Seeds for Success

Succession, Custodianship & the Future of the Family Farm with James Hamilton

Is your family serving the farm… or is the farm serving your family? In this episode, Tim Bartimote sits down with James Hamilton, a central New South Wales farmer who also works nationally in agricultural succession planning. Drawing on lived experience and more than a decade advising families, James explains why succession isn’t about dividing assets; it’s about aligning needs. He outlines his people-first approach, how he structures conversations to move families from “I” to “we,” and why everyone must see their opportunity for a transition to succeed. You’ll hear practical insights on introducing the next generation early, managing debt responsibly, handling off-farm siblings fairly, and why succession rarely works when it’s left too late. This is an essential listen for producers who want to extend productivity across generations while keeping the family unit intact. Resources and links: * James Hamilton on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-hamilton-5895a855/] * Cultivate Advisory [https://www.cultivateadvisory.com.au/] Nominate a Mate: * If you'd like to nominate a mate (or yourself) as a potential future guest on the podcast, you can do so here: Nominate a Mate for 'Seeds for Success' [https://regionalnsw.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_aVuHOf7krHE9Voq]. Connect: * Central West LLS website [https://www.lls.nsw.gov.au/regions/central-west] * Central West LLS on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/CentralWestLLS] * Central West LLS on X [https://twitter.com/CentralWestLLS] * Central West LLS on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/user/CentralWestLLS] The views contained in this podcast series are not necessarily endorsed by Central West Local Land Services. Listeners are advised to contact their local office to discuss their individual situation. This show is produced in collaboration with SoundCartel. Visit soundcartel.com.au [https://soundcartel.com.au/] for more information. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

From Paddock to Plate: Building a Lamb Brand That Controls the Whole Chain with Andy and Ben Sippel

What happens when a producer decides not just to grow the product but to own the entire supply chain? In this episode, Local Land Services Cropping Ag Advisor Tim Bartimote sits down with Andy and Ben Sippel to unpack how a vertically integrated lamb business was built from paddock to plate. Starting with farmers’ markets and evolving into a streamlined event-based model, they share why simplicity, consistency, and market alignment have been central to success. You’ll hear why limiting customer choice became a strength, how ensuring “everything has a home before it leaves the paddock” protects profitability, and what it really takes to bootstrap and scale a food business. This is a practical conversation for producers interested in value-adding, controlling their market pathway, and building resilient agricultural businesses beyond the farm gate. Resources and links: * Saltbush Lamb [https://www.saltbushlamb.com.au/] * MLA Managing Your Feedbase [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1K0jkHy0iDo6-bAlPjlI3N75Nn9biUHHP/view?usp=sharing] * Ben Sippel on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-sippel-36918287/] * Andy Sippel on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-sippel-b9744352/] Nominate a Mate: * If you'd like to nominate a mate (or yourself) as a potential future guest on the podcast, you can do so here: Nominate a Mate for 'Seeds for Success' [https://regionalnsw.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_aVuHOf7krHE9Voq]. Connect: * Central West LLS website [https://www.lls.nsw.gov.au/regions/central-west] * Central West LLS on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/CentralWestLLS] * Central West LLS on X [https://twitter.com/CentralWestLLS] * Central West LLS on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/user/CentralWestLLS] The views contained in this podcast series are not necessarily endorsed by Central West Local Land Services. Listeners are advised to contact their local office to discuss their individual situation. This show is produced in collaboration with SoundCartel. Visit soundcartel.com.au [https://soundcartel.com.au/] for more information. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Building Drought Resilience with Deep-Rooted Pastures with Andy and Ben Sippel

