Humans of Agriculture

HOA Media
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We're going behind the scenes to see and understand modern agriculture, because no matter whether you're in it or not, you probably don't know all the pieces to just how incredible, diverse and multi-layered agriculture is. We do this by uncovering the real stories, experiences and voices of modern agriculture.

  1. “You don’t need a unicorn idea. You need to find a real gap and solve it" - Johno Mackay

    1H AGO

    “You don’t need a unicorn idea. You need to find a real gap and solve it" - Johno Mackay

    Johno Mackay grew up remote in the Northern Territory, shaped by hard work, risk-taking parents, and a deep love for the bush. In this conversation, Johno shares the path from School of the Air and station life to building a contract mustering and fencing business in Northern Australia, before an accident in his team pushed him into an entirely new chapter: ag tech. What followed was the creation of JobSafe Pro, a practical safety and compliance platform designed to help agricultural businesses simplify paperwork, think more clearly about risk, and build stronger safety systems without adding more complexity. This episode is about far more than an app. It is about backing yourself young, learning to lead, finding opportunity in tough moments, and recognising that agriculture today can open more doors than ever before. Johno also shares his belief in the value of the North, the importance of mentors, and why the people who get ahead are often the ones willing to work hard, show initiative, and keep having a crack. It is a grounded and forward-looking conversation about agriculture, ambition, safety, and building something meaningful from the bush. In this episode we cover Growing up remote in the Northern Territory and the influence of familyLife after School of the Air and heading to Emerald Ag CollegeStarting a contract mustering business at 21Building a life and business in Northern AustraliaThe opportunity that still exists for young people in the NorthLessons in work ethic, leadership and earning trustA serious workplace accident and the reality of risk in agricultureWhy farm safety needs more attention across the sectorTurning a hard experience into the idea for JobSafe ProWhat Johno learned through Farmers2FoundersBuilding partnerships with AgForce and EldersBringing Patrick into the business after a life-changing accidentWhy the future of agriculture will belong to people willing to learn, move and adapt Rabobank Community Fund! Applications for the 2026 Rabobank Community Fund close on 15 March. If you’re part of a local group, community initiative, or organisation looking to make an impact, this could be the opportunity to bring your idea to life. Learn more and apply via rabobank.com.au.

    42 min
  2. Rabo Community Fund & How it can help your community!! (Partnered ep)

    4D AGO

    Rabo Community Fund & How it can help your community!! (Partnered ep)

    Australian agriculture runs on more than crops, livestock, and markets. It runs on people and communities. In this episode, Skye Ward shares the story behind the Rabobank Community Fund, a program designed to invest directly into grassroots initiatives across rural and regional Australia. Since launching in 2021, the fund has invested over $4 million into projects that strengthen leadership, improve wellbeing, and support the resilience of rural communities. Skye also shares her personal story of growing up in the Monaro region, the experience of moving towns and building community as an adult, and why belonging remains one of the most powerful drivers of strong rural places. From succession workshops and financial literacy programs to melanoma skin-check trucks and simple community events that bring people together, the fund supports practical initiatives that make a real difference on the ground This conversation highlights why investing in people and community capability is just as important as investing in farms and businesses. In this episode we explore Why strong communities underpin successful agricultural regionsThe thinking behind the Rabobank Community FundHow grassroots funding creates real impact on the groundExamples of initiatives supported across rural AustraliaThe role of leadership development and wellbeing programsWhy collaboration and community capability matter for agriculture’s futureFind out more & apply now!! Applications for the 2026 Rabobank Community Fund close on 15 March. If you’re part of a local group, community initiative, or organisation looking to make an impact, this could be the opportunity to bring your idea to life. Learn more and apply via rabobank.com.au. Rabobank Community Fund! Applications for the 2026 Rabobank Community Fund close on 15 March. If you’re part of a local group, community initiative, or organisation looking to make an impact, this could be the opportunity to bring your idea to life. Learn more and apply via rabobank.com.au.

