Advertise on podcast: AgVic Talk

When two dry seasons hit hard, Bessiebelle dairy farmer Will McDonald faced a make-or-break decision: spend half a million dollars on fodder or rethink his entire approach. In this episode, Will shares how buying extra land transformed his business, secured feed, and even solved staffing challenges. Tune in for practical tips on planning ahead, building resilience, and why acting early can save more than just money. The Farm Business Resilience Program is jointly funded through the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund and the Victorian Government’s Future Agriculture Skills Capacity Fund. Access ⁠⁠Farm Business Resilience Program⁠⁠ resources and courses Access Information on the ⁠⁠direct support to help farmers and communities⁠⁠ across Victoria impacted by drought To listen to more podcasts by Agriculture Victoria visit ⁠Agriculture Victoria

In this episode, we explore the deeper meaning of resilience—not just as a trait, but as a process of building strength and capacity through adversity. This concept resonates strongly in farming, where daily decisions are made under uncertainty, and long-term outcomes are shaped by forces beyond control.   Michael Gordon, who is a farmer and consultant who has worked with rural and regional communities, explores these concepts. Dr. Rob Gordon, who is clinical psychologist, often assists Michael with this work and has a unique perspective on resilience.  Access Farm Business Resilience Program resources and courses    Access information on the direct support available to help farmers and communities across Victoria impacted by drought  Listen to more podcasts by Agriculture Victoria     Resilience to major emergencies is increasingly important in our communities. But what is resilience and what does it look and feel like on a day-to-day basis? Find out on the Road to Resilience.  Be able to apply this to your own life and build the resilience you need in the face of uncertainty.  To find out more, search for the Road to Resilience wherever you listen to podcasts, or visit www.dffh.vic.gov.au/recovery

This episode explores how joining farmer groups can transform farming businesses and personal well-being. Gippsland farmer Simon Lawler and consultant Chris Mirams share how networks like BetterBeef help farmers learn from each other, adapt to challenges, and build supportive communities. Want to learn more or get involved? Explore the BestWool/BestLamb and BetterBeef networks or subscribe to Newsflash for updates. The Farm Business Resilience Program is jointly funded through the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund and the Victorian Government’s Future Agriculture Skills Capacity Fund. Access ⁠⁠Farm Business Resilience Program⁠⁠ resources and courses Access Information on the ⁠⁠direct support to help farmers and communities⁠⁠ across Victoria impacted by drought To listen to more podcasts by Agriculture Victoria visit ⁠Agriculture Victoria⁠

After losing his entire farm to a fire in 2020, Matt Zagami chose resilience by rebuilding and diversifying his business, Avagrow Farms. For him, farming in Australia means facing challenges head-on, solving problems pragmatically, and adapting to whatever the climate throws his way. The Farm Business Resilience Program is jointly funded through the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund and the Victorian Government’s Future Agriculture Skills Capacity Fund. Access Farm Business Resilience Program resources and courses Access Information on the direct support to help farmers and communities across Victoria impacted by drought Listen to more podcasts by Agriculture Victoria

Providing shade and shelter on your property has multiple benefits for livestock, biodiversity and amenity.  Join John-Paul Murphy and Kylie Macreadie to learn more about the how to plant the right trees in the right places to enhance farm business profitability and productivity. The Farm Business Resilience Program is jointly funded through the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund and the Victorian Government’s Future Agriculture Skills Capacity Fund.  Access shelter and shade technical information on the Agriculture Victoria website Learn more about Revegetation Techniques: A guide for establishing native vegetation in Victoria Access information on ecological vegetation classes (species lists and characteristics) for Victoria at NatureKit Access information on the direct support available to help farmers and communities across Victoria impacted by drought Access Farm Business Resilience Program resources and courses Listen to more podcasts by Agriculture Victoria

