GRDC Podcast

Jessica Koch grew up around farming and technology, developing an early interest in precision agriculture as a way to better understand variability in low rainfall environments. What began as curiosity about soils, mapping and machinery has evolved into a career focused on helping growers make clearer, more confident decisions using the right information at the right time. Now a precision agriculture consultant, grower and founder of Breezy Hill Precision Ag Consulting, Jess reflects on her journey from working at a local John Deere dealership to building her own business and backing herself to step out independently.

She shares a practical perspective on precision ag - not as perfection, but as using available tools and data to reduce uncertainty and improve decision-making. Beyond the farm gate, Jess discusses her involvement with SPAA and her role in establishing Ladies on the Land in South Australia’s Upper North, highlighting the importance of creating spaces where people feel included, supported and confident to build skills and contribute.

This episode explores:
- What precision agriculture really means in practice
- How Jess built a career in precision ag through dealerships, consulting and on-farm experience
- Why facts and good information lead to better, more confident decisions
- How a leadership program helped Jess back herself and build her own consulting business
- The role of self-awareness, humour and energy in leadership and communication
- Why Ladies on the Land was created and the impact it has had in regional communities
- How women can build confidence, farm knowledge and stronger pathways into business and leadership
- Why precision ag doesn’t have to start with expensive tools, but with better use of the data already on hand

- How drought shaped decision making and reinforced the value of practical, low-cost precision ag
- Why autonomy, spot spraying and better farm data systems are exciting the next wave of ag innovation

Watch this episode as a video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/pfN9ceGUzWQ

More information

https://www.breezyhillpas.com/

https://grdc.com.au/resources-and-publications/grdc-update-papers/tab-content/grdc-update-papers/2022/08/using-common-precision-ag-data-layers-to-accurately-and-economically-ground-truth

GRDC in Conversation is a limited series GRDC Podcast. It features in-depth interviews with growers and other experts in the grains industry who share their expertise, knowledge and experiences by exploring their personal stories, history, influences and motivations. The views expressed in this podcast are solely those of the interviewee and do not necessarily reflect the views of GRDC, the interviewees’ employer, institution or other associated parties.

GRDC Project Code:

HAG2507-001SAX https://grdc.com.au/grdc-investments
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GRDC’s Farm Business Updates play a big role in updating growers about farm management systems, including self-development. Dr Jane Foster teaches emotional resilience and has been a presenter at this year’s events. In this podcast Dr Foster discusses the importance of proactive communication skills on-farm to avoid conflict and keep everyone safe.

Contact:         

Dr Jane Foster

Emotional Resilience Training

[email protected]

0425 718 632

 

More Information:   

Mental health resources

https://grdc.com.au/resources-and-publications/resources/mental-health

https://groundcover.grdc.com.au/farm-business/business-management/a-full-wellbeing-silo-key-to-mental-health

https://groundcover.grdc.com.au/innovation/industry-insights/boundaries-key-to-preserving-mental-health,-expert-says

https://grdc.com.au/news-and-media/audio/podcast/2025/skills-for-agronomists-to-handle-tough-conversations

https://grdc.com.au/news-and-media/audio/podcast/2024/finding-your-feet-as-an-agronomist

https://grdc.com.au/news-and-media/audio/podcast/2023/talking-mental-health-in-a-tough-year

 

The Farm business update in February:

https://groundcover.grdc.com.au/grdc/events/focus-on-farm-business-a-priority-this-february

 

Upcoming Farm Business updates and GRDC events:

https://grdc.com.au/events/list

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Matthew Howell is an agronomist, grower and regional advocate based in South Australia’s Upper South East. Over the past two decades, he has worked alongside growers through a major shift from mixed farming to large-scale continuous cropping, driven by rainfall, soil development and opportunity. In this conversation, Matt reflects on his journey from Cummins on the Eyre Peninsula to building a life and career in Meningie, sharing what it’s been like to work in a rapidly changing region where former dairy country has been converted to broadacre cropping and growers have had to adapt quickly.

