Seeds for Success Central West Local Land Services

John Murdoch is a Farmer and rural mental health advocate from Bombala. John runs a mixed farming operation with his wife and father focused on merinos, first cross ewes, Angus cattle, and fodder cropping. He is also an outspoken advocate for mental health awareness and support for farmers.

In this episode, John provides insight into farming in the Monaro and explains one of the major projects he managed in his previous role as a Board Member and Chairperson for the Monaro Farming Systems group. He also digs into the Farming Forecaster network and how pasture prediction tools influenced his farming practices.

John also shares his mental health battles resulting from the pressures of farming and disasters and how to support farmers better.

Local Land Services Mixed Farming Advisor, Rohan Leach, reached out to John for this chat following your suggestions through our ‘Nominate a Mate’ campaign. 

Contact Rohan Leach at Central West Local Land Services at 0417 021 795 or rohan.leach@lls.nsw.gov.au to find out more about the Farming Forecaster network.

 

Mental health support:

If this episode has raised any concerns or feelings for you, please reach out to:


Lifeline on 13 11 14
The Mental Health Line on 1800 011 511

 

Resources and links:


Monaro Farming Systems website
GrassGro on CSIRO website
Farming Forecaster website
Lifeline website
Rural Adversity Mental Health Program (RAMHP) website

 

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.

JB and Alison Tancred are the husband and wife duo behind ‘The Maze’ near Gulargambone and G.R.A.S.S. Merinos at Armatree. G.R.A.S.S. Merinos is a cooperative stud breeding program, and ‘The Maze’ is an 8,000-acre farming operation with 5,000 acres dedicated to a cropping program based on wheat, barley, and pulse crops with a commercial merino flock.

In this episode, JB and Alison talk about the cooperative nature of G.R.A.S.S. Merinos, the challenges in meeting breeding objectives, and the importance of micron testing and fleece weighing in their breeding and commercial Merino operations. They also discuss some challenges facing Australian ag and how to get a new generation excited about farming.

Local Land Services Mixed Farming Advisor, Rohan Leach, caught up with JB and Alison in their home at ‘The Maze’.

 

Resources and links:


G.R.A.S.S. Merinos website
AWI Visual Sheep Scores (VSS) booklet for producers

 

Connect:


Central West LLS website
Central West LLS on Facebook
Central West LLS on Twitter
Central West LLS on YouTube

This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com for more information.

This episode is part two of our two-part chat with Harry Pye. In the last episode, Harry discussed the ag labour shortage and how his family has turned to robotics and automation for their mixed farming operation near Walgett. 

In this episode, Harry sheds some light on his sheep enterprise and how labour shortages influenced their decision to switch from Merinos to Dorpers. He also discusses drought preparedness, confinement lots, feedlots, and how grain storage and drying silos have revolutionised their operation.

Local Land Services Mixed Farming Advisor, Rohan Leach, sat down with his mate Harry for all the details.

 

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.

Harry Pye is the Owner of Gingie Pastoral near Walgett. Harry's 26,000-hectare property is split between arable cropping country and grazing for Dorper ewes and wagyu cattle. Due to the skilled labour shortage, Harry and his family have embraced automation and robotics in their operation.In this episode, Harry explains how SwarmFarm has changed his cropping operation and the impact he believes driverless tractors will have.Local Land Services Mixed Farming Advisor, Rohan Leach, caught up with Harry for all the details.

This episode is part one of our two-part chat with Harry. Join us for the next episode, where Harry discusses his sheep enterprise and why he chose to switch from merinos to Dorpers.

 

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.

Stan Noonan is a Crop Protection Specialist and Farmer at ‘Retford Park’, a small property along the Macquarie River near Dubbo. With the help of his family, Stan focuses on buying calves and growing them out with introduced pastures and grazing crops.

In this episode, Stan explains how he achieves high growth rates by focusing on quality feed for his livestock to reach their weight targets quickly. He also breaks down how he extends the life of feed from a good season by using baled silage, the challenges involved, and the lessons he’s learnt along the way. He also dives into how he works with growers as a Crop Protection Specialist to improve their spray application and weed control on the property.

 

Resources and links:


NSW DPI - Silage and hay information
GRDC - GrowNotes - Spray application manual
GRDC - Spray application tips and tactics

 

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.

Sherrie Whitty, alongside her husband Luke, runs Mount Pleasant Limousins, a robust herd of 100 stud cows on a sprawling 2,000-acre property near the Jemalong Range, near Forbes. Their commitment to quality and animal welfare shines through in their operation, which stands as a beacon of excellence in the industry.

In this episode, Sherrie emphasises the significance of selecting for temperament and docility in her cattle. She also explores the benefits of crossbreeding with limousin bulls. The conversation also covers Sherrie’s effective pasture management techniques, particularly her strategic approach to weed control, which plays a crucial role in optimising feed and maintaining healthy pastures.

Local Land Services Mixed Farming Advisor, Rohan Leach caught up with Sherrie to hear all about it in person.

 

Resources and links:


MLA - Guidelines for selecting the breeding system
Mount Pleasant Limousins
Mount Pleasant Limousins on Facebook

 

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.