Seeds for Success

What does it take to build a sustainable seedstock business while balancing cattle genetics, pasture management, technology and the realities of running a family farm?
In this episode, Local Land Services Officer Lauren Roberts speaks with Harry White of Coffin Creek Angus, a seedstock cattle operation near Mudgee in the Central Tablelands of New South Wales. Harry shares how he and his brother took over the family business, the succession process that helped make it happen, and how they have transformed the property by investing in infrastructure, improving pastures and building their stud herd. He explains why breeding balanced, practical cattle is central to the business, how feedback from bull buyers informs their breeding decisions, and why maintaining strong relationships with clients is increasingly important.
Harry also discusses managing seasonal conditions, maintaining feed reserves, and using improved pastures, forage crops, and conservative stocking rates to manage risk. He shares how technology, including livestock management apps, genomic testing and water monitoring systems, is helping the business make better decisions, while emphasising the importance of getting out into the paddock and observing conditions firsthand.
Resources and links:
Coffin Creek Angus
Nominate a Mate:
If you'd like to nominate a mate (or yourself) as a potential future guest on the podcast, you can do so here: Nominate a Mate for 'Seeds for Success'.
Connect:
Central West LLS website
Central West LLS on Facebook
Central West LLS on X
Central West LLS on YouTube
The views contained in this podcast series are not necessarily endorsed by Central West Local Land Services. Listeners are advised to contact their local office to discuss their individual situation.
This show is produced in collaboration with SoundCartel. Visit soundcartel.com.au for more information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What if better results in the feedlot start with knowing your numbers, controlling your risk and making decisions based on data?
In this episode, Local Land Services Livestock Extension Officer Chelsea Koch speaks with Hamish Pennington, who runs his family farming enterprise alongside Conqueror Milling in Cootamundra, about the practical decisions behind his sheep and cattle operation and feedlot. Hamish shares how the feedlot began as a way to test the performance of the pellets produced by the family business, why he prefers to lock in a margin before buying livestock, and how using data helps him track individual animal performance and make more informed decisions.
Hamish also discusses transitioning lambs onto pellets, the role of genetics and feed quality in achieving performance, and why he prefers a performance-based approach rather than simply trying to produce the cheapest feed. He explains how the family has used diversification, including an irrigation farm and feed mill, to help drought-proof the business, as well as the importance of keeping capital costs under control so the feedlot can be scaled back when the opportunity isn't there. He also shares his approach to risk, traceability and data, working with family, and why automation could be the next step in making feeding more efficient.
Resources and links:
Conqueror Milling Company
Nominate a Mate:
If you'd like to nominate a mate (or yourself) as a potential future guest on the podcast, you can do so here: Nominate a Mate for 'Seeds for Success'.
Connect:
Central West LLS website
Central West LLS on Facebook
Central West LLS on X
Central West LLS on YouTube
The views contained in this podcast series are not necessarily endorsed by Central West Local Land Services. Listeners are advised to contact their local office to discuss their individual situation.

This show is produced in collaboration with SoundCartel. Visit soundcartel.com.au for more information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What if getting more value from silage starts with making better decisions before you even cut the paddock?
In this episode, Local Land Services Livestock Extension Officer Chelsea Koch speaks with Scott Angel, of Broula and Angels Livestock Services, in Tarcutta near Wagga Wagga in southern NSW, about the practical decisions that go into producing and storing high-quality silage. Scott shares how he uses grazing to help offset the costs of establishing silage crops, why timing can have a major impact on protein levels, and how he works with his agronomist to make decisions based on the season rather than simply following a set calendar date.
Scott also discusses choosing the right species, managing dry matter, and deciding between quality and quantity when it's time to cut. He explains the pros and cons of different storage options, from pits and bunkers to tube-line and bales, and why storage and sealing are just as important as producing good-quality silage in the first place. Whether you're already making silage or considering it for the first time, Scott shares practical lessons from years of experience, including why you should start with what your farm needs and make the most of the infrastructure you already have.
Resources and links:
Scott Angel: LinkedIn
Nominate a Mate:
If you'd like to nominate a mate (or yourself) as a potential future guest on the podcast, you can do so here: Nominate a Mate for 'Seeds for Success'.
Connect:
Central West LLS website
Central West LLS on Facebook
Central West LLS on X
Central West LLS on YouTube
The views contained in this podcast series are not necessarily endorsed by Central West Local Land Services. Listeners are advised to contact their local office to discuss their individual situation.

This show is produced in collaboration with SoundCartel. Visit soundcartel.com.au for more information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What if the key to the future of farming isn't buying more land, but making better use of the land and data you already have?
In this episode, Senior Land Services Officer Lauren Roberts speaks with fifth-generation farmer and agtech entrepreneur Hamish Munro at his property, Springwood, near Molong in the Central Tablelands of NSW. Hamish shares his journey from working across cattle and cropping on his family's large-scale farming operation to cattle trading, industry representation and developing Pairtree, an agtech platform designed to connect farm data and make it more useful for farmers and agronomists.
Hamish also discusses why timing is everything in farming, how technology can support better decisions around livestock, pastures and inputs, and why farmers should start collecting digital records now to prepare for the future. He shares lessons from succession planning, the changing role of technology in family farms, and his vision for the next 200 seasons of Australian agriculture — where good data can improve productivity, profitability, compliance and the long-term resilience of farming businesses.
Resources and links:
Hamish Munro: LinkedIn
Pairtree
Farms of the Future overview | Department of Primary Industries
Nominate a Mate:
If you'd like to nominate a mate (or yourself) as a potential future guest on the podcast, you can do so here: Nominate a Mate for 'Seeds for Success'.
Connect:
Central West LLS website
Central West LLS on Facebook
Central West LLS on X
Central West LLS on YouTube
The views contained in this podcast series are not necessarily endorsed by Central West Local Land Services. Listeners are advised to contact their local office to discuss their individual situation.

This show is produced in collaboration with SoundCartel. Visit soundcartel.com.au for more information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How can farmers build resilience and find new income opportunities without simply buying more land?
In this episode, Local Land Services Mixed Farming Advisor Rohan Leach speaks with Kristen Hegarty, who farms with her family on a 1,000-hectare livestock property in the Upper Hunter of NSW. Kristen shares her journey into the family business, regenerative grazing, and how the farm responded to a challenging season through destocking, early weaning, and a new cattle trading opportunity in the desert.
Kristen also discusses her flower-growing enterprise and Nuffield Scholarship research into value-adding opportunities for livestock farms. She shares lessons from her international travels, exploring agritourism, agroforestry and other ways farmers can diversify income, reduce reliance on land and build a more resilient farm business.
Resources and links:
Kristen Hegarty: LinkedIn
Nuffield Farming Scholarship
Future Drought Fund
Nominate a Mate:
If you'd like to nominate a mate (or yourself) as a potential future guest on the podcast, you can do so here: Nominate a Mate for 'Seeds for Success'.
Connect:
Central West LLS website
Central West LLS on Facebook
Central West LLS on X
Central West LLS on YouTube
The views contained in this podcast series are not necessarily endorsed by Central West Local Land Services. Listeners are advised to contact their local office to discuss their individual situation.

This show is produced in collaboration with SoundCartel. Visit soundcartel.com.au for more information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.