Productive Producer
Episodes
Dry times stocktake
07 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The season has turned dry, now is the time for producers to take a hard look at where things are really at.In this episode of the Productive Producer ...
Good neighbours
23 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Working with your neighbours to control pests and weeds is essential if you want to see a real return on your on-ground efforts. These issues don’t ...
The Silent Waster: Understanding Johne’s Disease in Sheep
22 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Productive Producer Podcast, Glen Innes District Veterinarian Dr Kate DeJong joins Max to shed light on one of the most misunde...
Spring Health Check - Clostridial Diseases
26 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Productive Producer Podcast, we sit down with Glen Innes District Veterinarian Dr Kate de Jong to unpack the big spring health ...
Natural Capital
04 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Natural capital playsa vital role in the productivity and resilience of our landscapes, but what exactly is it, and why should producers care? In th...
Sheep and Goat eID
27 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we’re joined by Ebony Nowlan, Senior Biosecurity Officer for eID implementation in sheep and goats. Ebony breaks down what producer...
Tackling Pasture Dieback
13 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Productive Producer Podcast, we sit down with Sarah Baker, Development Officer for Pastures with the Department of Primary Indu...
Shelterbelts for Production
16 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Productive Producer, we dive deep into the benefits of shelterbelts with Anya Samon, a member of the Local Land Services (LLS) ...
Bushfire Preparedness
30 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Productive Producer Podcast, we’re joined by Andrew Davidson, a seasoned Land Management Officer with Local Land Services (LL...
Grazing winter fodder crops
26 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Grazing winter fodder crops Tune into an interesting conversation with North West’s Livestock Officer Sally Balmain. Sally walks us through gra...
Mixed Annual Fodder Crops
18 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Explore the pivotal role of mixed annual fodder crops in bridging the winter feed gap in the latest episode of the Productive Producer Podcast. Join ...
Three day sickness and Ovine Johne's Disease
22 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On today's episode, we're joined by Dr. Meg Parson, district veterinarian in Glen Innes. Our conversation revolves around two pressing concer...
Confinement Feeding Sheep
18 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Get ready for a deep dive into confinement feeding on the latest episode of the "Productive Producer" podcast! Join host Max Newsome and Je...
Balancing Act: Choosing, Storing, and Feeding Hay for Livestock
05 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Productive Producer Podcast, we catch up with Annabelle Monie and discuss strategies and considerations for feeding hay to live...
Weaning calves
28 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we sit down with Naomi Hobson, a livestock officer with North West Local Land Services, to discuss the various methods of weaning cat...
Southern Mulit Breed Project
16 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Tune in for an informative episode as we dive into the Southern Multi Breed Project. This cutting-edge research initiative is taking place in New Sout...
External parasites
23 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It's that time of year again when the impact of external parasites is felt in the Northern Tablelands. District vet Meg Parsons has some great, practi...
Red, White and Grow
18 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Clovers are an essential part of the production system. Livestock and pastures thrive when incorporating a legume into a pasture mix. Listen into the ...
Managing livestock production in wet seasons
13 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Livestock production is never a straightforward process, even in wet seasons livestock can experience limitations in production and require supplement...
Foot and Mouth Disease and Lumpy Skin Disease
20 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Healthy livestock, free of major disease- one of Australia's greatest marketing tools. Foot and Mouth Disease and Lumpy Skin Disease are two diseases ...
Chilean Needle Grass
13 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Chilean Needlegrass is impacting agricultural production across the Northern Tablelands. Being a prolific seeder and highly competitive is not ideal i...
Angus Verified
31 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Launched in March 2021, Angus Verified in a program developed to provide assurance and integrity to the marketplace by verifying a producers claim of ...
Joining weaner ewes
18 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The season is on the side of producers across the Northern tablelands! This may open up the opportunity for sheep producers to look at joining their w...
