Talkin' Soil Secrets with Dr Christine Jones
Talkin' After Hours with the Lower Blackwood LCDC
Release Date: 04/28/2023
Spring Summer Grazing in a Mediterranean Climate
Talkin' After Hours with the Lower Blackwood LCDC
In this episode we chat to agroecologist Mark Tupman and cattle farmer & Department of Primary Industries & Regional Development Technical Officer Eric Dobbe. Our conversation covers the intricacies of grazing management in Mediterranean environments, focusing on the transition of annual pastures from vegetative to reproductive growth in spring. We also explore strategies for maintaining pasture quality, the importance of species selection, and effective livestock management techniques to optimize nutrition and recovery, delving into pasture recovery, stockpiling, and adaptive...
info_outline
Talkin' Farmers Doing it Differently: Nutritional Wisdom, Shepherding, and Wool with Nan Bray
Talkin' After Hours with the Lower Blackwood LCDC
In this episode we chat to Nan Bray of White Gum Wool, located in the highlands of Tasmania. Nan farms a flock of 600 Saxon Merino on 330ha of high country, and with occasional snow in winter, summers reaching up to 35C, and an average of only 550cm of rainfall, it can be challenging. Nan is no ordinary farmer however, about 15 years ago she decided to move away from conventional farming methods and make some radical changes to the way she does things. Her wool growing production system now relies on three main commitments: excellence in nutrition, a conservation land ethic, and...
info_outline
Talkin' Biochar with Professor Stephen Joseph
Talkin' After Hours with the Lower Blackwood LCDC
In this Talking After Hours podcast Kate chats to Professor Stephen Joseph about biochar and its applications in renewable energy and agriculture. Biochar is the result of thermal decomposition of biomass in an oxygen-starved environment. It can be made from various feedstocks, including grasses, manures, and wood. Different biochars have different effects on soil and plant growth, and their application rates need to be optimized. Biochar can increase yields, improve water holding capacity, and enhance soil health. Biochar has the potential to improve soil health and agricultural...
info_outline
Talkin' Regenerative Chickens with Sam & Steph Hondema
Talkin' After Hours with the Lower Blackwood LCDC
In this episode of Talkin' After Hours we chat to Sam & Steph Hondema of Rosas Ridge based near Margaret River in the South West of Western Australia. These first generation farmers have been building a successful pasture raised chicken enterprise since 2019, with a vision to supply superior meats, both in nutritional density and rich flavour to their customers table whilst at the same time improving the health of their soils & pasture through regenerative practices Like all start ups their journey has not been without challenges, particularly when you want to do it...
info_outline
Leveraging Foliar Nutrition to Boost Fertility with Mark Tupman
Talkin' After Hours with the Lower Blackwood LCDC
In this Talkin' After Hours Episode Jo & Kate chat once again to local agroecologist Mark Tupman from Productive Ecology. This time we explore how to get a better band for your buck by including foliar nutrition to complement your soil fertility program.
info_outline
Talkin' Dung Beetles with Kathy Dawson & Kylie Cook
Talkin' After Hours with the Lower Blackwood LCDC
In this month's episode Jo & Kate chat to two southwest WA landcarers who have been very active in working with livestock farmers to get some very handy ecosystem engineers working on their farms. We are talking about Dung Beetles and our local experts are Kathy Dawson from Southern Forests Community Landcare based in Manjimup and Kylie Cook from Wilson Inlet Catchment Committee, based in Denmark. Show notes available via , our online community & information hub.
info_outline
Talkin' Plant Diversity & Animal Nutrition with Fred Provenza.
Talkin' After Hours with the Lower Blackwood LCDC
In this Talkin After Hours Episode Jo & Kate chat to Fred Provenza, Professor Emeritus, Dept. Wildland Resources, Utah State University. For the past 30 years, Fred and his team have produced ground-breaking research that has laid the foundation for what is now known as behavior-based management of livestock, wildlife and landscapes. This research led to the creation in 2001 of a consortium of scientists and land managers from five continents called BEHAVE (Behavioral Education for Human, Animal, Vegetation and Ecosystem management). Fred has authored 3 books Foraging...
info_outline
Talkin' Soil Function & Fertility with Mark Tupman
Talkin' After Hours with the Lower Blackwood LCDC
In this months podcast Jo & Kate chat with Mark Tupman from Productive Ecology on a topic that is absolutely fundamental to agriculture – that of soil function & fertility. In our conversation we delve into what is actually meant by soil function, why and how it is so critical to soil fertility, and what are the most effective strategies we can implement to build soil fertility.
info_outline
Talkin' Nitrogen with Joel Williams
Talkin' After Hours with the Lower Blackwood LCDC
In this episode of Talkin’ After Hours Jo & Kate chat to Joel Williams on the hot topic of Nitrogen – how it works in the nutrient cycle and how can we best optimise its use – particularly in grazing systems.
info_outline
Talkin' On Farm Bugs & Brews with David Hardwick
Talkin' After Hours with the Lower Blackwood LCDC
In this months podcast we chat to agroecologist & partner in rural change management company Soil Land Food, David Hardwick on the hot topic of making your own biofertilisers .David learned the skills of making bugs and brews from the masters at Mas humas and has been passing on that information ever since. In the podcast David shares tips, tricks & recipes to make starter cultures, inoculants, bioferments and biofertilisers.
info_outlineIn this Talkin' episode Jo & Kate talk with internationally renowned soils ecologist Dr Christine on the secrets that make healthy soils tick and the soil as a living system - including a dive into the ‘liquid carbon pathway’ – what it is, why we need it, how to help it and how to avoid hindering it.
This podcast is supported by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development as part of a collaboration bringing Dr Christine Jones to Western Australia in February 2023.