Australian Farmers: Telling Our Story

Today we are on the road to Woombye on Queensland's glorious Sunshine Coast. Our farmer of the week knows what it's like to work hard, lose it all - and then go on to come back even stronger. Five years ago, the family's fresh produce shop was destroyed in an arson attack but the setback ended up being a reset with Mick Dan and his partner Kelly deciding to found Good Harvest Organic Farm. A green change that paid off - having just been declared Australian Organic Farmer of the Year. Farmer Mick joins me to discuss: Farmer Mick's favourite time of day on his Organic farm on the Sunshine Coast of Qld. Farming is in Mick's blood, however he first set himself up with a Batchelor of Environmental Science and, became a Lecturer in climate change, physics and ecology! Mick's roots called him back to the farm and he shares the advantages of his education in organic farming. The arson attack on his Organic shopfront, which brought an unexpected silver lining. The beginnings of Good Harvest Organic Farm The feeling of feeding more than 1300 families per week. Customer perceptions of organics and food provenance and, the shift in perception during the pandemic. Mick tells us what is actually involved in growing Organic produce. The requirements for receiving organic certification for Good Harvest Organic Farms. Winning Organic Australian Farmer of the year in 2021. Mick tells us about the 'farming incubator' as a way to build a lasting legacy. The biggest misconception from the public when it comes to organic produce. The ultimate dream for the future of Good Harvest Organic Farm. We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus. Links: Angie Asimus Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram Partnered with Australian Farmers Follow @australianfarmers on Instagram Good Harvest Organic Farm Produced by Pretty Podcasts

Imagine fleeing your homeland with nothing but what you could carry and starting a new life in another country. That's what the Pham family decided to do when they left Vietnam for Australia in 1987. Through lots of hard work and a little creativity, they've progressed from farm hands to land owners, operating a successful vegetable farm in Darwin specialising in Asian greens and green mangoes. We speak with Chris Pham who has just taken over the family business from his parents and is proud to be a second-generation farmer. Chris' parents arrived in Australia in 1987, after being in a refugee camp in Malaysia, and Chris shares his first memories of Australia. The decision to move their family to Darwin some 10 years later. Eventually, the Pham family saved enough money to buy a small farm - 20 acres in Humpty Doo. Chris initially did not take over the farm, instead working in Melbourne for 7 years in banking. The reason Chris came back to the family farm to become a second-generation farmer. Now, Chris's father has retired so Chris has taken over the running of the farm with his own family. The family farm operation and the produce they grow. Chris' learnings from his father and, the new techniques and technologies he plans to implement. The brand 'NexGen Produce' and the significance of that name for Chris. Mango production in Australia and Chris' experience of growing produce from seed. Work-life balance as one aspect of life on the land that Chris loves. The most common misconceptions of being a second-generation farmer. The future of NexGen Produce. We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers – Telling Our Story with Angie Asimus. Links: Angie Asimus Partnered with Australian Farmers Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram

Caged, barn laid, free-range, organic - when did buying eggs become so confusing? Today's guest could speak about eggs for hours but she didn't always want to take on the family business. Now, at 29 years old, tired of trespassers and vandalism, Danyel Cucinotta has opened the farm gates using virtual reality and an on-site deli to reveal the truth about eggs. Today we speak with Danyel Cucinotta and discuss: Danyel was born into a family whose main business is cage laid eggs and she explains what that means. The misconceptions about the caged egg industry and Danyel shares her current views around what she does. The benefits of caged eggs - more nutritional eggs, lowers fear and injury on the hens and does it all with a smaller environmental impact. At age 28, Danyel was appointed the Vice President of the Victorian Farmers Federation – the youngest to take on that role and the first caged egg producer. Her role in changing the Trespassing Laws and protecting the future of farming. Danyel's role in education and building a VR egg tour and the online information sessions called 'farmer time'. Instead of shutting the farm gate to scrutiny, Danyel has done the opposite – she now has an on-farm deli and fresh food outlet. The choice to be the last commercial white egg producer in Australia and the choice not sell to supermarkets. The future for Danyel Cucinotta. We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus. Links: Angie Asimus Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram Partnered with Australian Farmers Follow @australianfarmers On Instagram Connect with Danyel on LinkedIn Produced by Pretty Podcasts

