What does the future hold for Australian agriculture in a world shaped by politics, protectionism, and shifting global demand?

In this episode, David Cornish is joined by respected consultant and market analyst Robert Herrmann to unpack the big-picture issues shaping ag in 2025. From Trump-era tariff talk to the resilience of Australia’s export model, Robert brings sharp insights into how trade policies really affect the farmgate and what producers should pay attention to in the years ahead.

The conversation spans the changing face of the wool industry, the economics behind the declining Merino flock, and the growing need for dual-purpose sheep that deliver both wool and meat. With a clear eye on strategy, Robert outlines where the industry is heading and why traceability, efficiency, and market confidence will be more important than ever.

Whether you're a grower, advisor, or policymaker, this episode offers essential context for navigating what's next.

The discussions on this podcast are for general information and education use only. These discussions should not be taken as constituting professional advice from the either AgTalk, Marcus Oldham College or our guests.

Marcus Oldham College, AgTalk or our podcasts guests are not liable for any loss caused, whether due to negligence or otherwise arising from the use of, or reliance on, the information provided directly or indirectly, by listening to this podcast.

In this episode of the Marcus Oldham AgTalk Podcast, host David Cornish spoke with Andrew McGuire, an Extension Agronomist and Director for Grant County at Washington State University, about the intricacies of soil health.

Andrew has been with WSU's Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources since 1999, focusing on sustainable agriculture practices, particularly soil health, cover cropping, and high-residue farming systems.

His extensive research includes contributions like "Improving Soil Health in Pacific Northwest Potato Production: a Review" in the American Journal of Potato Research.

Based in Moses Lake, Washington, Andrew also shares insights on soil, farming, and science under the handle @agronomistag.

To learn more about Andrew McGuire's work, visit his WSU profile.

The discussions on this podcast are for general information and education use only. These discussions should not be taken as constituting professional advice from the either AgTalk, Marcus Oldham College or our guests.

Marcus Oldham College, AgTalk or our podcasts guests are not liable for any loss caused, whether due to negligence or otherwise arising from the use of, or reliance on, the information provided directly or indirectly, by listening to this podcast.

To kick off Season Five of the Marcus Oldham College AgTalk Podcast, I sat down with James Hamilton from Cultivate Advisory to discuss one of the most critical conversations any farming family, or any family with a business, will ever have: succession planning.

James is not only an experienced family succession planning facilitator but also a farmer with over 25 years of hands-on experience. He operates a farming enterprise in Narromine, central New South Wales, alongside his wife, Amanda. Together, they have raised their three daughters on the family farm, including Annabelle, a 2023 graduate of Marcus Oldham College with a Bachelor of Business (Agribusiness).

Having successfully navigated the succession process within his own family farm, James launched Cultivate Advisory in 2013. Through his business, he specialises in helping families and businesses across Australia create tailored succession plans that ensure smooth transitions of management and assets from one generation to the next. His approach focuses on open communication, practical strategies, and a deep understanding of the emotional and professional complexities involved.

If you’re ready to start the conversation about succession planning or wondering where to even start, this episode is packed with insights, practical advice, and real-life examples from James’s years of experience. To learn more about James Hamilton and Cultivate Advisory, visit: https://cultivateadvisory.com.au find James on LinkedIn here.

The discussions on this podcast are for general information and education use only. These discussions should not be taken as constituting professional advice from the either AgTalk, Marcus Oldham College or our guests.

Marcus Oldham College, AgTalk or our podcasts guests are not liable for any loss caused, whether due to negligence or otherwise arising from the use of, or reliance on, the information provided directly or indirectly, by listening to this podcast.

Join us this episode as we chat with Andrew Henderson, Principal of Agsecure, on the importance of food security to Australia’s national security.

Andrew is a leading strategic policy specialist with a passion for building the sustainability and prosperity of rural and regional Australia and enhancing the recognition of its role in the economy and its place in national security.

Andrew’s mission is to support industry and government to understand each other and work better together for the benefit of the nation, working across private enterprise, industry, not-for-profits, and governments. Andrew is presenting at the FutureAg Expo this April with more information available here.