    24 min
  3. Business Spotlight: AMPS Agribusiness - The Grower-led Innovation with Tony Lockrey

    FEB 23

    Business Spotlight: AMPS Agribusiness - The Grower-led Innovation with Tony Lockrey

    In this episode of Humans of Agriculture, we dive deep into the innovative world of AMPS Agribusiness. Join us as we sit down with Tony Lockrey, a seasoned agronomist and leader who has dedicated decades to the fields of Northern New South Wales. Tony takes us "under the hood" of AMPS's unique, grower-led model that fast-tracks agricultural research from institutions directly into the paddock. We explore how AMPS has built a seamless ecosystem connecting research, agronomy, and commercial supply. Tony shares the fascinating story of Lancer wheat, a variety that became a regional powerhouse thanks to intensive, localised trials. Beyond the science, we discuss the evolving role of an agronomist, the importance of nurturing the next generation through a "job-first" education model, and the unparalleled value of a business owned and driven by the growers themselves. Chapter Markings [0:00] Introduction: AMPS Agribusiness and the Grower-Led Model.[1:15] Tony Lockrey's Evolution: From Technical Specialist to People Leader.[3:45] The Power of Relationships: When Customers Become Family and Shareholders.[5:10] Research in the Ute: Bringing the Lab to the Paddock.[7:20] Managing the Next Generation: Moving Out of the Way for Growth.[9:05] The Lancer Story: How Localised Research Accelerates Variety Adoption.[12:30] The "How-To" Grow Guide: Turning Data into Decisions in One Season.[14:15] The Origins of AMPS: A Response to Declining Institutional Research.[17:00] Commercial Synergy: Linking Supply, Procurement, and Paddock Outcomes.[19:40] Scientific Rigour: 30,000 Plots a Year and Statistical Significance.[22:15] Paddock Geography: Understanding Elevation, Frost, and Time of Sow.[25:30] Developing the "Agronomy Eye": Training the Future of Ag.[28:10] The Changing Face of Education: Work-First, Degree-Second.[31:00] Building a Safe and Cohesive Team Culture.[34:15] The Resilience of Australian Growers: Innovation Born of Necessity.[37:00] Pride in Cohesion: Six Branches, One Mission.[39:30] Upcoming Events: Winter Crop Reviews and Research Membership. Rabobank Community Fund! Applications for the 2026 Rabobank Community Fund close on 15 March. If you’re part of a local group, community initiative, or organisation looking to make an impact, this could be the opportunity to bring your idea to life. Learn more and apply via rabobank.com.au.

    36 min
  4. Tom & Mick: Grain, Livestock and Land - Where Aussie Ag sits in 2026 with Tommy Taylor

    FEB 16

    Tom & Mick: Grain, Livestock and Land - Where Aussie Ag sits in 2026 with Tommy Taylor

    Season 4 of Monthly Markets opens with a strong pulse check across livestock, wool, property and grain. Tom and Mick begin with: Wagga sheep market strength, with mutton pushing 7.50–8.00 and trade lambs over 10.50The Eastern Market Indicator hitting 1677 cents — a two-year recordCattle prices holding firm at GunnedahMajor rural property listings across NSW and QLD, including Springfield, Bogo, Glenfinnan, and Goodar StationThen they’re joined by Tommy Taylor from Clear Grain Exchange for a deep dive into the grain landscape. In this episode: How Clear Grain Exchange works Empowering growers to set their own target pricesBringing 140+ buyers into a single digital marketplaceSecure settlement and title retention for reduced counterparty riskDigitised documentation simplifying compliance and accounting2025–26 Harvest Review Record WA cropStrong Northern NSW and QLD yieldsChickpeas, lentils and canola performing wellBarley trading near parity with wheat in some regionsGlobal Market Pressures Argentina’s 30 million tonne wheat crop flooding lower-spec marketsFreight advantages favouring WA exportersStocks-to-use ratios tightening globally despite current surplusesOn-Farm Storage Trends Increased investment in storage infrastructureGrowers holding grain as both a price strategy and drought hedgeRisks and costs of multi-year carryChina & Canola First canola exports to China since 2020Political risk remains, but diversified export markets provide resilienceFeedlots & Domestic Demand Potential 6 million head on feedFeedlots becoming a major structural demand driverBarley strength in northern markets driven by ration preferencesTommy’s Advice Don’t miss opportunitiesSet target pricesVolatility creates upside for prepared sellersThis episode is essential listening for growers, traders, feedlot operators, advisors and agribusiness professionals planning for the year ahead. Rabobank Community Fund! Applications for the 2026 Rabobank Community Fund close on 15 March. If you’re part of a local group, community initiative, or organisation looking to make an impact, this could be the opportunity to bring your idea to life. Learn more and apply via rabobank.com.au.

    23 min
  5. The Era that built Australian agriculture is ending. What comes next? Tim Hunt shares his insights.

