#58 Biosecurity Christmas Warning, Robert Irwin Goes Global, Major Solar Farm Fire & 2025 sign off

🎣 Topic 1: Biosecurity Warning — Fishing Over Christmas & Why Imported Bait Is a Serious Risk

As everyone gears up for Christmas holidays and families start heading to the river, the lake or the coast for a bit of downtime, we’re kicking off with a crucial biosecurity reminder. Using imported bait—even when it looks harmless—is one of the fastest ways to introduce devastating pests and diseases into Australian waterways. From viruses that can wipe out native fish populations to parasites that spread far beyond the fishing spot, imported bait poses a real threat to our ecosystems, local fishing industries, and regional economies.

Topic 2: Robert Irwin — Australia’s Biggest International Ambassador Since Paul Hogan?

We revisit a favourite talking point: Robert Irwin’s unstoppable global rise. He’s becoming one of the most recognisable, positive Australian ambassadors of this generation — and not just in the US. Robert is now making waves in the UK, Germany, Japan, India, and China, reaching audiences that previous Australian public figures never quite hit in the same way.

🎁 Q&A + Giveaway Winners — Toni Dingle’s Aussie Rom-Com “Head Over Boots”

We’re thrilled to announce the winners of our festive giveaway of Toni Dingle’s first Australian romcom, Head Over Boots. Congratulations to: 🎉 Kerry M 🎉 Kate L

https://tonidinglewrites.com/#presale

🔥 Topic 3: Major Solar Farm Fire — What Happened & Why It Matters

In this episode, we cover the recent large-scale solar farm fire that’s been making headlines. As regional Australia becomes home to more renewable projects, communities are increasingly asking questions about safety, land management, and infrastructure resilience.

🎄 Topic 4: Christmas & New Year Sign-Off — Farewell to 2025 & What’s Coming Next

We wrap up the year with a warm Christmas and New Year’s message to our incredible listeners. It’s been a huge year, and we share a little behind-the-scenes insight into what’s coming in 2026:

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tickets - https://www.123tix.com.au/events/50674/farm-succession-and-the-forgotten-women

Conference Tickets - https://www.123tix.com.au/events/50678/harvest-her-power-conference-2026

🚜 THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!

Farm Table – Your online hub for all things ag, connecting farmers with resources, events, and opportunities. Check them out at https://farmtable.com.au/

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✨ Episode 57: Q&A – Migraine Update, Farm Marriage Advice, Forgotten Women in Succession + Win Toni’s Rom-Com!

Welcome to a jam-packed Agsolutley Fabulous Q&A episode! Today we dive into your questions—from health updates and farm-life realities to conference news, succession support, and even a spicy pre-Christmas pep talk. PLUS: Stay to the end to find out how you can WIN a copy of Toni’s Australian Rom-Com!

🎙 What We Cover in This Episode

📚 Toni’s Rom-Com Giveaway

We’re giving away a copy of Toni’s hilarious Australian romance novel “Head Over Boots.” Stick around to learn how to enter!

💉 My First Self-Injection (Migraine Treatment Update)

🎧 The Ultimate Farm Wife Updates

Two big milestones! • Fiona’s incredible Episode 99 • Episode 100 with me—coming soon! We talk growth, community, and what’s next for TUFW.

🎟 Harvest Her Power Conference – Tickets ON SALE!

Don’t miss the 2026 Harvest Her Power Conference: empowerment, leadership, rural women, business, ag futures. We share ticket details, what’s new, and why this year is BIGGER.

tickets - https://www.123tix.com.au/events/50678/harvest-her-power-conference-2026

🗣 Ag Forum Topic – Financial Norms & Support

💍 Getting Married On Farm? Our Advice for the New Year Brides

💔 When the People Who Should Love You… Don’t

🚫 “No” Is a Complete Sentence – Pre-Christmas Pep Talk

Your seasonal reminder to protect your peace, your energy, and your boundaries.

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Links

tickets - https://www.123tix.com.au/events/50674/farm-succession-and-the-forgotten-women

Join us for an engaging and interactive online webinar as we welcome Dr. Lucie Newsome, researcher and lecturer in management and economics, to discuss her thought-provoking paper, “The Dreaded Daughter-in-Law.”

We’ve all heard the anecdotes — the whispered stories, the family tension, the statistics that paint a worrying picture of gender imbalance in agriculture. But Dr. Newsome’s research goes beyond the rumours and brings forward evidence-based insights into what’s really happening behind the farm gate.

