Talkin' After Hours with the Lower Blackwood LCDC

In this Talkin' After Hours episode Jo & Kate chat to West Australian dairy farmers, Neville and Elaine Haddon. Together with their son Garry, Neville & Elaine run a major dairy operation in Busselton, milking around 1,300 cows and supplying more than 12 million litres of milk to Harvey Fresh every year.
But despite operating at that scale, the Haddons are still asking questions. How do you grow better pasture with fewer inputs? How do you improve soil health while staying productive and profitable? And how do you build resilience into a farming system facing rising costs and increasingly dry seasons?
Their farm in Warner Glen in the Lower Blackwood has become the place where they explore those questions — trialling multi-species pastures, experimenting with perennial systems, protecting creeklines and encouraging biodiversity, all while looking for lessons that could potentially reshape the way they farm back in Busselton.
In our conversation, Neville and Elaine reflect on their remarkable journey — from Neville partnering with his brother to buy his first farm at just 16 years old, through decades of hard work in the dairy industry, to becoming passionate advocates for healthier soils and more resilient farming systems.
Tune in to hear about the pressures facing dairy farmers today, the realities of running a large-scale operation, and why curiosity and a willingness to try things differently still drives them after all these years.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to the Haddons' Dairy Journey
01:51 Challenges and Motivations in Dairy Farming
05:58 Current Pressures in the Dairy Industry
08:03 Operational Insights from Busselton
10:44 Exploring Regenerative Agriculture Practices
12:27 Innovative Farming Techniques and Sustainability
17:08 The Importance of Soil Health
19:08 Future of Agriculture and Sustainable Practices
23:30 Innovative Weed Control Strategies
26:49 Environmental Stewardship in Farming
28:30 Enhancing Farm Biodiversity
29:59 Soil Health and Crop Establishment
32:15 Grazing Management and Pasture Diversity
36:05 Nutritional Management for Livestock
39:46 Future Vision for Blackwood Springs
42:50 Challenges and Support in Regenerative Agriculture
45:10 Encouragement for New Farmers

In this Talkin' After Hours Podcast we chat to orchardist and Nuffield Scholar Jason Jarvis of Prime Organics. Jason is known for pioneering biological farming techniques that boost soil health and crop nutrition. His expertise in soil microbiology and sustainable practices make this conversation a must-hear for anyone committed to farming that's profitable, planet-friendly, and nutrient-rich. 
In the podcast Jason reveals how building healthy, resilient ecosystems leads to nutrient-dense, tastier, and more resilient food, all while reducing reliance on chemicals. His journey from conventional practices to biological farming offers lessons you can apply, whether you're a home gardener or managing a large-scale farm. 
You'll hear about the science behind soil microbes and their role in nutrient uptake—why healthy plants are naturally pest and disease resistant. Jason shares practical tactics like soil testing protocols, compost brewing techniques, and the use of biochar and compost extracts to supercharge soil life. We break down the importance of testing, observation, and making data-driven decisions that improve crop health and farm profitability. You'll also hear about how market trends influence farming decisions, the current challenges with imported inputs, and why focusing on biological health is more important than ever amid climate stress and rising fertilizer costs.

Imagine sharp early seedling development, resilient plants, and richer soils—all sparked by a tiny biological boost right at the seed stage. That's the promise of biological planting treatments, a probiotic approach that works with, not against, nature to supercharge your farm's productivity.
In this podcast episode Jo and Kate chat to Regenerative Agriculture Coach Mark Tupman and uncover the science behind biological planting treatments—what they are, how they differ from traditional methods, and why they might be the secret weapon for pasture and livestock farmers as a low-cost way to improve pasture establishment and soil vitality.
 
This podcast forms part of a collaborative project with RegenWA called 'Make Your Hectare Count'. The project is supported by funding from the Western Australian Government's State NRM Program. This podcast also forms part of the Regenerative Agriculture in Practice Program 2026. This project is supported by the Shire of Augusta Margaret River's Environmental Management fund.

In this podcast episode we chat to Kevin Elmy from Cover Cropping Canada on the science of soil health, revealing how to enhance water storage, carbon sequestration, and biological activity beyond standard tests. Hear about practical strategies like using cover crops and understanding the legacy microbiome effect to boost resilience and crop performance. Kevin also shares actionable insights for farmers and landholders to save money, increase profits, and connect with nature. Tune in to rethink farming as a partnership with nature, unlocking your farm's potential for healthier soils and more sustainable practices.
This podcast forms part of a collaborative project with RegenWA called 'Make Your Hectares Count'. The project is supported by funding from the Western Australian Government's State NRM Program.

In this episode of Talking After Hours, we chat with agricultural scientist Dr Dean Revell. Our conversation explores the why, what, where & how of integrating perennial shrubs into grazing systems, the nutritional benefits for livestock, and the management practices necessary for successful establishment and utilization.
Our conversation also touches on the economic implications of shrub integration, the training of livestock to utilize new forage types, and the potential for carbon farming and biodiversity credits in enhancing farm profitability.
 
This podcast forms part of a collaborative project with RegenWA called 'Make Your Hectare Count'. The project is supported by funding from the Western Australian Government's State NRM Program.
This podcast also forms part of the Regenerative Agriculture in Project Program 2025. This project is supported through funding from the Shire of Augusta Margaret River's Environmental Management.