    FEB 9

    The Era that built Australian agriculture is ending. What comes next? Tim Hunt shares his insights.

    For decades, Australian agriculture has operated within a set of conditions that quietly shaped its success - stable geopolitics, expanding global trade, predictable markets, and steady productivity gains. That era is ending. In this conversation, Tim Hunt joins Oli Le Lievre to unpack the global forces reshaping food and agriculture right now, from geopolitics and trade fragmentation to climate volatility and rapid technological change. With a career spanning banking, economics, and international agriculture, Tim brings a clear-eyed, global perspective on why these shifts are structural, not cyclical - and what that means for producers, agribusiness leaders, and the wider food system. Recorded just one week out from evokeAG 2026, where Tim and Oli will be part of the MC team alongside Liz Brennan, this episode is about making sense of a changing world - and asking how Australian agriculture adapts, evolves, and leads in what comes next. In This Episode, We Explore Why the conditions that built modern Australian agriculture are no longer guaranteedHow geopolitics, trade, climate, and technology are colliding to reshape food systemsWhy these shifts represent long-term structural change, not short-term cyclesThe role realism plays in building resilient farm businesses and industriesWhy agriculture sits at the centre of global economics, politics, and cultureHow a top-down view of the world complements on-farm decision-makingTechnology as agriculture’s most important tailwind in an increasingly volatile eraWhat real value-adding looks like beyond branding and provenanceWhy adaptation, not protection, has always underpinned Australia’s agricultural successThe role events like evokeAG play in helping the industry respond collectively Rabobank Community Fund! Applications for the 2026 Rabobank Community Fund close on 15 March. If you’re part of a local group, community initiative, or organisation looking to make an impact, this could be the opportunity to bring your idea to life. Learn more and apply via rabobank.com.au.

    43 min
  6. Millie Moore Quit a Corporate Ag Job to Go Ranching... and It Changed Everything

    FEB 2

    Millie Moore Quit a Corporate Ag Job to Go Ranching... and It Changed Everything

    Millie Moore didn’t leave her job because she was unhappy. She left because she was curious. After four and a half years in a corporate ag role, Millie made a decision that many people talk about but few actually take. She quit, moved to Canada, and went ranching to properly immerse herself in the beef industry and test herself on the ground. That choice led to something bigger. In this episode, Millie shares how ranch life in Alberta opened doors to meat judging, scholarships, and ultimately a fully funded Masters in meat science at the University of Illinois. This conversation explores career risk, confidence, building networks without a farming background, and why agriculture offers far more pathways than most people realise. It also kicks off a year-long series with Millie, where she’ll continue to share what she’s learning across the US, Canada, and Australia. ⏱️ EPISODE TIMESTAMPS 00:00 — Quitting a corporate job to go ranching02:10 — University, early career, and choosing what not to do03:20 — Why Millie stayed 4.5 years in her first role04:40 — The fear and reality of moving overseas06:30 — First impressions of ranch life in Canada08:45 — Canada vs the US beef industry09:05 — Not coming from a farming background10:30 — “If you want to be in beef, go be in beef”11:40 — How Millie built her network from scratch13:40 — Why agriculture feels hard to break into (and why it isn’t)15:20 — Dealing with rejection and imposter syndrome19:55 — Meat judging and why it shapes so many careers22:10 — The US meat judging circuit explained24:40 — Sponsorship, alumni, and industry support26:20 — Returning to study and why Illinois made sense28:30 — What’s next and a year of conversations ahead Rabobank Community Fund! Applications for the 2026 Rabobank Community Fund close on 15 March. If you’re part of a local group, community initiative, or organisation looking to make an impact, this could be the opportunity to bring your idea to life. Learn more and apply via rabobank.com.au.

    31 min
  7. North Queensland's Robot Cowboys and the Future of Farming with Sam Rogers

