DIGGING DEEPER - AG CHATS WITH AL
Real farmers, real conversations, practical insights and inspiring stories.
Join Al Micallef and special guests to help unlock your farm's production potential.
Whether it's in relation to drought or economic shifts, this podcast is your go-to for developing resilience in agriculture.
This podcast is made possible by the Future Drought Fund Regional Drought Resilience Planning Program co-funded by the Victorian and Australian Governments.
Episodes
57 episodes
DIGGING DEEPER - Soil Solutions: Enhancing Gippsland's Productivity with Brett Tonkins and Simon Faulkner
Al welcomes listeners back to Digging Deeper Ag Chats for 2026, thanking supporters and outlining plans for more practical guests, more local producers, and monthly segments from Chelsea (Herd Solutions) on animal health and Morgs (Elders) on l...
DIGGING DEEPER - Navigating Dry Times: Insights With Morgan
Host Al opens 2026 by thanking listeners and outlining plans for more practical guests, more local producers, and monthly segments from Chelsea (Herd Solutions) on animal health and Morgs (Elders) on livestock markets. In this episode, Al and M...
DIGGING DEEPER - Liver Fluke and Livestock Management with Chelsea Hair
Al opens 2026 by thanking listeners for the podcast’s first full calendar year and outlining plans for more practical guests, more local producer stories, and monthly segments from Chelsea (Herd Solutions) with veterinary updates and Mor (Elder...
DIGGING DEEPER - From Seeds to Success: Grant Sims on Innovative Farming
Host Al opens 2026’s Digging Deeper by thanking listeners, announcing more local producers, and adding monthly segments from Chelsea (Herd Solutions) on animal health and Morgs (Elders) on livestock markets. Guest Grant Sims, a sixth-generation...
DIGGING DEEPER - From Vet to Farmer: Rod Manning's Story - Part Two
In a discussion about farm business performance, the speaker explains ballpark cost-of-production calculations using accountant figures and cautions that benchmarking can mislead because farms differ by growth stage and maintenance investment. ...
DIGGING DEEPER - Cattle, Climate, and Community: Easter Conversations with Morgs
Host Al opens 2026 by thanking listeners and outlining more practical guests, more local producers, and monthly segments from Chelsea (Herd Solutions) with veterinary updates and Morgan Davies (Elders) with livestock market updates. Morgan revi...
DIGGING DEEPER - From Vet to Farmer: Rod Manning's Story - Part One
Host Al opens 2026 by thanking listeners and outlining plans for more practical guests, more local producers, and monthly segments from Chelsea (Herd Solutions) on animal health and Morg's (Elders) on livestock markets. He then interviews Mansf...
DIGGING DEEPER - Navigating Hazards on the Farm: A Deep Dive into Plant Toxins
Al opens 2026 by thanking listeners after the first full podcast year and outlining plans for more practical guests and more local producers, with monthly veterinary updates from Chelsea (Herd Solutions) and monthly livestock market updates fro...
DIGGING DEEPER - Global Insights with PJ Budler
Host Al opens 2026 by thanking listeners, outlining more practical guests and local producers, and announcing monthly veterinary updates with Chelsea (Herd Solutions) and livestock market updates with Morgs (Elders). He interviews PJ Budler, a ...
DIGGING DEEPER - Inside the Sale Yards: A New Year in Agriculture
Al opens 2026 by thanking listeners and outlining plans for more practical guests and local producers, plus monthly veterinary updates from Chelsea (Herd Solutions) and livestock market reports from Morgan (Elders). In the episode, Morgan discu...
DIGGING DEEPER - Exploring Sustainable Farming With Simon Faulkiner
Season two of Digging Deeper begins with host Alister (Gippsland Ag Group) interviewing Simon Faulkiner of Murdeduke. Faulkiner describes his background across sheep, Angus cattle and soil health, and outlines Otway Pork’s outdoor breeding and ...
DIGGING DEEPER - From High Country to Herefords: A Chat with Barry Newcomen
Alistair from the Gippsland Ag Group interviews Ensay farmer and Hereford stud breeder Barry Newcomen on Season 2. Barry describes extremely dry high-country conditions after a cold winter and windy, low-rain spring, poor hay results, and ongoi...
