Pastoral Poddy - Australian Farming

What can your soil tell you about how your country is functioning?
In this episode of the Pastoral Poddy, host Edgars Greste speaks with soil scientist Karl Anderson about what makes rangeland soils unique and how rainfall, landscape position and soil type influence productivity.
Karl explores the role of carbon and organic matter, explains common constraints such as salinity and sodicity, and shares practical insights into groundcover, water infiltration and managing highly variable country.
It’s a conversation about looking beneath the surface, understanding how soil systems function, and recognising what happens across the landscape when the rain finally arrives.

EPISODE TIMESTAMPS
● (00:00) Why rangeland soils are different
● (02:40) Why organic matter matters
● (08:35) The soil tells a story of time and place
● (10:50) Reading the landscape after rain
● (13:40) Salinity and sodicity explained
● (16:55) Practical tools to rebuild productive country
● (19:00) Managing for variability and climate extremes

Resource links

https://www.dpird.nsw.gov.au/dpi/about-us/research-and-development/projects/soil-and-water-research/rangelands-living-skin
The Pastoral Poddy is proudly brought to you by Western Local Land Services in partnership with the New South Wales Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water under the Primary Industries Productivity and Abatement program.

This episode was mixed and produced by Grow Love Project.

Can sheep be bred to produce less methane without sacrificing productivity?
In this episode of the Pastoral Poddy, host Edgars Greste speaks with Ed Clayton, Livestock Research Officer with the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, about the science and practical realities behind low methane sheep.
Together they explore how methane is produced in ruminants, why emissions have become an important focus for the livestock industry, and how researchers are measuring methane production in individual sheep. The conversation also examines the NSW DPIRD Low Methane Sheep project, emerging opportunities in genetics and feed efficiency, research into pasture systems, and practical steps producers can take today to improve productivity while reducing emissions intensity.
Whether you're curious about the science or looking for practical on-farm insights, this episode offers a grounded discussion on one of the biggest conversations shaping the future of livestock production.

Episode timestamps
(00:00) Why methane matters and the role sheep play in the emissions conversation.
(06:30) Understanding how ruminants produce methane and its link to productivity.
(14:15) Inside the NSW DPIRD Low Methane Sheep project.
(23:45) Genetics, feed efficiency and opportunities for lower methane flocks.
(34:00) Practical steps producers can take to improve productivity and reduce emissions intensity.

Useful links
NSW DPIRD Low Emissions Agriculture Programhttps://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/climate-and-emergencies/climate-change/primary-industries-and-climate-change/low-emissions-agriculture
NSW DPIRD Emissions Researchhttps://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/climate-and-emergencies/climate-change/primary-industries-and-climate-change/low-emissions-agriculture/emissions-research
NSW On-Farm Carbon Advice Programhttps://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/climate-and-emergencies/climate-change/primary-industries-and-climate-change/low-emissions-agriculture/on-farm-carbon-advice
NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Developmenthttps://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au

The Pastoral Poddy is proudly brought to you by Western Local Land Services in partnership with the New South Wales Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water under the Primary Industries Productivity and Abatement program. This episode was mixed and produced by Grow Love Project.

In this episode of The Pastoral Potty, host Edgar Greste sits down with Brendan Cullen, who manages a 60,000 hectare sheep and cattle station southeast of Broken Hill, alongside Matt Kennedy from the Good Neighbours Program. 
Together, they explore the importance of coordinated pest and weed management across far western New South Wales, from tackling Hudson pear and wild dogs to building stronger communication and collaboration between neighbours. Brendan shares powerful reflections on mental health, vulnerability, and the parallels between asking for help personally and asking for support with biosecurity challenges on the land. 
This episode is a story of resilience, practical action, and the power of community in the bush. 

