Show Notes
In this episode of GRDC in Conversation, Oli Le Lievre sits down with Ashley Amourgis, General Manager of Southern Farming Systems, just west of Geelong.
Growing up on a dairy farm near Deloraine in Tasmania, Ashley developed a deep appreciation for agriculture as a way of life. That grounding has shaped her journey into the grains industry, where she now works at the intersection of research, extension and farming systems in Victoria’s high rainfall zone.
Ashley shares her pathway from university uncertainty and early rejection to nearly a decade in grains, reflecting on confidence, mentorship and stepping into leadership.
The conversation explores nitrogen management in high rainfall environments, the importance of long-term Farming Systems research, the role of drainage in transforming southwest Victoria, and why every farm requires context rather than cookie cutter advice.
Ashley also offers advice for young professionals entering agriculture and explains why, despite advances in AI and technology, people remain at the heart of the industry.
Watch highlights from this episode as a video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/bMjm1-wQzMQ
More information:
Farming systems project to inform decision making for southern growers https://groundcover.grdc.com.au/grdc/announcements/farming-systems-project-to-inform-decision-making-for-southern-growers
Southern Farming Systems projects https://sfs.org.au/farming-systems/projects
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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
More from GRDC Podcast
92,000 hectares of canola has been planted into canola stubble this year. Blackleg pathologist from the University of Melbourne, Associate Professor Angela Van de Wouw, Western Australian agronomist Geoff Fosbery, and plant breeder Raymond Cowley explain why the risks of canola-on-canola far outweigh any short-term benefits.
Ben White and Chris Warrick from GRDC’s grain storage extension team discuss practical grain storage best practice, including fumigation timing, safe application of chemicals, ventilation and withholding periods, as well as the effective use of diatomaceous earth (DE) for storage hygiene. They share recent research and practical tips to help growers manage insects, reduce resistance risks and improve workplace safety.
James Manson’s pathway into agriculture has been anything but conventional. Growing up in Chiang Mai, Thailand, he spent his early years immersed in a cross-cultural environment before discovering agriculture through an internship with an agricultural development NGO working alongside hill tribe communities near the Myanmar border. What began as an adventure quickly became a passion, leading him to study agriculture and international development before building a career in applied crop research.
Welcome to GRDC’s National Variety Trials (NVT) new variety podcast series, where Australia's leading breeding companies share their latest releases for the 2027 growing season.
Welcome to GRDC’s National Variety Trials (NVT) new variety podcast series, where Australia's leading breeding companies share their latest releases for the 2027 growing season.