The saying, ‘fit for a king’ denotes a product of impeccable quality. It’s not often it literally means a king will try it. But in this case, caviar and kings go hand in hand. For anyone not previously familiar with the sustainable Murray River Cod produced by Aquna, in the NSW Riverina region, it certainly came under a spotlight during King Charles and Queen Camilla’s recent visit to Australia. To learn more about this pioneering business, Aquna’s CEO Ross Anderson joins me now to discuss:

• Ross gives us an overview of Aquna and their unique approach to producing Murray Cod.
• He shares his favourite product or the best way to enjoy their beautiful product.
• Unlike commercial fishing, which is banned for wild Murray Cod, Aquna has pioneered an innovative open-pond farming method.
• Their commitment to sustainability means they avoid indoor, tank-based systems and focus on having one of the lowest environmental impacts in the industry.
• This approach has earned them multiple awards and even an invitation to an event with King Charles and Queen Camilla.
• Reflecting on the impact of the pandemic on production and, the next 18 months for Aquna.
• A key aspect of their sustainability efforts is ensuring that no runoff from their farm enters the Murray-Darling Basin’s waterways.
• While the fish itself is a beautiful white-fleshed variety, their caviar is exceptionally rare and highly sought after.
• Ross reflects on the most unexpected experience in the business.
• The biggest misconceptions about land farmed Murray Cod.
• The ultimate dream for the future for Aquna.

We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus.


Links:
Angie Asimus

Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram

Partnered with Australian Farmers

Follow @australianfarmers on Instagram

Aquna


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It’s a big call to leave the familiar comforts of life in the city for the wide-open spaces of farm life. Even tougher to make the move in the middle of crippling drought. It was harder than Kaitie Nash thought. Much harder. And that took a toll on her mental health. Social media became a way to connect and build an online community. She’s also since improved her farm skills too! First Time Farmer, Kaitie Nash joins me to discuss:

• Kaitie’s favourite place on the farm.
• As a city girl, she shares how she ended up in country NSW.
• The expectations versus the harsh realities of life on the land.
• Kaitie shares her journey with mental health and how she coped during challenging times.
• Social media became a safe space and an outlet for her.
• Her content shares the realities of farm life, but it’s also very entertaining and brings her so much joy.
• Now, Kaitie loves supporting other first-time farmers and “finding a way to have a laugh.”
• A common misconception about life on the land.
• What Kaitie loves most about this lifestyle.
• The most unexpected thing to happen.
• Kaitie’s ultimate dream for the future.

We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus.

Links:

Angie Asimus

Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram

Partnered with Australian Farmers

Follow @australianfarmers on Instagram

Connect with @ kaitie_nash on Instagram

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Vegetables are an essential for all of us. But it’s easy to forget that the big, bright and beautiful produce that fills our shopping bags, all starts with a tiny seed. The key to growing veggies all year round in different climates comes back to genetics. It’s the kind of science that gives cauliflowers UV protection or even turns them orange or purple. To learn more, I’m interviewing someone who doesn’t just develop seeds to suit every climate in Australia, she’s even transplanted herself from Darwin to Melbourne to pursue her career in agronomy. Plant scientist Eliza Seymour joins me now to discuss:

• Eliza’s favourite vegetable or seed.
• She works in genetics and hybrid vegetables, providing examples of what that entails.
• The Australian climate is so varied, and Eliza explains how the breeding process works.
• The role of field trials before making these seeds available to farmers across the nation.
• How long it takes to develop a variety from concept to commercialization.
• The difference between genetic modification and hybridization.
• It all starts with tiny seeds, and the importance of getting it right to ensure supply all year round.
• As consumers, we learn how much work goes on behind the scenes with genetics to ensure our vegetables are consistent.
• On her fabulously named ‘Need for Seed’ account on TikTok, she shares interesting facts about the growing process.
• Eliza studied an intriguing combination of plant science and accounting, both of which have been useful.
• What she loves most about working in the agriculture industry.
• The most unexpected thing to happen since she started in this field.
• Common misconceptions about the world of seeds.
• Eliza’s ultimate dream for the future.

