Seeds for Success

Is your grazing strategy working for your land or are you working for your grazing? In this episode, Local Land Services senior Natural Resource Officer Jasmine Wells sits down with Emily Mosely, Grazing Solutions Advisor with Atlas Carbon and MaiaGrazing. Emily explains how a people- and data-first approach to grazing management transformed her family’s semi-arid rangeland operation. Drawing on both her personal experience and professional role, she shares why proactive monitoring, digital tools, and strategic rest and recovery are game changers for sustainable livestock and pasture management. You’ll hear practical insights on multi-species grazing, leveraging technology to track livestock and pasture performance, increasing carrying capacity while regenerating ground cover, and fostering a feedback loop that improves decisions across your enterprise. Emily also discusses how implementing practice changes early and experimenting with regenerative techniques can create measurable, long-term results. This episode is a must-listen for graziers, land managers, and anyone interested in optimizing productivity while caring for the land. Resources and links: Emily Mosely on LinkedIn Atlas Grazing (formerly MaiaGrazing) Nominate a Mate: If you'd like to nominate a mate (or yourself) as a potential future guest on the podcast, you can do so here: Nominate a Mate for 'Seeds for Success'. Connect: Central West LLS website Central West LLS on Facebook Central West LLS on X 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 SoundCartel. Visit soundcartel.com.au for more information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is your family serving the farm… or is the farm serving your family? In this episode, Tim Bartimote sits down with James Hamilton, a central New South Wales farmer who also works nationally in agricultural succession planning. Drawing on lived experience and more than a decade advising families, James explains why succession isn’t about dividing assets; it’s about aligning needs. He outlines his people-first approach, how he structures conversations to move families from “I” to “we,” and why everyone must see their opportunity for a transition to succeed. You’ll hear practical insights on introducing the next generation early, managing debt responsibly, handling off-farm siblings fairly, and why succession rarely works when it’s left too late. This is an essential listen for producers who want to extend productivity across generations while keeping the family unit intact. Resources and links: James Hamilton on LinkedIn Cultivate Advisory Nominate a Mate: If you'd like to nominate a mate (or yourself) as a potential future guest on the podcast, you can do so here: Nominate a Mate for 'Seeds for Success'. Connect: Central West LLS website Central West LLS on Facebook Central West LLS on X 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 SoundCartel. Visit soundcartel.com.au for more information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happens when a producer decides not just to grow the product but to own the entire supply chain? In this episode, Local Land Services Cropping Ag Advisor Tim Bartimote sits down with Andy and Ben Sippel to unpack how a vertically integrated lamb business was built from paddock to plate. Starting with farmers’ markets and evolving into a streamlined event-based model, they share why simplicity, consistency, and market alignment have been central to success. You’ll hear why limiting customer choice became a strength, how ensuring “everything has a home before it leaves the paddock” protects profitability, and what it really takes to bootstrap and scale a food business. This is a practical conversation for producers interested in value-adding, controlling their market pathway, and building resilient agricultural businesses beyond the farm gate. Resources and links: Saltbush Lamb MLA Managing Your Feedbase Ben Sippel on LinkedIn Andy Sippel on LinkedIn Nominate a Mate: If you'd like to nominate a mate (or yourself) as a potential future guest on the podcast, you can do so here: Nominate a Mate for 'Seeds for Success'. Connect: Central West LLS website Central West LLS on Facebook Central West LLS on X 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 SoundCartel. Visit soundcartel.com.au for more information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What if one native plant could fundamentally change how your grazing system performs, even through drought? In this episode, Local Land Services Cropping Ag Advisor, Tim Bartimote, sits down with Andy and Ben Sippel from Saltbush Plains to unpack decades of hands-on experience using old man saltbush as a backbone species in grazing systems. From transforming degraded cropping country into resilient perennial pasture, to maintaining high stocking rates independent of rainfall, they share why deep-rooted native shrubs are one of Australia’s most underutilised agricultural assets. You’ll hear how saltbush supports livestock performance with year-round green feed, high protein levels, and exceptional water-use efficiency, plus how smart grazing management turns ecological strength into economic strength. This is a practical, grounded conversation for producers interested in building resilient pastures, reducing inputs, and working with Australia’s landscapes, not against them. Resources and links: Saltbush Lamb MLA Managing Your Feedbase Ben Sippel on LinkedIn Andy Sippel on LinkedIn Nominate a Mate: If you'd like to nominate a mate (or yourself) as a potential future guest on the podcast, you can do so here: Nominate a Mate for 'Seeds for Success'. Connect: Central West LLS website Central West LLS on Facebook Central West LLS on X 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 SoundCartel. Visit soundcartel.com.au for more information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to the final episode of our 4-part series, The Lime Light, where we shine a light on lime and dig into building pasture performance on acidic soils.  