TasFarmers Talks takes you inside the issues shaping Tasmanian agriculture, from the paddock gate to the halls of power in Parliament House.
Each episode connects farm life with the policies, decisions, and debates shaping life on the land and in regional communities. We break down complex topics such as biosecurity, wildlife management, bushfires, freight, climate, workforce, markets, and regulation in a clear, practical way, bringing farmers’ voices directly into the conversation.
You’ll hear from growers, industry leaders, researchers, and decision makers, with grounded discussions foc
This episode tackles visa changes threatening the farm workforce, the defeat of arbitrary firearm caps, concerns over the FPA's review and the latest pressure facing potato producers.
3 Sept 2026
The season ahead
North-west farmer Nathan Richardson joins TasFarmers to discuss his journey in agriculture, preparations for the coming season and the pressures shaping decisions on crops, costs and investment.
7 Aug 2026
Ready for the fight
From the farm to the front line and now Parliament, Gavin Pearce is ready for the fight. He joins TasFarmers to tackle Rushy Lagoon, biosecurity, deer management, regulation and the future of Tasmanian agriculture.
8 Jul 2026
Rushy falls, the loss of productive land
The sale of Rushy Lagoon has been approved and TasFarmers says the decision raises serious questions about the use of tax payers money.
In this episode of TasFarmers Talks, President Nathan Cox, COO Neil Grose and Shadow Minister for Primary Industries Janie Finlay unpack the implications of the Rushy Lagoon decision, from food security and foreign investment to regional jobs and community confidence.
The conversation also explores Tasmania's growing deer problem, soaring land valuations and council rates, reform of Government Business Enterprises, and biosecurity preparedness.
17 Jun 2026
The Cost of Overregulation
This week on TasFarmers Talks, we unpack the latest political developments in Tasmania, examine growing concerns over dairy effluent regulation and rising compliance costs, discuss the state's deer management challenge, and provide an update on potato contract negotiations and what they mean for growers.
3 Jun 2026
The Dairy Dilemma
Milk prices are falling. Deer numbers remain a challenge. And questions continue about the future of productive agricultural land in the North East.
This week on TasFarmers Talks, the team examines the pressures facing farmers and whether current policies are helping agriculture grow.
20 May 2026
Broken Promises... and the Rushy Rat Pack
In this episode of TasFarmers Talks, the team unpacks the Federal Budget, concerns around tax changes affecting family farms and succession planning, and what farmers need to see from Tasmania’s upcoming State Budget.
The discussion also turns to growing frustration with regulatory complexity, following recent Forest Practices Authority enforcement action on the East Coast, and asks whether current rules are delivering practical environmental outcomes or simply creating more red tape for landholders.
Finally, the team revisits the Rushy Lagoon debate, examining foreign investment, productive agricultural land, carbon markets and what the future of one of Tasmania’s largest farming properties could mean for regional communities and the state's agricultural future.
🎧 From budget promises and insurance costs to land use and productivity, this is a frank discussion about the policies shaping agriculture and whether they are helping farmers get ahead.
6 May 2026
Gauging the Budget: What agriculture needs now
In this special TasFarmers podcast episode, TasFarmers sits down with National Farmers’ Federation CEO Mike Guerin and President Hamish McIntyre to unpack the growing pressure facing Australian agriculture.
From rising fuel and fertiliser costs to food security, freight challenges, and the controversial EU trade deal, our conversation explores what’s really at stake for farmers, regional communities, and Australia’s sovereign capability.
The discussion dives into:
Why fuel and fertiliser costs are reshaping farming decisions
Concerns around Australia’s food security and supply chains
What the EU trade deal means for local producers
The need for investment in regional infrastructure and manufacturing
Why agriculture must remain a national priority
It’s a frank and practical conversation about resilience, policy, and the future of farming in Australia, from Tasmania to the mainland.
15 Apr 2026
Fuel, Fertiliser… and a Whole Lot of Uncertainty
In this episode of TasFarmers Talks, the focus intensifies on fuel, fertiliser, and the uncertainty facing farmers across Tasmania.
Felicity Richards, Neil Grose and Elizabeth Skirving unpack diesel supply concerns, rising costs, and the pressure on farm cash flow, along with what farmers can do to plan ahead.
A practical look at the challenges on the ground, and what needs to happen next.
