DIGGING DEEPER - AG CHATS WITH AL

Gippsland Agricultural Group Inc

Real farmers, real conversations, practical insights and inspiring stories.Join Al Micallef and special guests to help unlock your farm's production potential. Whether it's in relation to drought or economic shifts, this podcast is your go-to for developing resilience in agriculture. This podcast is made possible by the Future Drought Fund Regional Drought Resilience Planning Program co-funded by the Victorian and Australian Governments.

  1. 6d ago

    S3, Episode 9 with Lisa Miller Beyond the Surface: Exploring Soil Acidity and Constraints

    Send us Fan Mail Digging Deeper: Addressing Complex Soil Constraints, a Soil CRC project, with Lisa Miller In this episode of Digging Deeper, Lisa Miller discusses why managing soil constraints is often harder than identifying them, emphasizing the need to assess the full soil profile and target the most production-limiting issues. Common constraints covered include acidity (treated with lime), sodicity and dispersion (often treated with gypsum), compaction, and dense clay subsoils where deep ripping alone can be a short-lived “band-aid.” She outlines Soil CRC findings from glasshouse and laboratory reconstructed soil profiles showing the largest plant performance gains when nitrogen and phosphorus are placed directly into constrained subsoil layers, triggering deeper root growth, increased microbial activity, improved aggregation, and nutrient cycling. Gypsum improved aggregation and reduced dispersion but provided limited yield benefits alone and could increase salinity; manures can also add salts. Miller shares trial results where lucerne pellets placed at depth outperformed deep-placed lime, likely due to nitrogen supply, and notes the importance of economics, funding, and locally relevant research. More information onAddressing Soil Constraints can be found at the Soil CRC https://soilcrc.com.au/projects/addressing-complex-soil-constraints/ 00:00 Thanks and Show Intro 00:34 Meet Lisa and Topic Setup 01:46 Why Soil Constraints Are Tricky 03:12 Common Constraints and Fixes 04:08 Deep Ripping on Clay 06:09 Soil CRC Nutrients at Depth 12:08 Gypsum Limits and Salts 13:37 Dispersion and Soil Structure 14:47 Deep Rooted Crops Strategy 16:10 Organic vs Synthetic Nutrients 18:45 Costs and Practicality 19:59 Acidity Trials Lime vs Pellets 22:02 Local Research and Funding 23:11 Career Advice and Wrap Up 25:34 Final Thanks and Credits

    S3, Episode 9 with Lisa Miller Beyond the Surface: Exploring Soil Acidity and Constraints

  2. Oct 21

    S3, Episode 8 with Lisa Miller - From Drought to Growth: Soil Recovery

    Send us Fan Mail Managing Soil for High Performance After a Drought with Lisa Miller In this Digging Deeper episode recorded during Springfield Day, guest Lisa Miller shares her background from a beef farm near Seymour through nursing, roustabouting in 1989, and studying Agricultural Science at Melbourne University, then working with Landcare and the Department of Agriculture. The discussion focuses on managing soil for high performance after drought, emphasizing how soil type affects wetting-up and pasture establishment, with heavier clays taking longer and sometimes showing crusting or temporary water repellence. Lisa explains drought impacts on soil biology, including reduced arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi affecting phosphorus uptake, while noting common phosphorus carryover and a post-rain nitrogen flush. She also covers transient salinity in sodic soils, boron toxicity, and bicarbonate issues, advising patience before sowing and generally avoiding mechanical intervention in higher rainfall areas. Key recovery priorities include soil testing, appropriate fertiliser decisions, careful grazing timing, and whole-farm recovery planning. 00:00 Welcome and Credits 00:33 Meet Lisa Miller 01:06 Lisa’s Path into Ag 01:52 From Nursing to Ag Science 03:43 Drought Recovery Soils 04:06 Wetting Up and Repellence 08:18 Soil Biology and Phosphorus 11:57 Nitrogen Flush After Rain 13:35 Salinity and Ion Buildup 14:59 Sowing Timing and Tillage 17:49 Priorities on a Tight Budget 19:11 Grazing Recovery and Risks 21:29 Whole Farm Recovery Planning 22:39 Season Update Southwest Vic 23:57 Surprising Learnings and Wrap 25:56 Closing Thanks and Sponsors