Have you ever been roped into the fast fashion frenzy of buying a new piece of clothing on a weekly or monthly basis, only for it to end up in landfill a short time later? There is a world-first movement on the Queensland/New South Wales border to tackle that very issue. On a farm near Goondiwindi, you'll find a cotton graveyard where customers are welcome to return unwanted clothes to be shredded and deposited back into the soil. Our guest today is the tireless Sam Coulton from Goondiwindi Cotton. The energy and passion he brings to turning rubbish into riches is truly inspiring. Today we speak with Sam Coulton from Goondiwindi Cotton and discuss: Looking over his favorite place on the farm called 'Blue Knob'. At the North Star family farm, Sam is a 3rd generation farmer with now the 5th generation on the ground. Since 1924 the farm had been set up for sheep until the early 50s, when Sam's grandfather switched the focus to crop farming. In 1973 they bought an irrigation farm at Goondiwindi, which is where the story of Cotton begins after a flood wiped out all their crops. The story of the their first 212 bales, which made 1000 t-shirts per bale, for brands like Piping Hot. The Circular Economy Project whereby old garments are collected, shredded, and spread across his fields to battle the issue of 800-thousand tonnes of textile waste in Australia each year. The reason Sam started shredding cotton garments to go back into the soil and the impacts of this pilot. If successful, this could change the industry globally as we re-use these natural materials. Sam shares what it looks like to have shredded fabric all over the fields at 40cm thick. The advantages of the program to cattle farming through the Circular Economy Project. Sam accommodates tours on his farm and says, 'The solution for textile waste is education.' We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus. Links: Angie Asimus Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram Partnered with Australian Farmers Follow @australianfarmers on Instagram Goondiwindi Cotton Follow @goondiwindicotton on Instagram Produced by Pretty Podcasts

Did you know only 25% of Australians believe farmers are adapting to climate change? Today's guest has proven we are in fact world leaders when it comes to adapting to climate pressures. Stuart Austin of Wilmot Cattle Co in the NSW Northern Tablelands has pioneered a deal to sell around $500 000 worth of soil carbon credits to Microsoft. It's the first sale of its kind in this country. The farm captures more carbon than it releases. Now he wants to share the knowledge he's learnt along the way to keep the innovations coming. Today we speak with Stuart Austin and discuss: Stuart's favourite place on the farm. He elaborates on the term 'GSD people'. Stuart views farming as a noble profession, and shares how the true meaning of this has revealed itself over time. He explains what it means to run a 'climate positive operation.' How Stuart sequesters carbon and the flow on effect to the nutrient content of his beef. He is restoring the biodiversity of the farm by planting more than 25 thousand trees. How only a quarter of Australians believe farmers are committed to improving the environment or are adapting to climate change, and Stuart's response to this. The 'Microsoft Project' and how his operation now captures more carbon than it releases. As a father himself, Stuart has a vested interest in how he leaves the land behind for the next generation. What Stuart loves most about living on the land with his beautiful young family. The ultimate dream for the future of Wilmot Cattle Co. We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus. Links: Angie Asimus Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram Partnered with Australian Farmers Follow @australianfarmers on Instagram Wilmot Cattle Co. Produced by Pretty Podcasts

There are very few young shearers and even fewer female ones. That's why the delightfully named Joanna Treasure is a rare gem. She shares how she made it into the coveted 200 club (shearing 200 sheep in one day) and how working in the hustle and bustle of the shearing shed can earn you the big bucks. Today we speak with Joanna Treasure and discuss: Her office being a busy working shearing shed. Her determination to become a shearer as people kept telling her not to. Falling in love with the challenges that come along with this high energy job. A typical ewe weighs between 70-100kgs and the physical strength required to lift this weight. Joanna has recently joined the '200 club', and shares how long she has been perfecting her skills. The average number of sheep sheared in a day. Being accepted by an older generation of male shearers and the assumptions that are made. The perception of shearers within the agriculture industry. The going rate for shearing can be up to $800 per day, it is the perfect job for a young person looking to save for the future. Shearing as a seasonal profession and the work satisfaction Joanna receives from her job. The common misconceptions Joanna receives about the work she does. The future for Joanna Treasure. We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus. Links: Angie Asimus Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram Partnered with Australian Farmers Follow @australianfarmers on Instagram Connect with Joanna on LinkedIn Produced by Pretty Podcasts