Liam Mowbray runs a cattle operation near Gloucester in partnership with his wife Alissa and his parents. Since moving to the area four years ago, the family has focused on lifting production by increasing the carrying capacity across their properties.  In this episode, Liam talks about making soil pH a foundational part of their production approach and the flow-on effects this has had on soil and pasture performance. You’ll also hear Liam discuss managing steeper country where cultivation isn’t an option, and the strategies used to address soil acidity in these areas.  Local Land Services Mixed Farming Advisor Rohan Leach, sat down with Liam, away from the heat of the day, to bring you this chat.  Resources and links:  NSW - Pastures on acid soils  Liam Mowbray on LinkedIn  Nominate a Mate:  If you'd like to nominate a mate (or yourself) as a potential future guest on the podcast, you can do so here: Nominate a Mate for 'Seeds for Success'.  Connect:  Central West LLS website  Central West LLS on Facebook  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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to episode 3 of our 4 part summer series, The Lime Light, where we shine a light on lime and dig into building pasture performance on acidic soils. Stuart Tait farms alongside his family at Mandurama in the NSW Central Tablelands with other properties at Lyndhurst and Canowindra. Tait Agriculture is focused on cattle and a cropping program including wheat, canola and Faba beans. Stuart has a range of pastures with phalaris, fescue, lucerne and clovers being the main components. In this episode, Stuart talks about how they have shifted focus to increased cropping since the purchase of their Canowindra and Lyndhurst properties. You’ll hear Stuart explain soil testing and managing his soil pH is their main strategy for doing this. Stuart also shares his investigation into purchasing a Horsch Tiger cultivator and how he justifies a whopping 7 tonnes of lime per hectare. Local Land Services Mixed Farming Advisor Rohan Leach sat down with Stuart on a rather momentous day as the Tait family celebrated a major family milestone.   Nominate a Mate: If you'd like to nominate a mate (or yourself) as a potential future guest on the podcast, you can do so here: Nominate a Mate for 'Seeds for Success'.   Connect: Central West LLS website Central West LLS on Facebook Central West LLS on X 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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to part 2 of our Summer series of Seeds for Success - The Lime Light series. We’re shining a light on lime and digging into acidic soils to optimise pastures as we chat with farmers who have been part of the High Performance Pasture Mixes for Acidic Soils, a project co-funded by NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, and Meat and Livestock Australia Donor Company. Angus Knight runs Fairview, a mixed farming operation south of Junee, where he manages a prime lamb enterprise alongside cereals, canola, and lupins. In this episode, Angus talks through the productivity push he’s made since returning to the farm in 2018 coming from his studies, including how identifying acidic soils as a limiting factor reshaped his management decisions. He discusses tackling an acid throttle at depth, the resulting lift in carrying capacity, and the flow-on benefits to crop performance. Finally, Angus digs into the practical realities of making these changes, from timing and logistics to the day-to-day adjustments that drive long-term gains on mixed farms.   Resources and links: Holbrook Landcare Network – Soil Testing Process   Nominate a Mate: If you'd like to nominate a mate (or yourself) as a potential future guest on the podcast, you can do so here: Nominate a Mate for 'Seeds for Success'.   Connect: Central West LLS website Central West LLS on Facebook Central West LLS on X 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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to our Summer series of Seeds for Success - The Lime Light series. Join us as we shine a light on lime and dig into acidic soils to optimise pastures. Over the coming four episodes, we'll be chatting with farmers who have been part of the High Performance Pasture Mixes for Acidic Soils, a project co-funded by NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, and Meat and Livestock Australia Donor Company. Our first guest is Dr Richard Hayes. As well as being involved in the family farm between Crookwell and Goulburn, Richard is a research agronomist with the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development. In this episode, Richard tells us how his background in the family farm gives him insight into the kind of messages that resonate with farmers. Richard also explains his latest project and the key messages for farmers managing acid soils which include new pH targets and incremental soil sampling. Local Land Services Mixed Farming Advisor Rohan Leach sat down with Richard to learn more about the curiously nicknamed HIPPO project. Resources and links: NSW Department of Primary Industries - Pastures on acid soils   Nominate a Mate: If you'd like to nominate a mate (or yourself) as a potential future guest on the podcast, you can do so here: Nominate a Mate for 'Seeds for Success'.   