Humans of Agriculture

Hey! We're back and this week we thought given it's the first of May, we'd do a quick check in with what's happening at Humans of Ag.We've been out filming with goFARM, NSW DPI, Dairy Australia, and the team at BlackBox. Our Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) in conversation series are alive and well on their channels. We've had the chance to sit on the banks of the Namoi river with Greg Rummery in Walgett, on Tom Coggan's deck overlooking a creek and in a few paddocks with Anna and Steve Madden.We're on the road to Beef Australia, Elders FarmFest and moreWelcome to our newest Partner - Rabobank, we're really excited to have them on a sponsor of the Humans of Agriculture podcast and keep your eyes peeled for a few ads from their Rabobank Research team.

We won't be able to give Esther Price justice in these show notes, but if you have ever been in the room with her then you know just how ExtraOrdinary she is. The influence she has on people around her is incredible, particularly when she is on stage, she really is absolutely captivating. Esther calls Western Australia (WA) home and always has. She is about to become a Grandmother and is more physically fit than ever.  "I've had the privilege of work and a love for adventure taking me all over the place, but always return home to WA."Esther started her career in livestock journalism before she was even 18 years old, at a time well before social media where people really wanted to have a journalist in their life, because it was their only way of getting their voice heard if they needed to. "I would take down my P Plates down as I drove into work because I didn't want people to know how young I was."The connections Esther made in this role that gave her the kick-start into soon managing National agricultural conferences and starting her own business. She had the tenacity, people skills, foresight and brains to know there was as a huge gap in the industry at the time for events, marketing and PR, and so she capitalised on it. Fast forward to now, and Esther is still a powerhouse in the industry, but she has also developed a love for hiking, adventuring and mountaineering. She has tackled some of the greatest climbs in the world and there's not much that deters her - not even a crash in a 12-seater plane the day before embarking up a mountain in Uganda. This is the incredible Esther Price.Chapters00:00 Introduction and Gratitude for Opportunities06:17 Early Memories in Agriculture and the Power of Storytelling12:18 Celebrating Agriculture and Creating Positive Stories32:07 The Challenges and Rewards of Mountaineering

“I never thought I'd be chatting on an agriculture podcast.”Founder and CEO of IVM Group, Nick Bloor describes his business as having a mission to improve people's lives through plant science. At only 19 years old, Nick founded his first business in vegetation management space. To us, Nick’s work is pretty mind-blowing. And he is so humble in how he talks about the business growth and people. To Nick, people are everything. “I don't grow a business, our people do.”Podcast partnership: Nick Bloor was announced as the recipient of theJudges Choice Award in the category of Innovation at the 2023 Syngenta Growth Awards. This podcast episode is in partnership with Syngenta Australia featuring recipients of the Syngenta 2023 Growth Awards.Chapters00:00 Introduction: Challenging Stereotypes in Agriculture08:04 From Weed Control to Building a Business15:32 The Evolution of IVM Group: Milestones and Success24:40 The Future of Agriculture: Sustainable Plant Management

Welcome back to the Tom and Mick Show! In this episode they are joined by special guest - Justin Oakenfull, from Elders at Inverell and recently the 2024 National Young Auctioneer Of The Year! Key Topics:Justin's journey in the auctioneering and livestock industryMarket trends and predictions in the livestock industryJustin's pump-up routine and favourite podcasts for the road (cheers for the shout-out, Justin!) *Note this was recorded in early April and the livestock markets have shifted since. 

To describe Sarah Sivyer as worldly and business savvy would be absolutely under-selling her. Sarah describes herself as a ‘serious data nerd’ and a ‘serious business model nerd’. After sitting down with her to record the podcast, we believe it and love it!“I'm going to sound a bit wacky, I just love excellent businesses.”Sarah has some incredible experiences and habits that have led to this appetite for continual growth and data-driven success. Just to name a few: Combined Chemical Engineering and Commerce degree from Sydney UniversityFour years being mentored at College following High School - there’s people from these formative years who are still having an impact on Sarah’s lifeMasters of Business Administration (MBA) from Oxford University in London Work on the mines for BHP in continual business improvement projects in Western Australia Work for Syngenta in Switzerland in food security Nuffield Scholarship in 2018 Avid podcast listener - “How I Built This” with Guy Raz is one of her favourites!As life would have it, it’s of course never quite that linear progression. Now back on the family farm, Sarah chose to generate impact in her own way that wasn't the traditional dairy farm she had always known... She instead developed a subscription model for pastuerised eggs that has social impact.  There’s so much more to Sarah’s story, from raising a toddler while running the business, marketing strategies and her most recent endeavours in agritourism. Sarah's story is part of our partnership with the Nuffield Australia - Nuffield Scholar program - Where we are shining a light on some of the incredible stories of some of their scholars.A message from this episode sponsor, ANZ Agribusiness:Farming in Australia is never without opportunity, nor challenge. From season to season, and from day to day, producers manage a myriad of risks and rewards as they produce the vast range of commodities global markets now demand. At ANZ Agribusiness, we’ve been supporting farmers to take opportunities and manage through challenges for over 150 years. We’re a proud and long term partner of Nuffield Australia, supporting its goal of capacity building for producers, their businesses, industry and rural community. Our network of regionally based Agribusiness bankers are ready to support both our existing customers, and any farming business seeking a review of their banking arrangements at any time. Find your local ANZ Agribusiness manager at ANZ.com.Chapters00:00 Introduction and Background06:14 Growing Up in a Farming Family16:00 Studying for an MBA and Networking29:58 From Ginger Beer to Egg Subscriptions44:16 Competing with Excellence and Building Customer Relationships

