers to strive for excellence and also, young farmers who deserve a bright future to look forward to. The society’s General Manager of Agriculture is today’s guest and has a special preview of this year’s show.
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Murray’s favourite location at the Sydney Royal Easter Show, run by the Royal Agricultural Society (RAS) of NSW.
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After being cancelled in 2020, the show went ahead in 2021 with capped numbers which will also be the plan for this year.
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The Easter show is on from April 8 to 19 over the school holidays and how limiting numbers to 80,000 per day allows for a more enjoyable experience.
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Murray shares the special events planned to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the RAS, including a Parade through city streets.
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Princess Ann will be attending on the 9th of April and will bring the “Royal” to the Easter Show.
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Murray says ‘The Cattleman’s Bar’ is the place to find stories about life on the land.
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The mental health benefits of farmers coming to the Easter Show to compete and catch-up with their peers.
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The RAS is a not-for-profit organisation and Murray explains where the proceeds go.
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The judging process is an opportunity for farmers, and small goods producers, to receive feedback and lift their spirits with a winning blue ribbon.
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Murray loves to watch as patrons arrive at the gate as it reminds him of his childhood.
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The beloved ‘AgBag’ in the showbag pavilion, an easy way for everyone to help the cause.
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The most unexpected thing to happen while Murray has been running this event.
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The value of this event for farmers and the opportunity for city children to learn where their food comes from.
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Murray’s dream for the future of the show and educational agricultural programs.
We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus.
Links:
Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram
Partnered with Australian Farmers
Follow @australianfarmers On Instagram
Sydney Royal Easter Show 8-19 April 2022
Episode 18 - Best in Show
It’s Show Time – Week One of the Sydney Royal Easter Show 2022. To celebrate, we are shining a light on a farmer who proudly exhibits there every year. In fact, they started showing their dairy cows at the show in 1885. The Browns operate one of the oldest Jersey Studs in Australia and have claimed many awards along the way. You’ll often see them leading the ever-popular Grand Parade or tending to their beautiful animals in the cattle yards. The Brown’s cows are magnificent to behold, and they have taken the family all over Australia and the world. Robert Brown is my guest this week and we discuss:
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Robert’s favourite place on the farm in the Southern Highlands of NSW.
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His family used to bring cattle on steamboats from Wollongong Harbour into Darling Harbour to get to the Easter Show in the early days.
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The Supreme Champions at the show and, the reward in having recognition from the RAS.
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The joy Robert receives when meeting members of the public at the Show.
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The judging process at the Easter Show is fierce and Robert explains what the judges are looking for.
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Robert’s love for dairy is deep in his roots. He has always loved cattle but also intentionally takes time to walk outside the farm gate.
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Exporting cattle to India and, personally escorting the cattle on an eventful flight.
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Some of the newspaper clippings and family photos at the show highlight how much the whole family gets behind this.
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The significance of the name Wollingurry for the family.
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What Robert loves most about life on the land.
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The most unexpected thing to happen on the farm.
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The most common misconception about working with dairy.
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The ultimate dream for the future of Wollingurry farm.
We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus.
Links:
Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram
Partnered with Australian Farmers
Follow @australianfarmers On Instagram
Episode 19 - ‘Sconversations’ with the CWA
The Country Women’s Association is famous for scones and tea, but this organisation is so much more. Today’s guest has transitioned from dairy farmer to the CWA’s NSW President. Stephanie Stanhope has advocated for better services for regional communities for years and has been a friendly face to countless residents doing it tough. When she lost her own home during the 2020 Black Summer Bushfires, she learnt first-hand how important that support network of women really is. This is a very timely chat - not only is it week two of the Sydney Royal Easter Show where the CWA is an institution, but 2022 also marks 100 years of the organisation. So, let’s begin the so called ‘sconversation’ with Stephanie Stanhope. We discuss:
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Stephanie’s favourite Country Women’s Association (CWA) event to take part in.
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The CWA has members aged from 18 to 100 years old.
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She shares how the CWA has stayed relevant over the past 100 years.
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The number of scones sold yearly at the Sydney Royal Easter Show.
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The scones are a symbol of taking time to talk to people - sitting down over a cuppa.
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Providing support is such a big part of the CWA and Stephanie shares her own personal experience of this support.
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Advocacy has resulted in huge improvements to services in regional areas.
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Stephanie’s best advice, ‘Be true to yourself, and remember that there are people there to lean on when you need them.’
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Her proudest moment as President of the New South Wales CWA.
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What Stephanie loves most about country life.
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The most common misconception about the CWA and the support they provide.
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Stephanie’s hopes for the future of the organisation.
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And finally, the big question - Jam or cream first on a scone?
We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus.
Links:
Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram
Partnered with Australian Farmers
Follow @australianfarmers On Instagram
Episode 20 - Kalettes
What do you get when you cross a Brussels Sprout with Kale? A Kalette. This little-known superfood is the first new vegetable to hit the Australian market since Brocollini more than a decade ago. It’s non-GMO, instead painstakingly developed over 15 years through traditional hybridisation techniques. So, what do they look like? How do they taste? Our Kalette expert grower Scott Samwell answers all those questions. Today we discuss:
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Scott’s favourite place on the farm.
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So, what is a Kalette?
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Kalettes were developed as a non-genetically modified product.
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A day in the life of a sprout farmer.
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Kalettes are a part of the sprout family and the volume Scott produces as Australia’s largest grower.
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Kalettes are a new super-food but many consumers don’t even know they exist.
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Scott’s top preparation tips to get the most of your sprout – no matter the kind.
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The versatility of Kalettes as they can be used in smoothies, soups and even made into chips!
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The different roles within the family farm and how they have been assigned.