    S3, Episode 8 with Lisa Miller - From Drought to Growth: Soil Recovery

  3. Oct 19

    Hidden Treasures: Uncovering the Wealth of Soil Data with Pete Dahlhaus

    Send us Fan Mail Visualizing Australia’s Soil: Making Soil Data Findable, Trusted and Useful In this remote Digging Deeper podcast, host Alister speaks with Pete, a principal research fellow at Federation University’s Centre for eResearch and Digital Innovation, about the Visualizing Australia’s Soil (VAS) project funded through the Soil CRC. Pete explains that vast amounts of soil data exist in government legacy reports and private collections from farmer groups and service providers, but are often lost, inaccessible, or hidden; VAS creates a map-based portal and metadata catalogue to make data findable and, where permitted, accessible. The project standardizes datasets using the international Observations and Measurements standard to enable interoperability with systems like the Australian National Soil Information System and supports FAIR principles (findable, accessible, interoperable, reusable). They discuss the need for trusted data for AI, benchmarking, liming decisions, long-term paddock trends, soil moisture probe records, stewardship certification, and emerging “data spaces,” while noting social trust and privacy concerns as key challenges. Listeners can access the portal via the Soil CRC website. 00:00 Welcome and Credits 00:32 Meet Pete and Background 01:11 From Geology to Soils 02:58 What Is VASS 05:41 Public vs Private Soil Data 09:14 Standardizing and Sharing Data 10:51 AI and Trusted Evidence 13:23 Data Spaces and Accuracy 16:14 On Farm Decision Examples 19:26 FAIR Data Principles 22:37 Future of VASS and Access 25:04 Social Side of Data Sharing 27:03 Wrap Up and Thanks 00:00 Closing Credits

    Hidden Treasures: Uncovering the Wealth of Soil Data with Pete Dahlhaus

  4. Sep 26

    Enterprise Stacking on the Farm with Tom Cosentino

    Send us Fan Mail Every Decision Counts: Tom Cosentino on Stacking Farm Enterprises and Knowing Your Numbers Host Alister Micallif welcomes Tom Cosentino, a South Australian farmer from Hindmarsh Valley near the Murray Mouth, who runs dryland beef cows and is adding 1,000 laying hens in October while managing bird flu risk through planning, water treatment, and adaptable infrastructure. Speaking at Gippsland’s Red Meat Conference themed “every decision counts,” Tom reframes a $100,000 investment discussion toward larger, multi-enterprise strategies to lift dollars per hectare, including vertical integration under his brand Hindmarsh Valley Eggs and adding solar and battery power to support on-farm egg grading and packing. Drawing on his background in tax accounting and insolvency, he shares three tips: write a 10-year business plan to guide decisions and attract funding, do tax planning in near real time to avoid surprises and pull profit levers when borrowing, and obtain property depreciation schedules to claim eligible deductions. 00:00 Podcast Introduction 00:58 Meet Tom Cosentino 01:41 Bird Flu Risk Planning 04:34 Red Meat Conference Brief 05:14 Stacking Farm Enterprises 06:37 Vertical Integration And Solar 08:21 Accounting Background And Talk 09:59 Bank Years And Profit Levers 10:58 Tip One Ten Year Plan 14:14 Tip Two Real Time Tax 15:56 Tip Three Depreciation Schedules 17:14 Advisory Work And Wrap Up 18:13 Final Thanks And Credits

