Agronomist and innovator Wayne Smith returns for one of the most candid conversations ever recorded on this podcast. Wayne opens up about the rise and collapse of Kalooka Farms an ambitious livestock project that pushed the limits of pasture productivity, animal genetics and high-rainfall farming in Western Australia.

Wayne also shares powerful insights on:

• Trace-element deficiencies across Africa and Australia • Why many high-rainfall pastures underperform and how to fix them • How corporates get farming strategy wrong by ignoring the paddock-level detail • The future of livestock marketing, meat export policy and industry transparency

This is a clear, practical and emotionally grounded conversation for anyone who cares about Australian farming from how we grow grass, to how we grow sheep, to how we rebuild an industry that still holds massive untapped potential.

A must-listen for farmers, agronomists, investors and anyone seeking to understand what is truly possible in livestock agriculture when constraints are removed, and systems are pushed to their limits.

Agronomist Wayne Smith has been behind some of the biggest shifts in Australian broadacre farming. In this episode, he joins Bill to unpack how no-till, better rotations, improved nutrition and smarter agronomy lifted WA cropping from two-tonne wheat to the high-yield systems farmers run today.

Wayne shares the breakthroughs that changed everything from zinc, copper and molybdenum diagnostics to the early disc-seeder revolution, stubble retention, deep roots and the move toward earlier sowing. He also reflects on the cultural resistance of the 80s and 90s, the “yeah-but” years, and the mindset shifts that helped WA growers become global leaders in no-till cropping.

A clear, honest and practical conversation for growers, agronomists and anyone wanting to understand why Australia’s grain yields have risen so dramatically.

Dr David Barron has spent a lifetime at the forefront of agricultural science, from early herbicide trials in the jungles of Sabah to leading Western Australia’s research into weed management, chemistry, and crop tolerance. In this episode, Bill dives deep with David into the real science behind herbicides, the myths that refuse to die, and the innovations that transformed broadacre farming.

David shares candid stories from his decades in the field, including the rise of selective herbicides, the origins of IMI-tolerant crops, the controversy around glyphosate, and why understanding natural resistance is critical for the future. He also unpacks emerging risks in global agriculture, from biosecurity threats to the coming wave of autonomous and drone-driven farming systems.

This conversation offers rare clarity and grounded scientific insight into one of the most misunderstood areas of modern agriculture.

In this episode:

• How selective chemistry reshaped Australian farming • The truth about glyphosate, DDT, and toxicity • The creation of IMI-tolerant wheats and why it mattered

A must-listen for growers, agronomists, researchers, and anyone who wants to understand the real science driving Australian agriculture.

Dr Bill Bowden has spent more than five decades shaping the way Western Australia understands soil, fertiliser strategy and plant nutrition. In this episode, he joins host Bill Crabtree for a candid conversation about the science, history and hard-won lessons behind modern cropping systems.

From the early days of superphosphate to the complexities of trace elements, root development, pH buffering and nutrient availability, Bill breaks down how WA’s most infertile soils became productive and what farmers must keep in mind as systems evolve.

Together they unpack: • The rise of phosphorus use and the foundations of soil testing in WA • Copper, zinc, manganese and why positional availability still matters • Root biology and the shift from input-focused thinking to system understanding • No-till, deep ripping and the long-running debate around disturbance • Rock phosphate, calcination and the realities of using alternative P sources • The biological engine driving soils from microbes to termites

A must-listen for growers, agronomists, researchers and anyone working to improve soil fertility and system resilience across Australian agriculture.

Dr. Steve Carr joins Bill "No-Till Bill" Crabtree for a deep dive into soil acidity, the silent crop killer affecting thousands of Western Australian farms. With decades of research experience from UWA and hands-on fieldwork in the Eastern Wheatbelt, Dr. Carr breaks down the complex science behind why WA's ancient soils are naturally acidic and how modern agriculture accelerates the problem.

Dr. Carr's expertise transforms complex soil chemistry into actionable knowledge that can save your crops and boost profitability. Whether you're battling stubborn acid patches or planning long-term soil health strategies, this episode delivers the scientific insights you need.

From decades in rural broadcasting to witnessing the rise and fall of major agricultural industries, former ABC journalist Owen Grieve joins Bill “No-Till Bill” Crabtree for one of the most honest and controversial conversations yet.

Together, they unpack the live sheep export ban, government policies that have shaped (and shaken) rural Australia, and the media’s role in shaping public perception of farmers. It’s a deep, unfiltered look at what’s really happening to Australia’s sheep industry and why it matters to every farming family.

Whether you’re a farmer, policymaker, or simply curious about the truth behind the headlines, this episode shines a light on the stories that rarely make it to the city.

From battling wind erosion to leading the no-till revolution in Western Australia, Bill “No-Till Bill” Crabtree sits down with Rick Madden and Owen Grieve to reflect on the innovations, challenges, and breakthroughs that reshaped farming across the WA Wheatbelt.

Together, they share raw, funny, and insightful stories about the shift from conventional tillage to direct drilling, the machinery and chemical innovations that made it possible, and the farmer-led movement that spread from WA to the world.

In this episode: • Life in the WA Wheatbelt and the challenges of farming in the 1980s • How no-till farming transformed Australian agriculture • The science and debate around chemicals, soil health, and sustainability • Stories of resilience, community, and lessons learned on the land

Whether you’re a farmer, ag professional, or simply curious about the people behind modern agriculture, this episode offers a rare look into the highs, lows, and lasting impact of no-till farming in Australia.

From dust storms and soil erosion in Esperance to the birth of no-till farming in Western Australia, this episode of the 4Farmers Podcast captures a turning point in Australian agriculture.

Host Bill Crabtree (“No-Till Bill”) is joined by Rick Madden, one of WA’s early champions of direct drilling and minimum tillage, and Owen Grieve, long-time ABC Rural journalist. Together, they share the stories, challenges, and breakthroughs that reshaped farming across the Wheatbelt.

In this conversation, you’ll hear about: • Life and farming in the WA Wheatbelt during the 1970s–1990s • How no-till farming and direct drilling transformed agriculture in Australia • The early debates over chemicals, herbicides, glyphosate, and paraquat • Farmer-led innovation in Esperance, Katanning, and Kondinin • Lessons in resilience, sustainability, and community from decades on the land

Whether you’re a farmer, agricultural professional, or simply curious about how modern farming practices evolved, this episode offers a rare and personal look at the no-till revolution in Western Australia.