Matt speaks to the value of being actively involved through agronomy, mentoring, trials and advocacy. He explores what real practice change looks like, how tough seasons sharpen learning, and why regional leadership matters, highlighting the balance between profitability and sustainability and the need for stronger support in precision ag, data and training.

This episode explores:

How Matt’s upbringing in Cummins shaped his connection to agriculture and regional community

Why he moved to the Upper South East and what kept him there

How the Meningie region shifted from mixed farming and dairy into large-scale cropping

What it actually takes to convert farming systems at scale

Why profitability and sustainability are driving decisions more than market hype

What tough seasons reveal about water use efficiency, management and system weaknesses

How local innovation sites and farmer-led trials can accelerate regional learning

Why Matt believes regional communities thrive when farms are profitable and successful

What holds back wider adoption of variable rate technology and precision ag

How the next generation of agronomists will need both technical skill and people skills

Why speaking up, getting involved and influencing policy matters for regional agriculture

Watch this episode as a video on YouTube https://youtu.be/_rNR6XSV2u8

More information

GRDC in Conversation is a limited series GRDC Podcast. It features in-depth interviews with growers and other experts in the grains industry who share their expertise, knowledge and experiences by exploring their personal stories, history, influences and motivations. The views expressed in this podcast are solely those of the interviewee and do not necessarily reflect the views of GRDC, the interviewees’ employer, institution or other associated parties.

More info: https://grdc.com.au

Subscribe: https://grdc.com.au/grdc-subscriptions

For LIVE Events go to https://grdc.com.au/events/list

Get the latest from GroundCover: https://groundcover.grdc.com.au/

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Controlling disease in crops has traditionally been the ultimate game of chance. However, work being done in faba and broad bean crops in South Australia has taken some of the risk out of the equation. In this episode, Max Bloomfield, a research manager at Field Applied Research Australia or FAR Australia explores strategies to manage major foliar and soil-borne
diseases in faba and broad beans, reducing yield losses and improving
profitability. Max and his team were involved in the South Australian Grain Legume Project, a joint initiative between South Australian Research and Development Institute, or SARDI and GRDC, looking specifically at keeping faba and broad bean crops clean and productive and led by the South Australian Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA).

Contact:           

Max Bloomfield

FAR Australia

[email protected]

 

More Information:    

https://grdc.com.au/resources-and-publications/all-publications/nvt-crop-sowing-guides/sa-crop-sowing-guide
https://groundcover.grdc.com.au/crops/pulses/closing-the-economic-yield-gap

https://groundcover.grdc.com.au/crops/pulses/legume-challenges-addressed

https://groundcover.grdc.com.au/crops/pulses/grain-legumes-initiative-aims-to-close-the-yield-gap-in-sa

https://grdc.com.au/resources-and-publications/grdc-update-papers/tab-content/past-update-proceedings/2026/grdc-grains-research-update-bendigo-2026

 

Project Code:   

UOA2105-013RTX

https://grdc.com.au/grdc-investments/investments/investment?code=UOA2105-013RTX
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Disease prevention is pivotal in any cereal crop. This episode explores recognising and preventing diseases in lentils with research scientist Mohsen Khani from the South Australian Research and Development Institute. Lentils are often favoured because of their profitability, but diseases can undo a season's work in a matter of weeks if not kept in check. GRDC has invested in a multi -year grain legume project in South Australia, with part of that study focused on what to look for and how seasons affect disease development and progress.

The SA Grain Legume project: Development and extension to close the economic yield gap and maximise farming systems benefits from grain legume production in South Australia is led by the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI), the research division of the Department of Primary Industries and Regions, alongside a number of project partners.

Contact:   

Mohsen Khani

South Australian Research and Development Institute

[email protected]

 

More Information:  

https://grdc.com.au/search?query=%E2%80%AFUOA2105-013RTX&collection=grdc%7Esp-grdc&profile=grdc-global&form=web

https://groundcover.grdc.com.au/crops/pulses/legume-challenges-addressed

  

Project Investment Code:        

UOA2105-013RTX
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