As the seeding season gains momentum for dryland croppers in 2024, those long hours behind the wheel become the norm, but amidst the solitude of tractor work, there's a chance to turn those hours into learning opportunities. Instead of just tuning in to the radio, consider diving into farming podcasts, which offer a wealth of insights and advice to accompany you during those extended days. So, grab your earbuds and join fellow farmers in exploring podcasts covering everything from agronomy to market updates and beyond.
During these marathon sessions, taking care of your body is important as it's your most valuable asset. So, make sure you look after yourself during this seeding season. Unfortunately, machinery operators and farmers are at risk of developing chronic spinal and joint pain because of long hours operating machinery, heavy lifting and repetition of movements. Exercise is an essential part of injury prevention. Any regular movement keeps your body active and is critically important when you need to suddenly transition from driving to getting out of the cab to do some hard manual labour.
Sitting for hours and then suddenly having to lift or push heavy objects can result in muscle injuries. While it is not always possible to predict when you may need to exit the vehicle to fix or lift something, staying active and mobile while driving can improve your overall health and make you better prepared for the next task. This means stretching wherever and whenever possible and doing light exercises to warm up your muscles whenever you get out of the cab. To keep you motivated and moving during the seeding season, we have curated a list of our top podcast recommendations.
Top podcast reccommendations
• Listen to the GRDC Podcast or WeedSmart Podcast for more technical agronomy content on specific issues and content around broader farming systems topics.
• RaboResearch Food & Agribusiness has a podcast with interesting insights into global and domestic markets for several Australian commodities.
• For a good general mix of topics, including a business and succession focus, Beyond the Farm Gate, Marcus Oldham AgTalk, The Business of Farming and Pass The Baton podcasts are all worth listening to.
• Tune in to ifarmwell for some excellent content on decision-making, understanding your thought processes and general well-being.
• For all things technology and innovation, listen to the podcasts Generation Ag and AgTech - So What?
• For something South Australian, Lower North farmer, Andrew Parker, and local legend, Noel Bubner, have teamed up to host The Farmers Podcast, profiling people in the agricultural industry. The podcast features stories from agricultural personalities in Australia and the odd international guest. The episodes are easy listening; we are sure you'll find them entertaining and interesting.