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What Scott loves most about life on the land.
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The most common misconception about being a farmer.
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Scott’s ultimate dream for the future.
We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus.
Links:
Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram
Partnered with Australian Farmers
Follow @australianfarmers On Instagram
Episode 21 - Iris and Wool
What happens when a woman with a long-standing love of fashion marries a wool grower? The answer is a luxury fashion label straight out of Burra in South Australia. Emily Riggs and her husband Tom have forged a unique partnership in business as well as life. She loves getting out on the farm to lend a helping hand, while in turn, he’s found himself stepping into the shoes of a model! Luxury clothing label Iris and Wool is a crucial part of the diversification of the family farm. But Emily has had to overcome incredible personal tragedy to forge such a successful path for herself.
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Meditation Hill is Emily’s favourite place on the farm.
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Emily has not only fallen in love with a farmer, but the whole industry.
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She is a fierce advocate for the bush and creating sustainable natural garments.
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Iris and Wool is a luxury clothing line and Emily explains why traceability is important.
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Receiving the coveted and internationally recognised ‘Woolmark’.
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The concept of ‘Slow Fashion’ and why it is important for the planet.
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The Little River Dress is Emily’s favourite piece from her fashion label.
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Emily was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 10 and lost her mother to breast cancer shortly after her own diagnosis. She shares how this experience has impacted her perspective on life.
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Emily turned to fashion for comfort as a young woman and how this evolved over time.
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The significance of the name ‘Iris and Wool’ and why 5% of every sale is donated to the McGrath Foundation.
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Emily is branching out, combining other natural fibres with wool for a new range launching in September.
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The most common misconception about farming.
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The craziest experience since moving to the farm.
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The ultimate dream for Iris and Wool.
We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus.
Links:
Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram
Partnered with Australian Farmers
Follow @australianfarmers on Instagram
Episode 22 - @Lenswood Pick Your Own
So many of us romanticise about a “green change” but this husband-and-wife duo actually did it. The couple has purchased 23 acres in South Australia’s Adelaide Hills which is home to an apple orchard. With absolutely zero farming experience they somehow manage the farm entirely on their own. It’s not quite commercially viable yet so they do all of this whilst still nursing and raising a family. Anyone can come along to experience the magic that is @Lenswood because they’ve opened the farm gates to run a Pick Your Own experience. To learn more about how the model works, Emily Shipway explains.
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The front garden is Emily’s favourite place on their Apple Orchard.
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How Emily and her husband Chris, went from being ICU nurses to farmers.
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With 12,000 apple trees, they have 8 different varieties of apples on their farm.
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Their first day on the property and how they were able to establish themselves as farmers.
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Their family’s perception of farming when they made the career shift.
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A day in the life of Emily and some of the challenges.
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The newfound respect Emily has discovered as she has taken on the role of a farmer.
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As previously urban parents, they understand what the consumer wants in a farm experience and made it happen.
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Diversifying into accommodation, weddings and school trips.
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Emily’s top tips for growing and choosing a good apple.
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Donating to charity, juice, preserves and dehydration are all ways to use the ‘seconds’ from the orchard.
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The small town of Lenswood and how Emily and Chris have been accepted as legitimate farmers over time.
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Emily’s favourite thing about her new life on the land.
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The most common misconception is the hands-on involvement required.
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The ultimate dream for the future.
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Giving back to the community through ‘Ladies at Lenswood’
We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus.
Links:
Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram
Partnered with Australian Farmers
Episode 23 - Asparagopsis
We already choose between free-range and caged eggs. Grass-fed or grain-fed beef. Our guest today says it’s only a matter of time before we add a low emissions option to the supermarket aisle. The reason, is a native seaweed that grows abundantly off the West Australian Coast. The CSIRO has found this unique red seaweed called asparagopsis can reduce methane emissions by 80-95 per cent when used as a feed supplement. SeaStock has now become the nation’s third and WA’s first company licensed to farm this fascinating crop. For more, we speak with managing director Tom Puddy whose office is the pristine waters of the Abrolhos Islands on this incredible water-based farm.
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Tom’s favourite aspect of aquaculture and some of his farming background.
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The beginnings of SeaStock and the passion Tom has for this product which can reduce methane emissions by 80-95 per cent.
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Working with James Cook University and the CSIRO to licence, grow and harvest asparagopsis to be able to convert it into a dietary supplement for meat producers.
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SeaStock is in a trial phase and Tom shares the interest in this product from farmers.
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The carbon credit economy that’s starting to gain momentum and the increased interest from consumers.
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The estimated impact this product could have on carbon emissions in Australia.
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How eating seaweed actually reduce methane.
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How this product could help the government’s quest to reach net zero by 2050.
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The science behind this project and how this has secured Tom’s belief in its importance.
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The carbon credit opportunities for meat producers at both ends of the supply chain.
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What Tom loves most about working in both agriculture and aquaculture.
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The most unexpected thing to result from working with asparagopsis.
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The most common misconception about livestock production.
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The ultimate dream for the future of SeaStock.
We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus.
Links:
Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram
Partnered with Australian Farmers
Follow @australianfarmers On Instagram
Episode 24 - “Jillaroo of All Trades”
It would be hard to find someone more passionate about agriculture than Lucy Collingridge. Unlike so many others in the industry, she didn’t grow up on a farm. In fact, it wasn’t until she was 15 that she took on her first active role in ag. In the 15 years since, she has packed in a lot. Her titles have included Jillaroo, Station Hand and Biosecurity Officer. In between, she spends her time volunteering to speak with school children – a lot of them from the city – to inspire them to pursue farming. She truly believes, if you eat food and wear clothes, you are already involved in agriculture, so it’s easy to take the next step to make a career out of it. Today we discuss:
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Lucy’s favourite place on the land out of all the incredible locations she has worked.