Summer fodder crop considerations
05 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
T’is the season for growth across the Northern Tablelands and with a good season predicted, summer fodder crops may be on the cards. Listen in to th...
Bloat in Livestock
15 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Wetter than average conditions predicted this spring may increase the potential for bloat in livestock. Listen in to the conversation as District Vet ...
Serrated Tussock
05 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Serrated tussock is one of the greatest threats to Northern Tablelands grazing systems, providing no nutritional value to livestock and dramatically d...
Pestivirus
17 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Pesitvirus is widespread throughout Australian cattle herds. Infection can cause a variety of diseases impacting production. Listen in to the conversa...
Tightening calving intervals
30 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Within a cow-calf operation, a major profit driver is the number of calves weaned and of those calves weaned the evenness of the line. An even line of...
Mice contamination in hay
07 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The mice plague continues across southern Queensland, New South Wales, and northern Victoria, having devastating impacts for producers. On today's epi...
Market Forecast with Simon Quilty
07 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Livestock prices are at record highs. Are they going to last? On today’s episode, I am joined by market analyst Simon Quilty. Simon chats about some...
Heifer Selection
11 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
As graziers continue to rebuild their herds, some producers may look at retaining a greater proportion of their weaner heifers. Listen into the conver...
Ram Selection
07 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
With the national flock rebuild under way, correct ram selection will play a critical role in the profitability of sheep flocks moving forward. Listen...
Weaning lambs for success
04 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Weaning lambs can be thought of as just another job, however there are some practices that can be done to help get the most out of the process. Today'...
Calf Marking
17 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Calf marking has come around again and District Vet Lisa Martin has some great tips for graziers to manage this process. Contact information Northern ...
The benefits of cross breeding in cattle
01 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The herd rebuild continues across the Northern Tablelands as graziers begin to recover from the drought. This is providing the opportunity for grazier...
Wether Trail
06 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The wether trail has been allowing Northern Tableland breeders to benchmark the performance of their flocks against other producers in the district si...
Feeding poddy calves and lambs
03 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
With calves currently hitting the ground and spring lambing just around the corner, it is poddy season - even for the best of us. High stock prices re...
Maximising production from dry standing feed
09 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Late summer and early autumn rain came just in time for a bulk of feed to grow before winter. The cool temperatures have caused much of it to hay off ...
Winter Crop Grazing
16 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
As we enter the colder months, winter forage and dual-purpose crops are being grazed. On today's conversation Georgie Oakes Senior Agronomist at the N...
Bull buying
14 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
It’s that time of year again where bull sales are beginning to crank into gear. Listen into the conversation with guests District Vet Lisa Martin an...
Managing scanned ewes
01 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is Part 2 of the conversation with Tim Lawrence Reproduction Scanner and Brent Mcleod Senior Land Service Officer - Sheep. The conversati...
Preg Scanning and purchased ewe management
27 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Across the Northern Tablelands many producers currently have their rams out joining. This episode discusses how graziers can best manage their flock f...
Livestock sales in the world of Covid-19
08 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Covid-19 is impacting all aspects of our lives, this includes how we about how we go about livestock sales and purchases. In this episode Australian L...
Pasture management moving forward
31 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Pasture management is a critical factor in the profitability and production levels achieved in a grazing enterprise. Post drought rainfall has seen pa...
Weeds impacting production in the Northern Tablelands
09 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Producers invest a lot of time, effort and money on the control, prevention and management of weeds. The impact of weeds in Australian agricultural al...
Summer/Autumn livestock health
13 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Optimising animal health is a driver of production and profitability in livestock enterprises. District vet Nigel Brown chats about what he has been s...
Winter forage crop considerations
13 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Scattered rain across the region has producers looking at winter forage crops to aid in bridging the winter feed gap. On Today's episode I chat winter...
Managing flocks pre joining
11 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Joining of ewes in the Northern Tablelands is just around the corner. Today's guest Brent McLeod Senior Land Service Officer - Sheep, discusses key co...