As the Hay Matters Summer Series wraps up, host Steve Page is joined by Harry Divall, a progressive hay and mixed farming operator based around West Wyalong and Stockinbingal, and a recent National Hay Award winner.

Harry shares his journey into agriculture, from leaving school early and working with livestock in cold southern NSW, to discovering his passion for hay production and building a growing multi-farm operation. Together, they discuss the realities of making quality hay, managing weather risk, and adapting cropping and storage strategies across diverse regions.

The conversation also explores Harry’s approach to crop rotations, soil health, silage versus hay decisions, and how spreading production geographically helps manage seasonal variability. Harry reflects on the steep learning curve of haymaking, the importance of continual improvement, and his vision for the future of the industry.

The episode closes with Harry’s thoughts on joining the AFIA board, and his desire to see practical, accessible education become a cornerstone of the hay and silage sector.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• Harry’s pathway into agriculture and hay production
• Lessons learned from producing quality hay in challenging seasons
• Crop rotations including oats, barley, vetch, canola and lucerne
• Managing risk through silage, grain, and staggered cutting times
• Benefits of farming across multiple regions and climates
• Hay storage strategies, including sheds and tarping
• Harry’s goals for AFIA and industry education

Thanks for listening to the Hay Matters Summer Series. Season 3 is coming soon with new conversations, fresh insights, and more stories from across the hay and forage industry.

Interested in being a guest, sponsor, or advertiser? Get in touch with the team at Feed Central.

The Hay Matters Podcast is proudly presented by Feed Central and LocalAg.

In this Summer Series episode of the Hay Matters Podcast, brought to you by LocalAg and Feed Central, host Jon Paul Driver chats with Megan Ford about her path into agriculture, the growth of Feed Central, and the changing role of women in the industry.

Megan reflects on the early days of building a business alongside her husband Tim while raising a young family, sharing the realities of juggling growth, family life, and big ideas. From kitchen-table planning and conversations on the go, to moments that tested resilience, this episode offers an honest look at what it takes to build something lasting.

Listeners will hear about the pivotal 2014 hay shed fire and how strong family, team, and community support helped shape Feed Central’s future. Megan also highlights the impact of women’s networks such as the Queensland Rural Women’s Network and Australian Women in Agriculture, and how mentorship and connection have supported leadership and confidence along the way.

The conversation also unpacks the thinking behind LocalAg—a platform developed over years of listening to farmers and customers, designed to reflect how producers want to do business today: with flexibility, transparency, and trust at the core.

A thoughtful and inspiring episode about resilience, relationships, and evolving agriculture in Australia.

In this episode of Hay Matters, host Jon Paul Driver chats with Marty Conroy, Agronomy Services Lead for Northern Australia at Barenbrug Seeds. From Northern NSW, Marty provides a practical look at tropical pasture systems across Queensland, the NT, and northern NSW. He unpacks the science behind C3 and C4 grasses, explains how feed quality drives profitability, and highlights the untapped potential of pasture management and modern breeding programs.

Marty explains how pasture breeding is now focused on fibre quality, seasonal fit, and regional adaptability. C4 grasses like Rhodes and panicum are critical in northern systems, with planting tied to rainfall and temperature windows. Feed quality is key to intake, weight gain, and financial returns.

The episode also explores accelerated breeding through genomic tools, underutilised C4 pasture management strategies, strategic input use such as nitrogen, and the importance of benchmarking paddock performance year-on-year to make smarter decisions in unpredictable seasons.