The Weekly Grill

S6 Ep6: Cattle industry leader David Foote: Are we spending our R&D dollars wisely?

The Weekly Grill podcast host Kerry Lonergan spent time at the Northern R&D conference in Brisbane this week, including this discussion with keynote speaker David Foote.

 

 

Mr Foote said one of the industry’s biggest R&D opportunities lies not in new scientific breakthroughs, but applying the knowledge that already exists.

 

“The industry doesn’t suffer from a lack of knowledge. It suffers from a lack of scale in applying it,” he said.

Mr Foote said northern research over many years had identified clear management principles that consistently improve performance in commercial beef enterprises.

One key message was that “profit follows pasture, and pasture condition.”

Among other topics, the pair discuss the opportunities and challenges facing northern Australian beef production - including the scale benefits of the north, and barriers to adopting proven research and management practices.

The episode also covers emerging technologies (remote sensing, Starlink, walk-over weighing), infrastructure and labour issues, market positioning for exports, and urgent biosecurity concerns such as lumpy skin disease and surveillance needs.

 

The Weekly Grill is brought to listeners by:

• Rhinogard and Bovi-Shield MH-One - the One Shot, One Spray, One Time BRD Vaccines by Zoetis.
• Ceres Tags Gen 6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

S6 Ep5: Meat processor Paul Gibson - "If you can't measure it, you can't manage it."

In this week's episode of The Weekly Grill podcast host Kerry Lonergan talks with processor Paul Gibson, who recently retired after a distinguished 35-year career with Australian Country Choice in Brisbane.

 

Paul's career - most recently as ACC's Research & Development manager - spanned the era from the introduction of Meat Standards Australia grading through to current-day adoption of objective carcase measurement technologies for meat quality and yield - and hundreds of developments in between.

 

 

In today's episode he reflects on his frontline role in the early days of MSA, now recognised as the world's best beef grading system. He shares the gritty reality of pioneering a science-based eating quality model in the mid-1990s, the early battles fought to make it work with Brahman crossbred cattle, and why he always believed Australia could lead the world in the grading field. Paul was one of the original 12 MSA graders — selected from industry and the ICMJ program to be trained as the very first technologists when MSA launched in 1997, giving him a deep inside view of the system from day one.

 

It's a candid, fascinating conversation with one of the industry's true unsung heroes.

Other key takeaways:

"If you can't measure it, you can't manage it" — Paul's driving philosophy meant he was often at the plant at midnight collecting data, insisting on rigorous, science-backed, third-party-verified evidence as the only way to make MSA (and later R&D programs) bulletproof and commercially credible.

MSA is now entering its third stage of evolution — having moved from implementation, to global commercial adoption, the system now needs to expand beyond palatability to incorporate yield measurements, flavour, texture, and a deeper understanding of marbling's impact on eating quality.

In other fields, Paul is passionate about lifting industry professionalism through the next generation — he has invested heavily in mentoring students through the ICMJ program (the Australian Intercollegiate Meat Judging), believing that embedding young people in science and university networks is the key to the industry making its own decisions, rather than being directed by government.

 

The Weekly Grill is brought to listeners by:

• Rhinogard and Bovi-Shield MH-One - the One Shot, One Spray, One Time BRD Vaccines by Zoetis.
• Ceres Tags Gen 6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

S6 Ep4: Alastair Rayner - Is production efficiency the secret to lower methane emissions?

In this week's episode of The Weekly Grill podcast host Kerry Lonergan talks with Beef Central's genetics editor Al Rayner, posing the question: Is production efficiency the secret to lower emissions?

 

 

Alastair observes that productivity and profitability are inextricably linked to lower emissions — and that smarter farm management, not silver-bullet technology, is the most immediate path forward.

 

Here's the main topics covered:

Methane intensity over total output — Alistair says producers should shift focus from total methane produced to methane per kilo of beef, making efficient, fast-growing animals the real emissions win.

Management first, technology second — Better reproduction rates, conception rates, and feed quality can reduce methane emissions right now, before investing in new genetics or feed additives.

