Chicken Caravans, Nitrogen & Smarter Farming Systems

Food Connect founder Robert Pekin shares his journey from dairy farmer to food systems innovator, including the loss of his family farm and the experiences that reshaped how he thought about farming, food and community. Robert explores the power of collaboration, shorter supply chains and community-owned infrastructure to create a fairer and more resilient food system. Drawing on the story of Food Connect and the Food Connect Shed, he argues that farmers and communities can build alternatives by focusing on what they can influence locally and working collectively.

The folks here at Greater Sydney Local Land Services recently hosted a forum called Farming on the Fringe it covers a range of topics, including: what is natural capital on your farm carbon farming and environmental market opportunities what a healthy soil ecosystem looks like The event had over 130 participants and was hosted by journalist and radio host Chris Bath. The episodes are recordings of the speaker presentations.

What if farmers could better understand what's happening beneath their feet? And could that information help them make better decisions when seasons don't go to plan? In this episode, we explore Farming Forecaster, a free online tool that combines soil moisture, pasture growth and seasonal information to help farmers make more informed management decisions. We visit Mattana Farm near Milton on the NSW South Coast, where Bec and Adam share how a local soil moisture probe has helped them navigate drought, fire, flooding rains and difficult livestock decisions. Whether you're a data enthusiast or simply looking for another tool to support decision-making, this episode offers practical insights into using information alongside experience and intuition on farm.

Can technology really help farmers build resilience in an increasingly unpredictable climate — or are we getting distracted by shiny new tools? In this episode, we head to Twynam Farm in NSW to hear directly from farmers trialling agtech including virtual fencing, livestock monitoring and regenerative grazing systems. Featuring conversations with Sarah Nolet and Susan Orgill, we explore how agtech can support climate resilience, soil health and better farm decision-making — while also asking where the risks and limitations lie. We also hear from Camilla Beck and producers attending the Twynam field day, grounding the conversation in practical, on-farm experience rather than industry hype. From virtual fencing and livestock monitoring to broader questions around profitability, labour and resilience, this episode asks: what technology is actually worth adopting on farm — and what problems should agtech really be solving?

What if you could add value to your farm without scaling production? In this episode, we explore pick-your-own as a diversification strategy—covering the realities, the opportunities, and what farmers need to know before opening the gate. Key episode moments (00:00) Is pick-your-own actually more profitable than wholesale? (01:30) From city life to farming: buying a rundown blueberry farm with no experience (04:30) COVID pivot: opening the gates and inviting the public in (08:30) Why customers—not strategy—often drive the shift to PYO (14:00) Burnout from farmers markets → “people are paying me to pick my fruit” (15:30) Location matters—but people will travel for the experience (17:30) The reality of customers: education, behaviour & managing expectations (20:00) Does it stack up? Labour savings vs crop loss and margins (29:30) Marketing that works: social media timing + a strong website (41:30) Final advice: start small, ask for help, and know if it suits your personality