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In The Paddock

by Martin Murray · English · Tech & Science

A look at agriculture and farming in Australia and around the world. Covering a range of topics including soil health, ag tech, farm innovation, weed management, herbicide usage, livestock management, profitability and sustainability. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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New episodes
Every two weeks
Typical length
15 min
Latest
13 Oct 2026
Language
English

Latest episode

13 Oct 2026 · 18 minNew

Field Notes: Could These Crops Save You Nitrogen?

Could crops protect their own nitrogen—and help lower your fertiliser bill? Biological nitrification inhibition (BNI) is an emerging area of crop research that could offer new ways to improve nitrogen use efficiency in Australian agriculture. In this episode of In The Paddock — Field Notes, farmer and agronomist Martin Murray explores how plant roots could release natural nitrification inhibitors, helping retain nitrogen for crop uptake. First, we follow nitrogen from fertiliser application to the plant: how urea becomes ammonium and nitrate, where losses occur, and why different inhibitors…

Earlier episodes 29 most recent

  1. 11 Oct 2026 · 28 min

    What Replaces Diesel on The Farm - The Future of Farm Machinery

    What replaces diesel on the farm? Australian agriculture depends heavily on diesel, especially during sowing and harvest. But replacing it is not as simple as swapping a diesel engine for a battery. In this episode of In The Paddock , we look at the machinery and energy systems that could realistically power the next generation of farming — without sacrificing horsepower, endurance or productivity. We cover battery-electric tractors, battery swapping, diesel-electric hybrids, hydrogen fuel cells, biomethane, methane and HVO renewable diesel , as well as what agriculture can learn from the…

  2. 6 Oct 2026 · 10 min

    Field Notes - Can we Have Chemical Free Weed Control in Zero Till Farming?

    Can Australian zero-till farming reduce its reliance on herbicides without going back to full-width cultivation? In this episode of In The Paddock – Field Notes , we look at emerging chemical-free weed control technologies designed to target established weeds while preserving the benefits of zero-till and conservation farming systems. We start with the Hayes Weed Chipper , an Australian-developed system that combines optical weed detection with individually controlled hydraulic tynes to physically remove weeds without cultivating the entire paddock. We then look at GRDC-backed research into…

  3. 5 Oct 2026 · 16 min

    Diesel Prices Are Surging, What Will It Mean For Harvest?

    Diesel prices are surging just as Australian growers prepare for harvest. In this episode of In The Paddock , we look at what is happening in global diesel markets, why refined fuel is under more pressure than crude oil alone, and what that means for Australian agriculture heading into one of the most fuel-intensive periods of the year. We cover Australia’s reliance on imported fuel, the impact of refinery disruptions and geopolitical tensions, what higher diesel prices could do to farm margins, and why harvest creates a unique fuel-security risk. Most importantly, this isn’t just about…

  4. 4 Oct 2026 · 17 min

    Could Australia Run out of Diesel? the 48hr Fuel Shock

    Could Australia actually run out of diesel? Australia depends heavily on imported diesel to keep farms, trucks, mines and freight moving. In this episode of In The Paddock , we look at how exposed that system is — and what happens when major exporters start putting their own domestic fuel security first. We unpack China’s October fuel export suspension, Russia’s diesel restrictions, and the recent threat of a US diesel export ban. We also explain why American export policy can affect Australia even when Australia does not buy much diesel directly from the US. The episode covers: where…

  5. 1 Oct 2026 · 10 min

    Will Solar and Wind Destroy Our Meat Exports

    Could grazing sheep and cattle around solar panels and wind turbines put Australian meat exports at risk? Claims have been circulating that livestock raised around renewable energy infrastructure could face restrictions from overseas markets. But where did the story come from — and has any country actually threatened to ban Australian beef or lamb? In this episode of In The Paddock , Martin Murray traces the rumour back through changes to Australia’s Livestock Production Assurance (LPA) program, parliamentary debate and concerns about contamination from renewable energy infrastructure. We…

  6. 14 Jul 2025 · 42 min

    AI in Agriculture: Beyond the Paddock

    In this episode we talk with Jonathan Richetti of the CSIRO, exploring how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming agriculture outside of the paddock. We explore how it is being used to enhance plant breeding, make highly accurate yield predictions and fertilizer recommendations as well as exploring the future of this technology. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

About In The Paddock

A look at agriculture and farming in Australia and around the world. Covering a range of topics including soil health, ag tech, farm innovation, weed management, herbicide usage, livestock management, profitability and sustainability. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In The Paddock is a English tech & science podcast from Martin Murray. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher
Martin Murray
Language
English
New episodes
Every two weeks
Typical length
15 min
Latest episode
13 Oct 2026
Feed
RSS — paste into any podcast app
Rights
Martin Murray

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