Recreational beekeeper Mike Allerton shares his personal experience with Varroa mite, hive loss, and recovery, while Jamie Perry-Meijer, Resilience Officer Officer for the National Varroa Mite Management Program, discusses mental health impacts and support strategies for apiarists.   Learn how peer networks, biosecurity, and resilience tools are helping beekeepers adapt.  Further Information: Beekeepers looking for support and advice about Varroa should contact a Victorian Varroa Development Officer on: Phone: 1800 958 485 or Email: [email protected] All beekeepers should continue to monitor their hives regularly and report both positive and negative inspection results via BeeMAX. Report any suspect plant pest or disease immediately to the national Exotic Plant Pest Hotline on 1800 084 881 or make a report via our online form with photo (where possible). For comprehensive varroa mite information, visit www.varroa.org.au for resources on the National Varroa Mite Management Program. The Farming Safe and Well program is delivering activities and resources to improve farm safety outcomes in Victoria, visit ⁠agriculture.vic.gov.au/⁠⁠farmsafety⁠ To listen to more podcasts by Agriculture Victoria, visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/podcasts 

This podcast episode discusses the engagement of culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) workers in the Victorian dairy industry, featuring insights from Jenny Wilson of the Gardiner Foundation and dairy farmer Christine Sebire. They highlight the challenges faced by CaLD workers and strategies for creating culturally safe workplaces, emphasizing the importance of community connections and ongoing investment in diversity and inclusion initiatives. Further information: The Farming Safe and Well program is delivering activities and resources to improve farm safety outcomes in Victoria.  For further information about the Garinder Foundation's Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Projects. Dairy Australia has further information on the People in Dairy webpage Listen to more ⁠podcasts⁠ by Agriculture Victoria.

In this Farming Safe and Well episode, we explore how farm safety starts with inclusive inductions—especially for the 1 in 5 Australians affected by dyslexia.  Samantha Pritchard shares her journey from corporate HR to developing dyslexia-friendly safety tools like short videos, simplified apps, and face-to-face communication strategies. She emphasises the importance of a full-week induction and the power of kitchen-table conversations.  We also hear from Sheree Henderson, who brings a practical, on-farm perspective. She outlines how her family farm uses conversational inductions, bi-monthly toolbox meetings, and annual training to ensure everyone—from full-time staff to contractors—goes home safe.  Further information: The Farming Safe and Well program is delivering activities and resources to improve farm safety outcomes in Victoria, visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/farmsafety   To listen to more podcasts by Agriculture Victoria visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/podcasts  Training resources are available at People in Paddocks and Made by Deslexia  

In this Farming Safe and Well episode, we delve into the topic of Q fever, a disease that is notably prevalent in Victoria, especially in the Gippsland region. Our guest, Karen McLennan from GippsDairy, shares valuable insights on the importance of vaccination and awareness among dairy farmers.  Further information: The Farming Safe and Well program is delivering activities and resources to improve farm safety outcomes in Victoria.  The Gippsland Region Public Health unit has information on Q fever  Dairy Australia has further information on the Gippsland Q Fever Project.   The National Centre for Farmer Health has information on Q fever  Listen to more podcasts by Agriculture Victoria.

In this episode of AgVic Talk, listen to Jacquie Lee from Emerging Minds talk about strategies for supporting children's mental health during challenging times, particularly in rural areas affected drought and natural disasters like bushfires. Jacquie shares insights on the importance of parent-child relationships, understanding emotions and behavior, maintaining routines, effective communication, and building support networks.  Further information: The Farming Safe and Well program is delivering activities and resources to improve farm safety outcomes in Victoria.  Learn more about PERCS and the five key areas to support your children’s wellbeing on the Emerging Minds Families website. Emerging Minds Families also has resources to help families preparing for, experiencing and recovering from a disaster.  If this episode brought up any difficult feelings for you, please seek help from your GP, mental health professional or one of these crisis or support services.   Listen to more podcasts by Agriculture Victoria.

In this episode of AgVic Talk, Simon Craig discusses the critical issue of fatigue in farming. He shares his journey managing a broad-acre grain and sheep farm in Kooloonong in North-western Victoria, and the steps he has taken to reduce fatigue on his property.    Simon highlights the importance of recognising fatigue signs, implementing training sessions for seasonal workers, and creating a culture of safety and well-being. By hiring additional staff and managing shifts effectively, Simon has seen increased productivity and a better work-life balance. He encourages other farmers to embrace safety and open communication about fatigue to create safer and more efficient farms.  Further information: The Farming Safe and Well program is delivering activities and resources to improve farm safety outcomes in Victoria.  You can learn more about managing fatigue at the WorkSafe we  The National Centre for Farmer Health (NCFH) provides valuable resources and guidance on fatigue management, particularly for those in the agricultural sector https://farmerhealth.org.au/2017/03/20/fatigue  Listen to more podcasts by Agriculture Victoria.

