Commodity Conversations

November rain - Mecardo market update 26th November 2021

The east coast is soaked, and the timing has been poor for those trying to harvest winter crops. This week Olivia and Rob from Mecardo take a look what implications the continued wet will have on the grains market.

Navigating the seasons & keeping lambs alive - 19th Novemeber 2021

Subdued lamb growth rates have been a major factor in the flow of lambs to market this season. This week, Jason Trompf, consultant and leader in the field of lamb survival, joins us to talk about why lamb growth has been slow this year, pasture management and keeping lambs alive.

Contradictory factors push & pull wool - 12th Novemeber 2021

Swings in wool supply have a large impact on price, and any price premiums, but the market is also balancing a number of demand influencing factors from overseas. This week resident wool analyst, Andrew Woods from Independent Commodity Services joins Robert Herrmann to discuss these price drivers.

The supply chain also has some big questions about wool quality schemes and supply, which we shed some light on in this episode, comparing Australia to South Africa. Responsible Wool Standards, otherwise known as RWS, was set up by Global not-for-profit group the Textile Exchange, which you can read more about at https://textileexchange.org/.

Strike while the irons hot- 5th Novemeber 2021

As the state borders open up, we knew there would be one person to count on to see what’s happening in the saleyards and paddocks from south to north, east to west. In a red hot market, this week Andrew Hosken, from Hosken Stock and Land, joined us to discuss how producers have been able to take advantage of the extraordinary prices of late across the cattle market. 

Lamb supply snakes & ladders - 29th October 2021

This week Nutrien Ag Solutions Livestock Manager, Ron Rutledge, gives us the low down on what's happening in local lamb and sheep markets, as the '8 million residents' are 'released' in Melbourne and Sydney and the restaurant trade returns, will supply meet demand?

A great time for a big crop - 22nd October 2021

This week our resident analyst Nick Booth from Next Level Grain Marketing on to fill us in on what's happening in his local patch, the Eyre Peninsular, but also what's happening in the international grains markets. As Australia looks set for another record/near record wheat crop and is still relatively cheap internationally, they're should be no shortage of demand in the foreseeable future. 

Preparing the next generation of Ag - 15th October 2021

This week we got the chance to chat with current Director of Studies and soon to be Principal of Marcus Oldham College (2022), Andrew Baker. We asked Andrew how the current demand is in the Agricultural sector for new Ag graduates and what skillsets are employee's looking for in new graduates and where the varied fields they can end up working in.

Fibres, fashion and the fate of wool - 8th October 2021

The recovery in apparel fibres over the past year looks to be a solid one and this week Andrew Woods, Mecardo analyst and Director of Independent Commodity Services, joins us to talk about what this all means for wool. We also break down the wool complex to discuss what is driving prices for fine, superfine, medium Merino and crossbred wool.

Good weather for wethers - 1st October 2021

Soaking spring rain has moved from the outlook to the paddock in areas, and with the weather warming up, feed is going to be abundant. It’s that time of year when NSW Merino wether lambs start to hit the market, and so it’s time Mecardo analyst Angus Brown joins us to share how the trade is shaping up this year and to discuss the underlying lamb demand outlook.

Rain, hail or shine - Long term weather outlook with Eric Snodgrass - 25th September 2021

In Australia we are coming into the critical finishing period of many crops so this week we were lucky to be joined by Eric Snodgrass, Principal Atmospheric Scientist at Nutrien, to find out what the weather outlook is for the west and east of Australia, whether there is much risk of frosts and how weather events around the globe are influencing our markets.