Australian Farmers: Telling Our Story

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