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How Lucy, at the age of 15, became involved on a farm and fell in love with agriculture.
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Along with a Bachelor of Agriculture and a Graduate Certificate, she shares her stint as a Jillaroo on a Fine Wool Merino Stud.
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The impact of Agricultural Shows and the Young Judges Competitions.
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How events like the Showgirl Competition (renamed the Young Woman of the Year), and the Rural Achiever Awards have changed Lucy’s life.
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Lucy has spoken to 1000 kids and counting. One of her key messages - you don’t have to be involved in farming to be involved in agriculture.
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The misconceptions within the agricultural industry and opportunities for the next generation.
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Lucy’s research specifically in biodiversity and sustainability.
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The people in the industry is the reason Lucy gets out of bed each day.
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Her adventures on the land and some of the most unexpected moments.
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Most common misconception about life on the land.
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Lucy’s ultimate dream for the future.
We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus.
Links:
Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram
Partnered with Australian Farmers
Follow @australianfarmers On Instagram
Cootamundra Show @CootamundraShow
Royal Agricultural Society of NSW @RASofNSW
Episode 25 - Soil Science
When you head to the shops to collect that perfectly shaped cherry, super crunchy apple or juicy nectarine, today’s guest worked behind the scenes to achieve that top quality. She’s the person growers call when they have a problem with pests, soil and even the changing climate. Jessica Fearnley is a young and emerging scientist who just loves agriculture. Her work has now earned her the coveted Rural Achiever Award presented by the Rural Agricultural Society of NSW. Today we discuss:
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What Jessica loves most about the land.
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Jessica’s role is to help farmers produce better fruit and some of the challenges they are facing right now.
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Currently, she is focusing on traceability and vulnerability assessments to safeguard the industry.
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Climate adaptations and the ways our farmers are dealing with climate change.
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The impact Jessica’s high school biology teacher had on her career path.
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Her honours project was spent investigating the use of fertilisers in soil. A topic she loves.
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Winning the Rural Achiever Award and, how she came to be involved.
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The temperate fruits in which Jessica specialises to improve quality standards.
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Expectations from overseas markets and creating uniformity in the product.
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The impact Jessica has felt as a result of her work with international farmers.
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Jessica’s favourite part of working in agriculture is the people she has met.
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The unexpected positive events to occur throughout Jessica’s career.
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The most common misconception about the work she does.
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Ultimate dream for the Future.
We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus.
Links:
Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram
Partnered with Australian Farmers
Follow @australianfarmers On Instagram
Connect with Jessica on LinkedIn
Episode 26 - Broad Acre Bros
When three young farmers with a passion for cinematography decide to join forces, you know you’re in for a visual treat. By combining their spectacular agricultural videos and posting them to social media, they have amassed an enormous following with more than a million views. One third of the sensation that is Broad Acre Bros is today’s guest. Jack Moyses is a 5th generation broad acre farmer growing oats and canola - and he always has a camera in hand to capture some bush magic. Jack joins me to discuss:
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The orange glow of a sunset is Jack’s favourite time of the day.
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Jack always had a passion for videography and when he discovered TikTok, his hobby found a platform.
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The best videos he has produced featuring the machinery, tools and of course the harvest time.
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The #broadacrebros now has over 1.2million views.
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Jack lives in Western Australia on some of the most productive land in the state.
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Although his work is seasonal, Jack shares what a day in the life of an oat and canola farmer looks like.
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Jack’s process for creating content for TikTok and uploading
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Cam and Heath collaborate on Broad Acre Bros and Jack shares how they all connected.
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Small communities are what Jack loves most about being a farmer.
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The international community of friends Jack has made using social media platforms like TikToK and Snapchat.
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Jack’s favourite video from the content he has created.
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The most common misconception of being a farmer.
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The ultimate future for Broad Acre Bros.
We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus.
Links:
Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram
Partnered with Australian Farmers
Follow @australianfarmers On Instagram
Episode 27 - From Farm to Footy
Some people are talented and brave enough to be trailblazers in one industry, but my guest today is breaking down barriers in two male-dominated arenas – footy and farming. She is a star recruit in the AFLW for Greater Western Sydney. Then, when she’s not training or playing, she’s working full-time on the family farm at Holbrook in southern NSW. It means, she lives 6 months in the city and 6 months in the country, whilst studying agriculture in between. At 21 years old age, she is dedicated to both pursuits but is sure the country will play a starring role in her future. Alyce Parker is today’s guest discussing:
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Alyce’s favourite place on the family farm.
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The contrast between her two lives – one as a farmer, one as an ALFW player.
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Alyce works alongside her family on the farm and shares how this upbringing shaped who she is today.
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The lessons she learnt through the professional sports arena.
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Playing 7 different sports at the same time and how these opportunities were supported in a regional area.
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The life of a farmer, the different roles and how she divides her time between these two passions.
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She is currently studying a Batchelor of Agricultural Business Management and shares her post-footy dreams.
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The challenges of being not only a young farmer but a female in the industry – both in Agriculture and Sports.
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What she loves most about life on the land.
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The most special and heart-warming experiences Alyce has experienced on the farm.
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The most common misconception about farming.
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Alyce’s dream for the future.
We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus.