Connect: Central West LLS website Central West LLS on Facebook Central West LLS on X 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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dean Hague is a Farmer on Tara Station, near Mount Hope. Alongside his wife, Jayde, and their kids, Dean has been continuing a century-old legacy of cattle raising and farming. In this episode, Dean explains the composition of his 98 thousand acre property: the merinos and dorpers, mixed farming, stud cattle, and cereal cropping. He discusses the exclusion fence project, the results so far in keeping his resources safe, the current status, and the small struggles he faces as a local leader. Finally, he breaks down the animals in the farm, the studs and their history, working with dogs, and a comparison between goat and sheep.   Resources and links: Rockingham Santas Website Rockingham Santas on Facebook   Nominate a Mate: If you'd like to nominate a mate (or yourself) as a potential future guest on the podcast, you can do so here: Nominate a Mate for 'Seeds for Success'.   Connect: Central West LLS website Central West LLS on Facebook Central West LLS on X 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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Paul Tognetti is a farmer in Myee, near Grenfell. His farm consists mostly of wheat, canola, and faba cropping operations alongside a few sheep across a 26 hundred acre area.  In this episode, Paul walks us through his farm and the numbers that go in and out of his operation. He expresses his passion for precision agriculture, the math behind it all, and the technology that lets it all happen. Paul discusses variable rate applications throughout the farm, gauging his paddocks, and making the most out of them. Finally, Paul reflects on how helpful technology has been for Australian agriculture, saving producers such as himself from all the manual labor of notebooks, pencils, and calculators. This episode of the Seeds for Success podcast is supported by the Australian Government through funding from the Natural Heritage Trust under the Climate-Smart Agriculture Program.   Resources and links: Farming Forecaster network    Nominate a Mate: If you'd like to nominate a mate (or yourself) as a potential future guest on the podcast, you can do so here: Nominate a Mate for 'Seeds for Success'.   Connect: Central West LLS website Central West LLS on Facebook Central West LLS on X 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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Paul Tognetti is a farmer in Myee, near Grenfell. His farm consists mostly of wheat, canola, and faba cropping operations alongside a few sheep across a 26 hundred acre area.  In this episode, Paul talks to us about his farm, its size, and its makeup. He explains the operations in depth, from their continuous cropping system, preparation and benchmarking of soil, and herbicide rotations. Finally, Paul shares what he’s learned from paddock and cropping operations across his decades of experience. This episode of the Seeds for Success podcast is supported by the Australian Government through funding from the Natural Heritage Trust under the Climate-Smart Agriculture Program.   Resources and links: Farming Forecaster network    Nominate a Mate: If you'd like to nominate a mate (or yourself) as a potential future guest on the podcast, you can do so here: Nominate a Mate for 'Seeds for Success'.   Connect: Central West LLS website Central West LLS on Facebook Central West LLS on X 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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chris Francis is a Farmer in ‘Gobothery’, southwest of Forbes. Alongside his brother and their families, Chris has been taking on grain farming, fodder growing, and short-horn cattle, following 3 generations of family history. In this episode, Chris discusses the landscape his extensive operation sits on and some key motivations for their dedication. He explains the farm’s livestock decisions, irrigation choices, fodder production, and his stance on the rise of corporate input in the farming industry.   Nominate a Mate: If you'd like to nominate a mate (or yourself) as a potential future guest on the podcast, you can do so here: Nominate a Mate for 'Seeds for Success'.   Connect: Central West LLS website Central West LLS on Facebook Central West LLS on X 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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Katja Williams is a Farmer at Polldale, a shorthorn cattle stud north of Dubbo, alongside her husband, Ned. In addition to working on the stud, Katja also runs around as a mother, podcaster, and rural women’s advocate online as The Ultimate Farm Wife.  In this episode, Katja discusses the challenges of joining a farming family, even if you’re from a farming background yourself. She shares her experiences with assumed knowledge, balancing work and motherhood, and figuring out how to find a place in someone else’s family in someone else’s business.  Local Land Services Cropping Officer, Tim Bartimote, sat down with Katja at her busy kitchen table for this fascinating chat.    Resources and links: The Ultimate Farm Wife website The Ultimate Farm Wife podcast The Ultimate Farm Wife on Instagram The Rural Mum on Facebook Katja Williams on LinkedIn   Nominate a Mate: If you'd like to nominate a mate (or yourself) as a potential future guest on the podcast, you can do so here: Nominate a Mate for 'Seeds for Success'.   