Genetic research is advancing — Leading organisations like Angus Australia, Wagyu Australia, CSIRO, and the University of New England are developing research breeding values (EBVs) for methane.

Feedlots vs grazing — Feedlot cattle on high-quality diets produce significantly less methane than extensively grazed cattle on low-digestibility pastures, due to more efficient digestion.

Productivity = profitability = lower emissions —  75–80pc of profitability variation comes down to how many kilos of beef are produced per hectrare. More efficient producers are automatically more profitable, and, lower-emission — the three goals are inseparable.

 

The Weekly Grill is brought to listeners by:

• Rhinogard and Bovi-Shield MH-One - the One Shot, One Spray, One Time BRD Vaccines by Zoetis.
• Ceres Tags Gen 6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

S6 Ep3: Leveraging AI in agriculture with Jerome Leray

In this week's episode of The Weekly Grill podcast host Kerry Lonergan talks all things AI with Jerome Leray, founder and Managing Director of leading ag tech company, Infarm.

 

InFarm is an Agricultural AI company focused on delivering ground breaking technology to farmers, using state of the art AI and advance technology to develop tools that will help farmers become more efficient, save money or become more profitable.

 

In a wide ranging conversation, the pair discuss:

• Capturing data to unlock the potential of AI
• Practical example of how and where Ai is now being used in agriculture
• How Ai could be applied in genetics
• Opportunities for Australian ag tech to dominate world wide
• What farmers can do now to get integrate AI into their farming enterprises
• ... and more

Jerome was awarded the Agricultural Ministers Emerging Leader Award in 2020 and has represented Australia at the Entrepreneurship World Cup. For his contributions to technology and agriculture Jerome received a QLD Community Achievement Award and led InFarm to be awarded the Australian Food and Agribusiness of the Year in 2019.

 

 

The Weekly Grill is brought to listeners by:

• Rhinogard and Bovi-Shield MH-One - the One Shot, One Spray, One Time BRD Vaccines by Zoetis.
• Ceres Tags Gen 6

 

 

 

S6 Ep2: Simon Quilty's take in 2026 for cattle and beef markets

Weekly Grill podcast host Kerry Lonergan this week sits down to chew the fat with independent analyst Simon Quilty, exploring the livestock and meat market prospects for the year ahead.

 

Together the pair discuss likely impacts on trade this year, from China tariffs and quotas and their impact on Australian exports on imported beef, supply and demand patterns, the US herd size and what it means; Brazil - the growing numbers of cattle on feed and the potential threat to Australia’s exports to Japan and Korea; the rise in value of the A$; is lamb still in a boom cycle, and more.

 

The Weekly Grill is brought to listeners by:

• Rhinogard and Bovi-Shield MH-One - the One Shot, One Spray, One Time BRD Vaccines by Zoetis.
• Ceres Tags Gen 6

 

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

S6 Ep1 Markets outlook with Chris Howie and Matt Dalgleish

Beef Central's ever-popular Weekly Grill podcast returns for its sixth season today, with host Kerry Lonergan exploring the livestock and meat market prospects for the year ahead with regular contributors Matt Dalgleish from Episode 3 and Chris Howie GM of RMA.

 

Together the trio discuss likely impacts on trade this year, from seasonal conditions to China tariffs and quotas on imported beef, supply and demand patterns, Cattle Australia's review of the cattle levy and other topics.

 

Matt and Chris proffer their thoughts on where the smart money might be in 2026!

 

The Weekly Grill is brought to listeners by:

• Rhinogard and Bovi-Shield MH-One - the One Shot, One Spray, One Time BRD Vaccines by Zoetis.
• Ceres Tags

S5 Ep44: Newly appointed NFF President, Hamish Macintyre

In this week's episode of The Weekly Grill - our final episode for 2025 - host Kerry Lonergan sits down with  newly elected president of the National Farmers Federation, Hamish Macintyre.