Links:
Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram
Partnered with Australian Farmers
Follow @australianfarmers On Instagram
Episode 28 - One Woman Band
Today’s guest has fit more jobs into her 36 years than most of us do in a lifetime. This powerhouse loves showing up for a day’s shearing only to shock her colleagues by being tiny in stature. She drives trucks with her handbag on the front seat and classical music playing. To add to that, she started her own sheep stud at age 17 and has since added grain trading and muscle scanning businesses to her resume. What’s more, she loves to cook! Rachel Chirgwin is a woman not to be underestimated. However, there is a role she’d still like to add to the mix - wife and mum. Today we discuss:
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Rachel’s favourite place on the farm is the sheep shed in the middle of the night.
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At 36, she has already succeeded at more jobs than most of us even try in a lifetime and shares how her country life began.
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Rachel started a stud at the young age of 17 as she had discovered an interest in the breeding of sheep and cattle.
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Being home-schooled on Kangaroo Island resulted in Rachel learning a lot of practical skills from a very young age along with her twin sister.
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The financial highs and lows of farming and Rachel shares how she started her farm with no power or water.
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Shearing, truck driving and stud farming, Rachel has done it all and describes a ‘normal’ day.
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Working in a predominantly male dominated industry, Rachel has felt welcomed and supported by the community.
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Rachel’s top tip for surviving in your own business.
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Her favourite thing about life on the land.
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The generosity of time and resources of Rachel’s local community have been a major factor in her success.
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The most common misconception about Rachel – she is only 110cm tall.
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The future for Rachel Chirgwin.
We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus.
Links:
Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram
Partnered with Australian Farmers
Follow @australianfarmers On Instagram
Connect with Rachel Chirgwin on Facebook
Clare Valley Grains on Facebook
Episode 29 - Fields of Gold
When an engineer becomes a farmer, you expect it to be well researched and planned to perfection. However, today’s guest bought her little patch of Beechworth in Victoria within a week of seeing it advertised in 2009. The parcel of land was 12-acres, so she had to get creative, choosing two niche crops that don’t need much space. Artisan table olives and prized saffron have been her bread and butter ever since. Incredible, considering she had never even tried saffron prior! Gamila MacRury has just finished the year’s saffron harvest, which can require picking up to 3 times a day. Today we discuss the magic that is Gamila at Beechworth.
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Gamila’s favourite place on the farm.
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She grew up working in Apple orchards in the region and has always had a love for this part of the world.
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Gamila shares the unique story of purchasing her farm in 2009, which is only 100 metres by 500 metres, at a very young age.
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She is an engineer by trade and has found creative problem solving has given her the skills to build her farm.
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The farm is 12 acres, so Gamila needed to make the choice to grow niche crops that don’t need a lot of space, one of those was table olives.
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The journey to producing the exotic Saffron, which is mostly produced by Iran.
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The challengers in growing Saffron and why the harvests are incredibly time consuming and a very delicate process.
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Gamila’s favourite thing about life on the land.
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The most unexpected event where Liz, her cattle dog, had notified Gamila of a fire out of control in the yard.
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The two most common misconceptions about Saffron.
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Gamila’s ultimate dream for the future of her farm.
Gamila’s ultimate dream for the future of her farm.
We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus.
Links:
Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram
Partnered with Australian Farmers
Episode 30 - Make Australia Make Again
We’ve all heard the saying coined in the 1950s that Australia “rode on the sheep’s back”. Many in the industry now argue the economic ride is over. The answer, they say, is to take back control of the wool handling process from fleece to fabric. Currently, more than 80 per cent of the nation’s greasy wool is exported to China for processing. Now, slowdowns at mills overseas due to COVID may have opened the door to a more local approach. For consumers – those 100% Australian Merino Wool labels on your clothes would mean exactly that. Queensland Wool Processors or QWool seeks to transform the industry with an end-to-end processing plant in Blackall. Today we hear from QWool Chairman John Abbott. As well as, fourth-generation wool grower and local Mayor, Andrew Martin.
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We first chat with John Abbott, QWool Chairman and hear where his love of the country began.
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QWool is an idea to bring wool processing back to Australia and John shares how it can be achieved.
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The challenges in starting a local wool mill, both logistically and practically.
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How the project is tracking and the investment and planning required for a project of this scale.
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The shift away from synthetic fibres and the consumer’s desire for traceability in their materials.
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How John is focusing on maintaining the regional connection which, is his passion.
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John introduces Andrew Martin, Mayor and 4th generation wool farmer.
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Andrew discusses the impact the wool mill will have for the community including creating 270 jobs.
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The environmental impacts of using natural wool and the sustainable processes the wool mill will guarantee.
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The profit margins on wool here in Australia.
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What Andrew loves most about the country and the advantages of this lifestyle.
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The most unexpected part of this project and the advancements in technology.
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The most common misconception of life on the land.
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The future for QWool.
We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus.
Links:
Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram
Partnered with Australian Farmers
Follow @australianfarmers On Instagram
Episode 31 - Urban Green
Today we are on the road to Sydney. That doesn’t sound very rural but hopefully, by the end of this conversation – you might change your views about how and where farms can operate. Sydney Urban Green is the city’s first commercial indoor farm specialising in vertically growing microgreens and sprouts. It makes a lot of sense. It’s an economical use of space. And the food is grown where we have the most people. You’ll often see these super greens used as a garnish in restaurants but apart from looking good, they are a nutritional powerhouse. Director Noah Verin is today’s guest and we discuss:
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‘Controlled Environment Agriculture’ and how Noah has established a farm in a car park!
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How vertical farming functions and the biggest differences between urban and rural farms.
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The advantages and limitations of this growing style and what we can expect in the future.
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Noah specialises in microgreens and sprouts, which are very popular and also a practical choice when farming in a small space.
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His sustainability approach impacts production and energy consumption, down to the packaging.
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Noah’s main clientele is restaurants and he shares the significance of strong relationships.
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The nutritional value of microgreens and their popularity over the in the United States.
