AgWatchers

Hosted by Andrew Whitelaw & Matt Dalgleish

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Episodes

346

Latest episode

Oct 2026

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About the show

The AgWatchers podcast contains a mixture of interviews showcasing those involved in the agricultural supply chain, along with agricultural commodity market updates from the hosts Andrew Whitelaw and Matt Dalgleish. Expect serious discussions conducted in a light hearted manner.

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60 recent

October 7, 2026Episode 34820 min

AgWatchersX Ep17

Andrew is on holiday. Matt has been travelling - but here is the only update on ag markets that you need.

August 27, 2026Episode 34721 min

AgWatchersX EP16: Wheat Rallies, Beef Tariffs and a Sheepmeat Threat

Markets are moving, and there is plenty to unpack in this AgWatchers X update. We look at the sharp rally in global wheat markets as Black Sea supply risks finally begin to bite, with Russian export flows slowing and the ongoing Russia–Ukraine conflict putting a sizeable chunk of global wheat and barley exports at risk. We also discuss why Australian growers need to resist the temptation to chase the top of the market and instead use rallies to average up their grain sales. On top of that, weakening US and European corn prospects could provide further support to wheat prices. On livestock, we cover Australian cattle prices, the impact of Chinese and South Korean beef safeguards, and Donald Trump’s latest moves to increase beef imports into the US in an attempt to ease consumer prices. We also look at the growing threat facing Australian sheepmeat exports, with the US inquiry into imported lamb potentially opening the door to significant tariffs. With sheep prices beginning to ease ahead of the spring flush, there is plenty happening across both grain and livestock markets.

August 17, 2026Episode 34658 min

What do future farmers need to know?

What does AI actually mean for the future of Australian agriculture? Andrew and Matt are joined by grain and pork producer Sharon Starick, Chair of the GRDC and the Council of Rural Research and Development Corporations, to discuss how artificial intelligence and new technology are changing the agricultural workforce. They look at where AI can genuinely improve productivity, which jobs and skills may change, and why experience, critical thinking and human judgement remain difficult to replace. Sharon also shares a cautionary example from her own canola crop, where ChatGPT and the agronomist came up with very different diagnoses. The conversation ranges from automating the boring jobs on farm to cybersecurity, data ownership, robotics, research, the skills agriculture will need from the next generation and whether AI might actually make a career in agriculture more attractive. Plus pigs, black pudding, Powderfinger and the important distinction between artificial intelligence, artificial insemination and avian influenza. Remember and support the podcast by sharing with your friends and family.

August 13, 2026Episode 34553 min

AI, innovation and the return of the country banker

AI, agtech and automation are changing agriculture fast, but are relationships becoming more valuable, not less? This week on AgWatchers, Matt and Andrew are joined by Peta Ward, Westpac’s Managing Director, Regional Commercial & Agribusiness, to discuss innovation on farm, the next generation of agricultural leaders and why Westpac is putting bankers back into regional communities. They also talk regional careers, diversity, the post-COVID shift back to the bush and why understanding the people behind a farm business still matters in an increasingly digital world. Plus, somehow, polar bear nutrition enters the conversation. Listen now at episode3.net/links.

August 6, 2026Episode 34433 min

AgWatchersX EP15: Beef, Grain and the Geopolitical Squeeze

Ag Watchers X: Market Moves That Matter to Your Farm Tariffs are reshaping export markets. Geopolitical tension is pushing input costs around. And your harvest timing just got more complicated. In this market analysis episode, Matt and Andrew break down what's really happening with beef exports to Korea and China, where grain prices are headed, and why geopolitics matters more than weather right now. If you're making decisions on cattle, crops, or inputs this season, you need to understand these market shifts before they hit your gate.

August 3, 2026Episode 34345 min

Beyond the Hype: Which Farm Energy Solutions Actually Make Money?