    Enterprise Stacking on the Farm with Tom Cosentino

  5. Sep 6

    DIGGING DEEPER - Navigating Bull Testing and Beyond with Chelsea Hair

    Send us Fan Mail In this Digging Deeper Ag Chats with Al episode from the Gippsland Agriculture Group, host Alister Micallef speaks remotely with Chelsea about a busy late-winter period of calving assistance, bull testing, and preg testing, plus her recent Red Meat Conference talk on Focus on Weighty Weaners (nutrition, trace elements, and parasite management) and an upcoming MLA webinar in October. Chelsea explains what happens during a bull fertility test: observing movement and identifying common foot and joint issues that reduce libido, aiming for condition score 3 at the start of mating, performing a physical exam including scrotal circumference and testicular palpation, and doing a rectal exam of internal sex organs. She outlines semen collection using an electroejaculator, on-site motility assessment, and lab-based morphology to identify defects (notably proximal droplets in young bulls), discusses the 6–7 week sperm cycle and timing of tests, notes typical problem rates by age, and covers practical bull-to-cow ratios (about 1:50, lower for young bulls) including considerations after fixed-time AI. The episode closes with Chelsea’s quote: “We don’t learn from our mistakes. We learn from reflecting on our mistakes.” 00:00 Welcome to Digging Deeper 00:46 Catching Up With Chels 02:01 Red Meat Conference Recap 03:30 Weighty Weaners Webinar 05:04 On Farm Mishaps Update 06:18 Bull Testing Overview 06:44 Feet Joints And Condition 12:22 Scrotal Exam And Timing 17:19 Semen Collection Process 21:37 Lab Morphology Defects 23:53 Pass Rates And Best Practice 27:41 Bull To Cow Ratios 31:13 Quote And Sign Off 33:31 Final Thanks And Sponsors

    DIGGING DEEPER - Navigating Bull Testing and Beyond with Chelsea Hair

  6. Aug 26

    DIGGING DEEPER - The Journey of Landfall Angus With Frank Archer

    Send us Fan Mail Host Al launches Digging Deeper Ag Chats with Al for 2026 after a first full year of podcasts, outlining plans for more practical guests and more local producers, plus monthly segments from Chelsea (Herd Solutions) with veterinary/animal health updates and Morgs (Elders) with livestock market updates. At the Red Meat Conference in Gippsland, Al interviews Frank Archer, co-principal of Landfall Angus in Tasmania, a fifth-generation business celebrating 150 years, selling Angus seedstock nationally. Archer discusses Angus influence in southern herds, selecting genetics to match production objectives, and the importance of pasture utilization, noting fertility (especially days-to-calving EBVs) as the top profit driver and growth as second. He shares Landfall’s herd scale (about 3,500 calvings across Tasmania and NSW), use of genomics and embryo transfer to increase selection pressure, and the challenges of measuring bull longevity. Archer also describes two years using Halter virtual fencing to support rotational grazing, improve labor efficiency and lifestyle, explains the vibration/beep/pulse cues, and emphasizes management and fertility practices such as early calving and multi-sire joining. 00:00 Welcome Back 2026 01:05 Meet Frank Archer 01:33 Landfall Angus Story 02:54 What Counts As Angus 04:59 Breeding For Different Markets 06:13 Objectives And Management 08:10 Fertility EBVs Matter 09:46 Growth EBVs And Discounts 11:12 Stud Scale And Genomics 13:02 Selection Paper To Phenotype 14:25 Docility And New EBVs 16:04 Bull Longevity Challenge 21:03 Bull And Cow Lifespan Targets 23:57 Maintenance vs Production 25:06 Fat Cows and Profit 25:59 Emissions and Efficiency 26:24 Why Virtual Fencing 28:26 How Halter Works 31:13 Effectiveness and Issues 34:18 Costs and Lifestyle Gains 36:28 Pasture and Fertility Wins 40:28 Bull Mistakes Lesson 41:25 Advice to Younger Self 42:45 Final Thanks and Credits

    DIGGING DEEPER - The Journey of Landfall Angus With Frank Archer

  7. Aug 12

    DIGGING DEEPER - Agricultural Innovations and Challenges: A Conversation With Peter Norwood

