Dry Season Resources Grower Group Alliance & The South-West WA Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub

In this episode, we explore different livestock feed options for dry seasons.
Joining us are Hayley Norman, a pasture researcher from CSIRO, and Emily Stretch, a farmer from Kojonup. They talk about the impact of the current dry season on livestock operations on WA farms and share alternative feed options farmers can consider.
A key topic is the use of saltbush as a feed alternative in dry years. Hayley and Emily explain how farmers can make use of less productive land for growing shrubs and other feed options. They also discuss the health considerations for livestock when switching to these alternatives.
This episode is brought to you by the South-West WA Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub and is hosted by Shannon Beattie.
Case Study: Weaning Management - DPIRDInformation about perennials, case studies, establishment, feeding and shrub spacing calculator - Saltland GenieSaltbush systems video featuring WA farmer, Rod Stokes - CSIROMaking Silage - Dairy AustraliaSaltbushes for dryland salinity management in Western Australia - DPIRDSaltbush: A grazing option? - FutureBeefGrain and Graze 2 program — FarmLinkThe spread of kikuyu - Meat & Livestock AustraliaPDS Spotlight on Productive saltland pastures for southern WA - Meat & Livestock AustraliaDrought resilient landscapes with profitable native shrub and legume systems across southern Australia — Fitzgerald Biosphere GroupHub news - Drought Hub

In this episode of the South-West WA Drought Hub's Dry Season Resources podcast, Renae Piggott, a consultant with AgAsset, and Matt Hyde, a young Dalwallinu farmer, talk about the impact of a dry season on WA farms' cash flow.
Farmers may need to pull different levers to change or modify farm operations to minimise the impacts of a dry season on their business.
Renae and Matt give an introduction to the four key ratios farmers should know to help them make informed financial decisions. They discuss the importance for business owners to have a clear understanding of where they sit financially, particularly around cash flow.
They also highlight the importance of having a plan with trigger points throughout the season. This plan should be built on evidence-based information and scenarios farm businesses have experienced in the last five years or more.
Some useful tools and rules of thumb are also discussed. 
The Dry Season Resources podcast is produced by the South-West WA Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub and hosted by Shannon Beattie.
Cultivating Profit workshop with Renae Piggott (PDF)Season 2024: information for WA farmers - DPIRDFarm decision making - GRDCProcesses help to guide good farm decision-making - GRDCFarm decision making - how does your risk profile affect your business decision making? - GRDCDrought budgeting and banking - Drought InfoAustralian Grain Leaders Program 2024 participants - Grain GrowersRainfall to date tool for Western Australia - DPIRDHub news - Drought Hub

In this episode, we turn our attention to getting good crop establishment with early sowing.
Our guests are Glen Riethmuller, Research Scientist at the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD), and Stuart Faulkner, a mixed farmer from Beacon, WA.
Good crop establishment and rapid, early growth can improve water efficiency, increase yields and help the crop to compete against weeds. However, early sowing comes with its risks. It can increase the risk of frost during critical growth stages and haying-off in a dry finish.
Glen and Stuart give their tips for getting good crop establishment when sowing early.
The Dry Season Resources podcast is produced by the South-West WA Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub and hosted by Shannon Beattie.
Livestock management in 2023-2024 (PDF) - DPIRDClimate outlooks - Bureau of MeteorologyMaximising sowing opportunities under dry soil conditions in the high-rainfall zone - GRDC$8.2M national project to boost canola establishment - CSIRO2024 WA Crop Sowing Guide - DPIRDTen tips for early sown wheat (PDF) - GRDCCrop establishment and precision planting (PDF) - GRDCHub news - Drought Hub

In this episode of the South-West WA Drought Hub's Dry Season Resources podcast, host Shannon Beattie discusses the role of digital technologies in agricultural businesses with Smart Farms coordinator for Stirlings to Coast Farmers, Phil Honey, Principal Research Scientist at CSIRO, Roger Lawes, and Latham farmer, Dylan Hirsch. 
A range of technologies have been developed in the agricultural industry that provide growers with new insights into their farm businesses and have potential to improve efficiencies and productivity. 
However, these technologies often have limitations and farmers often lack the time, tools and skills to process data from multiple different sources to effectively utilise them. 
Phil, Roger and Dylan took part in a SW WA Hub project funded through a Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Innovation grant aimed at understanding growers’ attitude to digital technology. They assisted growers to better understand the opportunities presented by the latest digital technologies and how they can address farming system challenges and improve in-season decision making when faced with a variable climate. 
Emerging technologies in agriculture (PDF) - AgriFuturesAgtech Decoded: growers critically analysing the role of new technology in on-farm decision making – what are the possibilities? - SW WA HubTechnology supporting SA agriculture - PIRSAHub news - Drought Hub

In this episode of the South-West WA Drought Hub's Dry Season Resources podcast, host Shannon Beattie catches up with Brad Milsteed, farmer and founder of 6Bs (Blokes, BBQ’s, Bonfires, Beers, Bonding and Bullshit) and Owen Catto from the Regional Men’s Health Initiative. 
They discuss grassroots approaches to support men’s and whole of community mental health and wellbeing that operate across regional WA.
Are You Bogged Mate? - Are you bogged mate? aims to boost awareness and start a conversation with the broader community about the rising issue of depression and suicide rates among men in rural areas. 10 wellbeing Tips - What are our Shock Absorbers?The Regional Mens Health Initiative6Bs websiteLifeline 13 11 14Hub newsletter subscription

In this episode of the South-West WA Drought Hub's Dry Season Resources podcast, host Shannon Beattie interviews Congellin farmer, Sandra Fowler, and Senior Field Veterinary Officer at the Department of Primary Industries & Regional Development, Anna Erikson.
They discuss the benefits of confinement feeding and deferred grazing during a dry season and things to consider when implementing this type of system.
A guide to confinement feeding sheep and cattle in NSW (PDF) - NSW Government Local Land ServicesManaging breeding ewes in containment areas (PDF) - Meat & Livestock AustraliaManaging sheep in drought lots (PDF) - Australian Wool InnovationResearch Report: Confinement feeding - Drought InfoResearch Report: In-depth drought lotting, site selection - Drought InfoSupplementary feeding and feed budgeting for sheep - DPIRDConfinement Feeding Factsheet (PDF) - DPIRDConfined paddock feeding and feedlotting of sheep - DPIRDHub newsletter subscription