Prof Jim Pratley is one of Australia's best known ag educators, with a distinguished 40 year career. In this wide ranging discussion with Weekly Grill podcast host Kerry Lonergan, he discusses what governments and industry could be doing to attract more students to careers in ag, and how ag education could be tailored for indigenous students. Prof Pratley began his teaching career in 1972 at Wagga Wagga Agricultural College, now Charles Sturt University. As Foundation Dean of the Faculty of Scie...
Jul 04, 2025•26 min•Ep. 189
With sweeping tariff changes in the US, dramatic currency movements, floods and widespread late summer rain in pastoral areas of QLD and NSW, there was a lot to talk about in the latest Weekly Grill markets update podcast with regular commentators Chris Howie and Matt Dalgleish. In today's episode Kerry Lonergan catches up with the pair on US President Trump's evolving tariff negotiations and the implications for China, the knock-on affects for Australia and other international markets, and how ...
Jun 27, 2025•37 min•Ep. 188
IN today's podcast episode, host Kerry Lonergan sits down with three women turning the tables in an historically male-dominated meat industry. The Meat Business Women networking and personal development organisation held its annual conference in Brisbane recently, attracting a rowdy crowd of 250. The organisation aims to empower women to make their mark in the meat industry. Founded in the UK in 2015, the Meat Business Women movement, has been a colossal success story in Australia, growing from ...
Jun 20, 2025•39 min•Ep. 187
IN today's podcast episode, host Kerry Lonergan chews the fat with prominent live export identity and veterinarian - Katherine-based Ross Ainsworth. The pair discuss recent live export trade trends, and how the industry manages the growing population of esturine (Asian) buffalo in the NT Topics discussed: • Escalating numbers of wild buffalo in Arnhem Land • The environmental problems • Commercial opportunities / barriers • Feral camel and pig numbers • Live trade out of the north • Should Austr...
Jun 13, 2025•35 min•Ep. 186
IN today's podcast episode, host Kerry Lonergan sits down with Consolidated Pastoral Co CEO Troy Setter. The pair discuss topics of high interest within the beef industry presently, including the impact of Queensland's foreign owner land tax on investment appetite; the likely trade impacts of Brazil's recent gaining of FMD-freedom without vaccination; CPC's diversification/expansion out of beef into large-scale wool production; biosecurity developments and the trading environment in Vietnam, Chi...
Jun 06, 2025•32 min•Ep. 185
IN today's episode podcast, host Kerry Lonergan sits down with up with US animal genetics expert and award winning ag communicator Professor Alison Van Eenaammen. Prof Van Eenennaam is a distinguished Professor of Cooperative Extension in the field of Animal Genomics and Biotechnology in the Department of Animal Science at the University of California, Davis where she has been on faculty for over 20 years. She spoke at the recent World Angus Congress in Brisbane on the opportunities and challeng...
May 30, 2025•40 min•Ep. 184
IN today’s episode podcast host Kerry Lonergan catches up with Dr Frank Mitloehner, in a deep-dive into the beef industry’s climate impact, the importance of accurate accounting methodologies and why the livestock “If we continue to reduce methane emissions in livestock sectors, whether through better grazing and forage, genetics, or tools coming online such as feed additives, livestock can be part of a climate solution. There aren’t many sectors that can say that,” he told the recent World Angu...
May 23, 2025•38 min•Ep. 183
IN today’s episode podcast host Kerry Lonergan catches up with John Stika, president and CEO of Certified Angus Beef, the world’s largest branded beef program. Over the last 47 years CAB has grown into a red meat marketing colossus, grading around six million cattle each year producing beef sold into dozens of countries worldwide. But it hasn’t always been easy, going within a single vote of being cancelled in its formative years before the program turned a profit.
May 16, 2025•28 min•Ep. 182
IN today's episode podcast host Kerry Lonergan catches up with Angus cattle producers attending the World Angus Congress in Brisbane. Genetic selection of cattle for lower methane, sustainability and consumer attitudes to climate issues were common themes throughout the two-day event. In this podcast, Angus cattlemen and women from across Australia and overseas give their views on how genetic selection for low methane might unfold in coming years. Will it be driven by pull-through from beef bran...
May 09, 2025•19 min•Ep. 181
In today's episode podcast host Kerry Lonergan catches up with Dairy Australia's Sustainable Animal Care Manager Dr Andy Hancock, on progress in beef production from dairy calves. Dairy Australia, the industry equivalent of MLA, is seeking beef industry input into the project called Calfways – a contraction of Calf Pathways. Developed over the past 18 months, the project originates from a dairy industry policy to ensure all dairy calves enter a valued market chain by 2035, with no on-farm euthan...