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Noah grows 45 varieties and shares why he loves his ‘babies’ so much.
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The buzzword of vertical farming and Noah shares his predictions for the future of vertical farming in our cities.
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The most rewarding part of working in the agricultural industry.
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Fire and floods have surprisingly been the most unexpected events to happen to this urban farm.
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The most common misconception about this work.
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The ultimate dream for the future.
We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus.
Links:
Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram
Partnered with Australian Farmers
Follow @australianfarmers On Instagram
Follow @urbangreensydney on Instagram
Episode 32 - For the Love of Farming
This is no doubt a love story. The story of a city boy’s love of agriculture that lead him to pursue a career in corporate ag. Then, falling in love with his now wife who happened to be a farmer’s daughter with a desire to take on the family business. James Knight made the brave decision to face his own personal demons to take up an integral role in running the primarily beef cattle property at The Sisters south of Mortlake in Southwest Victoria. He’s taken that opportunity and run with it - operating the farm through a strategic lens with a focus on innovative techniques and technology like AgriWebb. Today we discuss:
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Home base is James’ favourite place on the farm with his wife and two beautiful children.
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James describes ‘getting the bug for agriculture’ at a young age despite growing up in the city.
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In Year 10, James went so far as to tell his mother he wanted to leave school and become a Jackaroo.
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After eventually graduating from school, James studied at the University of New England where he completed his Rural Science Degree.
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James shares a low time in his life, and how corporate agriculture re-invigorated his headspace.
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James is now full time on his wife’s family farm and shares how this came about and the different roles within the family business.
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The operation on the farm is beef production, with three farm locations and over 2,200 hectares in South West Victoria.
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Expanding the business with a new land purchase.
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Introducing AgriWebb technology which, at the end of the day, results in a more cost effective and efficient farm.
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The rewarding nature of the work is what James loves most about the land.
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Some of the unexpected aspects of living on the land in contrast with city life.
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The biggest misconception about agriculture.
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Soil health and the importance of monitoring carbon.
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The future for James and his family.
We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus.
Links:
Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram
Partnered with Australian Farmers
Follow @australianfarmers On Instagram
Episode 33 - Foot and Mouth
You would have to be living off the grid to have not heard the term Foot and Mouth in the last week. What is it? Why do we care? How come it’s suddenly become such a hot topic in Australia. We export about 70 per cent of our agricultural produce in this country. A lethal livestock disease threatens to shut down that market for years with disastrous results for farmers and indeed all of us with price hikes and a shortage of meat inevitable. Biosecurity is increasingly important. It comes down to what each one of us does when we return from overseas. FMD doesn’t make humans sick but we can pass on this illness to animals. To learn more about how we can protect ourselves is the Independent Chair of the SafeMeat Advisory Group, Andrew Henderson.
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Andrew explains Foot and Mouth Disease as a lethal livestock illness (cattle, sheep, goats and pigs) and explains what this disease does.
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In the 1980’s there was a Foot and Mouth outbreak in Indonesia. Andrew shares the differences in these two occurrences in association with trade partnerships and tourism.
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The economic impact and, what is at stake if we can’t keep this disease offshore.
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Andrew shares how we can bolster our biosecurity systems.
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The industry exports 70% of what it produces and the disruption Foot and Mouth would cause to that supply chain.
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The COVID pandemic gave us all an appreciation for biosecurity and the correlations to Foot and Mouth.
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The importance of traceability through SafeMeat and the work of this organisation.
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The National Livestock Identification System is the contact-tracing system for our livestock.
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Andrew’s tips for how the average person can help with containment of Foot and Mouth.
We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus.
Links:
Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram
Partnered with Australian Farmers
Follow @australianfarmers On Instagram
Episode 34 - Food Forensics
Today we are off to New Zealand to talk farm forensics. It’s a bit like interviewing the lead detective on a crime scene to learn the truth about where our food and fibre really comes from. Fraud is alive and well in the global supply chain. So how do you know whether that Egyptian Cotton really comes from Egypt or that grass-fed Australian beef is as advertised? Oritain are the scientists untangling that web - tracing the provenance of an item not just to country of origin but in some cases back to a specific region. To learn more about the process, the company’s Head of Strategic Sales Sam Lind joins me to discuss:
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Sam works at Oritain, a company which pools samples to establish a large global library of data.
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Nature gives us ‘chemical fingerprints’ which pertain to not only soil, but product commodities like honey and coffee.
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The scientific method is a forensic process similar to ‘Jane Doe’ mysteries, and is being used to verify a product’s origin.
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The science is so exact, it is possible to determine not only country or origin, but in the case of tea all the way down to a specific estate withing that region.
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Utilising mystery shoppers to build benchmark data.
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Food fraud is a 49-billion-dollar problem stemming from a lack of objective data.
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The difference between intentional noncompliance and noncompliance due to the nature of the supply chain.
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The largest and fastest growing area at Oritain is textiles and, Sam shares how consumers have driven the traceability conversation.
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Mineral profiles and stable isotopes are the indicators used in food and textile forensic diagnosis.
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What Sam loves most about is role and the most unexpected discovery he has made in the lab.
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The challenges related to the agricultural space in the future.
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Sam’s dream for Oritain.
We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus.
Links:
Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram
Partnered with Australian Farmers
Follow @australianfarmers On Instagram
Connect with Sam Lind on LinkedIn
Episode 35 - Flourishing in the Desert
Imagine farming in one of the most arid places in Australia. The Litchfield family manages to produce Angus Cross Cattle and Australian White Sheep (a breed suited to the harsh conditions with a self-shedding coat) on the Edge of the Simpson Desert in far-north South Australia. Ellen Litchfield is a farmer, veterinarian and scholar with a keen interest in climate change and some interesting observations about the swing towards plant-based meat alternatives. We are lucky to have captured a spare moment in time to speak with his very accomplished and very busy young mum.