Connect: Central West LLS website Central West LLS on Facebook Central West LLS on X 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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nic Baker is a Farmer and Contractor, and he runs a 3,600-acre cropping, cattle, and contracting operation with his wife and parents just outside Coonabarabran. In this episode, Nic discusses how his farm’s breeding operation shifted from Angus to Wagyu and how dual-purpose cropping helps to fill the winter feed gap for his breeding stock while also improving his cash flow. He also outlines his journey from purely haymaking to incorporating silage into their fodder program and how they were able to reduce the cost of upgrading by utilising as much existing machinery as possible. Local Land Services Cropping Officer, Tim Bartimote, caught up with Nic for this chat on his property overlooking the Warrumbungles on a beautiful sunny day.   Nominate a Mate: If you'd like to nominate a mate (or yourself) as a potential future guest on the podcast, you can do so here: Nominate a Mate for 'Seeds for Success'.   Connect: Central West LLS website Central West LLS on Facebook Central West LLS on X 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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mitch Rubie and his father run the 1,400 mixed farming operation that forms the basis of Lachlan Merinos. Mitch describes it as a grass-growing business, with the Rubies growing irrigated fodder crops, grazing canola, cereals, and lucerne-based pastures alongside their Merino seed stock. In this episode, Mitch explains how they select the best Merinos for breeding, the importance of good breeding values and genetics, and how better benchmarking has led to better genetic decisions in their seed stock. Local Land Services Mixed Farming Advisor, Rohan Leach, sat down for this chat with Mitch at his kitchen table overlooking the Lachlan River. This episode of the Seeds for Success podcast is supported by the Australian Government through funding from the Natural Heritage Trust under the Climate-Smart Agriculture Program.   Resources and links: Lachlan Merinos website   Nominate a Mate: If you'd like to nominate a mate (or yourself) as a potential future guest on the podcast, you can do so here: Nominate a Mate for 'Seeds for Success'.   Connect: Central West LLS website Central West LLS on Facebook Central West LLS on X 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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tim Flynn is the Principal Solicitor at Land Law Co and also owns and runs his family’s farm, ‘Strathallyn’, north of Mudgee. ‘Strathallyn’ is a 50/50 fine wool and cattle operation that is in the process of transitioning to a straight cattle trading operation. In this episode, Tim discusses the importance of succession planning, how his legal background helped him navigate his family's succession process fairly, and the lessons he has learned through these experiences. He also discusses the challenges of an off-farm business and a working farm, the role of agritourism, and the rise of renewable energy companies pitching "alternative income streams" to farmers, with the reminder to any farmers considering a renewables proposal to seek professional advice before signing anything. Local Land Services Senior Ag Advisor, Lauren Roberts, caught up with Tim at his office in Mudgee for this chat.   Resources and links: Land Law Co website Young Farmer Business Program website   Nominate a Mate: If you'd like to nominate a mate (or yourself) as a potential future guest on the podcast, you can do so here: Nominate a Mate for 'Seeds for Success'.   Connect: Central West LLS website Central West LLS on Facebook Central West LLS on X 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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ian Manwaring and his family run a mixed farming operation alongside his brother Doug and his family across 65,000 acres at Malleevale near Condobolin. In addition to a successful cropping enterprise, Ian and his wife have a goat breeding operation, crossbreeding rangelands and imported U.S. bloodlines.  In this episode, Ian explains the origins of their goat breeding business and how they’ve bred the Contender goat line to produce animals tough enough for the environment but with good muscling and meat. Local Land Services Senior Natural Resource Officer, Jasmine Wells, caught up with Ian at home in Malleevale.   Resources and links: Contender Meat Goats on Facebook   Nominate a Mate: If you'd like to nominate a mate (or yourself) as a potential future guest on the podcast, you can do so here: Nominate a Mate for 'Seeds for Success'.   Connect: Central West LLS website Central West LLS on Facebook Central West LLS on X 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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stephen and Melanie Cooper run a self-replacing merino operation and winter crop on their 4,200-hectare property at Caragabal, west of Grenfell. In this episode, Stephen and Melanie discuss the strip and disc seeding system they use on their farm. They get candid about how drought and rising input costs influenced their decision to adopt the strip and disc method, and the benefits they’ve already seen in soil health and ground cover. Melanie also shares her love of working with Weddin Landcare to bring farmers together to learn from each other. Local Land Services Mixed Farming Advisor, Rohan Leach, settled in for this chat with Stephen and Melanie on-farm after some much appreciated rain.   Resources and links: Weddin Landcare website   Nominate a Mate: If you'd like to nominate a mate (or yourself) as a potential future guest on the podcast, you can do so here: Nominate a Mate for 'Seeds for Success'.   Connect: Central West LLS website Central West LLS on Facebook Central West LLS on X 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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.