We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus.

Links:

Angie Asimus

Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram

Partnered with Australian Farmers

Follow @australianfarmers on Instagram

Need for Seed on TicTok

Need for Seed on Instagram

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We learn pretty early on in life that good food promotes health. But what’s not so simple is how many of those nutrients we actually absorb, or what impact does the way something is farmed have on the quality of the produce. Nicknamed, The Simple Scientist, my guest today has a bit of a superpower and that is being able to breakdown complex research to help consumers make better choices. And farmers are among her favourite people! Dr Anneline Padayachee joins me now to discuss:

• Anneline shares her favorite food fact.
• Dr. Anneline explains that nutrition starts on the farm and elaborates on its significance.
• She is often called "The Simple Scientist" for her ability to clearly explain complex concepts.
• Nutrient delivery is a crucial topic, and Anneline highlights how even a healthy diet can be affected by absorption issues.
• She discusses recent food trends that concern her, including the "Nova" concept.
• Anneline addresses the impact of food production systems on consumers and clears up common misunderstandings about the role of farmers in this process.
• She acknowledges positive trends, such as the growing interest in understanding where food comes from.
• Dr. Anneline shares her best advice on improving nutritional intake.
• The emotional aspect of food is emphasized, recognizing its role in cultural celebrations and the importance of the pleasure of eating.
• She expresses her love for being a food scientist, a field that unites people across diverse locations and backgrounds.
• Misunderstandings between food and nutrition are highlighted, along with the challenges of navigating an overload of information and applying it to individual digestive needs.
• Dr. Anneline concludes with her ultimate dream for the future.

We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus.

Links:

Angie Asimus

Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram

Partnered with Australian Farmers

Follow @australianfarmers on Instagram

Dr Anneline Padayachee

Connect with @dranneline on Instagram

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How does someone who spent their childhood in the middle of Geelong City in Victoria end up, not just working in agriculture, but literally getting her hands dirty at some of the country’s most remote cattle stations. My guest today is using her incredible story to encourage others to do the same. She is a valuable advocate for life on the land, highlighting both the romantic moments of county life but also the truth. To help others make the leap into agriculture a little easier, she’s the driving force behind online platforms Young Aussie Farmers, and more recently, Agriculture Jobs Auswide. To learn more, Zoe Carter joins me now to discuss:

• Zoe’s favorite experiences on the land.
• How, up until the age of 13, she was a city girl—and how the country captured her heart.
• At just 19, Zoe headed off to a Merino stud, an experience that cemented her passion for agriculture.
• After an unfortunate horse riding injury, Zoe has had several hip surgeries and, how this has impacted her life on the land.
• How this challenge sparked a new career and a passion for connecting the agricultural industry with workers.
• The creation of Agriculture Jobs Auswide, a platform that addresses connectivity gaps by providing a central hub for job seekers and employers in agriculture
• Why people are fascinated by Zoe’s journey from the city to the country and how her story encourages others to realize they can do the same.
• Zoe’s advice to young people aspiring to work in the agricultural industry.
• The challenges of accessing farming education today and Zoe’s top tips for getting started.
• Events and general education resources available through the platform.
• What Zoe loves most about life on the land and what a typical day looks like for her now.
• The most common misconceptions about agriculture and the unexpected moments she’s experienced.
• Zoe’s ultimate dream for the future.

We hope to see you back on the road soon as we continue to learn how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus.