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Ellen’s favourite place on Wilpoorinna Station with husband and new baby Winston.
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The challenges of owning a farm on the edge of the Simpson desert in an arid landscape.
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The unique qualities of the Australian White sheep raised at the Station.
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Ellen’s interest in climate change and her thoughts on changes for the future.
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Farmers For Climate Action and how you can get involved.
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The environmental impacts of climate change and, what we can do to slow this process down.
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While living in London Ellen noticed a change in the meat market and saw the switch to plant-based alternatives.
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Ellen’s tips for living sustainably including farmers markets and nose to tail meat use.
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Her time working as a Vet and why she chose to come back to the land.
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What Ellen loves most about living and working on the land.
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The most common misconception about living on the land.
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The future for Wilpoorinna Station.
We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus.
Links:
Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram
Partnered with Australian Farmers
Follow @australianfarmers On Instagram
Wilpoorinna Station
Episode 36 - Graziher
After an idyllic childhood on a Central Queensland cattle station, my guest today has travelled far and wide. Attending boarding school, going to University in Brisbane, touring Canada and New Zealand – all the while spending as much time on the family farm as possible. Something always stood out to her in her adventures and that was the story of women in agriculture. In 2015, whilst helping out on the property she started writing for agricultural publications. From a blog to a fully-fledged magazine – Graziher was born. Founder Claire Dunne joins me today and we discuss:
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Claire has an affinity for the land and shares her favourite place on her family station.
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Passion for people and their stories led Claire to start a quarterly print magazine celebrating the stories of regional and rural women.
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Graziher was originally a blog however it exploded with support and an engaged following.
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Crowdsourcing the first issue of the magazine in 2015 with 3000 copies.
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A day in the life of Claire and the team she has built over the years.
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Claire shares some of the most inspirational stories from Graziher.
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The value of a supportive community, either locally or online.
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Claire says, ‘I wanted my audience to know that they were being heard and represented.’
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Some of the most unexpected aspects of starting a magazine.
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Common misconceptions for women on the land.
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The magazine growth as they move into bi-monthly magazine releases.
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The future for Graziher.
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We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus.
Links:
Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram
Partnered with Australian Farmers
Episode 37 - Buy From The Bush
In October 2019, Australian farmers were faced with a crippling drought. One woman set out to give those communities a voice and showcase all the incredible wares for sale in the towns doing it tough. It started with an Instagram account and before long, the hashtag #buyfromthebush became a sensation. Small bricks and mortar stores on the brink of closure were selling out of stock. We are a long way out of that drought now but the support and sentiment behind Buy From The Bush is as strong as ever. To learn more about this wonderful initiative, founder Grace Brennan is today’s guest and we discuss:
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Grace’s favourite place on her creek country property.
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In 2019 the country was experiencing severe drought and ‘Buy From The Bush’ was born.
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Within 7 weeks’ Buy From the Bush had 130 000 followers, it increased rural postage by 30 per cent and within months became the second highest used term put into search engines nationally.
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The impact of #buyfromthebush and why this really resonated with those living in the city.
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The long-term results Grace has seen over the past few years and the boost this has given rural communities.
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Access to industry, workplace, full-time work and fulfilling career ambition remains a challenge in these communities, however Grace has seen a shift in traditional roles from this endeavour.
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The impact of the pandemic and the social shifts Grace noticed in rural industries as the drought eased.
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Storytelling may be the solution to crisis-proofing the impacts of natural disasters in rural Australia.
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The value of a digital footprint and how Grace provided a masterclass in how to harness social media to grow your brand.
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The contrast between city and rural life and what Grace loves the most about living in the bush.
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The most unexpected things to have occurred from running ‘Buy From The Bush’.
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The most common misconceptions of living in the bush.
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The dream for the future of ‘Buy From The Bush.’
We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus.
Links:
Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram
Partnered with Australian Farmers
Follow @australianfarmers On Instagram
Connect with Grace on LinkedIn
Episode 38- Bully's Meats
When you marry into farming, life can take many unexpected turns. For today’s guests moving to Caloundra Station in the Upper South-East of South Australia came with the shock of only having an income once a year! So, Robyn Verrall set out to create an income for herself. By promoting her husband’s animal welfare and best farming practices, she managed to start a direct paddock to plate business called Bully’s Meats. More than that – she’s turned her focus to helping others, with a mission to improve food insecurity in regional communities. Today we discuss:
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Robyn’s favourite place on her farm is the location she was married at the top of the hill.
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She gave up her medical sales rep career to become a full-time farmer.
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Robyn was a single mother in the mid-20s and became acutely aware of issues around food insecurity.
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Robyn shares how ‘Bully’s Meats’ sparked an interest in reducing food insecurity and increasing food affordability in Indigenous communities.
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As a First Nation owned and operated meat distribution centre, ‘Kere for Country’ is the first of its kind in Australia.
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The support Robyn offers to those struggling to find meat for their family and, the logistics of distribution to rural Australia.
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Winning the South Australian Rural Women of the Year Award has enabled Robyn to invest in Kere to Country and spread the word.
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70% of First Nations People are food insecure in Australia, 22% of those are children.
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Robyn attends every slaughter to ensure the animals are respected in death as they are in life.
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The most unexpected aspect of living on the land for Robyn is the ingenuity and strength of women.
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The most common misconception about women on the land.
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Robyn’s ultimate dream for the future.
We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus.