DIGGING DEEPER - Resilience and Care: Tackling Disease and Fire in Livestock
In this episode of Digging Deeper, Al expresses gratitude for the support from listeners over the past year and outlines exciting plans for 2026. Special guest Chelsea from Herd Solutions discusses her experiences over the Christmas break, incl...
DIGGING DEEPER - Perennial Pastures: Trials, Triumphs, and Tips
In this episode of 'Digging Deeper,' Alister from the Gippsland Ag Group talks to Brad Smith and Brett Tonkin about the steps and considerations involved in establishing perennial pastures. The discussion covers soil testing, weed management, n...
DIGGING DEEPER - Community Resilience and Livestock Trends: A 2026 Start
In the latest episode of Digging Deeper, host Al reflects on a successful first year of podcasts and unveils exciting plans for 2026, including featuring local producers, regular updates from industry experts Chelsea from Herd Solutions and Mor...
DIGGING DEEPER - Fire Resilience in Farming: Jen Smith Shares Her Story
In this episode of Digging Deeper for 2026, the discussion features General Manager Jen Smith reflecting on her journey from Melbourne to agriculture, spearheading projects at Gippsland Agricultural Group, and her experiences with bushfires.&nb...
DIGGING DEEPER - Gippsland Agriculture: Wrapping up the Year with Morgan Davies
In this season finale of Digging Deeper, host Alister from the Gippsland Ag Group is joined by Morgan Davies to extend festive wishes and reflect on the year's events in agriculture. They discuss the importance of resilience in farming, updates...
DIGGING DEEPER - Agriculture Insights: Olivia Betts on Armyworms and Agronomy
In this episode of Digging Deeper, host Al welcomes Olivia Betts from Elders Bairnsdale. Olivia discusses her background growing up on a beef farm, her path from taking a gap year to studying agriculture and accounting at university and eventua...
DIGGING DEEPER - Innovating Sheep Feeding with Justin Dunn
In this episode of Digging Deeper, host Alister interviews Justin Dunn, founder and owner of Shepherd Ag Auto Feeders. Justin discusses his transition from being a school principal to becoming an entrepreneur in agriculture technology. He share...
DIGGING DEEPER - A Close Call: Chelsea's Tale of Survival and Strength
In this episode, Chelsea Hair recounts her harrowing experience of a recent car accident, emphasising the significance of safety and insurance while praising the professionalism of emergency responders. Chelsea also outlines an ongoing livestoc...
DIGGING DEEPER - From Turf to Farming: With Anthony Snow
In this episode of Digging Deeper, host Al interviews Anthony Snow, a unique thinker in the realms of business and farming. They delve into Anthony's journey from growing up in a turf maintenance family in Bacchus Marsh, to his eventual move to...
DIGGING DEEPER - From Drought to Downpour: The Impact of Weather on Livestock Markets
In this episode of Digging Deeper, the regular guest Morgan Davies returns to discuss various industry topics with the host. They touch upon Morgan's recent activities, market dynamics in cattle and sheep, and the impacts of recent rain on loca...
DIGGING DEEPER - Preventative Health in Farming: A Conversation with Alison Gunn
In this episode of 'Digging Deeper,' the host welcomes Alison Gunn, the owner of Herd Solutions, who shares insights into her extensive career in veterinary practice and her sustainable farming philosophies. Alison discusses her upbringing in a...
DIGGING DEEPER - Farm Life in Gippsland: Overcoming Adversity and Embracing Change
In this episode of 'Digging Deeper,' the host welcomes guests Trevor and Trent, who share their experiences at Gippsland Ag and discuss their farming journeys. Trent provides an overview of his extensive background in farming, experiencing life...
DIGGING DEEPER - Lily McCole: A Young Farmer's Perspective on Modern Agriculture
In this episode of Digging Deeper, the host interviews Lily McCole, a young farmer from Swifts Creek who has recently gone viral for her event recap on the Youth Agritech Expo. Lily shares her experiences growing up on a family farm, managing a...