Links:

Angie Asimus

Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram

Partnered with Australian Farmers

Follow @australianfarmers on Instagram

Connect with Zoe Carter

Agriculture Jobs Auswide

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Life on the land is often picturesque - picture worthy even. So, when a former visual arts teacher moves to a farm in beautiful Mudgee in NSW, you can imagine there would be a fair bit of creativity going on. It started with a few pictures on greetings cards for the local markets. Now, her artwork has gained a loyal following of art lovers around the nation. Rachael Flynn of Red Tractor Designs joins me now to discuss:

• Rachael lives on a gorgeous property in Mudgee New South Wales, and shares her greatest inspiration.
• As a visual arts teacher, Racheal has a creative side which she has used to start imitating rural life with her art.
• In the beginning, Rachael focused on typical farming scenes like wheat harvest, shearing and mustering.
• The evolution from landscape artwork and maps, to farm animal based character artwork.
• The range of products Rachael offers for anyone who’d like to own a little piece of life on the land for themselves.
• Rachael’s most recent major production line has been in affiliation with Nepal to sponsor local disadvantaged women.
• They type of clientele who are buying these products and how this has shifted over the years.
• Rachael’s favourite aspect of country life to paint and design.
• The most unexpected thing to happen since starting the business.
• Rachael’s ultimate dream for the future for Red Tractor Designs

We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus.

Links:

Angie Asimus

Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram

Partnered with Australian Farmers

Follow @australianfarmers on Instagram

Red Tractor Designs Artwork by Rachael Flynn

Follow @redtractordesigns on Instagram

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Pastures are already pretty green in New Zealand, but this newly married couple wanted to find something extra special. They landed on Gippsland in Victoria where dairy farming became their main source of income, but they value added, bringing in a pick your own strawberry patch, on-farm café, petting zoo and playground. If it all sounds very family friendly, it’s because Nicole and Brendan Saunders know a thing or two about kids, having four of their own. Nicole from The Berry Dairy joins me to discuss:

• Moving from New Zealand to have a better life here in Australia.
• Nicole shares her favourite place on her farm.
• In 2018, Nicole and Brendan were newly married and she shares why they decided to move to Australia.
• Brendan grew up on a dairy farm and Nicole is also a generational dairy farmer.
• Diversifying into agritourism and the beginnings of ‘The Berry Dairy’.
• The range of people they see coming through and what to expect on a family-friendly day out.
• As well as strawberry picking, customers can have a meal at their on-farm café where 90% of the produce is locally sourced.
• This model has earned them some impressive awards and, the response they have received.
• The highs and lows of the last 12 months and Nicole’s openness when it comes to the struggles.
• Strawberries, although generally seasonal have been growing almost all year round.
• What Nicole loves most about life on the land.
• A common misconception about farmers.
• The most unexpected thing to happen since starting.
• Nicole's ultimate dream for the future of The Berry Dairy.

We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus.

No farming background? No worries. That’s the attitude one young couple from NSW is taking in their unique business. After purchasing a mountainous, overgrazed and neglected 100-acre property in Putty, just a couple of hours outside Sydney, they are on a steep learning curve. And they’re pulling it off beautifully, producing cattle, pigs and chickens with regenerative agriculture at the heart of what they do. To learn more, the owners of Hillside Food Forest, Sam Rayment and Liz Ferrone are here to discuss.

• Sam and Liz’s favorite place since they moved to their farm in February 2021
• With no farming experience Sam shares how and why they ended up purchasing this land and becoming farmers.
• Previously, they lived on Sydney’s northern beaches with a couple of chickens and an aquaponics system, which led them down this pathway.
• So, where did they begin and how did they learn how to produce animals?
• Turning an old block of land which was neglected, into a functional farm.
• Sam and Liz started with cattle then added in, pigs and chickens.
• Sam and Liz, from the start, wanted to use a regenerative method and share what this involves.
• As Liz has a background in dietetics, the quality of what they are producing has been of the highest priority.
• Selling direct to consumer has been a game changer for Sam and Liz, and they share how it has been received by the local community.
• What Sam and Liz love most about their new life on the land.
• The most unexpected thing to happen so far.
• A common misconception about who is the ‘farmer’.
• Their ultimate dream for the future of the farm.

We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus.

Links:

Angie Asimus

Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram

Partnered with Australian Farmers

Follow @australianfarmers on Instagram

Produced by Pretty Podcasts