All aboard the virtual climate bus tour

Season three of the AgVic Talk podcast will take listeners on a virtual bus tour to speak with farmers and agricultural influencers who are looking at different ways to manage climate variability.

Agriculture Victoria land management extension officer Darryl Pearl said that across the 10 podcasts, listeners will hear real examples of how farmers have managed climate change and variability across a range of locations around the state.

“Agriculture is undertaken successfully by farmers across a whole range of climates. This podcast series explores some of the ways farmers are managing climate risk on their farms. This can offer valuable insights for how others are setting up to manage climate change and increased variability.”

This season includes conversations with livestock producers who are using stock containment areas, agricultural business resilience experts, low and high rainfall zone growers who talk about their coping strategies, and farmers developing new skills through online learning.

“In one episode we talk to third-generation Millewa farmer Ian Arney who has experienced a huge amount of change in order to continue farming in a changing climate, arguably none more so than in the last ten years with a move from cereal and grain cropping to focusing mainly on sheep,” Mr Pearl said.

“Everyone we talk to during this season has a focus on planning and understanding their business in order to help them through the tough years and make the most of the good ones,” he said.

Ten virtual climate bus tour episodes will run as part of season three of the AgVic Talk podcast channel which began as in August 2020.

“Through the podcasts, we’ve been able to deliver knowledge and information in a format that suits the way farmers and agricultural professionals work and live today,” Mr Pearl said.

“In the past, we might have delivered this information as part of a roadshow or though workshops, but we’ve realised the value of delivering online and the virtual climate bus tour has saved 1900 kilometres of vehicle travel, time, and carbon emissions.”

He said the new season will continue to deliver trusted, relevant and timely information to Victoria’s agricultural sector, and rural and regional communities through podcasts.

You can subscribe and listen to AgVic Talk wherever you get your podcasts: This AgVic Talk season is funded by Smarter Safer Farms, a $20 million Victorian Government initiative to keep farmers, workers and farm families safe and well.