The Weekly Grill

S2 Ep 8: Is there a future for stud cattle showing? We ask RAS’s Al Rayner and RNA’s Gary Noller

On the eve of the 150th Royal Easter Show in Sydney next week, the Weekly Grill podcast host Kerry Lonergan this week turns up the heat on two prominent people involved in cattle showing and competition in Royal shows in Sydney and Brisbane.

Sydney show chief beef cattle steward Al Rayner and Brisbane show's chief beef cattle steward Gary Noller have seen stud show rings and led steer judging evolve over the last 40 years.

 Is there a future for showing stud cattle, in a world increasingly dominated by objective measurement? What does the future hold for led steer competitions? Is Australia likely to embrace the US trend, where led steer prize money is emerging as a form of tertiary education 'scholarship' for some lucky young handlers?

In a wide-ranging conversation, the pair touch on a range of topics to do with the hallowed tradition of showing stud and commercial cattle.

S2 Ep 7: Wagyu industry pioneer, David Blackmore

The Weekly Grill podcast host Kerry Lonergan this week turns up the heat on Wagyu industry pioneer, David Blackmore, who has been a key player in Wagyu's extraordinary trajectory in Australia since the mid-1990s.

In a wide-ranging conversation, the pair touch on  topics including how Wagyu got a foothold in the Australian beef industry, the quest for quality over quantity, the extraordinary prices high-end restaurant customers around the world are prepared to pay for elite Wagyu, and the risk of over-producing Wagyu beef in Australia.

Sponsoring our Weekly Grill podcast series are Kelly's Finance Group and Elanco Animal Health.

S2 Ep 6: The bottom-to-the-top story of beef processing plant manager, Wasa Mudannayake

The Weekly Grill podcast host Kerry Lonergan this week turns up the heat on beef processing plant manager Wasa Mudannayake. Sri Lankan born Wasa has experienced an extraordinary career path, starting in the casual labour queue at Beenleigh, before rising through the ranks to become general manager at Teys Lakes Creek - one of the largest meat plants in Australia.

In a wide-ranging conversation, the pair touch on topics including the challenges surrounding attracting labour to the processing industry, and the crucial involvement the plant has with the Rockhampton community, as one of the region's biggest employers. And he is forever grateful to the Teys boys – and Australia – for all the opportunities that have come his way.

Sponsoring our Weekly Grill podcast series are Kelly's Finance Group and Elanco Animal Health.

S2 Ep 5: Grazing industry identity Jock Whittle

Host Kerry Lonergan this week turns up the heat on grazing industry identity Jock Whittle, the head of asset performance for MIRA Agriculture for the Macquarie Group, who spent 12 years as chief executive officer of Paraway Pastoral Co.  In a wide ranging interview, the pair touch on topics including the grazing industry (and Paraway's) approach to sustainability, carbon farming, and the critical need to focus on farm safety

S2 Ep 4: Veteran red meat industry leader, David Crombie

Host Kerry Lonergan this week turns up the heat on veteran red meat industry leader David Crombie.

After forging his career as a director of Gunn Rural Management (GRM) and live exporter Austrex, Mr Crombie later became the chairman of the steering committee that moulded the formation of  the Meat Standards Australia tenderness guarantee scheme, sat as chairman of Meat & Livestock Australia for six years, and served terms as president of the National Farmers Federation. In all capacities, he acted as a high profile industry leader, prepared to engage with grassroots producers across the length and breadth of the country.

Today he spends his time on his small cattle property near Warwick, and is a passionate participant in carcase competitions.

S2 Ep 3: Live export outlook with Dr Ross Ainsworth

In today's episode, host Kerry Lonergan turns up the heat on Beef Central's regular live export market commentator and columnist, Dr Ross Ainsworth.

Ross has spent a lifetime working in the Australian live cattle export industry, including lengthy periods living and working in-market.

In this episode he explores prospects for live export cattle prices for 2022, how major markets like Indonesia and Vietnam are performing, and competition from other protein suppliers in South America and India.

S2 Ep 2: Markets update, with Chris Howie and Matt Dalgleish

Beef Central's ever popular podcast series, The Weekly Grill, has returned from its summer recess with today's second episode of a new series.

Host Kerry Lonergan this week turns up the heat on StockCo's Chris Howie and Thomas Elder Markets' Matt Dalgleish, in our first markets wrap for the year.

The pair explore the current drivers for young cattle, breeding cattle and slaughter cattle prices and where the markets may head in coming months.

Sponsoring our Weekly Grill podcast series again in 2022 is Elanco Animal Health

S2 Ep 1: Australian Meat Industry Council CEO, Patrick Hutchinson

Beef Central's ever popular podcast series, The Weekly Grill, returns from summer recess this week with the first episode of a new series.

Kicking off this year's program, host Kerry Lonergan this week turns up the heat on Australian Meat Industry Council chief executive, Patrick Hutchinson.

In a wide ranging interview, the pair explore the challenges ahead for red meat processors and retailers, including labour issues, livestock supply, consumer meat buying habits during COVID, and key export market access issues.

Sponsoring our Weekly Grill podcast series again in 2022 is Elanco Animal Health.

S1 E39: Federal Agriculture Minister David Littleproud

Marking National Agriculture Day today, this week's episode of The Weekly Grill podcast series sees host Kerry Lonergan turns up the heat on Federal Agriculture Minister David Littleproud.

In a wide ranging interview, the pair explore the road to zero net emissions for Australian farmers and graziers, description of plant based proteins purporting to be ‘meat’, and industry representation.

Today's episode brings to a close our 2021 Weekly Grill podcast series, brought to listeners with the support of Elanco Animal Health.  Series Two will be launched in January.

S1 E38: Chris Howie and Matt Dalgleish - How will the big rain event impact cattle supply and price?

In this week’s episode of The Weekly Grill podcast series, host Kerry Lonergan turns up the heat again on StockCo’s Chris Howie and Thomas Elder Markets’ Matt Dalgleish, as the Eastern Young Cattle Indicator continues to surge to new record highs and torrential rain blankets large parts of eastern Australia.

Have we yet seen the peak in young cattle prices? Will the spring flush cattle turnoff in southern Australia pressure young cattle values? Both Matt and Chris are forecasting a softening trend, but market fundamentals among restockers, lotfeeders and processors jostling for scarce young cattle remain buoyant, to say the least.