In this powerful session, we’ll explore how gender, tradition, and family dynamics shape succession planning in Australian farm businesses — and why so many women, especially daughters and daughters-in-law, are often left out of the process.

🚜 THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!

Farm Table – Your online hub for all things ag, connecting farmers with resources, events, and opportunities. Check them out at https://farmtable.com.au/

Book Box - Use code Fabulous15 for a special discount at checkout!

Start your next chapter here → https://bookbox.au/

Email us - agsolutelyfab@gmail.com

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petition - https://tr.ee/ZWatk5lEY-

Welcome back to Episode 56 of Absolutely Fabulous, where Gillian and Katja dive into the biggest conversations happening across Australian agriculture right now — from policy battles to rodeo dreams, beef debates, and even a few Christmas gift ideas for the farm-loving women in your life.

🌾 This Week in Agriculture

Gillian breaks down: • Key updates from the MLA AGM • Her re-election as SA Livestock Chairperson • What these changes mean for producers heading into 2026

Katja shares exciting news: • Harvest Her Power Conference tickets are officially on sale • New episodes dropping on The Ultimate Farm Wife podcast

🔥 Hot Topics Covered

• Transmission Lines & Farmer Petitions What’s happening, why producers are fighting back, and how communities are organising.

• 12-Year-Old Australian Rodeo Star Going Global A young competitor prepares to take on the American circuit — we talk talent, training, and the power of rural kids with big dreams.

• Organic Beef vs Pasture-Raised Beef What’s the difference? What does the science say? And what are consumers really buying?

• Gillian & Katja’s Christmas Gift Recommendations Real, practical, and rural woman-approved stocking filler ideas.

💕 Support Our Partners

Links

TICKETS - https://www.123tix.com.au/events/50480/beauty-banter-brushes-a-night-with-alastair-mosey

02/12/ 2025 Remember those 80s and 90s glamour shots that made us look ten years older than we were? Makeup artist, farmer and beauty brand sensation is here to make sure it never happens again!

Bring your makeup and mirror if you want to follow along or just join us for a night of fun and expert tips and tricks.

Grab your friends (or teenager) and get ready for a night of fierce fashionable fun.

🚜 THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!

Farm Table – Your online hub for all things ag, connecting farmers with resources, events, and opportunities. Check them out at https://farmtable.com.au/

Book Box - Use code Fabulous15 for a special discount at checkout!

Start your next chapter here → https://bookbox.au/

Email us - agsolutelyfab@gmail.com

SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSELTTER: https://tr.ee/qd6wlKKB1W

🌾 Topic 1: Speed Limit Reduction Proposal to 80km

A new proposal aims to drop rural road speed limits from 100km to 80km. We break down what this could mean for:

• Grain haulage and hay transport
• Emergency response times
• Rural business productivity
• Community safety vs. city-based policymaking Will an 80km speed limit help or hinder rural Australia?

🌾 Topic 2: Harvest Complaints Heat Up

As harvest ramps up, so do the complaints—dust, noise, trucks, and long hours. We explore:

• Why complaints spike every harvest
• How non-farming neighbours can better understand harvest pressures
• Communication tips to reduce conflict
• The need for policy that supports essential farm operations

🌾 Topic 3: Is the Bull Bat Ban Back on the Table?

The controversial bull bat (nightjar) protection ban is resurfacing. In this segment we cover:

• What the proposed restrictions could mean for graziers
• Impacts on stubble grazing and pasture management
• Wildlife conversations vs. practical land stewardship

🌾 Topic 4: Farmers Band Together as Transmission Company Demands Access

Another week, another transmission company pressuring farmers for land access. We discuss:

• How farmers are uniting to push back
• What rights landholders actually have
• Negotiation strategies
• The growing tension between renewables expansion and agriculture

💕 Support Our Partners

Links

TICKETS - https://www.123tix.com.au/events/50480/beauty-banter-brushes-a-night-with-alastair-mosey

02/12/ 2025 Remember those 80s and 90s glamour shots that made us look ten years older than we were? Makeup artist, farmer and beauty brand sensation is here to make sure it never happens again!

Bring your makeup and mirror if you want to follow along or just join us for a night of fun and expert tips and tricks.

Grab your friends (or teenager) and get ready for a night of fierce fashionable fun.