What if one native plant could fundamentally change how your grazing system performs, even through drought? In this episode, Local Land Services Cropping Ag Advisor, Tim Bartimote, sits down with Andy and Ben Sippel from Saltbush Plains to unpack decades of hands-on experience using old man saltbush as a backbone species in grazing systems. From transforming degraded cropping country into resilient perennial pasture, to maintaining high stocking rates independent of rainfall, they share why deep-rooted native shrubs are one of Australia’s most underutilised agricultural assets. You’ll hear how saltbush supports livestock performance with year-round green feed, high protein levels, and exceptional water-use efficiency, plus how smart grazing management turns ecological strength into economic strength. This is a practical, grounded conversation for producers interested in building resilient pastures, reducing inputs, and working with Australia’s landscapes, not against them. Resources and links: * Saltbush Lamb [https://www.saltbushlamb.com.au/] * MLA Managing Your Feedbase [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1K0jkHy0iDo6-bAlPjlI3N75Nn9biUHHP/view?usp=sharing] * Ben Sippel on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-sippel-36918287/] * Andy Sippel on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-sippel-b9744352/] Nominate a Mate: * If you'd like to nominate a mate (or yourself) as a potential future guest on the podcast, you can do so here: Nominate a Mate for 'Seeds for Success' [https://regionalnsw.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_aVuHOf7krHE9Voq]. Connect: * Central West LLS website [https://www.lls.nsw.gov.au/regions/central-west] * Central West LLS on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/CentralWestLLS] * Central West LLS on X [https://twitter.com/CentralWestLLS] * Central West LLS on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/user/CentralWestLLS] The views contained in this podcast series are not necessarily endorsed by Central West Local Land Services. Listeners are advised to contact their local office to discuss their individual situation. This show is produced in collaboration with SoundCartel. Visit soundcartel.com.au [https://soundcartel.com.au/] for more information. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Fixing the foundations: Why Liam Mowbray sees rectifying pH as the first step in healthy pasture

Welcome to the final episode of our 4-part series, The Lime Light, where we shine a light on lime and dig into building pasture performance on acidic soils.  Liam Mowbray runs a cattle operation near Gloucester in partnership with his wife Alissa and his parents. Since moving to the area four years ago, the family has focused on lifting production by increasing the carrying capacity across their properties.  In this episode, Liam talks about making soil pH a foundational part of their production approach and the flow-on effects this has had on soil and pasture performance. You’ll also hear Liam discuss managing steeper country where cultivation isn’t an option, and the strategies used to address soil acidity in these areas.  Local Land Services Mixed Farming Advisor Rohan Leach, sat down with Liam, away from the heat of the day, to bring you this chat.  Resources and links:  * NSW - Pastures on acid soils [https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/pastures-and-rangelands/research/acid-soils]  * Liam Mowbray on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/liam-mowbray-07b53790/?originalSubdomain=au]  Nominate a Mate:  * If you'd like to nominate a mate (or yourself) as a potential future guest on the podcast, you can do so here: Nominate a Mate for 'Seeds for Success' [https://regionalnsw.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_aVuHOf7krHE9Voq].  Connect:  * Central West LLS website [https://www.lls.nsw.gov.au/regions/central-west]  * Central West LLS on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/CentralWestLLS]  * Central West LLS on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/user/CentralWestLLS]  The views contained in this podcast series are not necessarily endorsed by Central West Local Land Services. Listeners are advised to contact their local office to discuss their individual situation. This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com [https://wavelengthcreative.com/?utm_source=show-notes&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=rss-feed-footer] for more information. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Value for money: Why Stuart Tait would have gone harder, earlier with lime

Welcome to episode 3 of our 4 part summer series, The Lime Light, where we shine a light on lime and dig into building pasture performance on acidic soils. Stuart Tait farms alongside his family at Mandurama in the NSW Central Tablelands with other properties at Lyndhurst and Canowindra. Tait Agriculture is focused on cattle and a cropping program including wheat, canola and Faba beans. Stuart has a range of pastures with phalaris, fescue, lucerne and clovers being the main components. In this episode, Stuart talks about how they have shifted focus to increased cropping since the purchase of their Canowindra and Lyndhurst properties. You’ll hear Stuart explain soil testing and managing his soil pH is their main strategy for doing this. Stuart also shares his investigation into purchasing a Horsch Tiger cultivator and how he justifies a whopping 7 tonnes of lime per hectare. Local Land Services Mixed Farming Advisor Rohan Leach sat down with Stuart on a rather momentous day as the Tait family celebrated a major family milestone.   Nominate a Mate: * If you'd like to nominate a mate (or yourself) as a potential future guest on the podcast, you can do so here: Nominate a Mate for 'Seeds for Success' [https://regionalnsw.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_aVuHOf7krHE9Voq].   Connect: * Central West LLS website [https://www.lls.nsw.gov.au/regions/central-west] * Central West LLS on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/CentralWestLLS] * Central West LLS on X [https://twitter.com/CentralWestLLS] * Central West LLS on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/user/CentralWestLLS]   The views contained in this podcast series are not necessarily endorsed by Central West Local Land Services. Listeners are advised to contact their local office to discuss their individual situation. This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com [https://wavelengthcreative.com/?utm_source=show-notes&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=rss-feed-footer] for more information. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.