Episodes
-
In this episode Kerry Lonergan interviews Felicity Richards, Chair of FarmSafe Australia, about recent on‑farm fatality statistics, leading causes (quad bikes, side‑by‑sides and tractors), and common contributing factors such as lack of helmets/seatbelts, speed, and unsafe mounting/dismounting.
In the lead up to Farm Safety Week, the conversation covers vulnerable groups (older farmers and young children near water), the role of fatigue and mental health, and prevention strategies including protective gear, operator protection devices, safe procedures and better inductions. Felicity highlights FarmSafe campaigns like “Second Chance” and the new “Set the Standard.”
Listeners are urged to share safety stories, use available toolbox resources, and visit farmsafe.org to find Farm Safety Week events and practical tools to protect families and workers.
Farm Safety Week takes place from 16 to 25 July 2026
The Weekly Grill is brought to listeners by:
Rhinogard and Bovi-Shield MH-One - the One Shot, One Spray, One Time BRD Vaccines by Zoetis.Ceres Tags Gen 6 -
Counting down to LambEx 2026, The Weekly Grill host Kerry Lonergan explores booming lamb prices and the new carcass feedback program adopted at GMP Gundagai. He chats with GMP CEO Will Barton about DEXA scans, MEQ probes, GLQ scoring and producer bonuses for premium outcomes.
Kerry then chats with lamb producer Jenny Bradley as she shares her experiences with the new feedback program and her operation's firsthand results and on‑farm changes.
The episode previews LambEx 2026 and explores how individual carcass data is shaping a more valuable, measurable lamb supply chain.
-
Missing episodes?
-
In today’s episode of The Weekly Grill host Kerry Lonergan is joined by Beef Central's Jon Condon as they dial in AusMeat Chair, Allan Bloxsom, to discuss AusMeat’s new, industry-agreed rules for breed-specific content claims that take affect from July 1.
The conversation covers how the new export trade descriptions will work (e.g., Angus F1, Angus 50, Angus Composite), verification options (phenotype or optional genetic testing), implications for brand managers, producers and consumers, and impacts on existing 75% and 100% programs and more.
-
This week on The Weekly Grill, host Kerry Lonergan sits down with Simon Irwin, CEO of Beef 2027, to talk about learnings from Beef 2024 and the plans for the next event in Rockhampton; they discuss record attendances, exhibitor demand, and the event's economic impact.
The episode covers major challenges and innovations: accommodation shortages and solutions (Airbnb partnerships, Camplify and caravans), expanded tech and fifth‑quarter showcases, sustainability and emissions work, security and counter‑terrorism measures, and new digital tools like an interactive app.
Also discussed are global interest and networking opportunities, Next Gen and mentoring programs for young ag professionals, the importance of interbreed championships, and why Beef remains central to regional Queensland.
The Weekly Grill is brought to listeners by:
Rhinogard and Bovi-Shield MH-One - the One Shot, One Spray, One Time BRD Vaccines by Zoetis.Ceres Tags Gen 6 -
Along with eight other young beef industry stakeholders, NSW's Millie Unthank is one of this year's Graeme Acton Beef Connections program participants.
In this episode of The Weekly Grill, Kerry Lonergan interviews Millie, Ag Tech Manager for the McDonald family's MDH operations in North Queensland. She outlines her rural upbringing, studies in bioengineering and computer science, and how she moved from southern saleyards to managing large‑scale agtech in northern beef production.
The pair discuss the importance of clean, foundational data for AI and decision‑making, balancing traditional stockmanship with automation, connectivity solutions like Starlink, and Millie’s recent, early experiences as part of the Graeme Acton Beef Connections Program.
Millie is also writing a monthly diary countdown towards the Beef Connections program's conclusion at Beef 2027 in Rocky next May, appearing on Beef Central. Click here to read her first entry, published today.The Weekly Grill is brought to listeners by:
Rhinogard and Bovi-Shield MH-One - the One Shot, One Spray, One Time BRD Vaccines by Zoetis.Ceres Tags Gen 6 -
In today's episode of The Weekly Grill, host Kerry Lonergan interviews Darren Thomas, CEO of Thomas Foods International, about the company’s growth from family beginnings to a multi-billion-dollar global business.
