The “Farming in the Eastern Wheatbelt” podcast is brought to you by MADFIG, together with presenter, Shannon Beattie.
This series is dedicated to building innovation and resilience against drought in our Eastern Wheatbelt region. Learn more about projects in our region that benefit producers and communities.
To listen to our podcast, please click here.
Episode 1 – Drought Hub: MADFIG Lead in Eastern Wheatbelt with Meg Gethin and Tanya Kilminster.
MADFIG is a proud partner in the South-West WA Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub, managed by GGA. Local representatives Tanya Kilminster (Knowledge Broker), and MADFIG’s Node Lead, Meg Gethin, discuss the Hub, their own experiences farming in the Eastern Wheatbelt, and explain why the Future Drought Fund Program is vitally important for our state and region’s future. Listen here.
Episode 2 – Diving into WaterSmart Farms with Dr. Richard George (DPIRD)
Join DPIRD Senior Principal Research Scientist, Dr Richard George as he delves into the innovative WaterSmart Farms program. This comprehensive initiative is designed to preserve over 30+ years of knowledge while exploring new technologies available to ensure farmers and rural communities’ water needs are met. Listen here.
Episode 3 – Catching every drop: MADFIG’s role in the WaterSmart Dams project (roaded catchment)
MADFIG is one of four grower group partners in GGA’s WaterSmart Dams project. Hear from the farmer, the contractor, and the researcher on the MADFIG Roaded Catchment Demonstration in the Eastern Wheatbelt, designed to maximise water capture in small rainfall events. Listen here.
Episode 4: Should I fallow this season and set up for success in 2025?
Join Shannon and Darren Hughes as they discuss MADFIG’s fallow research happening in the Eastern Wheatbelt – especially relevant right now for setting yourself up for success in 2025! Listen here.
Episode 5: Grazing into the Future: Rethinking Livestock Forage with the FEED365 Trial
With the support of DPIRD, MADFIG is hosting an MLA-funded FEED365 (SheepLinks) trial site at Hayden and Luke Sprigg’s property in Bonnie Rock. This project aims to re-design livestock forage systems for grazing all-year round in Mediterranean environments minimising supplementary feeding.
Hear Hayden, Justin Hardy and pasture guru Angelo Loi as they discuss the project in further detail. Listen here.
Episode 6: WaterSmart Farms: Wongutha CAPS
Hear about how a small community in the Southwest has become water self-sufficient using a standalone desalination system as part of the Water Smart Farms project and the opportunities this provides. Listen here.
Episode 7 – WaterSmart Farms Deep Drilling project with Dr. Richard George
Learn how the Water Smart Farms project delivered a reliable water supply to a mixed farming enterprise by drilling into fractured rock. Listen here.
Episode 8 – WaterSmart Farms: Unlocking Opportunities with Desalination – From Stockwater to Spray Quality
Hear from Professor Wendell Ella, Centre for Desalination at the Harry Butler Research Institute (Murdoch), along with Rob Sewell, a Wheatbelt-based broadacre cropping farmer, as they discuss desalination – the why and the how it’s happening on farm in Western Australia. Listen here.
Episode 9 – WaterSmart Farms: Reverse Osmosis trials giving rural communities fresh water for the future.
A collaboration of partners, including DPIRD, Murdoch Uni, WaterCorp, and local governments, come together to deliver sustainable water solutions for their communities. This episode discusses current reverse osmosis trials across Western Australia using saline groundwater. Listen here.
Episode 10 – Kate’s Story – planning for success in the WA Wheatbelt
Kate talks about the importance of a good plan and some out of the box thinking when ensuring farming resiliency. Listen here.
