
Paddock Chat
Local knowledge from a paddock near you. Paddock Chat is a West Midlands Group Original Podcast created to support local growers and help solve farming challenges without having to leave the paddock. The West Midlands Group is a not-for-profit grower group located in Dandaragan, two hours North East of Perth.
Episodes
76 episodes
Grower Group Conversations (Ep.4) - Shifting soil and land management narratives FEAT. Joshua Telfer (AIREP)
The Soil CRC Knowledge Sharing Project extension series is produced and presented by Simon Kruger, project grower group participant and Project Communications Officer at West Midlands Group in Western Australia.In this four-part series,...
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25:08

Grower Group Conversations (Ep.3) - Knowledge sharing with the Pasture Walk Series FEAT. Nathan Craig & Melanie Dixon (WMG)
The Soil CRC Knowledge Sharing Project extension series is produced and presented by Simon Kruger, project grower group participant and Project Communications Officer at West Midlands Group in Western Australia.In this four-part series,...
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16:09

Grower Group Conversations (Ep.2) - Engagement with farmers in challenging times FEAT. Diana Fear (CWFS)
The Soil CRC Knowledge Sharing Project extension series is produced and presented by Simon Kruger, project grower group participant and Project Communications Officer at West Midlands Group in Western Australia.In this four-part series,...
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16:40

Grower Group Conversations (Ep.1) - Reactive events & strategic engagement FEAT. Kelly Angel (BCG)
The Soil CRC Knowledge Sharing Project extension series is produced and presented by Simon Kruger, project grower group participant and Project Communications Officer at West Midlands Group in Western Australia.In this four-part series,...
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16:27

Fields From Space: Satellite Imagery and Ground Cover
In this episode of Paddock Chat we sit down with Justin Laycock, who is a Research Scientist at the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.Justin speaks about how DPIRD and growers across the Wheatbelt have been colla...
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16:53

Exploring Australia's Land Market: Insights and Outlook with Vitor Cacula Pistoia
In this episode of Paddock Chat we sit down with Rabobank Farm Inputs Analyst Vitor Cacula Pistoia to discuss the current land market in Australia. Vitor provides insights into how land values are tracking across the country, the reason...
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Episode 69
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24:05

Weed Wars: The Fenceline Edition
In this week’s episode of Paddock Chat WMG Executive Officer Nathan Craig chats with Bayer Crop Science's Matt Willis about successful strategies for fenceline weed management.Matt speaks about historical applications and management of ...
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Episode 68
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14:39

"Exploring Global Economics & Markets with Ben Picton: Rising Interest Rates, Consumer Trends, Social License, the Pandemic's Impact and more"
"Exploring Global Economics & Markets with Ben Picton: Rising Interest Rates, Consumer Trends, Social License, the Pandemic's Impact and more"Senior Strategist for Global Economics & Markets in the Australia/New Zealand region fo...
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Episode 0
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20:43

Getting the 'NACC' for Growing Great Ground
In this episode of Paddock Chat, we speak with Anna Cornell from NACC NRM about the 'Growing Great Ground' project. The project aims to combat wind erosion and enhance on-farm biodiversity in the northern agricultural region.Anna, who ha...
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20:01

Unpacking the Federal Budget's Impact on Producers
In this episode of Paddock Chat, WMG Executive Officer Nathan Craig sat down with Reagan Manns from RSM Australia to talk through the federal budget handed down on 9 May 2023. While this was considered a pretty tame budget, there we...
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Episode 0
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9:51

It's all about the GAINS: Increasing Protein Production and Improving Soil Nutrition in our Farming Systems
In this week’s episode of Paddock Chat we speak with agronomist Nick Eyres about his journey to starting his own agronomy business, Greenough Specialty Ag, and how it has allowed him to expand the research side of his role. Nick speaks highly a...
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Episode 0
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22:32

Is Your K OK? Potassium Nutrition Under the Spotlight
It is widely recognised across the WA Wheatbelt that crops and pastures need large amounts of Potassium (K) to achieve maximum plant growth. Most of the agricultural soils in WA are low in K and this means plants mainly rely on getting K from t...
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21:31