1 Apr 2026
The PM’s Message… and the Reality on Farm
In this episode of TasFarmers Talks, recorded ahead of the Prime Minister’s latest address, the team unpacks growing concern across agriculture as farmers wait for clarity on fuel supply.
While fuel relief has been welcomed by the broader community, the reality on farm is different, with ongoing uncertainty around diesel availability, fertiliser supply, and rising input costs continuing to impact confidence.
TasFarmers President Nathan Cox, CEO Nathan Calman, and COO Neil Grose discuss what farmers actually need: certainty to plan, plant and produce.
🎧 Listen now
25 Mar 2026
From legacy to new leadership: TasFarmers after the AGM
In this episode of TasFarmers Talks, outgoing President Ian Sauer reflects on his time leading the organisation, the progress made for Tasmanian farmers, and the foundations built to strengthen TasFarmers for the future. The conversation also introduces new President Nathan Cox and Vice President Felicity Richards, who outline their focus on members, practical advocacy, and building on the work already underway.
The discussion covers the value of strong representation, the importance of trust and consultation, and some of the major issues TasFarmers has worked through in recent years, including farm access, the North West Transmission Line, animal welfare, fire levy advocacy, fuel security, and cutting red tape. It is a positive episode about leadership transition, farmer-focused advocacy, and the next chapter for TasFarmers.
17 Mar 2026
Fuel, Fertiliser and Firearms: Pressure Builds
In this episode of TasFarmers Talks, the team tackles the ongoing firearm policy debate, rising fuel and fertiliser costs, and what these pressures mean for farmers right now.
TasFarmers President Ian Sauer, CEO Nathan Calman, and COO Neil Grose discuss the role of firearms as a tool of trade, the risks of policy being developed without proper consultation, and why getting this balance right matters for agriculture.
The conversation then turns to the sharp increase in input costs, with fuel and fertiliser placing significant strain on farm businesses, reducing margins and creating real uncertainty across the sector.
This week's panel also examines the proposed sale of Rushy Lagoon and what it signals about land use, investment, and government influence in agricultural markets.
Drawing on member experience, the episode outlines the growing pressure on farm viability and the broader implications for productivity, food security, and regional Tasmania.
4 Mar 2026
Cutting the Red Tape: What’s Holding Tasmanian Farmers Back?
In this episode of Farmers Talks, the conversation dives into the growing pressure farmers are facing from regulation, rising energy costs, and slow-moving bureaucracy.
TasFarmers President Ian Sauer, policy lead Neil Grose, and berry grower Steph Terry unpack the real-world impact of red tape on farming businesses — from power prices and irrigation challenges to workforce housing and compliance requirements.
They explore why government reform is back in the spotlight following Tasmania’s departmental shake-up, and what meaningful change could look like for farmers trying to invest, expand, and keep regional communities strong.
🌱 Topics discussed include:
The cost of red tape and regulation on farm businesses
Rising energy prices and irrigation challenges
Workforce housing barriers for agriculture
Compliance audits and supply chain pressure
Net zero policies and their impact on farming
Why structural reform in government matters for regional economies
It’s a frank discussion about what’s slowing agriculture down — and what needs to change to help Tasmania’s farming sector grow.
19 Feb 2026
Too many deer, not enough solutions.
In this episode of TasFarmers Talks, TasFarmers President Ian Sauer, CEO Nathan Calman, and COO Neil Grose confront the escalating crisis of feral deer across Tasmania and its mounting toll on farm productivity, the environment, and regional economies. Drawing on member surveys and government data, the panel outlines how deer populations have surged dramatically in recent years, causing extensive damage to fences, crops, pasture, and native vegetation, while imposing significant financial burdens on landholders.
5 Feb 2026
Why Council Reform Matters for Tasmanian Agriculture
In this episode of TasFarmers Talks, TasFarmers President Ian Sauer, CEO Nathan Calman, and COO Neil Grose examine growing frustration with Tasmania’s local government system. The discussion explores council rates, inconsistent valuation methods, planning failures, over-governance, and the impact these issues have on farmers’ competitiveness and productivity. Drawing on member feedback, the panel argues the current model is broken, calls for meaningful reform, and outlines why leadership and courage are needed to restore value, accountability, and fairness across regional Tasmania.
27 Jan 2026
Tall grass, big fires and everyone acting surprised
Bushfires, fuel management and what farmers are warning the government about
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