🚜 THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!

Farm Table – Your online hub for all things ag, connecting farmers with resources, events, and opportunities. Check them out at https://farmtable.com.au/

Book Box - Use code Fabulous15 for a special discount at checkout!

Start your next chapter here → https://bookbox.au/

Email us - agsolutelyfab@gmail.com

SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSELTTER: https://tr.ee/qd6wlKKB1W

Cynthia's book: https://cynthiamahoney.com.au/shop/

Cynthia's podcast: https://cynthiamahoney.com.au/podcast/

Tasha Eurich's book: Insight: Why We're Not as Self-Aware as We Think, and How Seeing Ourselves Clearly Helps Us Succeed at Work and in Life Information about the Cultivate You Leadership Mastermind for Women 40+: program brochure: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ke3mwwvek54th7wkevpd6/Cultivate-You-Program-Brochure-final.pdf?rlkey=fg9ovljel8ksnnkca2kdpvhup&st=bjp9psgi&dl=0 Try booking Link: https://www.trybooking.com/DHGHY

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Links

TICKETS - https://www.123tix.com.au/events/50480/beauty-banter-brushes-a-night-with-alastair-mosey

18/11/2025 Remember those 80s and 90s glamour shots that made us look ten years older than we were? Makeup artist, farmer and beauty brand sensation is here to make sure it never happens again!

Bring your makeup and mirror if you want to follow along or just join us for a night of fun and expert tips and tricks.

Grab your friends (or teenager) and get ready for a night of fierce fashionable fun.

🚜 THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!

Farm Table – Your online hub for all things ag, connecting farmers with resources, events, and opportunities. Check them out at https://farmtable.com.au/

Book Box - Use code Fabulous15 for a special discount at checkout!

Start your next chapter here → https://bookbox.au/

Email us - agsolutelyfab@gmail.com

SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSELTTER: https://tr.ee/qd6wlKKB1W

53# Are Women Too Emotional to Lead? From Net Zero to the EPBC Act — What’s Really Happening in Australian Agriculture.

💋 First up, they chat about the upcoming Makeup Night Fundraiser — featuring the one and only Alastair, our farm-bingo-host-slash-makeup-queen! Tickets are live now and all proceeds support the Harvest Her Power Conference — empowering rural women and farm families across Australia.

🌿 Then things get serious. The ladies unpack the Nationals’ decision to walk away from net zero, what it actually means for Australian farmers, and why it’s more than just a political headline. Gillian breaks down the EPBC Act reforms and the real impact they could have on farming communities and food production.

🏆 Big shout-out to Carol Mudford, founder of sHedway, for winning the AgriFutures Rural Woman of the Year Award! Katja shares how Carol’s work in suicide prevention and mental health support in shearing sheds is transforming rural Australia.

💪 Finally, the big question: “Are women too emotional to lead?” Katja and Gillian unpack this outdated myth with honesty, humour, and lived experience — calling out the double standards and celebrating women’s leadership in farming, business, and community life.

💕 Support Our Partners

Links

TICKETS - https://www.123tix.com.au/events/50480/beauty-banter-brushes-a-night-with-alastair-mosey

Remember those 80s and 90s glamour shots that made us look ten years older than we were? Makeup artist, farmer and beauty brand sensation is here to make sure it never happens again!

Bring your makeup and mirror if you want to follow along or just join us for a night of fun and expert tips and tricks.

Grab your friends (or teenager) and get ready for a night of fierce fashionable fun.

🚜 THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!

Farm Table – Your online hub for all things ag, connecting farmers with resources, events, and opportunities. Check them out at https://farmtable.com.au/

Book Box - Use code Fabulous15 for a special discount at checkout!

Start your next chapter here → https://bookbox.au/

Email us - agsolutelyfab@gmail.com

SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSELTTER: https://tr.ee/qd6wlKKB1W

📅 What ELSE is coming up next

• Forgotten Women in Farm Succession: Breaking the cycle. – Tuesday 16 December 2025 – online
• Register your interest here: https://www[http://.facebook.com/share/1AMyhnsW9Q/].facebook.com/share/1AMyhnsW9Q/
• Harvest Her Power Conference Feb 23-24th 2026
• https://farmwivesconference.com.au/

More details to come soon!

Episode 52

#52 Fact or Fiction: Sheep Hair Fences + The Silent Killer of Family Farms + Bingo Night Cheers!

