Natural beauty: How embracing native pastures can make your life easier
Terry Worthington is a Farmer at ‘Four Corners’, a 7,000-acre livestock operation near Condoblin. Terry’s business is split between trade and agistment of cattle and bare breach Merino sheep, and breeding composite cattle. In this episode, Terry opens up about how his approach to farming has become simpler over time and has reduced stress for himself and his livestock. He also discusses how his appreciation for the differences between his property and his neighbours has helped him improve the health of the soil, native pastures, and shrub systems, and how a shift in his thinking and a desire to move away from ploughing and cropping has led to the establishment of previously unseen pastures. Local Land Services Senior Natural Resource Officer, Jasmine Wells, caught up with Terry on a beautiful day at ‘Four Corners’. This episode of Seeds For Success is supported by the Australian Government through funding from the Natural Heritage Trust under the Climate Smart Agriculture Program. Resources and links: Condobolin and Districts Landcare Nominate a Mate: If you'd like to nominate a mate (or yourself) as a potential future guest on the podcast, you can do so here: Nominate a Mate for 'Seeds for Success'. Connect: Central West LLS website Central West LLS on Facebook Central West LLS on Twitter Central West LLS on YouTube The views contained in this podcast series are not necessarily endorsed by Central West Local Land Services. Listeners are advised to contact their local office to discuss their individual situation. This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com for more information.
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45:53
The benefits of working with the landscape instead of against it
Col Clapham is a beef and sheep producer in the Ilford area of NSW. Col runs three properties with his wife and uncle across 5700 acres, using the variable elevation as part of their pest management strategies to protect their 1600 breeding ewes, 200 cows, and 400 steers. In this episode, Col discusses the challenges of managing soil that ranges from sandy to rich basalt to achieve his production goals, how he tackles managing native and improved pastures in the cooler, elevated country of his properties, and how he’s implemented technology to allow him to monitor his animals and make better decisions about when to sell. Local Land Services Senior Ag Advisor, Lauren Costin, caught up with Col on a rainy day in his woolshed. Nominate a Mate: If you'd like to nominate a mate (or yourself) as a potential future guest on the podcast, you can do so here: Nominate a Mate for 'Seeds for Success'. Connect: Central West LLS website Central West LLS on Facebook Central West LLS on Twitter Central West LLS on YouTube The views contained in this podcast series are not necessarily endorsed by Central West Local Land Services. Listeners are advised to contact their local office to discuss their individual situation. This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com for more information.
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27:00
Multi-species, multi-options: Multispecies fodder crops and their benefits for animal production
This episode is part two of our two-part chat with Isabele and Pete Roberts. In the last episode, Isabele and Pete opened up about their family’s Poll Dorset stud operation and the importance of good breeding. In this episode, Isabele and Pete highlight the importance of multispecies grazing crops for their farm and the research they have recently undertaken with the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD). Local Land Services Mixed Farming Advisor, Rohan Leach, continues his chat with Isabele and Pete at their home in Cudal. Resources and links: Mixed species annual fodder crops research from NSW DPI Isabele and Pete feature story from NSW DPI Ridgehaven Poll Dorsets website Ridgehaven Poll Dorsets on Facebook Nominate a Mate: If you'd like to nominate a mate (or yourself) as a potential future guest on the podcast, you can do so here: Nominate a Mate for 'Seeds for Success'. Connect: Central West LLS website Central West LLS on Facebook Central West LLS on Twitter Central West LLS on YouTube The views contained in this podcast series are not necessarily endorsed by Central West Local Land Services. Listeners are advised to contact their local office to discuss their individual situation. This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com for more information.
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34:01
Perfect plans for perfect Polls: How a complex farm business aims to communicate
Isabele and Pete Roberts are the husband and wife duo behind Ridgehaven Poll Dorset stud in Cudal. With three properties across Cudal and Forbes, Isabele and Pete work with their family to produce high-quality sheep. In this episode, Isabele and Pete explain how they run their complex business, the importance of breeding rams with good eating qualities, how they achieve fast-growing lambs that meet market specifications, and the truth for producers looking for the “silver bullet” in their sheep enterprises. Local Land Services Mixed Farming Advisor, Rohan Leach, sat down with Isabele and Pete for this far-reaching chat. This episode is part one of our two-part chat with Isabele and Pete. Resources and links: Ridgehaven Poll Dorsets website Ridgehaven Poll Dorsets on Facebook Nominate a Mate: If you'd like to nominate a mate (or yourself) as a potential future guest on the podcast, you can do so here: Nominate a Mate for 'Seeds for Success'. Connect: Central West LLS website Central West LLS on Facebook Central West LLS on Twitter Central West LLS on YouTube The views contained in this podcast series are not necessarily endorsed by Central West Local Land Services. Listeners are advised to contact their local office to discuss their individual situation. This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com for more information.
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29:09
Dream Dorpers: Inside one of Australia’s largest Dorper studs
Grace Hadley is the Business Manager at Burrawang West, an 11,000-acre mixed farming operation owned by AAM Investment Group between Condobolin and Parkes. Grace spends her days mostly focused on the Burrawang Dorper and White Dorper Stud programs. In this episode, Grace explains the strategies used at Burrawang to train Dorpers with quiet temperaments, how focusing on breeding rams chosen for conformation and fertility results in lambs of a mid-maturity growth type, and how an eight-month joining schedule makes a lot more work for the stud. Local Land Services Mixed Farming Advisor, Rohan Leach, made his way to Condobolin for this chat with Grace. Nominate a Mate: If you'd like to nominate a mate (or yourself) as a potential future guest on the podcast, you can do so here: Nominate a Mate for 'Seeds for Success'. Connect: Central West LLS website Central West LLS on Facebook Central West LLS on Twitter Central West LLS on YouTube The views contained in this podcast series are not necessarily endorsed by Central West Local Land Services. Listeners are advised to contact their local office to discuss their individual situation. This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com for more information.
Seeds for Success is a show where we have a good yarn about ag life with producers who are having a go. On the show, you'll hear from farmers in New South Wales who are out there battling the elements, making tough calls and getting the job done. You'll get a laugh out of some of their stories, and also pick-up some know-how along the way. Produced by Central West Local Land Services.