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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.

S3E11 Optimising farm decisions in mixed farm operations

18 June 202531:19

Dr Michael Young, from Farm Optimisation Group and Johno O'Halloran, a farmer from Kojonup, discuss the use of the farm optimisation model to support data-driven decision making in mixed farming. This model allows farmers to test different scenarios and can help improve outcomes and reduce decision fatigue.

S3E10 WaterSmart Dams: capturing and keeping water in dams

4 June 202534:29

Dr Nik Callow from the University of Western Australia shares insights from the WaterSmart Dams project, which aims to build resilient water supplies for cropping and livestock operations. Solutions discussed include using repurposed tarpaulins to increase catchment runoff, daisy dam covers and vegetation to reduce evaporation, repurposing subsurface drainage systems, and decreasing leakage losses.

S3E9 The triple bottom line: lessons from the Pastoral Business Toolbox

21 May 202534:56

Business, landscape/production, and mental wellbeing are deeply intertwined, each influencing and reinforcing the others. This episode explores the interconnectedness of these three pillars of the triple bottom line in livestock production in the Southern Rangelands. With Louise O’Neill (Farm Life Fitness), Richard Marver (Contour Consulting), and Richard Brake (Richard Brake Consulting).

S3E8 Planning for financial security through uncertain times

7 May 202523:23

In this episode, we’re joined by Renae Piggott, Consultant with AgAsset, and Krista Lancaster from Ninghan Spraying and Ag Services and Project Officer at the Merredin & Districts Farm Improvement Group (MADFIG). Together, they explore the importance of planning ahead – rather than making decisions under pressure – and discuss key takeaways from "Cultivating Profit" workshops, including how understanding financial ratios can support better decision-making.

S3E7 Managing back-to-back dry seasons in mixed farming

23 April 202538:52

In this episode we are joined by a dynamic farming duo, Danielle Lannin England and Jonathan England, from AgInnovate. With a wealth of experience on-farm and in the wider agricultural industry, they share their advice after experiencing multiple dry seasons on their mixed sheep-grain farm in South Australia.

S3E6 Virtual fencing and drone monitoring: enhancing rangeland management through AgTech

9 April 202528:16

In this episode, we hear about new technologies in landscape management in the rangelands. Our guests are Megan Willis, Senior Research Officer from the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) and Richard Marver, landscape ecologist and director of Contour Environmental and Agricultural Consulting.

S3E5 Upskilling farming communities with landscape rehydration infrastructure

26 March 202523:24

Tam Connor, Learning and Development Manager, and Lance Mudgway, Landscape Planner and Hydrologist at the Mulloon Institute, explore the principles of landscape rehydration – using nature-based infrastructure and strategic land management to restore water cycles, enhance water quality, and build ecosystem resilience.

S3E4 Opportunities and challenges of deep sowing

12 March 202525:04

CSIRO Plant Physiologist Dr Sarah Rich and Facey Group CEO Tina Astbury discuss the Future Drought Fund project "Improving Sowing Opportunities for Increased Farm Resilience in a Changing Climate". They explore the potential of deep sowing, the current opportunities for adoption, and what’s on the horizon for this practice.

S3E3 Making every drop count: innovations in water harvesting

26 February 202526:42

How can we make the most of rain when it falls, and what alternatives exist when it doesn’t? In this episode, researchers Samantha Viljoen (Murdoch University) and Dr Priscilla Tremain (University of Newcastle) share their innovative work on improving water security in agriculture.

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.