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Dry Season Resources Podcast

The South-West WA Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub is dedicated to sharing information that supports growers in preparing for dry seasons.

On the Hub’s Dry Season Resources podcast, we chat with farmers and industry experts about preparing for a dry season. Topics covered range from early planning to tactical decision-making as the season changes throughout the year and setting up for the following season.

Find the latest episodes of the Dry Season Resources podcast below. Subscribe to the Hub’s podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

S3E2 Livestock nutrition in dry seasons with hay, silage and containment feeding

12 February 202529;02

Dr Penny Schulz from the SA Drought Hub and Dr Jeisane Accioly-McIllre from Western Beef Association Inc. share insights from their work on drought resilience strategies for livestock feeding. Penny discusses her pilot program on containment feeding, highlighting its benefits for productivity, pasture management, profitability, and drought preparedness. Jeisane brings her expertise from the ‘Better Hay and Silage’ workshops, equipping farmers with practical knowledge on producing, storing, and using hay and silage effectively.

S3E1 Managing heat stress in sheep, beef and dairy cattle

29 January 202530:17

Join UWA’s Professor Shane Maloney and Western Dairy Extension Advisor India Brockman as they delve into the impact of heat stress in sheep and cattle, with a special focus on dairy cows in Western Australia. Shane discusses the Murdoch University-led project "The Benefits of Shelter Belts", which is evaluating the effectiveness of shelterbelts in WA's South West region, while India introduces Dairy Australia’s Cool Cows program.

S2E23 Thriving through flexible planning in the eastern Wheatbelt

11 December 202431:05

Nic McGregor from AgVise Merredin and Ben Whisson from ConsultAg Kulin discuss the realities of farming in WA’s eastern Wheatbelt, highlighting the importance of getting the basics right: planning, execution, and cost control.

S2E22 Selecting the weather tools that work for you

27 November 202431:00

In this episode, Dave Stead from Anasazi Consulting and Phil Smyth from Nutrien Coorow explore the growing array of weather tools and apps available to farmers. They discuss the rise of localised weather stations, the benefits and limitations of popular apps like CliMate and Meteorlogix, and the importance of understanding trends in weather models.

S2E21 Land access options amid rising land prices

13 November 202432:06

Join Carly Veitch, farm management consultant at AgAsset and President of the Australian Association of Agricultural Consultants (AAAC), along with Ian Donaldson, senior manager of rural valuations at Rabobank, as they delve into the dynamics behind soaring land prices.

S2E20 Navigating extreme seasonal variability in WA’s Wheatbelt

30 October 202429:21

In this episode, Coorow farmer Rod Birch and Yuna farmer Jess Grove share their experiences managing extreme seasonal variability in Western Australia’s northern wheatbelt. With 2023 marking the lowest rainfall on record, and 2021, 2022, and 2024 presenting vastly different conditions, Jess and Rod discuss their strategies for adapting to these challenges, capturing gains in productive years, and building resilience for drier ones.

S2E19 Dry seeding strategies: tackling risk amidst changing rainfall patterns

16 October 202428:05

In this episode, we explore how changing rainfall patterns are reshaping seeding strategies and risk management across Australia. We are joined by Rachel May, Farming Systems Adoption Officer for the South Australian Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub, and Peter Newman, farm business consultant with Planfarm.

S2E18 Autonomous spraying to preserve soil moisture in the northern Wheatbelt

2 October 202429:21

Mullewa farmer John Flannagan and Tom Holcombe, Field Operations Lead at SwarmFarm Robotics, discuss the benefits of using autonomous spraying technology in WA's northern wheatbelt. The conversation highlights how these technologies have not only boosted operational efficiency but also helped conserve valuable soil moisture.

S2E17 Diverse pastures for year-round feed security

18 September 202426:54

In this episode, we explore strategies to navigate the evolving challenges of livestock management while boosting productivity and system resilience. Chapman Valley farmer Jason Stokes shares his approach to managing seasonal variability. Daniel Real from DPIRD delves into the Feed365 and Pasture365 projects.

S2E16 Case studies unveil top drought preparedness strategies of Aussie farmers

4 September 202435:32

Join Ben White from Kondinin Group and Kelly Cussons from Cussons Media as they dive into four compelling case studies showcasing innovative drought resilience strategies employed by farmers across Australia. These case studies are part of a comprehensive, farmer-focused extension and adoption program designed to uncover and share the most effective drought resilience techniques, strategies, and technologies in use today.

S2E15 MyClimateView: how past and projected climate data can support on-farm decision making

21 August 202427:06

Join us as we dive into how MyClimateView is empowering growers to make informed decisions in the face of a changing climate. In this episode, Stephanie Dickson from the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) and Jen Riseley from Pomewest share insights on leveraging historical and predicted climate data tailored to specific regions and crop types.

S2E14 Virtual fencing: breaking down boundaries in livestock grazing

7 August 202428:29

Our guests today are Esperance farmer Scott Wandel and Andrew Zipsin from Gallagher. Scott is currently trialling the Gallagher eShepherd neck bands on his farm and has observed numerous benefits, including improved pasture management and reduced labour.