They discuss key issues including China tariffs and trade challenges, the rebuilding of Murray Bridge after the 2018 fire, expansion into the US, goat and seafood operations, feedlot growth, labour and technology pressures, and food security.
Darren also reflects on community support, the importance of youth pathways into agriculture, and how innovation and international investment shape the future of Australian processing and exports.
-
In this episode of The Weekly Grill Kerry Lonergan interviews veteran cattleman Dick Slaney about his extraordinary career from North Queensland to Venezuela, the US and across Asia. Dick recounts hands-on experiences in live export, feedlots and abattoirs, his role in introducing stunning practices in Indonesia, and reflections on the resilience and changing dynamics of the Australia–Indonesia beef trade.
He also discusses the impacts of trade suspensions, rising competition from cheaper imports, cultural lessons learned while working in Asia, and the people and mentors who shaped his life and career.
The Weekly Grill is brought to listeners by:
Rhinogard and Bovi-Shield MH-One - the One Shot, One Spray, One Time BRD Vaccines by Zoetis.Ceres Tags Gen 6 -
In this episode Kerry Lonergan interviews respected Australian Cattle Vet Dr Ross Ainsworth about the growing threat of exotic livestock diseases discussed at the recent Wagyu Edge 26 conference in Brisbane.
Dr Ainsworth explains how foot-and-mouth disease could abruptly close export markets, devastate herd values and force mass culling, and describes how lumpy skin disease spreads, its impacts and available vaccines.
The conversation covers recent outbreaks in Southeast Asia, biosecurity risks from travellers and feral animals, preparedness options including vaccination and surveillance, and the importance of reporting suspected cases to protect Australia’s industry... and more.
In Australia, suspected exotic animal diseases should be reported to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888
-
In this week's episode of The Weekly Grill Kerry Lonergan speaks with Andrew Henderson of AgSecure about how fuel and fertiliser shortages expose critical weaknesses in Australia’s food system. They discuss diesel as a ‘‘master constraint,’’ the risks of just-in-time supply chains, and the need for a national food security strategy, strategic stockpiles and greater domestic and regional production capabilities.
The conversation covers policy options such as prioritising agriculture for fuel in crises, building sovereign capacity for fertilisers and crop protection inputs, and leveraging regional partnerships to strengthen resilience.
The Weekly Grill is brought to listeners by:
Rhinogard and Bovi-Shield MH-One - the One Shot, One Spray, One Time BRD Vaccines by Zoetis.Ceres Tags Gen 6 -
In this episode of The Weekly Grill host Kerry Lonergan is joined by Matt Dalgleish and Chris Howie to break down the latest market movements and regional conditions affecting Australian livestock.
They discuss the BOM El Niño forecast and its regional impacts, the record sell-off of cows in New South Wales, diesel and urea supply pressures, disruptions to live sheep exports and changing export demand, and how these factors are shaping lamb and beef prices and opportunities for breeders and buyers.
Key takeaways include short-term price outlooks, transport and input constraints, and practical investment ideas—such as store cattle, heifers and Merino lambs—for producers with feed and infrastructure.
-
In this weeks episode of The Weekly Grill, host Kerry Lonergan takes the roving microphone through Wagyu Edge 26 in Brisbane, talking with more than 900 breeders, exhibitors and international guests about genetics, market opportunities, biosecurity risks and the growing quality of Australian Wagyu.
Attendees share insights on breeding, phenotype data, export markets... and their cooking preferences.
The Weekly Grill is brought to listeners by:
Rhinogard and Bovi-Shield MH-One - the One Shot, One Spray, One Time BRD Vaccines by Zoetis.Ceres Tags Gen 6 -
In today's episode of The Weekly Grill, host Kerry Lonergan visited Wagyu Edge 26 in Brisbane to catch up with AWA's president Laird Morgan and CEO Matt McDonagh to explore the explosive growth of Australian Wagyu, export markets, genetics (WBVs), feeding trends and industry opportunities... plus a new $100,000 Wagyu feeding competition and more.