💡 Topic 1 – Fact or Fiction: Sheep Hair Fencing Can sheep hair really replace fencing? We unpack the viral claim that Australian farmers are using sheep hair as a natural deterrent for kangaroos and a soil-friendly fertiliser. Sustainable solution or bush yarn?

⚠️ Topic 2 – The Silent Killer of Family Farming Businesses Conflict. Confusion. Control. These three “silent killers” are costing farming families more than they realise. We unpacks how poor communication and unclear succession can destroy even the strongest family operations — and what you can do to protect yours.

🚜 Topic 3 – ANFDs Success Conversations Fresh off the Australian National Field Days, Katja shares conversations from the ground. Its a heated one!

🎉 Topic 4 – Bingo Night Review & Sponsors Thank You It’s not all work and no play! Gillian wraps up with a heartfelt thank-you to sponsors and supporters who made Bingo Night a success. Rural community spirit at its best.

🎧 Tune in for:

• A myth-busting start to your week
• Practical insight into navigating family business dynamics
• Field Day highlights and rural community celebration

Australian farming podcast, rural Australia, family farm conflict, farm business management, Australian National Field Days, sheep hair fencing, sustainable agriculture, farming community events, farm succession planning, women in agriculture.

🚜 THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!

Farm Table – Your online hub for all things ag, connecting farmers with resources, events, and opportunities. Check them out at https://farmtable.com.au/

Book Box - Use code Fabulous15 for a special discount at checkout!

Start your next chapter here → https://bookbox.au/

Use the code AGFAB for 10% off at Kitchen Language. https://www.kitchenlanguage.com.au/

Email us - agsolutelyfab@gmail.com

SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSELTTER: https://tr.ee/qd6wlKKB1W

2026 Harvest Her Power Conference - Dubbo NSW

https://www.facebook.com/events/1340791533688762

https://farmwivesconference.com.au/

AgFab #51: Biosecurity Alert – Khapra Beetle in Woolies Nappies + Farm-Life Q&A for Women In Ag

Urgent Biosecurity Alert: Khapra Beetle Found in Nappies

• A recall advisory for Little One’s Ultra Dry Nappy Pants – Walker Size 5 (42 pk) sold at Woolworths Orange, after larvae of the pest Khapra Beetle were discovered.
• Key safety instructions for anyone who bought the product:
  1. Don’t use them.
  2. Don’t throw them away (including the packaging).
  3. Don’t return them.
• Instead:
  • Double-bag using plastic bags and seal with tape.
  • Freeze if possible.
  • Call 1800 798 636 or visit Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry at agriculture.gov.au/report for next steps.
• Why this is critical: The Khapra beetle is a serious pest of stored grain and dry foods, and is not currently present in Australia.
• We discuss what this means for rural producers, biosecurity risks, and what farm households should know.

🗣 Q&A Segment

We tackle listener questions:

• “Subsistent farming – is that like hobby-farming or homesteading for self-sufficiency?”
• “Katja, I saw you at the Warren Open Gardens weekend with your kids. You were smiling the whole time—how do you do it? I left mine at home because I can’t bear having them with me on a ‘me-day’!”
• “Looking for work-pants for the harvest contract and WHS says they have to be cotton or denim. Jeans will be too hot? What recommendations do the AgFabs have?”
• “Hi ladies, new listener here (so that makes me a new AgFab!). My daughter is about to sit her Year 12 exams and wants to go a year up north and has applied to many stations in the NT. She’s my only child and I want to go visit while she’s up there. What’s the etiquette for visiting a station? When she gets a job my plan is to ask the station when we can ‘give’ but what can I plan in advance of asking?”
• “Gillian what do you do about your Brumbies on station?”

🚜 THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!

Homestead Road - Don’t forget — you can grab 40% off Homestead Road clothing with code KATJA40 until 31 Oct.

https://homesteadroad.com.au/pages/about

Farm Table – Your online hub for all things ag, connecting farmers with resources, events, and opportunities. Check them out at https://farmtable.com.au/

Book Box - Use code Fabulous15 for a special discount at checkout!

Start your next chapter here → https://bookbox.au/

Email us - agsolutelyfab@gmail.com

SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSELTTER: https://tr.ee/qd6wlKKB1W

2026 Harvest Her Power Conference - Dubbo NSW

https://www.facebook.com/events/1340791533688762

https://farmwivesconference.com.au/