There's An Elephant In My Paddock!

When Queensland University of Technology researchers Dr Carol Richards and Dr Rudi Messner first embarked on a social research project into sustainable grazing they found an unexpected gem. Everyone wanted to talk about it, but not many understood it. Some had dismissed it from their businesses, some couldn't wait to incoporate it. Carbon. It's well understood it's going to be part of beef businesses long into the future, but there's still a lot of murky detail about how it works, how we measure it and how we relate it to grazing businesses. In this final episode of our sustainable grazing series, we hear from Professor David Rowlings, a grazier from Southern Queensland and an expert in carbon sequestration. Thanks to Dr Rudi Messner and Dr Carol Richards, for their insights and their fascinating research, funded by Australian Research Council and supported by the Queensland University of Technology and Meat and Livestock Australia. Thanks again to the many producers involved in the project who gave

Wellness and self care- they aren’t concepts talked about too often when you’re running a busy farming business. But should they be? This is the second episode in a series with Dr Carol Richards and Dr Rudi Messner- researchers from the Queensland University of Technology. We’ll hear what producers are doing to look after themselves and by default their businesses and how goals are being achieved, no matter what grazing system is utilised. Thanks to Dr Rudi Messner and Dr Carol Richards, for their insights and their fascinating research, funded by Australian Research Council and supported by the Queensland University of Technology and Meat and Livestock Australia. Thanks again to the many producers involved in the project who gave up their time and expertise.

Are you worried about food security in Australia? Maybe you should be. For the most part, we have it pretty good- but to maintain market access and get food to where it needs to be, more work needs to be done. This is the first of a three part series on sustainable food production. In this episode we’re looking at food security and food system shocks with producers and researchers. Thanks to Dr Rudi Messner and Dr Carol Richards for their insights and their fascinating research, funded by Australian Research Council and supported by the Queensland University of Technology and Meat and Livestock Australia. Thanks again to the many producers involved in the project who gave up their time and expertise.

How important is wellness to rural communities? It’s time to take the broad brushstrokes out of referring to rural and regional Australia. Between the Regional Wellbeing Survey and initiatives like the Rural Community Wellbeing Initiative, there’s enough tangible evidence to ensure rural and regional communities have access to the resources they need. So why don’t they? In this episode we take a deep dive into the concept of wellbeing with Associate Professor Jacki Schirmer, manager of the annual Regional Wellbeing Survey, dairy farmer Stuart Crosthwaite, and Kirsty Wall a wool grower in New South Wales’ New England region and a child and family registered nurse. National Wellbeing survey- https://www.abs.gov.au/participate-survey/household-survey/national-survey-health-and-wellbeing

For generations, rural Australians have grappled home schooling their children between running businesses, households and being parents. Where there's an increasing emphasis on the quality of education, should these home tutors be paid for teaching their children? In this episode we hear from long term rural and remote education lobbyists, the Isolated Children's Parents Association, the parents themselves and a Queensland Distance Education Principal. 

Buying more land is an impossible choice for many Australian beef businesses. So how can they be more profitable with what land they have?  With rising costs of living, land, seed, livestock, fuel and power, the agricultural sector is becoming increasingly savvy at finding solutions that mean that businesses can expand and increase profits without having to buy more land. Join host Jayne Cuddihy with a cohort from the Queensland Government's Advancing Beef Leaders program for a lively discussion on how beef businesses can do more with less. The group includes James Kent, Stuart Buck, Zoe Rickertt, Matt Quinn and Sarah Donovan.  Advancing Beef Leaders is a professional development program produced by The Queensland Department of Agriculture and delivery partners. https://futurebeef.com.au/advancing-beef-leaders/ Not only do participants have a broad range of experience and expertise in the beef industry, but are determined to influence their sector in positive and constructive change.  This epis

In Part 2 of our feature on building resilience in the Australian horticulture industry, we hear how improving the mental health of farmers is key to the industry’s longevity. Rural Aid is an organisation dedicated to improving the mental health outcomes of rural Australia. They often have multi-tiered roles in natural disasters… https://www.ruralaid.org.au/ Lauren Stracey is their national manager for mental health and wellbeing. The National Recovery and Resilience Agency https://recovery.gov.au/ was established by Prime Minister Scott Morrison in response to recommendations from the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements. We hear from Shane Stone, the Co-ordinator General of the agency and Bruce Scott- western Queensland cattleman, and one of Shane’s ‘boots on the ground’ with the Agency. They want to change the narrative around how the Federal Government supports rural industries and put more focus on preparation alongside recovery. We also hear from Lena Knudson from Growcom, the pe

In this episode we discuss a question posed by Richard Shannon- how do we ensure that horticulture is more resilient in the face of extreme weather events? To set the scene, what conditions are Australian horticulture growers operating under and how are they ensuring they remain financially viable when dealing with natural disasters? Central Queensland’s Sandi Groves has ensured multiple disaster events and has emerged with a stronger business- listen to how she did it. Ed Cowie is in partnership on a farm with his father and was severely impacted by the same 2019 fires. But in terms of disaster fatigue, Ed has unique insights, stemming from his roles in emergency services as a police officer, fire officer and SES controller, with an in-depth knowledge of farming systems. So how bad can it get… and what can growers do to be resilient to natural disasters? Richard Eckard is Professor of Sustainable Agriculture at the University of Melbourne and Director of the Primary Industries Climate Challenges Centre (www.

Imagine getting an insurance payout if you didn’t get your annual expected rainfall? It seems an idyllic, yet perhaps expensive solution to modern farming. Researchers at the University of Southern Queensland’s Centre for Applied Climate Sciences are revolutionising the way farmers engage with the insurance industry. Leading the charge is Prof Shahbaz Mushtaq who is applying his expertise in agricultural economics to assist primary producers when they can’t adapt to or manage the climate.