AWA President, Laird Morgan
AWA CEO, Matt McDonagh
The Weekly Grill is brought to listeners by:
Rhinogard and Bovi-Shield MH-One - the One Shot, One Spray, One Time BRD Vaccines by Zoetis.Ceres Tags Gen 6 -
In this episode Kerry Lonergan speaks with Rawdon Briggs (Colliers Agribusiness) and independent valuer Will McLay about current trends in Australia’s rural property market. They discuss the impact of the Middle East conflict, sector pressures on horticulture, resilient beef and cropping markets, buyer and seller motivations, and major transactions like the potential Paraway offering.
Key takeaways include buyer segmentation by asset size, succession planning driving listings, regional hotspots and water rights importance, the role of institutional and family investors, and how interest rates, fuel, fertiliser and Queensland land tax are influencing deals and sentiment.
-
The recent Northern Beef Research Update Conference in Brisbane was peppered with references to the use of smart tags in various R&D applications, combining geo-location with algorithms used to measure animal behaviour. US animal scientist Professor Derek Bailey first started using primitive forms of geo-location tags as far back as 1998, but the technology has come a long ways since. This week podcast host Kerry Lonergan and Beef Central’s Jon Condon sit down with Ceres Tags’ Greg Campbell, who also spoke during the NBRUC conference, and producer Jearn Liebenberg to discuss the advances in the technology and how it’s being applied in the industry.
The episode covers the benefits of satellite-connected smart tag tech — including geolocation, behaviour and reproductive algorithms, and tag durability – plus practical on-farm advantages like theft prevention, quicker mustering and improved breeding decisions… and more.
The Weekly Grill is brought to listeners by:
Rhinogard and Bovi-Shield MH-One – the One Shot, One Spray, One Time BRD Vaccines by Zoetis.Ceres Tags Gen 6 -
In this week's episode, podcast host Kerry Lonergan sits down with Professor Derek Bailey, one of the keynote speakers at the 2026 Northern Beef Research Update Conference (NBRUC).
Professor Bailey discusses the similarities between US and Australian rangelands (pastures), the role of public-land grazing, and how tracking technology, accelerometers and AI are transforming cattle monitorin.
The visiting academic also speaks about engaging cattle producers through on-property research, the importance of record-keeping and monitoring, and broader challenges like public perception of grazing and market drivers behind heavier carcass weights in the US beef industry.
The Weekly Grill is brought to listeners by:
Rhinogard and Bovi-Shield MH-One - the One Shot, One Spray, One Time BRD Vaccines by Zoetis.Ceres Tags Gen 6 -
The Weekly Grill podcast host Kerry Lonergan spent time at the Northern R&D conference in Brisbane this week, including this discussion with keynote speaker David Foote. Mr Foote said one of the industry’s biggest R&D opportunities lies not in new scientific breakthroughs, but applying the knowledge that already exists.
“The industry doesn’t suffer from a lack of knowledge. It suffers from a lack of scale in applying it,” he said.
Mr Foote said northern research over many years had identified clear management principles that consistently improve performance in commercial beef enterprises.
One key message was that “profit follows pasture, and pasture condition.”
Among other topics, the pair discuss the opportunities and challenges facing northern Australian beef production - including the scale benefits of the north, and barriers to adopting proven research and management practices.
The episode also covers emerging technologies (remote sensing, Starlink, walk-over weighing), infrastructure and labour issues, market positioning for exports, and urgent biosecurity concerns such as lumpy skin disease and surveillance needs.
The Weekly Grill is brought to listeners by:
Rhinogard and Bovi-Shield MH-One - the One Shot, One Spray, One Time BRD Vaccines by Zoetis.Ceres Tags Gen 6 -
In this week's episode of The Weekly Grill podcast host Kerry Lonergan talks with processor Paul Gibson, who recently retired after a distinguished 35-year career with Australian Country Choice in Brisbane. Paul's career - most recently as ACC's Research & Development manager - spanned the era from the introduction of Meat Standards Australia grading through to current-day adoption of objective carcase measurement technologies for meat quality and yield - and hundreds of developments in between. In today's episode he reflects on his frontline role in the early days of MSA, now recognised as the world's best beef grading system. He shares the gritty reality of pioneering a science-based eating quality model in the mid-1990s, the early battles fought to make it work with Brahman crossbred cattle, and why he always believed Australia could lead the world in the grading field. Paul was one of the original 12 MSA graders — selected from industry and the ICMJ program to be trained as the very first technologists when MSA launched in 1997, giving him a deep inside view of the system from day one. It's a candid, fascinating conversation with one of the industry's true unsung heroes.
