Throughout this special series on kangaroo management, we’ve unpacked a range of issues around this wicked challenge. From landowners, conservation groups and the indigenous community to wildlife advocates, industry and the general public, everyone has a different view and story to tell. With focuses varying from economics to morals to conservation issues, it can be challenging to find common ground. In this episode, we’ll hear from an ecologist, the industry and the government about some...

Kangaroos have a cultural and spiritual significance for Aboriginal people, being a totem for some and a source of food and clothing for many. Tune in to learn about the diversity of views that Aboriginal people have about kangaroo management. When caring for country, they use a holistic, sustainable approach. There are still challenges, as traditional methods can sometimes clash with legislation. In this episode, we’ll talk to indigenous community members about what kangaroo harvesting means...

Drought is a stressful time for any farmer trying to balance competing business, livestock and landscape demands. In this episode, we’ll hear from a farmer about his experience living through the latest drought with unmanaged, overabundant kangaroos on his property. Kangaroos also struggle in drought with inevitable dehydration and starvation from lack of food and water.  So what can be done about it? We’ll hear from an animal welfare expert about the different ways kangaroos are managed on...

Do you struggle with managing Total Grazing Pressure on your property, particularly from unmanaged animals? You're not alone. It can be overwhelming for many landowners in Western NSW to manage their livestock and deal with the challenges of other animals like goats and kangaroos. Kangaroo numbers can fluctuate very quickly across individual properties, uprooting and damaging plants and negatively impacting the land. But there's hope. Research is addressing this challenge, focusing on a...

Kangaroo management is a complicated, nationwide issue that involves many diverse stakeholders. From landholders to the kangaroo industry to animal welfare groups and everyone else in between, it impacts people across Australia. In this first episode, we’ll talk to an ecologist and an academic to better understand the complex issues surrounding kangaroo management, including diverse approaches such as translocation, fertility control, culling and commercial harvesting.  Want to learn about...

Ground cover and stubble retention in cropping enterprises is really important for managing soil erosion in western NSW. Dust storms caused by wind erosion not only have a big impact on agricultural productivity but also on towns and cities where dust is quite literally a dirty word. So in this episode we’ll talk to a soil conservationist about how to avoid those dust storms and we’ll hear from a farmer who’s trying a few innovative things like planting into a dry river bed to manage his...

In western NSW, managing perennial grasses, trees and shrubs is key to maintaining healthy landscapes and resilience for your grazing operation. Perennials have deep root systems that help with soil health and stability. They can tap into available soil nutrients, enhance biodiversity and capture any available water. And for one farmer we talked to, perennials got him and his livestock through a few tough seasons. So, how do you increase perennials in a variable climate? Well, our guests in...

For a lot of farmers in Western NSW, the sheer scale of managing total grazing pressure in the rangelands can be really overwhelming, not to mention expensive. But it is really important to help maintain the proper functioning of ecosystems to maximise profitability and regeneration. And the experts all agree that, just like healthy food and exercise it might be hard to get started, but its good for you in the long run. So in this episode we’ll talk to some industry experts about the benefits...

The rangelands of Western NSW can be a challenging place to farm in. Historical overgrazing has caused major dust storms and erosion and with farmers having just been through one of the toughest droughts in living memory, repairing landscapes to be rain ready is critical. From grading contours to constructing ponding banks, it's all about slowing the flow before the next rain comes to give the land a chance for a drink. But before you get out any tools, rehabilitating the rangelands starts...

Did you know that NSW has the largest rangeland goat population in Australia? For part of Western NSW, they’re a key source of farm income. Goats are a hardy animal well suited to the rangelands and whilst the last drought was tough on everyone, goat numbers. have rebounded from 2.4 to 6.8 million and more goats are coming onto the market. To take advantage of this growing opportunity, many producers are transitioning toward semi-managed or managed systems. So what lessons can be learned...

Have you ever thought about farming goats? Did you know Australia is globally the number 1 exporter of goat meat with export prices seeing almost uninterrupted growth over the last 4 years. So in this episode we’re going to explore the ins and outs of wild harvesting versus managed goats to help you take advantage of a growing opportunity.

From the moment we’re born we’re constantly learning. The same goes for ewe weaners who have to get through birth, learn to walk and graze, drink milk, and avoid predators.  There’s a lot of new things happening and plenty that can go wrong. And we’ll hear from a farming couple why a good quality feed cart is the key to a successful feeding operation and a happy marriage.

Did you know that lamb mortality costs the sheep industry about half a billion dollars a year? Some of that is unavoidable. Its natural. But a big part of it comes down to managing the reproduction cycle. So in episode 3 we’re talking about the secrets to successful reproduction strategies.

In episode 2 we’re looking at pre-lambing nutrition because a healthy ewe is going to give her lambs the best chance of survival. We’ll hear from industry experts with all the facts and figures and we’ll talk to a farmer who's experienced first hand when nutrition is out of balance.

Only about half of all ewes in Australia get pregnancy scanned. Why is that? In episode 1 we explore how scanning can help you make more informed management decisions to improve your lambing percentages to rebuild and maintain your flock numbers.

Podcast host Edgars Greste chats with Gemma Turnbull from Western LLS about what you can expect to hear from this new podcast.