    Send us Fan Mail Host Alister introduces Digging Deeper Ag Chats and speaks with Pete Norwood of Full Circle Nutrition after he contributed to the Gippsland Soil School, including a practical farm visit at Rohan Bigley’s. Pete recounts growing up on a mixed farm near Mendooran, NSW during the 1982 drought, studying ag science at Charles Sturt University, and later building farms in Stratford and now Seaspray with challenging sandy and saline soils improved with gypsum and lucerne establishment. He describes a pivotal shift toward Kinsey-Albrecht concepts after solving downer cow problems via phosphorus and discovering soil-plant mineral imbalances, emphasizing calcium’s role in soil structure and the need for reliable soil and plant testing (including Albrecht methods, total tests, and sap/tissue analysis). Discussion covers nitrogen use and cofactors, sulfur leaching and application, foliar strategies, and the Growing More Topsoils project at Gippsland Research Farm and its expansion to Skeene Creek, where treatments have increased topsoil depth and improved clay structure, aiming to boost resilience and water-holding capacity. 00:00 Podcast Intro 00:59 Meet Pete Norwood 01:12 Soil School Field Day 02:35 Early Farm Life 04:24 Mendooran Soils 05:30 Drought Memories 06:00 Old School Farming 08:46 Uni and Moving South 10:02 Seaspray Sand Country 11:54 Downer Cows Breakthrough 14:25 Kinsey Albrecht Shift 17:58 Learning From Farmers 21:21 Nitrogen and Animal Health 24:37 Farm Consult Process 25:24 Soil Testing Methods 28:06 Phosphate Options 29:04 Avoiding Chloride Potash 29:41 Rhizophagy Explained 31:35 Calcium Builds Structure 33:18 Sulfur Product Deep Dive 37:13 Foliar Feeding Strategy 41:16 Growing More Topsoils 46:27 Scaling Trials at Skeene Creek 50:26 Advice to Younger Self 52:21 Wrap Up and Contacts

    DIGGING DEEPER - Agricultural Innovations and Challenges: A Conversation With Peter Norwood

  8. Jul 30

    DIGGING DEEPER - Livestock Insights: Forecasting With Morgs

    Send us Fan Mail Host Al welcomes back stock agent Morgan Davies to discuss current livestock markets and seasonal conditions in Gippsland and beyond. Morgan reports strong cattle prices at local sales, including light cows around $3–$3.50/kg, bullocks up to $3,700–$3,800, and light black weaner steers reaching $7/kg, with feeders and feedlot/paddock prices also elevated. He notes cattle are moving back north after earlier flows into Victoria, and suggests producers consider selling in the next few months while supply remains tight, though weather risk and El Niño messaging are on people’s minds. They discuss forward contracts (around 20% of their throughput), the need to honor contract commitments, and strong sheep and lamb markets, including $9 sheep and lamb contracts around $11.80, with skin values driven by leather and wool recovery. They briefly cover regional rainfall patterns, upcoming spring sales, and local football before closing with the quote, “The rain fixes everything.” 00:00 Podcast Intro 00:58 Morgan Returns Banter 01:26 Memes and Clickbait 02:19 Cattle Prices Snapshot 03:07 Weaner Market Highs 04:02 Cattle Heading North 05:06 Weather Watch and El Nino 07:11 Selling Strategy Outlook 09:03 Forward Contracts Explained 11:33 Sheep and Lamb Market 12:20 Skin Value Breakdown 13:05 Finished Lambs Trend 13:23 Store Lamb Trading Risks 13:54 District Rain Check 14:25 Spring Warm Up Timing 15:31 East Gippsland Outlook 16:11 Spring Sales Calendar 16:28 Sports and Footy Banter 17:47 Local Footy Wrap 18:51 Coaching the Juniors 19:40 Quotes and Closing Thanks

    DIGGING DEEPER - Livestock Insights: Forecasting With Morgs
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About

Real farmers, real conversations, practical insights and inspiring stories.Join Al Micallef and special guests to help unlock your farm's production potential. Whether it's in relation to drought or economic shifts, this podcast is your go-to for developing resilience in agriculture. This podcast is made possible by the Future Drought Fund Regional Drought Resilience Planning Program co-funded by the Victorian and Australian Governments.

Information

  • Creator
    Gippsland Agricultural Group Inc
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    69
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 DIGGING DEEPER - AG CHATS WITH AL
  • Show Website
    DIGGING DEEPER - AG CHATS WITH AL

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