Links:
Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram
Partnered with Australian Farmers
Follow @australianfarmers On Instagram
Episode 39 - Sundressed
Today we are speaking with a fashion editor, columnist and author who says natural fibres are the answer to fashion’s climate crisis. Think wool, cotton, flax, silk, hemp and cashmere. There are amazing regenerative farms and fashion houses already changing the industry and in turn the way we all shop and dress. It is possible to wear beautiful clothes and improve the environment at the same time. To gain rare insight into the world of sustainable fashion Lucianne Tonti joins me having just released her beautiful new book called Sundressed featuring excerpts of interviews with farmers from all over the world about their best practice operations. We discuss:
The pivotal moment or a turning point where Lucianne thought it was time to push for change in fashion.
Lucianne recently published her gorgeous book ‘Sundressed’ where she describes fashion as having the potential to be more than just sustainable.
The versatility of natural fibres which goes way beyond the cable knit jumpers many of us may associate with wool, for example.
Some of the farmers and their best practices of natural fibre production around the world.
Australian wool growers in particular, have impressed Lucianne and she shares the improvements these farmers are using to regenerate the land.
The premise behind the sustainable fashion site ‘Prelude’ and how it was received.
The general attitude towards fast fashion and the changes Lucianne has seen in this space.
Some of the big fashion houses are becoming more interested in working with these natural fibres, which is great for the industry.
So, why does it matter where our clothes come from?
Lucianne’s advice for people thinking about their own wardrobes for the next season and her top tips!
We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus.
Links:
Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram
Partnered with Australian Farmers
Follow @australianfarmers On Instagram
Episode 40 - Big Farmer Andy
Meet Big Farmer Andy. The bloke who turned his dairy farm into a source of intrigue and fascination. With an online following of more than 300-thousand people he aims to bridge the divide between city and country people by sharing snippets of his life on the land with humour. He’s also not afraid to challenge those with opposing views. And is a strong advocate for mental wellbeing, sporting a very fine Mullet for Mental Health. In today’s episode we discuss:
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Andy’s favourite place on the farm and the sunset in the winter.
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He is a third-generation dairy farmer with roots dating back centuries in Holland before his great grandfather arrived here in Australia in 1936 to continue the lineage.
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November 2020 Andy had surgery and during his time off, he posted his first video on TikTok.
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Now, Big Farmer Andy has over 9 million likes on TikTok and shares how this has grown over time.
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The huge interest from city people and, the powerful conversations he is having online.
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Andy is not afraid to tackle controversial issues or take on people with opposing views and shares his tips for approaching difficult topics.
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After a personal family experience, Andy has become an advocate for suicide prevention and mental health.
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A day in the life of Big Farmer Andy.
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For years Dairy Farmers have been diminishing and Andy’s observations of the industry.
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Andy is a natural advocate and has been growing a mullet for ‘Mullets for Mental Health’ and, how you can contribute. https://www.mulletsformentalhealth.org.au/fundraisers/farmerandy
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The most common misconception about how Dairy Farmers run their farms.
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The most unexpected thing to happen to Big Famer Andy.
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Andy’s big dream for a future in politics to endorse change for farmers.
We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus.
Links:
Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram
Partnered with Australian Farmers
Follow @australianfarmers On Instagram
Follow @big_farmer_andy on Instagram
Follow @big_farmer_andy on TikTok
Episode 41 - Cobram Estate
Olive growing is steeped in history and tradition. Few know the art better than Leandro Ravetti having just completed his 31st harvest. From working in olive groves around the world to now calling Australia’s Cobram Estate home. His work has lead to the company being recognised in the Australian Financial Review’s Sustainability Leaders list of 2022. So, it seems extra virgin olive oil is good for us and good for the planet too. To learn more, we discuss:
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Leandro has worked in some amazing olive groves around the world and shares the places he loves most.
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This year marks his 31st olive harvest in his career.
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Leandro graduated as an Agricultural Engineer in Argentina and shares the differences in Australia’s landscape and climate compared to other countries.
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Cobram Estate’s inclusion on the AFR’s Sustainability List this year and, what does it take to grow olives sustainably.
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Olive groves are changing the landscape by becoming perennial forests which creates a well-balanced environment.
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The Cobram Estate Zero Waste Policy initiative.
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Biodiversity on the property and creating native vegetation corridors throughout the farm to improve biodiversity.
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The unique system called ‘Oliv.iQ’ a summary of Leandro’s learnings which is then being shared to the community.
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The most unexpected aspect of working with olives is how quickly Leandro fell in love with the crop and the land.
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Most common myths and misconceptions about olive oil.
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The future for Cobram Estate.
We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus.
Links:
Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram
Partnered with Australian Farmers
Follow @australianfarmers On Instagram
Episode 42 - White Strawberries
Imagine going to work with hundreds of new strawberry prototypes awaiting taste testing. That’s all in a day’s work for Australia’s leading strawberry breeder. Senior Scientist Dr Jodi Neal and her team have just perfected one that is pretty special. It’s a stunning white colour with bright red seeds and tastes a little like a pina colada! How did they do it? When can we buy it? So many questions. To learn more about this intriguing fruit, Queensland’s Department of Agriculture has kindly shared Dr Neal with us for this episode. Today we discuss:
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Dr Jodi shares, of all the places she works in the lab or on site, her favourite location.
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The story of the white strawberry and its striking appearance.
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The different varieties of strawberries and their various benefits.
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Perfecting the colour started with a white wild strawberry which was crossed with other varieties to create pink and white strawberries.
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The pineapple flavour of the white strawberry, which is actually closer to the fruit’s traditional taste.
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Dr Neal shares her top tips for picking out the perfect strawberry.
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Creating strawberries which are able to withstand disease, have a good shelf life and thrive in our hot climate.