 

In this wide ranging discussion Kerry quizzes new president about:

• The immediate priorities for the NFF
• Potential NFF constitutional changes
• Climate and emissions and the NFF’s environmental arrangements with the Greens
• The global supply chain
• The availability and affordability of Australian diesel supplies
• The European Union
• Energy costs
• Skilled labour challenges and housing affordability in rural and regional Australia
• … and more

The Weekly Grill will return in 2026. Until then, have a safe Christmas break and all the best for the new year.

 

The Weekly Grill is brought to listeners by Rhinogard and Bovi-Shield MH-One - the One Shot, One Spray, One Time BRD Vaccines by Zoetis.

 

S5 Ep43: Derrell Peel, US Livestock Economist

Respected US meat and livestock economist Derrell Peel chews the fat this week with Weekly Grill podcast host Kerry Lonergan.

Prof Peel, extension specialist for livestock marketing at Oklahoma State University, works in all areas of US livestock production economics and marketing for all beef cattle production sectors. Additionally he works on US meat demand and meat supply chain issues, beef product marketing and international cattle and beef trade.

Among other topics, the pair discuss:

• US cattle prices and domestic production heading into 2026
• Domestic beef demand
• Beef packer numbers being cut
• The impact on supply from Trump's tariffs on beef imports
• Brazilian beef imports
• US beef exports to China
• Where Australia fits in the US picture. Are there more opportunities for prime chilled beef in the US, as well as hamburger beef?
• The US experiment in the Wagyu market
• The US farm bill

Derrell focusses on declining US cattle numbers and levels of beef production, but higher carcase weights.

With a surplus of grain and the price of grain continuing to fall, some US cattle are now being fed for 190-200 days. But it appears US cattle are getting fatter rather than producing more lean beef.

In fact, further to the typical ongoing issues of BRD in the feedlot, a new trend is seeing a growing number of cattle dying of cardiovascular disease shortly before their scheduled exit from the feedlot, posing the question: Are US cattle now obese?

 

The Weekly Grill is brought to listeners by Rhinogard and Bovi-Shield MH-One - the One Shot, One Spray, One Time BRD Vaccines by Zoetis.

 

 

S5 Ep42: Introducing Howdy - 'Tinder for the bush', with founder Mia Ryan

In this week’s episode of the Weekly Grill, host Kerry Lonergan catches up with Mia Ryan, founder of the dating App, Howdy – think Tinder for the bush.

 

From her family farm in the NSW Hunter Valley, Mia recognised an opening to help bush people make a romantic connection, with more than 20,000 downloads among bush folk using the App in their search for love.

 

And there’s been plenty of success stories along the way, with engagements, marriages and little ones already on the ground.

 

Howdy isn’t just about dating, Mia says – it’s about building a network where anyone in rural Australia can find their match, share stories, and create a stronger community.

 

 

 

The Weekly Grill is brought to listeners by Rhinogard and Bovi-Shield MH-One - the One Shot, One Spray, One Time BRD Vaccines by Zoetis.

 

S5 Ep41: End of year Market Wrap with Chris Howie and Matt Dalgleish

In this week's episode of the Weekly Grill, host Kerry Lonergan catches up with Matt Dalgliesh and Chris Howie to dissect what’s been a ‘goldilocks year’ for the red meat industry.

 

Reviewing some of the year's major headlines, the trio discuss:

• The lamb market’s spring flush
• Lamb fetching upwards of $330 a kilo
• Australia's highest volumes of processed beef for 47 years
• Did Trump’s yo-yo approach to tariffs have any impact?
• Indonesia’s declining herd numbers. What does this mean for the rest of the world?
• Cattle Councils review of the cattle levy
• Expanding capacities in feedlots
• The number of feedlots coming onto the market
• Skilled labour supplies in regional Australia - is it still an issue?
• Property values
• The mood in the sale yard
• … plus more

And Matt and Chris proffer their thoughts on where the smart money might be in 2026!

 

The Weekly Grill is brought to listeners by Rhinogard and Bovi-Shield MH-One - the One Shot, One Spray, One Time BRD Vaccines by Zoetis.