May 01, 2025•24 min•Ep. 180
In today's episode Kerry Lonergan catches up with prominent nutritionist and food scientist Dr Anneline Padayachee. Anneline is a strong advocate for the role of red meat in a balanced diet, and the broader role of food production and nutrition science in improving public health. She is one of the keynote speakers at the upcoming World Angus Forum being staged in Brisbane on 7-8 May. Beyond weight loss and disease treatment, Anneline views nutrition as fundamental to cellular health, growth, agi...
Apr 24, 2025•37 min•Ep. 179
With sweeping tariff changes in the US, dramatic currency movements, floods and widespread late summer rain in pastoral areas of QLD and NSW, there was a lot to talk about in the latest Weekly Grill markets update podcast with regular commentators Chris Howie and Matt Dalgleish. In today’s episode Kerry Lonergan catches up with the pair on US President Trump’s evolving tariff negotiations and the implications for China, the knock-on affects for Australia and other international markets, and how ...
Apr 11, 2025•26 min•Ep. 178
As part of Beef Central's Top 25 Livestock Transporters feature running this month (click here to access) Weekly Grill podcast host Kerry Lonergan this week chats to Gerard Johnson, president of the Australian Livestock & Rural Transporters Association. The pair discuss some of the big issues being faced by the livestock transport industry, including regulatory matters, driver access, cost-to-operate, and road condition and access. The Top 25 Transporters feature coincides with today's ALRTA...
Apr 03, 2025•24 min•Ep. 177
Five gun Australian retail butchers are competing in the World Butchers' Challenge taking place in Paris France this weekend. Weekly Grill podcast host Kerry Lonergan talks with team captain, South Australian butcher, Luke Leyson about this unique competition, and Australia's chances among the 24 nations competing. Kerry and Luke discuss the Australian team's chances at the prestigious international event. The podcast covers: • Australia's previous performances at the event • How the team prepar...
Mar 28, 2025•20 min•Ep. 176
In this week's episode, Kerry Lonergan discusses possible US Tariff scenarios with global meat trader and analyst, Simon Quilty from market intelligence firm, Global AgriTrends. Then attention turns to MLA's three year projections as Kerry chats with MLA's Market Information Manager, Stephen Bignell. Simon Quilty, Global Agribusiness • Possible US Tariff implications • The economic factors the US should be taking into account • Best case scenario for Australia’s beef industry • Should there be a...
Mar 21, 2025•34 min•Ep. 175
This week’s Weekly Grill podcast features Beef Central’s regular US-based columnist Steve Kay, publisher of US Cattle Buyers Weekly, on recent tariff developments between the US and major trading partners. While the fast-moving nature of the topic means there’s been developments on a couple of points since this item was recorded, much of the general sentiment remains. Topics discussed include: • President Trump’s delayed announcement of Tariffs • What the tariffs could mean for Mexico and Canada...
Mar 14, 2025•26 min•Ep. 174
Teys Australia feedlot general manager Grant Garey assumed the reins as president of the grainfed sector's peak body, ALFA, in November. He arrives in the role at an important inflection point for the grainfed industry. During this podcast conversation with Weekly Grill host Kerry Lonergan, the pair discuss recent industry growth, appetite for further expansion, how water access is challenging some projects and the rising costs of feedlot development. Other topics on the block include: The issue...
Mar 07, 2025•27 min•Ep. 173
It's been 28 years since Australia last hosted a World Angus Congress, and interest across the Angus world is already reaching fever pitch ahead of the 2025 event being held in Brisbane and Tamworth in May. In today's episode, podcast host Kerry Lonergan chats with Angus Australia's Scott Wright about preparations for the once-in-a-generation event. Up to 1000 Angus stakeholders from across Australia, New Zealand, North and South America and Europe are expected to gather for the Congress, Forum,...
Feb 28, 2025•26 min•Ep. 172
In today's episode, Kerry chats with veteran strategic researcher, Howard Parry-Husbands. • Working with MLA • Looking at the data to understand red meat eaters • Red meat consumption in Australia • Guilt fatigue (consumers now questioning the facts) • What the numbers and research data tells us about the negativity towards eating red meat / animal welfare and ethics in red meat production • Do plant-based foods pose a threat to the red meat industry? Do they have a future in our supermarkets? •...
Feb 20, 2025•32 min•Ep. 171
In today's episode of The Weekly Grill, Kerry Lonergan chats with the Red Meat Advisory Council Independent Chair, John McKillop.