Other key takeaways:
"If you can't measure it, you can't manage it" — Paul's driving philosophy meant he was often at the plant at midnight collecting data, insisting on rigorous, science-backed, third-party-verified evidence as the only way to make MSA (and later R&D programs) bulletproof and commercially credible.
MSA is now entering its third stage of evolution — having moved from implementation, to global commercial adoption, the system now needs to expand beyond palatability to incorporate yield measurements, flavour, texture, and a deeper understanding of marbling's impact on eating quality.
In other fields, Paul is passionate about lifting industry professionalism through the next generation — he has invested heavily in mentoring students through the ICMJ program (the Australian Intercollegiate Meat Judging), believing that embedding young people in science and university networks is the key to the industry making its own decisions, rather than being directed by government.
The Weekly Grill is brought to listeners by:
Rhinogard and Bovi-Shield MH-One - the One Shot, One Spray, One Time BRD Vaccines by Zoetis.Ceres Tags Gen 6 -
In this week's episode of The Weekly Grill podcast host Kerry Lonergan talks with Beef Central's genetics editor Al Rayner, posing the question: Is production efficiency the secret to lower emissions? Alastair observes that productivity and profitability are inextricably linked to lower emissions — and that smarter farm management, not silver-bullet technology, is the most immediate path forward.
Here's the main topics covered:
Methane intensity over total output — Alistair says producers should shift focus from total methane produced to methane per kilo of beef, making efficient, fast-growing animals the real emissions win.
Management first, technology second — Better reproduction rates, conception rates, and feed quality can reduce methane emissions right now, before investing in new genetics or feed additives.
Genetic research is advancing — Leading organisations like Angus Australia, Wagyu Australia, CSIRO, and the University of New England are developing research breeding values (EBVs) for methane.
Feedlots vs grazing — Feedlot cattle on high-quality diets produce significantly less methane than extensively grazed cattle on low-digestibility pastures, due to more efficient digestion.
Productivity = profitability = lower emissions — 75–80pc of profitability variation comes down to how many kilos of beef are produced per hectrare. More efficient producers are automatically more profitable, and, lower-emission — the three goals are inseparable.
The Weekly Grill is brought to listeners by:
Rhinogard and Bovi-Shield MH-One - the One Shot, One Spray, One Time BRD Vaccines by Zoetis.Ceres Tags Gen 6 -
In this week's episode of The Weekly Grill podcast host Kerry Lonergan talks all things AI with Jerome Leray, founder and Managing Director of leading ag tech company, Infarm. InFarm is an Agricultural AI company focused on delivering ground breaking technology to farmers, using state of the art AI and advance technology to develop tools that will help farmers become more efficient, save money or become more profitable. In a wide ranging conversation, the pair discuss:Capturing data to unlock the potential of AIPractical example of how and where Ai is now being used in agricultureHow Ai could be applied in geneticsOpportunities for Australian ag tech to dominate world wideWhat farmers can do now to get integrate AI into their farming enterprises... and more
Jerome was awarded the Agricultural Ministers Emerging Leader Award in 2020 and has represented Australia at the Entrepreneurship World Cup. For his contributions to technology and agriculture Jerome received a QLD Community Achievement Award and led InFarm to be awarded the Australian Food and Agribusiness of the Year in 2019.
The Weekly Grill is brought to listeners by:
Rhinogard and Bovi-Shield MH-One - the One Shot, One Spray, One Time BRD Vaccines by Zoetis.Ceres Tags Gen 6 -
Weekly Grill podcast host Kerry Lonergan this week sits down to chew the fat with independent analyst Simon Quilty, exploring the livestock and meat market prospects for the year ahead. Together the pair discuss likely impacts on trade this year, from China tariffs and quotas and their impact on Australian exports on imported beef, supply and demand patterns, the US herd size and what it means; Brazil - the growing numbers of cattle on feed and the potential threat to Australia’s exports to Japan and Korea; the rise in value of the A$; is lamb still in a boom cycle, and more.
The Weekly Grill is brought to listeners by:
Rhinogard and Bovi-Shield MH-One - the One Shot, One Spray, One Time BRD Vaccines by Zoetis.Ceres Tags Gen 6 - Show more