This story starts with a father and son, a bottle of red wine and a hilltop. What came from that afternoon is the Instagram sensation that is JR's Eco Hut at Kimo Estate in the South West Slopes of NSW. It's an Air BnB project David Ferguson credits with drought and flood proofing his family farm, giving them a stable income all year round. But opening up this working sheep and cattle property to the public has also unexpectedly helped bridge a divide between the city and country. No curated cattle or petting zoos here. It's fair dinkum and visitors have been surprised by what they see. Today we speak with David Ferguson from Kimo Estate and discuss: David Ferguson's favourite place on the farm and the history of Kimo Estate established in 1832. The early 2000s delivered one of the worst droughts recorded since European settlement and the impact of such events. David and his wife have backgrounds in building, photography, sales and hospitality and so began Kimo Eco Huts. The impact of the pandemic and the important part the Eco Huts have played on the financial stability of the farm. The unique plan and design of the Eco Huts as a self-sufficient and fully sustainable product. Making it into Australian Traveller's 'Top 100 Unique Stays' in the country in 2021. Reconnecting city folk back to the country and educating the public. David shares what it means to him to be a guardian of Kimo Estate. And finally, what David Ferguson loves most about living on the land and his bold plans for the future. We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus. Links: Angie Asimus Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram Partnered with Australian Farmers Follow @australianfarmers On Instagram Kimo Eco Huts Connect with @kimoestate on Instagram Follow Kimo Estate on Facebook Produced by Pretty Podcasts

It's almost Christmas time and for most of us, that means a nice cold bowl full of cherries. But have you ever complained about how much they cost? Well, our farmer of the week is cherry royalty in NSW and has a lot to say about that. So how do cherries get from the orchard to international clients in just 48 hours? Did you know they are picked and safely stored inside within 20 minutes? It's a fascinating process to bring us the tiny superfruit we all love. Today we speak with Fiona Hall from BiteRiot! and discuss: Fiona shares how cherry crops are tracking for this year including the challenges of weather and pickers. How in 2016 BiteRiot! was able to supply 10% of the cherries in Australia. She explains the BiteRiot! model and how this benefits many growers in the region. Fiona's farm was the first to introduce an optical grader in NSW which ensures consistency. The growing market for cherries in China as a luxury gift. The hydro cooler, packing, and grading of cherries. Fiona shares the pricing structure for cherries and how this can fluctuate year on year. Fiona's favourite cherry variety is Samba – beautiful sweet and large and always eaten fresh – and her recipe for a cherry spritzer. Fiona takes us through an average day for her and the challenges associated with a short picking window. The ideal conditions for growing and the elements which contribute to sweetness. Fiona's ultimate dream for the track ahead. We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers: Telling our Story with Angie Asimus. Links: Angie Asimus Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram Partnered with Australian Farmers Follow @australianfarmers On Instagram Connect with Fiona on LinkedIn Biteriot Produced by Pretty Podcasts

We're all used to walking into a shop and choosing an outfit but what about also choosing the farm where it came from? That's now possible thanks to a chance meeting between Tasmanian wool grower Simon Cameron and MJ Bale CEO Matt Jensen. The 'Kingston' Collection is a single origin range that's helped the luxury menswear label to call itself - Australia's first fully carbon-neutral fashion business. Today we speak with Simon Cameron from Kingston wool and discuss: Cameron's favourite place on his merino wool farm in Tasmania. His farm is home to grasslands which are of national significance and he shares why these areas are so important. How he came to be working with MJ Bale, which created revenue to support the preservation of the native grasslands of Tasmania. Why MJ Bale CEO Matt Jensen agreed to financially contribute to the environmental work at Kingston. How Simon became the sole wool provider for MJ Bale's Kingston Collection. MJ Bale's 'Net Zero Now' program, of which the goal is to go carbon-neutral and Simon explains what this means for his sheep. Overcoming the societal perception of wool and its environmental impact. Why buyers enjoy being able to trace the origins of the fibre they are wearing and Simon's joy in seeing where his wool ends up. The electronic animal management system ensures the welfare of the sheep on the farm. And finally, Simon shares what he loves most about life on the land. We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers: Telling our Story with Angie Asimus. Links: Angie Asimus Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram Partnered with Australian Farmers Follow @australianfarmers On Instagram MJ Bale Connect with Simon Cameron on LinkedIn Produced by Pretty Podcasts

This is Australian Farmers - your exclusive behind the farm gate look into the remarkable people who produce the food and fibre we all rely on. Do you have questions about the produce you eat and the clothes you wear? You'll find those answers right here. I'm your host Angie Asimus, partnering with the National Farmers Federation. We think, you'll be surprised by the vision, ingenuity and innovation of those living on the land. This is their story. Today we speak with the president of the National Farmers Federation, Fiona Simson and discuss: How we can bridge the gap between the city and the country. Fiona shares some of the common misconceptions about how food and fibre is produced in Australia. We discuss the big issues in society - climate change, animal welfare and water management. The public's perception of the care farmers have for their land and animals. Fiona shares her excitement for the podcast as an opportunity to get to know our famers. We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers: Telling Our Story with Angie Asimus. Links: Angie Asimus Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram Partnered with Australian Farmers Follow @australianfarmers On Instagram Connect with Fiona Simson, President of the National Farmers Federation Produced by Pretty Podcasts