Why the Farmer is the Pharmacist of the Future with Louis De Jaeger

Why the Farmer is the Pharmacist of the Future with Louis De Jaeger

Author: Mark Ferguson June 15, 2025 Duration: 54:13
Our guest this week is Louis De Jaeger, a landscape designer, author and filmmaker who believes that many of agriculture’s biggest problems start with poor soil. In this episode, he and Ferg explore soil as a living system. One that can reduce costs, improve resilience, and produce more nutrient-dense food when managed well. They talk about building long-term fertility without synthetic fertilisers, how some farmers are fighting drought and climate change, and the link between soil microbes a...

Tune in to Head Shepherd, where Mark Ferguson draws on his deep involvement with neXtgen Agri to explore the realities of modern pastoral farming. This isn't just industry news; it's a series of conversations from the paddock and the research station, focused squarely on sheep and beef operations across Australia and New Zealand. You'll hear from the farmers, scientists, and innovators themselves-the people actually implementing new ideas in genetics, animal health, and farm management technology. Each episode digs into the practical science and the business decisions behind running a successful livestock enterprise, offering tangible insights that bridge the gap between emerging innovation and daily farm life. By focusing on real-world applications and the stories of those driving change, this podcast provides an authentic look at where these vital industries are headed. For anyone with a stake in the land or a curiosity about where their food and fibre comes from, Mark's straightforward interviews make complex topics accessible and directly relevant. The entire Head Shepherd podcast is built on the principle that sharing knowledge is key to progress, offering a genuine resource for education and improvement in the agricultural sector.
Author: Language: en-nz Episodes: 100

Head Shepherd
Podcast Episodes
Shaping Aussie Agriculture with Ben Simpson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:40
Ben Simpson from OGA Creative Agency shares his passion for the varied landscape of Australian agriculture - focusing on storytelling, ethics, and innovation. He discusses with Ferg how effective communication, AI and vi…
Sheep, Salt and Beer with David Thompson of Moojepin Foods [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:37
This week we have David Thompson of Moojepin Foods on the podcast. David talks about his career breeding trait-leading Merinos, how he is addressing salinity issues in Western Australia with the exploration of saltbush a…
How Genetic Strategies Can Solve Farming Problems with Robert Peacock [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:11
This week on the podcast, we’re chatting all things livestock breeding with Robert Peacock from Orari Gorge Station. Robert discusses how and why they’ve been breeding for worm resistance. They have also been one of the…
Boosting Heifer Performance with Enoch Bergman’s AI Insights [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:23
Our guest this week is veterinarian Enoch Bergman. Originally from the USA, Enoch arrived in Australia in 2003. He fell in love with the people, the landscape and the agricultural innovation of Esperance, Western Austral…
Our 200th Episode: Live from Lambex with Dawson Bradford [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:31
This week on the podcast we’re celebrating 200 episodes! We thought we’d make a special occasion of it so we recorded our podcast live at Lambex 2024 and who better to have on as a guest than Lambex founder, Dawson Bradf…
Navigating Change in Farming with Bill Webb of Merinotech [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:36
If you farm Merinos in Australia, it’s more than likely you will have heard of Merinotech. And if you’ve heard of Merinotech, it's likely that you know our fantastic guest this week, Bill Webb. For those that don’t know,…
Managing Triple Drench Resistance in Cattle [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:57
As you may have heard in the media recently, triple drench resistance in cattle is quickly becoming an issue for New Zealand farmers. This week on the podcast, we are joined by Dave Leathwick and Christian Sauerman from…
The Future of Meat Grading with Barbara Webster [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:40
Our guest on the podcast this week is Barbara Webster, co-founder of inMR. Barbara shares with Mark how inMR's Marbl™ technology uses nuclear magnetic resonance to measure intramuscular fat quickly, accurately and non-in…