Feb 13, 2025•33 min•Ep. 170
Welcome back to Beef Central popular Weekly Grill podcast series for 2025. Today's first episode for the year sees the return of regular market watchers, RMA's Chris Howie and Ep3's Matt Dalgleish. Weather conditions over the next couple of months will have a strong bearing on slaughter and store cattle prices heading deeper into 2025, the pair suggest in today's discussion with host. Other topics range from the impact of Trump's tariff actions, prospects for beef sales into the US, where cattle...
Feb 07, 2025•27 min•Ep. 169
As the festive season draws closer, pressure on the nation’s critically important charity groups like Foodbank reaches its height. Foodbank is the largest hunger relief charity in Australia, providing the ‘food pantry’ to the charity sector across the country. This year alone, Foodbank sourced enough food for more than 92 million meals, and the number grows as cost of living pressures continue to mount. In this final Weekly Grill podcast episode for the year, host Kerry Lonergan talks with Foodb...
Dec 13, 2024•26 min•Ep. 168
FOOD securuty has been in the news this week , and in today’s episode of the Weekly Grill podcast, host Kerry Lonergan talks with Andrew Henderson from AgSecure Andrew is the principal of Agsecure, the independent chair of the Safemeat Advisory Group and a former adviser to the federal government on biosecurity and the red meat and livestock sector. The Weekly Grill is brought to readers and listeners by Rhinogard by Zoetis....
Dec 06, 2024•29 min•Ep. 167
A glimpse into the future of artificial breeding in the cattle industry is provided in this week’s podcast, where Nbryo’s Nick Cameron and Gerard Davis talk through the company’s ambitious plans to ‘condense seven years into seven days’ using a suite of novel technologies that promise to re-imagine livestock systems for future food resilience. By any reasonable measure, the broader scope of the Nbryo project is visionary, and potentially far reaching. The technology is designed to have equal app...
Nov 15, 2024•37 min•Ep. 166
Today's Weekly Grill podcast continues our occasional markets series, with host Kerry Lonergan talking with regular markets commentators RMA's Chris Howie and Ep3's Matt Dalgleish. Weather conditions over the next couple of months will have a strong bearing on slaughter and store cattle prices heading into 2025, regular markets contributors Chris Howie and Matt Dalgleish suggest in today's episode of the Weekly Grill podcast. The pair also discuss the impact of the Trump victory in Wednesday's U...
Nov 08, 2024•34 min•Ep. 165
In this week's episode of the Weekly Grill podcast, host Kerry Lonergan sits down with respected leader for change and 2024 Nuffield Scholar, Catherine Marriott who was invited to present at the BeefEx feedlot convention in Brisbane recently. Over the last 20 years, Catherine has worked as an executive, a non-executive director and consulting roles in the agricultural, reseach and regional development sectors in Australia and internationally. During this time, she has become a proven business le...
Oct 30, 2024•26 min•Ep. 164
In this episode of the Weekly Grill podcast, host Kerry Lonergan sits down with Charlie Arnot, CEO of the Centre for Food Integrity, who spoke at the grainfed beef industry's BeefEx conference in Brisbane last week. He spoke about how global expectations around animal welfare are shaping beef production practices in Australia, and how the industry can help protect its freedom to operate.
Oct 25, 2024•17 min•Ep. 163
This week Kerry Lonergan sat down with international economist and political theorist, Ralph Schoellhammer following his presentation at Beef Ex 2024. Professor Schoellhammer specialises in the intersection of political philosophy and energy policies. His work explores how cultural convictions influence policy outcomes, particularly regarding energy, industry, and agriculture, addressing what he sees as a cultural self hate in the West. As reported earlier this week , Professor Schoellhammer adv...
Oct 18, 2024•28 min•Ep. 162
Momentum continues to grow in the sustainable and renewable energy field, with plenty of applications emerging in the beef industry's processing and lotfeeding sectors, especially. In this week's Weekly Grill podcast, host Kerry Lonergan talks with Carl Duncan, former sustainability officer with Teys Australia who now heads sustainable energy solutions provider NRG-One. The company helps agribusinesses reduce their carbon footprint for a variety of reasons, from reducing operating costs to makin...
Oct 11, 2024•26 min•Ep. 161
The head of the vertically-integrated Stockyard grainfed beef business, Lachie Hart, sat down last week for an extended chat with Weekly Grill podcast host Kerry Lonergan. Among a host of topics touched on by the pair was Stockyard’s experiences as one of Australia’s trail blazers in the field of sustainability performance-linked finance; the rapidly growing cost to operate in the commercial lotfeeding industry; Stockyard as a multi-generational family business; trials and adoption of new techno...
Oct 04, 2024•39 min•Ep. 160
