Propagate

Young Farmer Business Program

Propagate tells the stories of NSW’s best and brightest young farmers and fishers. Each episode is a candid conversation about the business of primary production. The episodes focus on the business aspect of farming and fishing: from financing your first season, to building a brand, raising capital and managing mental health. We hear how young farmers and fishers got started, and what their plans are for the future. These are stories of innovation, resilience and entrepreneurship. Hear from people who have been where you are. Propagate is brought to you by the NSW Department of Primary Industries Young Farmer Business Program. We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the many Aboriginal lands on which this podcast was recorded and produced, and we show our respect for elders past and present.

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Episodes

Coming soon: Propagate Season 2

In Season 2 of Propagate we’re chatting about one of the biggest challenges for farming families - succession planning. We’ll unpack the essential ingredients for a positive succession plan and hear about how good communication, a clear road map, and the right support, can keep both the family relationships, and the farming business, on track.

Jan 31, 2021•2 min•Season 2Ep. 1

For Heath Cook, failure is not an option

This episode we set the alarm clock for an early start with Heath Cook, a dairy farmer from Dorrigo in the Northern Tablelands of NSW. It’s a long way from the mines where he spent the first two decades of his working life. But when the fly-in-fly-out mining lifestyle began to keep him away from home for long stretches, it was time to ignore the advice of a financial planner and invest their life savings in a dairy farm. Despite having no experience working on or running a dairy farm. Fortunatel...

Feb 06, 2020•21 min•Season 1Ep. 5

Bodie and Rachel Hill and the power of perception

In this episode, Bodie and Rachel Hill discuss the ups and downs of living and working in one of the most remote parts of the state. Their property, Waka Station is near Cameron Corner at the border between New South Wales, South Australia and Queensland. More than three hours hours away from the nearest town, the pair consider their patch of land an oasis. But making a living from the land isn’t always easy, and the pair speak candidly about their struggles with mental health and the challenges...

Feb 06, 2020•22 min•Season 1Ep. 8

Sheia Kironn is growing organically

In this episode we speak with Sheia Kironn, who owns and operates Lifeforce Farm; a one-acre certified organic farm in Mullumbimby, a small town near Byron Bay, NSW. Sheia grew up in the Midlands of England, where she spent hours gardening with her grandma in a small allotment garden in a council estate. The small patch of land provided a large amount of food to the family and left a lasting impression on Sheia. After moving to Australia as a teenager, Sheia followed her passion for science to u...

Feb 06, 2020•19 min•Season 1Ep. 6

Olympia Yarger and the buzz business

When you think of farming, it’s very unlikely that you think about farming flies. In fact, if you have any experience on a farm, you probably know how destructive flies can be to livestock. Yet in a small industrial building in the Canberra suburb of Fyshwick, Olympia Yarger is farming flies. And a lot of people are very excited by her unique work. It turns out that there’s more to flies than the average person realises, and Olympia is at the forefront of using the little buzzers to change the w...

Feb 06, 2020•23 min•Season 1Ep. 1

Jarrod and Emma Amery have faith in farming

In this episode, husband and wife team Jarrod and Emma Amery welcome us onto their farm outside of Forbes, NSW. While both Jarrod and Emma grew up amongst farming, it took them a long time for them to find the perfect farm to call their own. Location was obviously one crucial consideration to finding the right property, but equally important was finding one with a house large enough for them and their six young children. Now that they have their ‘dream’ farm, there’s just the simple little thing...

Feb 06, 2020•19 min•Season 1Ep. 4

Angus Maurice and the branding breakthrough

In this episode, Angus Maurice from Farmer Brown’s Pastured Eggs talks us through how a few changes in the way they viewed and presented their business has had an incredible impact on their bottom line. Based in Central West New South Wales, Farmer Brown’s is a family affair, with Angus’ brother, sister and parents all involved in the daily operations. They also have a dedicated team of maremma working dogs who act as loyal guards to the free roaming chickens. These days the operation is slick a...

Feb 06, 2020•20 min•Season 1Ep. 3

On the water with Paul Aquilina (and Skip)

Today it’s time to put on a lifejacket and cast off with Paul Aquilina, a young fisherman living on the Hawkesbury River, 90 minutes from Sydney. Paul has never been in any doubt that he wanted to be a fisherman and no amount of early morning starts, broken down boats, stolen eel traps, or empty nets could stop him from achieving his dream. To say he’s focused on what he wants is an understatement. From his early days of volunteering on trawlers through to him leasing boats and licenses, Paul is...

Feb 06, 2020•22 min•Season 1Ep. 2

Brad Cavanagh and the black cow business

In this episode of Propagate, we visit Brad Cavanagh from Hardhat Angus, situated in Harden, NSW. Originally from a non-farming family in Dubbo, Brad became interested in cattle as a high school student thanks to the Angus Youth program. His interest continued to grow into a full blown passion for Angus cattle, even taking him to the USA to learn more about cattle farming techniques and the all important genetics from large corporations like the Sinclair Cattle Company. These days he divides his...

Feb 06, 2020•23 min•Season 1Ep. 7

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