In this episode of AgVic Talk, Jason Letchford from the Shearing Contractors Association of Australia and Craig French from Australian Wool Innovation discuss the safety challenges and improvements in the shearing industry. They delve into key safety issues such as musculoskeletal injuries, exposure to viruses, and the importance of improved shearing shed safety. The episode also highlights the SafeSheds program and practical strategies for enhancing safety and productivity in shearing sheds. Tune in to learn more about the efforts being made to ensure a safer working environment for shearers.     Note: The EVO shearing plant is mentioned in this podcast. There are other brands of shearing plants available, and Agriculture Victoria does not endorse any specific brand.  Further information: The Farming Safe and Well program is delivering activities and resources to improve farm safety outcomes in Victoria, visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/farmsafety   Worksafe Victoria provides information about safety in the shearing sector, visit worksafe.vic.gov.au/injury-hotspots-agriculture-shearing  Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) provides resources and information to support woolgrowers to provide shed safety for both workers and animals, visit wool.com/training-extension/safe-sheds/ or wool.com/news-events/news/shed-safety/  To listen to more podcasts by Agriculture Victoria visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/podcasts 

In this episode of AgVic Talk, Nigel Corish, the 2023 Farmer of the Year and Chair of Ability Agriculture shares his journey of farming with cerebral palsy, the challenges he has faced, and how he has overcome them. He also discusses the importance of inclusivity in agriculture and how technology is creating new opportunities for people with disabilities. Josie Clarke, founder of Ability Agriculture, joins the conversation to share her personal story and the mission to create an inclusive agriculture sector.  Disclaimer: There is language used in this episode that is not used anymore, however, it is used as part of a personal story   Further information: The Farming Safe and Well program is delivering activities and resources to improve farm safety outcomes in Victoria, visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/farmsafety   Ability Agriculture enables awareness building and improved opportunities for disability in the agriculture sector, visit abilityagriculture.com/   The National Rural Health Alliance provide information on disability in rural Australia, visit ruralhealth.org.au/sites/default/files/publications/nrha-disability-factsheet-feb-2023-final.pdf   To listen to more podcasts by Agriculture Victoria visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/podcasts 

This podcast episode features Maggie Bridgewater, a Wellbeing Counsellor with the Rural Financial Counselling Service in Western Victoria, discussing the unique challenges farmers face, such as financial instability and unpredictable weather, and the importance of recognising and addressing burnout, anxiety, and stress. Maggie shares strategies for managing stress, including working with counsellors, maintaining a work-life balance, and practicing mindfulness.  Further information: The Farming Safe and Well program is delivering activities and resources to improve farm safety outcomes in Victoria.  Contact the Nexsolutions on 1300 045 747 or check out their wellbeing supports on their website.   The Managing Stress on the Farm book explores the common causes of stressors on farms and offers practical ways to deal with them. It also includes the Steering Straight plan, to help individuals manage their mental health with practical, useful steps.  The National Centre for Farmer Health has valuable resources for Victorian farmers and agricultural communities on its Support Hub.  Listen to more podcasts by Agriculture Victoria.

In this episode Catherine Velisha, Managing Director of Velisha Farms, discusses the importance of cultural safety in the workplace, emphasising treating employees as individuals with unique needs and values. Vy Pham, a production manager, shares her experience of receiving language support and training, highlighting the benefits of a culturally inclusive work environment.  Further information: The Farming Safe and Well program is delivering activities and resources to improve farm safety outcomes in Victoria.  Agriculture Victoria provides seasonal harvest employment information.   Fruit Growers Victoria provides on-farm and packing shed safety videos.  Worksafe Victoria provides information about safety in the horticulture sector.  VEG Education is an education company established by industry specialists and provides horticulture industry training.  Listen to more podcasts by Agriculture Victoria.