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When these pink and white strawberries will be available on our shelves.
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What Dr Jodi loves most about working in this field.
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The most unexpected thing to happen as she has developed these new strawberries.
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Most common misconception about what Dr Jodi Neal does.
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The ultimate dream for the future.
We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus.
Links:
Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram
Partnered with Australian Farmers
Follow @australianfarmers On Instagram
Connect with Dr Jodi Neal on LinkedIn
Queensland’s Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
Episode 43 - Waste Not, Want Not
When you find yourself collecting your neighbours’ left-over home grown produce so you can make pickles and preserves in an effort to save them from the bin – you know food is your thing. Alex Elliott-Howery has channelled her love of the kitchen into a café and cooking school along with a series of cookbooks, the most recent being ‘The Food Savers A-Z’. Within those pages, you’ll not only learn traditional methods to create fabulous food, but you’ll also master how to use up all those bits and pieces left in the fridge. Think brown avocado, limp cauliflower, and bruised beans. To gain some insight into her food waste hacks, the owner of Cornersmith herself is today’s guest. We discuss:
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What Alex loves most about running her family business Cornersmith, which promotes using every part of our food.
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Her interest in pickling and increasing the longevity of our food started when she said ‘yes’ to using the neighbour’s extra and taking it home to bottle.
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Once she opened the cafe, locals were encouraged to bring in their own excess home grown produce to be turned into jams and pickles.
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The community of like-minded people who have come together for this cause.
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Alex is big on eating local, seasonal food and reducing waste. To help us do this at home she has written a new book.
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By using alphabetical order, the ‘The Food Savers A-Z’ allows you to quickly look up how to use a banana for instance that has turned black.
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Climate change and sustainability are something we all think about and Alex’s top waste hack.
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Alex describes her relationship with farmers and why it has changed her perspective on waste.
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She predicts how the future kitchens will look and the costs involved in being a sustainable business.
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The National Farmers Federation has a goal to halve food waste by 2030 and how we can all pitch in and help.
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The most unexpected thing to happen since starting Cornersmith.
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The common mistakes we make when it comes to food waste and her tips for longevity.
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Alex’s ultimate dream for the future.
We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus.
Links:
Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram
Partnered with Australian Farmers
Follow @australianfarmers On Instagram
Get your copy of The Food Savers A-Z’
Episode 44 - Pear Shaped Perfection
There’s a new kid on the chopping block that’s tipped to redefine how Australians perceive pears. It’s a big call but the Rico Pear boasts a striking blush colour and a surprising crunch. Marketing experts have described it as ‘unlike anything you’ve tasted before’. So, if you thought maybe pears had fallen out of favour, there’s a team of people working hard to change your mind. Our guest today is a Research Leader at Agriculture Victoria’s Tatura SmartFarm, Ian Goodwin. We discuss:
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Ian’s favourite place at the Tatura SmartFarm where he works at an experimental sundial orchard.
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He explains what a SmartFarm does.
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The new Rico pear is unlike any other and Ian shares how it was developed.
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How the Rico pear differs from the pears we are used to seeing on supermarket shelves.
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It is a versatile fruit ranging from a hard crunch to melting flesh texture, depending on the storage of the fruit.
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The taste of this unique pear as well as the sort of growing conditions needed to maximise that distinctive Rico blush colour.
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How Ian has gone about spreading the word about this pear to see it widely stocked at shops.
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Pears have had a bit of a bad rap at times and Ian shares how he hopes the Rico will revamp the humble pear’s image.
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The origins of the name ‘Rico’ pear and what this process looks like.
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What Ian loves most about working in this field of innovation.
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The most unexpected thing to happen as he has developed new fruit varieties.
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Most common misconception about what Ian does as a SmartFarmer.
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The ultimate dream for the future.
We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus.
Links:
Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram
Partnered with Australian Farmers
Follow @australianfarmers On Instagram
Learn More about Agriculture Victoria’s Tatuta SmartFarm.
Episode 45 - Married to the Land
Being born and raised on the land hasn’t meant any free passes for Angie Nisbet. Forging her own path as a stockwoman and grazier hasn’t come easy. She’s had to work tirelessly and prove a lot of people wrong. As if running Landsborough Downs near Hughenden Queensland wasn’t challenging enough – she’s recently added a couple more roles into the mix: mother to three children under four with a fly-in-fly-out husband and podcast host. Angie is a powerhouse and the perfect guest to mark International Rural Women’s Day this weekend.
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Angie’s favourite task on her farm is jumping on the motorbike to check the paddocks and land.
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Angie is based 400 km from the closest major town and what it’s like to live in the centre of Queensland.
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As the mother to three young children with a fly-in-fly-out husband, Angie shares how she makes it work.
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A day in the life of Angie as she musters, checks water pumps and fixes fences, just to name a few.
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Angie shares her passion for the land and why the core of her being is drawn to the land.
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Barriers and surprise support for Angie as she trained to be a Jillaroo, as a woman in a male-dominated field.
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Growing up with parents Jim and Terry Lindsay, who developed the Low Stress Stockhandling school which people attend from all over Australia.
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Angie’s podcast aptly named ‘Married to the Land’ and why she feels it’s important to share these stories.
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Family, community and bringing her family up in a grounded environment is Angie’s favourite thing about life on the land.
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The common misconception is that life on a farm is easy.
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Angie shares that the most unexpected thing to happen was how deeply she is connected to the land.
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The ultimate dream for the future.
We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus.
Links:
Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram
Partnered with Australian Farmers
Follow @australianfarmers On Instagram
Connect with Angie Nisbet on LinkedIn
Listen to Angie’s Podcast – Married to the Land Here