The humble workboot; it’s a staple of every Australian bush setting. They can be leather boots, or old sneakers, some people prefer none and sacrifice their feet to the harsh environs of the cattle yard. But one brand synonymous with rural Australia is RM Williams. In this episode we’re going to take a look at what made the humble leather workboot world famous and what it means when something that’s considered ‘from the bush’ crosses over to boutique luxury branding of high end fashion markets. #rmwilliams #theresanelephantinmypaddock #agriculture #fashionicon #pattyhuntington #wtitleyandco

David from Barcaldine has a question- "Why isn't Australian government investing heavily through various CRCs to discover how we can make the most of all the renewable free energy that we've got here in Australia?" Join host Nicole Bond as she questions some of the greatest minds in Australian renewable energy research and investment and discovers why politics has turned it's back on one of the most promising economic windfalls to rural and regional Australia.  Guests include Ross Garnout, esteemed Australian economist and researcher (among many, many other things), Dr Mark Diesendorf- a member of the environment and governance group at UNSW who has done extensive work in renewable CRCs and Karin Stark, a member of Farmers for Climate Action and founder of National Renewables in Agriculture conference. 

Rural and regional Australia has record level of job vacancies. In a year where job security in cities is far from stable, it's still a hard sell to get prospective workers to the regions. In this episode we hear from John Langbridge- Manager, Corporate and Industry Affairs for Teys Australia with a tricky question, and some wonderful discussion with Campbell McPhee from Western Meat Exports, Rohan May, chair of the Dalby Chamber of Commerce and CEO of Dingo Australia and Professor Karen Becker, human resource management expert, specialising in rural and regional areas.

The Australian and Chinese diplomatic relationship is currently strained. What does that mean for our producers? China is one of our biggest trading partners, but also one of the most temperatmental- or is that just what the media wants us to think? Our political expert says our govenment could do more. Join Nicole Bond as she talks to Patrick Hutchinson from the Meat Industry Council, Tony Russell from the Grains Industry Market Access Forum and Dr Matt Killingsworth, head of international politics at the University of Tasmania.

Progressive grazier and entrepreneur James Walker from Longreach in Queensland asks a terrific question- what are the opportunities for Australian agriculture to come from the COVID 19 outbreak? And to talk about the tricky stuff, host Nicole Bond is joined by Fiona Simson from the National Farmers Federation, Tasmanian farmer and television personality Matthew Evans and economist Phin Ziebell from the National Australia Bank.

Rural photographer Edwina Robertson asks when Australia will have it's reckoning in regards to sexual harassment in rural Australia. According to some commentators, we're too late- but all agree we are at crisis point and attitudes and employment systems need to change. Join host Nicole Bond and producer Jayne Cuddihy as they discover another Elephant in the Paddock with guests Dr Skye Saunders- Australia's leading expert on rural sexual harassment, Jackie Jarvis- past president of the Rural, Regional, Remote Women's Network of Western Australia and Dr Lucie Newsome- a lecturer in business at the University of New England in Armidale.

Why don't we see greater numbers of cattle producers actively engaging in industry affairs these days? A question put forward by James Nason, publisher of Beef Central (http://www.beefcentral.com/). There's an Elephant in My Paddock host Nicole Bond and producer Jayne Cuddihy hit the phones and gauge interest from a grass roots level, talking to several producers about their engagement with industry bodies. They also get some answers from industry 'agvocate' and beef producer Josie Angus-https://www.signaturebeef.com.au/signature-story.html. Daniel Meade from Victoria completed a Nuffield Scholarship on why producers aren't as engaged with industry issues and offers some practical solutions as to how to better engage them. Download his report here. https://nuffield.com.au/daniel-meade/

Mike Stephens from Meridian Ag has asked a particularly sticky question in this episode. It turns out everyone is thinking about it, but no one has the answer... or do they? Join host Nicole Bond as she chats to Chris Mirams, the executive chair of the Sheep Producers Association of Australia, Stephen Moore, General Manager - Corporate and Commercial for the Northern Australia Pastoral Company and the Cattle Council's Olivia Lawson.

Australian animal vets graduate knowing that several of their alumni will suicide during the course of their careers. Does that shock you? It shocked our host Nicole Bond when journalist Sally Cripps brought up the subject. In this episode we delve deep into the crisis facing our rural vets- a shocking suicide rate, poor rates of pay, emotional blackmail and a crippling workload. Join us for a candid conversation with Dr Libby Harriman, Dr Glenn Keneally and Ellen Buckle from the Australia Cattle Vets Association as they discuss everything from the changing roles of large animal vets, the bio-security of our nation and how to look after a crucial industry.

This episode was recorded LIVE from the Queensland Rural Regional and Remote Women's Network's High Tea at Queensland's Ekka. Hosted by Nicole Bond and produced by Jayne Cuddihy the question for the amazing panellists centres around creativity and the marketing and monetising of it. Including photographer Edwina Robertson, Rural Room's Bec Bignall, Charlotte Durack of Agri Creative and author and flower arranger extraordinaire Annabelle Hickson this is a vibrant and inspiring conversation not to be missed.

Michelle Miller has made a name for herself internationally as the Farm Babe... dedicated to busting myths in the agricultural sector and advocating on behalf of industry. She hails from a farm in Iowa, America and recently visited North Queensland to speak about the role advocacy and storytelling play in modern agriculture. Earlier this year we put out a podcast episode with experts discussing what hinders rural Australia from finding their voice (listen here if you missed it) and Michelle also has some thoughts on the subject.