The Good, The Bad, & The Fungi: A look at Soil Pathogens
The Good, The Bad and the Fungi: A Look at Soil PathogensThis episode takes a closer look at the microscopic world of soil pathogens with Dr Dominie Wright, Senior Laboratory Scientist in DDLS and leader of the DPIRD plant diagnostic gr...
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Episode 0
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27:33

Beefing Up the Pastoral Supply Chain: Results from the BeefLinks Backgrounding Project
WMG EO Nathan Craig interviews WMG’s Beef Industry Development Officer Erin O’Brien on her BeefLinks Backgrounding project. This episode explores the findings of the project, and what’s in store for the future. The project is part ...
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29:19

The Future of Managing Herbicide Resistance
This episode explores the current challenges for weed control in the Northern Agricultural Region of Western Australia from the view of Matt Willis, Market Development Agronomist with Bayer Crop Science. Newly appointed Director of the Australi...
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23:15

Tapping into National Experience in Wild Dog Control
Diving into how to take control of livestock depredation on your farmWMG host Erin O'Brien dives into Wild Dog control and the need for proactive management.In this episode WMG host Erin O'Brien dives into what are the signs...
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20:59

Changes to Asset Depreciation Legislation with RSM Australia
Did you know that the rules around asset depreciation are changing on the 1 July 2023? With the $1000 write-off threshold being reintroduced next financial year, RSM Principal Reagan Manns joins WMG Executive Officer Nathan Craig to...
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Episode 58
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26:07

Vocal Locals Helping to Break New Ground Part 2 FEAT. Jay Cummins & Tanya Lehman
Episode 4, and the final in our collaboration series focusing on precision ag and mental wellbeing in partnership with the Society of Precision Agriculture Australia and Mallee Sustainable Farming. Tanya Lehman wears many hats and i...
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Episode 57
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11:30

Vocal Locals Helping to Break New Ground Part 1 FEAT. Jay Cummins & Tim Paschke
Episode 3 in our collaboration series focusing on precision ag and mental wellbeing in partnership with the Society of Precision Agriculture Australia and Mallee Sustainable Farming. Tim Paschke is a South Australian northern Mallee...
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Episode 56
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13:30

Precision Ag as a Tool for Better Farm Decisions FEAT. Tanja Morgan & Felicity Turner
Farmer and consultant Felicity Turner joins Mallee Sustainable Farming’s Tanja Morgan, providing an insight into her work in supporting farmers in the Mallee and Upper Southeast region of SA in relation to integrating Precision Ag (PA) systems ...
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Episode 55
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13:19

The Z to A of Precision Ag. FEAT. Jay Cummins & Peter Treloar
This episode marks the beginning of a 4-part series of episodes West Midlands Group are releasing in collaboration with the Society of Precision Agriculture Australia and Mallee Sustainable Farming.SPAA is Australasia’s leading independe...
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Episode 54
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12:31

Looking Forward, Not Back - Stabilising Sandy Pasture Paddocks With Low Groundcover FEAT. Geoff Moore
In this episode WMG Comms Officer Simon Kruger & Mixed Farming Systems Officer Melanie Dixon are joined by Geoff Moore, Research Scientist at the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development. When grasshopper issue...
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Episode 53
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25:15

Weathering The Storm - Turning Bare Ground Into Stable, Productive Paddocks FEAT. Don Bradshaw
Communications Officer Simon Kruger and Mixed Farming Systems Officer Melanie Dixon recently sat down with local farmer and WMG member Don Bradshaw.Don is the Manager at ‘Jutomara Park’, a grazing operation running cattle only, predomina...
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Episode 52
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34:59

Filling in the Gaps - Oversowing, Perennial Pastures & Grasshopper Control FEAT. Steele Rudd
Communications Officer Simon Kruger and Beef Industry Development Officer Erin O’Brien recently sat down with local farmer and WMG member Steele Rudd.Steele runs ‘Our Selection’ at Eganu, a mixed enterprise farm, consisting of a continuo...
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Episode 51
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29:14

Biochar - The Potential, The PhD, The Project
It is believed that ancient South American cultures would use a rudimentary form of biochar to increase soil productivity thousands of years ago. Fast forward to the present day and the word Biochar is used to describe a substance that looks al...
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Episode 50
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34:01