The discussions on this podcast are for general information and education use only. These discussions should not be taken as constituting professional advice from the either AgTalk, Marcus Oldham College or our guests.

Marcus Oldham College, AgTalk or our podcasts guests are not liable for any loss caused, whether due to negligence or otherwise arising from the use of, or reliance on, the information provided directly or indirectly, by listening to this podcast.

Join us this week as we talk with Joanne Stevenson, Principal Consultant at Resilient Organisations as she chats to David Cornish about how we can create Resilient Businesses.

Over the past decade, Joanne has accumulated post-disaster research and consulting experience in several countries, examining recovery and resilience of communities, economies, and organisations.

She enjoys grappling with complex systems and developing practical solutions to work with these, using her background in geospatial assessment and network analysis.

Jo farms in partnership with her family on a commercial sheep and beef property where the risks and opportunities of running a business in a dynamic environment are lived every day.

The discussions on this podcast are for general information and education use only. These discussions should not be taken as constituting professional advice from the either AgTalk, Marcus Oldham College or our guests.

Marcus Oldham College, AgTalk or our podcasts guests are not liable for any loss caused, whether due to negligence or otherwise arising from the use of, or reliance on, the information provided directly or indirectly, by listening to this podcast.

Join us this episode as we chat with Agrista Director and consultant, John Francis, about getting back to basics and looking at Farm Profit Drivers.

Agrista is an agricultural consultancy focused on improving farm business performance based in Wagga Wagga in Southern New South Wales.

Agrista provides consulting services to corporate and family farms, the rural finance sector, government and industry bodies and the agricultural services sector.

You can learn more about Agrista here and connect with John on LinkedIn here.

The discussions on this podcast are for general information and education use only. These discussions should not be taken as constituting professional advice from the either AgTalk, Marcus Oldham College or our guests.

Marcus Oldham College, AgTalk or our podcasts guests are not liable for any loss caused, whether due to negligence or otherwise arising from the use of, or reliance on, the information provided directly or indirectly, by listening to this podcast.

Dr Nicole (Nici) Sweaney grew up with a fascination for animals and science, and always knew it was something she wanted to pursue. 

But after completing a PhD in which she studied how native butterfly species interact with farmlands and pine plantations. From this Nici saw the power of information and data and the opportunities AI present to us.

This led her to found ‘Ai Her Way’ which is dedicated to helping women learn how to use AI in their everyday lives so they can achieve their wildest dreams.

Nici is passionate about gender equality and sees AI as a powerful tool to help women thrive in the workforce. Join us as we take look at AI and how it can benefit people working in Agriculture.

The discussions on this podcast are for general information and education use only. These discussions should not be taken as constituting professional advice from the either AgTalk, Marcus Oldham College or our guests.

Marcus Oldham College, AgTalk or our podcasts guests are not liable for any loss caused, whether due to negligence or otherwise arising from the use of, or reliance on, the information provided directly or indirectly, by listening to this podcast.

Join us for the first episode of season four of the AgTalk podcast as we discuss meat and wool commodity markets with Robert Herrmann.

Robert is a founder of Mecardo, a specialist in agricultural advisory with a focus firmly on the financial enhancement of primary production and price risk management.

The company was established by Robert in Adelaide in 1996 under the Ag Concepts Advisory brand. With a longstanding background in agriculture, Robert’s commitment was to deliver a high quality proactive risk analysis and management service to clients.

Robert has in excess of thirty years’ experience in agriculture, including eleven years as a senior wool specialist with Elders Ltd advising in the marketing and risk management of agricultural commodities. 

The discussions on this podcast are for general information and education use only. These discussions should not be taken as constituting professional advice from the either AgTalk, Marcus Oldham College or our guests. This episode was recorded in September 2023.

Marcus Oldham College, AgTalk or our podcasts guests are not liable for any loss caused, whether due to negligence or otherwise arising from the use of, or reliance on, the information provided directly or indirectly, by listening to this podcast.