Key Moments 
[00:01:20] Brendan introduces the challenges facing far western properties.
[00:02:00] Why coordinated baiting programs are essential for pest control.
[00:03:00] How neighbours worked together to dramatically reduce fox numbers.
[00:05:00] Brendan explains why collaboration is the only way large-scale control works.
[00:06:10] Native wildlife returns and the emotional reward of seeing change.
[00:07:30] How support networks and relationships help landholders feel less alone.
[00:10:45] Brendan shares his mental health journey and lessons about vulnerability.
[00:13:00] Final takeaways: collaboration, confidence and asking for help.

 
For more information:  
  
Good Neighbours Program - nsw.gov.au/good-neighbours 
More about Brendan Cullen - brendancullen.com.au 
Need advice on pest animals and weeds?  
For pest animals, contact your Local Land Services Biosecurity Officer on 1300 795 299.  
For weeds, contact your local council Weeds Officer.  
 
 
For a transcript of this episode:   
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ZAEH9ZnVmukv_DNcQ4QO-Ds7PZESht-s/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=103831811474414598304&rtpof=true&sd=true
  
This podcast series is produced by Grow Love Project and hosted by Western Local Land Services, supported through funding from the NSW Government as part of the Good Neighbours Program.

How do you manage animals that don't recognise fence lines or property boundaries? Across New South Wales, vertebrate pests like feral pigs, deer, rabbits and foxes are causing millions of dollars in damage to agriculture every year, destroying crops, competing with livestock and impacting fragile ecosystems. 
 
In this episode we'll unpack what integrated pest management actually looks like on the ground and explore the power of monitoring using a digital tool called FeralScan. 
 
Episode key moments
[00:00] Welcome and Overview 
[01:12] NSW pest threats 
[03:09] Pest resilience 
[09:07] FeralScan explained 
[13:16] Collaboration successes 
[14:57] Getting help from LLS 
[16:16] Future of biosecurity 
[17:31] Wrap up and credits

For more information: 
 
Good Neighbours Program - nsw.gov.au/good-neighbours 
FeralScan - feralscan.org.au 
Previous Feral Scan podcast episode https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/the-big-shift/episodes/Managing-animal-pests-on-farm-e10n27h/a-a5rht0m

For a transcript of this episode:  
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xTyJHmwOs0-OaRWY6IOSjeu9ir55Lmu6/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=103831811474414598304&rtpof=true&sd=true

This podcast series is produced by Grow Love Project and hosted by Western Local Land Services, supported through funding from the NSW Government as part of the Good Neighbours Program.

Herbicides have long been the go-to for weed control, but what happens when they’re no longer enough? In this episode, we explore biological control and how it works alongside traditional methods to create more sustainable, long-term solutions. Featuring insights from NSW DPIRD and Local Land Services, we unpack real-world examples, the science behind biocontrol, and why collaboration across property boundaries is key to managing weeds effectively. 
 
Key Moments 
[00:00:00] Australia ranks high for herbicide resistance risk.
[00:02:00] What biological control is and how it works.
[00:04:00] Why integrated weed management is essential.
[00:06:00] Prickly pear success story with cochineal insects.
[00:08:00] Rigorous testing ensures safe biocontrol release.
[00:10:00] Biocontrol and herbicides work best together.
[00:13:00] Collaboration across landholders drives outcomes.
[00:16:00] Future tools like gene tech may shape weed control. 

For a transcript of this episode:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1rmv2C3SaTXfTpsz_lMdAXRkKhgbFTnN_/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=103831811474414598304&rtpof=true&sd=true

Useful Links for Show Notes 
Good Neighbours Program https://www.lls.nsw.gov.au/regions/western/projects/good-neighbours-program 
NSW DPIRD Weed Biocontrol Best Practice Guide https://www.dpird.nsw.gov.au/dpi/biosecurity/invasive-plants-and-animals/weeds/identification-and-control/weeds-biocontrol
WeedWise App (NSW WeedWise) https://weeds.dpi.nsw.gov.au/WeedWise 
The Pastoral Poddy is proudly brought to you by Western Local Land Services and is supported through funding from New South Wales Government as part of the Good Neighbours Program.