    JAN 26

    North Queensland's Robot Cowboys and the Future of Farming with Sam Rogers

    At just 19 years old, Sam Rogers is building one of Australia’s most exciting agtech startups. Founder of GrazeMate, Sam is using autonomous drones, robotics, and AI to help farmers and ranchers move cattle, measure pasture, and gain real-time insights straight to their phone. In this episode, Sam shares his journey from growing up on a cattle station in North Queensland to raising capital, relocating to the US, and taking GrazeMate global. This conversation explores innovation in agriculture, resilience, robotics, and what the future of farming could look like when technology meets deep agricultural knowledge. Keywords: agtech, agriculture innovation, autonomous drones, robotics in farming, cattle mustering technology, GrazeMate, EvokeAG, future of agriculture, ag startups, Australian agtech Episode Summary In this episode of Humans of Agriculture, Oli Le Lievre sits down with Sam Rogers, the 19-year-old founder of GrazeMate, an agtech startup redefining how cattle are managed using autonomous drones and artificial intelligence. Sam shares his remarkable personal story, growing up on a cattle property in North Queensland, competing internationally in robotics as a teenager, surviving a spinal tumour, and climbing peaks in Nepal. These experiences shaped his mindset and ultimately led him to build GrazeMate, a technology that helps farmers muster cattle, estimate liveweight, analyse pasture, and manage grazing with far greater efficiency. The conversation explores Sam’s rapid rise in the agtech world, including global media attention, raising investment, relocating to California, and preparing to take the stage as a Groundbreaker at EvokeAG. Together, Oli and Sam unpack the opportunity agriculture presents for solving some of the world’s biggest challenges, the power of robotics at scale, and why the future of farming depends on aligning innovation with real on-farm needs. This is a powerful story about curiosity, resilience, and the role young innovators can play in shaping the future of agriculture. Chapter Markings 00:00 Why now matters and the idea behind robot cowboys 00:35 Welcome back to Humans of Agriculture and introducing Sam Rogers 03:49 Media attention, Forbes features, and global interest in GrazeMate 05:07 What farmers around the world are really struggling with 06:46 Growing up on a cattle station in North Queensland 08:26 The influence of family, curiosity, and learning by doing 09:43 Early robotics, AI competitions, and environmental motivation 12:09 The origins of GrazeMate and spotting the on-farm opportunity 14:00 Surviving a spinal tumour, Everest Base Camp, and mindset shifts 16:53 Why agriculture is the most important industry in the world 19:39 Technology, incentives, and what society chooses to reward 20:50 Why GrazeMate moved to the US and what is happening on the ground 24:18 Building a world-class team and earning investor trust 27:01 Teaching robots at scale and the future of autonomous systems 29:46 EvokeAG, coming home, and Sam’s message to Australian agriculture 31:39 Final reflections and looking ahead Rabobank Community Fund! Applications for the 2026 Rabobank Community Fund close on 15 March. If you’re part of a local group, community initiative, or organisation looking to make an impact, this could be the opportunity to bring your idea to life. Learn more and apply via rabobank.com.au.

    34 min
  8. A Re-share of our MOST Listened Episode ever - Clancy Mackay

    JAN 1

    A Re-share of our MOST Listened Episode ever - Clancy Mackay

    Clancy Mackay’s story is one of the most extraordinary ever shared on Humans of Agriculture and there’s a reason it remains our most downloaded episode of all time. This is a full re release of our most listened to episode ever. In this conversation, Oli Le Lievre sits down with Clancy Mackay to share one of the most extraordinary stories ever told on Humans of Agriculture. From growing up off grid in the Northern Territory with no power or running water, to breaking horses, mustering cattle, riding saddle broncs in the US, flying helicopters across remote Australia, and navigating profound personal loss, Clancy’s journey is raw, confronting, and deeply human. This episode explores resilience beyond the buzzword. It is about grit, grief, purpose, and learning how to keep moving forward when life repeatedly tests you. It is also about respect for animals, people, and place, and why calm leadership and deep understanding matter more than force or ego. Why this episode matters Clancy’s story is not polished or comfortable. It is honest. It reminds us that agriculture is built on people who endure, adapt, and keep showing up. People shaped by hardship, curiosity, and responsibility rather than shortcuts or certainty. This is an episode to sit with. An episode to return to. And an episode worth sharing. Rabobank Community Fund! Applications for the 2026 Rabobank Community Fund close on 15 March. If you’re part of a local group, community initiative, or organisation looking to make an impact, this could be the opportunity to bring your idea to life. Learn more and apply via rabobank.com.au.

    1h 28m
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About

We're going behind the scenes to see and understand modern agriculture, because no matter whether you're in it or not, you probably don't know all the pieces to just how incredible, diverse and multi-layered agriculture is. We do this by uncovering the real stories, experiences and voices of modern agriculture.

Information

  • Channel
    HOA Media
  • Creator
    Humans of Agriculture
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    355
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Humans of Agriculture 2025
  • Show Website
    Humans of Agriculture

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