Forget the ideology. Australian farmers don't need to believe in climate change to care about one thing: their bottom line. This week on AgWatchers, Matt and Andrew explore how practical farmers are cutting costs and creating new income streams through energy solutions and why skepticism is actually the smart approach. Karin Stark, who organizes Australia's agricultural renewables conference, discusses real farmers doing real things on their land. Solar panels reducing diesel bills. Biodigesters turning waste into power. Variable rate fertilizer applications cutting chemical costs. These aren't about saving the planet they're about keeping more money in the farm's pocket. The reality is messier than the marketing. Karin breaks down why some renewable projects fail, how regulatory approval can take years, and what separates farmers actually making money from those chasing buzzwords. She also explores why innovators often come from outside agriculture and what that means for traditional farming families. Whether you're curious about diversifying income or just cutting costs, this conversation cuts through the green noise and gets down to what actually works on Australian farms. Listen to the full episode to hear what farmers are really doing and what's actually worth your time and money. You can find out about the conference on the link below: https://renewablesinagconference.com.au

July 29, 2026Episode 3421 hr 1 min

Better Call Saul

Veteran economist Saul Eslake joins Matt and Andrew to unpack tariffs, free trade and the increasingly difficult position Australia occupies between the United States and China. They discuss why tariffs are ultimately paid by consumers, whether Australia can still trust its major trading partners, the need to diversify agricultural export markets and what weaker Chinese growth could mean for beef, wool, wine and other premium products. Closer to home, Saul shares his views on inflation, interest rates, productivity, housing and tax reform. Plus black pudding, haggis, questionable compliments and one particularly memorable toilet analogy.

July 22, 2026Episode 34156 min

AgWatchers Hosts History: Inside the Australian Agricultural Awards

Episode Three is thrilled to announce we'll be hosting the inaugural Australian Agricultural Awards, a groundbreaking national celebration of ag excellence in partnership with the National Farmers Federation (NFF), Nutrien, and Westpac. In this episode, we sit down with Scott McCullough, General Manager of Commercial at ACM Agri, to explore this prestigious new event that's set to transform how we recognize and celebrate the brightest minds driving agriculture forward. We'll be taking the stage as MCs across all five state award events (Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane) leading into the National Awards in Canberra on November 19. This is a truly exciting opportunity to shine a light on the next generation of ag leaders and innovators. Featuring five key categories (Next Gen, Women in Agriculture, Sustainability, Well-being, and Innovation), these awards are supported by industry powerhouses including Nutrien and Westpac, who are championing categories alongside the NFF. The inaugural winner across all categories will drive away in a brand new Toyota Tundra, making this the most valuable agricultural award platform Australia has ever seen. Join us as we dive into what makes these awards different, why trust matters in agriculture, and how you can nominate your industry heroes. Nominations close at the end of August, so don't miss your chance to be part of ag's biggest celebration. Ready to celebrate excellence? Tune in now. https://episode3.net/agwatchers

July 16, 2026Episode 34047 min

Future Flock and the Search for New Export Markets

Jo Hall, CEO of WoolProducers Australia, joins the podcast to discuss efforts to diversify Australian wool exports beyond China, including emerging opportunities in Bangladesh, India and Vietnam. We also examine the Future Flock strategy, industry representation and whether the recent wool price recovery can rebuild grower confidence and lift supply. Plus, Pearl Jam, Dhaka’s textile factories and wandering elephants.

July 10, 2026Episode 3391 hr 7 min

Farming without paddocks: AI, robots and the next productivity leap

Tim Neale from DataFarming joins AgWatchers for a wide-ranging chat on where ag technology is heading next. The big question: what happens when grain farmers stop thinking only in paddocks and start managing crops square metre by square metre? Tim talks through the next evolution in precision agriculture, from satellite imagery and variable rate fertiliser to robotics, AI, autonomous drones and the potential for farming systems to be redesigned around automation. The conversation also gets into rising input costs, how tech can help growers make better decisions on fertiliser spend, and why the next gains in productivity may come from getting much more precise. There is also plenty of AgWatchers nonsense along the way, including Qantas lounge food, haggis, Clarkson’s Farm, Chinese machinery, robot vacuums and Andrew’s deep love for the Kia Carnival.