This week we're sitting down with Nancy Crawshaw, the New Zealand winner of the Zanda McDonald Award.Nancy shares her journey in agriculture and the importance of connection to the land. She discusses the multi-generational impact in agriculture and the responsibility of caring for the land for future generations. Nancy talks about her experiences as a Quality Assurance manager in Naracoorte and the challenges and growth that came with managing a team through COVID. She highlights the power of networking and the value of mentoring in the agricultural industry. Nancy's career aspirations include staying involved in the family business and focusing on people management in agriculture.TakeawaysThe connection to the land and the responsibility of caring for it for future generations is a core value in agriculture.Networking and building connections in the industry is invaluable for personal and professional growth.The QA manager role during the COVID-19 pandemic presented unique challenges and opportunities for learning and development.Promoting career pathways and investing in people management in agriculture is crucial for the industry's growth and success.

Tessa Chartres is the 2024 Zanda McDonald Award winner for Australia, in this episode she sits down with host Oli Le Lievre to chat about her background, her role as the General Manager of Business Development at Murray Irrigation Limited (MIL). She highlights the impact of the drought on regional communities and the importance of long-term thinking in preserving agricultural assets for future generations. Tess also shares her involvement with as the Chair of the Southwest Music Regional Conservatorium and her vision for the town of Deniliquin in Southern NSW, emphasising the need for collaboration and positive thinking.Other topics discussed:Long-term thinking is crucial for preserving agricultural assets and ensuring the viability of regional communities for future generations.Collaboration and positive thinking are essential for solving the challenges faced by regional communities and the agricultural industry.The arts, such as music and culture, play a vital role in making regional communities attractive places to live and work.The Zanda McDonald Award provides valuable networking opportunities and a platform for sharing knowledge and experiences.Chapters00:00 Introduction and Background01:09 The Big Battle of Easter - The Deni Rams vs Finley Cats03:27 Transition to Deniliquin and MIL05:12 Impact of Drought on Deniliquin 06:24 Initial Takeaways from MIL08:04 Overview of Murray Irrigation Limited09:48 Importance of Long-Term Thinking11:00 The Future of Regional Communities12:38 The Role of Southwest Music Regional Conservatorium13:49 Vision for Deniliquin as a Town16:18 The Zanda Mentoring Trip and Areas of Interest21:04 The Importance of Collaboration and Positive Thinking

We're about a quarter of the way through 2024 (HOW?!) and we thought it was time to give our Community a bit of an update. It's almost exactly 4 years since the release of our first ever podcast, and there's been almost 250 podcasts since then which feels HUGE.  In that time so much has evolved as we continue to grow and adapt.  A quick shout out to all the ExtraOrdinary humans who have shared their story with us in that time! In this episode, Oli and Milly talk about where HOA is today, compared to where Oli thought it might be. Oli also gives us a bit of an insight into perhaps where it's going and the potential to tap into our Community more. 

Mark Peart believes that purpose should drive a business, closely followed by Profit.It's a concept that may take a bit to digest, however, Mark's views are that with profit, the opportunity to do good can continue for a longer term.Mark has had an extraordinary career, in his early 30s he decided the dream job and life he was living was not necessarily the pathway he wanted to continue to take. He transitioned through various roles, working across Australian agriculture, property development and aviation before settling back into agriculture.His approach to business is one of innovation and thinking outside the box, whether it was crowdfunding capital to support the business or looking at new ways to provide livestock with the supplements they need via the water they drink every day.This weeks chat is fascinating and we can't wait for you to get into it.To find out more about DIT Agtech, check out their website!

This is the Tom and Mick Show! In this episode they are joined by special guest - cattle buyer Jimmy Blain, AKA 'Bull Train'. They cover the following:What keeps Jimmy occupied day-to-dayCattle market trends and weather impact Sheep and wool markets Market outlooks and predictions What podcasts Jimmy listens to on the road