Throughout this special series on kangaroo management, we’ve unpacked a range of issues around this wicked challenge. From landowners, conservation groups and the indigenous community to wildlife advocates, industry and the general public, everyone has a different view and story to tell. With focuses varying from economics to morals to conservation issues, it can be challenging to find common ground. In this episode, we’ll hear from an ecologist, the industry and the government about some new strategic initiatives that aim to give a voice to these diverse groups. We’ll see how education, consultation and innovation can be part of the solution. Tune in to hear how a predictive tool for kangaroo populations and new adaptive approaches could help advance kangaroo management in Australia. Guests featured in this episode include: Fiona Garland, Team Leader - Kangaroo Management, Western Local Land Services Dr John Read, Ecologist and Author- johnlread.com Dennis King, Executive Officer, Kangaroo Industry Association of Australia Terry Brill , Senior Team Leader  Kangaroo Management Program NSW Government Other useful resources Improving Kangaroo Management; A Joint Statement - https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/emr.12467 Kangaroo Management Taskforce website has several resources including links to a wide range of published research on kangaroos kangaroomanagementtaskforce.com.au/literature/ Kangaroo Management Taskforce Facebook page - facebook.com/kangarootaskforce The Pastoral Poddy is brought to you by Western Local Land Services and the kangaroo series is supported through funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund.

Kangaroos have a cultural and spiritual significance for Aboriginal people, being a totem for some and a source of food and clothing for many. Tune in to learn about the diversity of views that Aboriginal people have about kangaroo management. When caring for country, they use a holistic, sustainable approach. There are still challenges, as traditional methods can sometimes clash with legislation. In this episode, we’ll talk to indigenous community members about what kangaroo harvesting means to them and some of the challenges they face. Join us to hear some ideas of how the industry and government can help improve community access and involvement through the use of cultural tags as well as providing work opportunities for indigenous people. Guests featured in this episode include: Joshua Clarke, Land Services Officer, Aboriginal Communities, Western Local Land Services Lawrence Clarke, community elder and Chair of the Western Local Land Services Aboriginal Community Advisory Group Garry Trindall, indigenous professional kangaroo harvester Dennis King, Executive Officer, Kangaroo Industry Association of Australia Other useful resources The Kangaroo Management Taskforce website has several resources including  several films made with Aboriginal communities Kangaroos as a Food Source video - https://youtu.be/EOt3lvpTEaI Our Country Our Food - https://youtu.be/HBZ2ak8w7Kw Mark Olive cooks kangaroo at the national symposium - facebook.com/kangarootaskforce/videos/541806303049059/ Kangaroo Management Taskforce Facebook page - facebook.com/kangarootaskforce The Pastoral Poddy is brought to you by Western Local Land Services and this the kangaroo series is supported through funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund.

Drought is a stressful time for any farmer trying to balance competing business, livestock and landscape demands. In this episode, we’ll hear from a farmer about his experience living through the latest drought with unmanaged, overabundant kangaroos on his property. Kangaroos also struggle in drought with inevitable dehydration and starvation from lack of food and water.  So what can be done about it? We’ll hear from an animal welfare expert about the different ways kangaroos are managed on agricultural properties, the impact on animals and what the general public thinks.  Join us to see how the use of new tools and how being proactive instead of reactive, will help both landholders and kangaroos in this challenging situation. Guests featured in this episode include: Leon Zanker – Pastoralist from Western NSW Dr. Trudy Sharp - Research Scientist, Vertebrate pest research unit, NSW DPI Dr. Steve McLeod -  Manager Vertebrate Pest Research | Invasive Species Biosecurity Other useful resources The National Code of Practice for the Humane Shooting of Kangaroos and Wallabies for Commercial Purposes (the Code) https://www.agrifutures.com.au/product/national-code-of-practice-for-the-humane-shooting-of-kangaroos-and-wallabies-for-commercial-purposes The National Code of Practice for the Humane Shooting of Kangaroos and Wallabies for Non-Commercial Purposes https://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/wildlife-trade/publications/national-code-practice-humane-shooting-kangaroos-and-wallabies-non-commercial The Kangaroo Management Taskforce website has several resources including a page on Animal Welfare https://kangaroomanagementtaskforce.com.au/animal-welfare/ KMT film launched in 2022 - A Million Dead Icons - https://youtu.be/HsWcYWiOrTM Kangaroo Management Taskforce Facebook page - facebook.com/kangarootaskforce Read Leon Zanker’s story in Ecological Management and Restoration - https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/emr.12441 The Pastoral Poddy is brought to you by Western Local Land Services and the kangaroo series is supported through funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund.

Do you struggle with managing Total Grazing Pressure on your property, particularly from unmanaged animals? You're not alone. It can be overwhelming for many landowners in Western NSW to manage their livestock and deal with the challenges of other animals like goats and kangaroos. Kangaroo numbers can fluctuate very quickly across individual properties, uprooting and damaging plants and negatively impacting the land. But there's hope. Research is addressing this challenge, focusing on a positive outcome for both production and biodiversity. Join us in this episode as we talk to a farmer and see how he is better managing kangaroo numbers on his property using this new research. Guests featured in this episode include: Graham Turner – Pastoralist, western NSW Dr. Steve McLeod - Manager Vertebrate Pest Research, NSW Department of Primary Industries Trudie Atkinson - Technical Specialist Grazing Systems, NSW Department of Primary Industries Russell Grant,  Rangeland Ecologist Other useful resources The Rangeland Journal: Managing Total Grazing Pressure in Australia’s Southern Rangelands https://www.publish.csiro.au/RJ/issue/9641 The National Code of Practice for the Humane Shooting of Kangaroos and Wallabies for Commercial Purposes (the Code) https://www.agrifutures.com.au/product/national-code-of-practice-for-the-humane-shooting-of-kangaroos-and-wallabies-for-commercial-purposes The National Code of Practice for the Humane Shooting of Kangaroos and Wallabies for Non-Commercial Purposes https://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/wildlife-trade/publications/national-code-practice-humane-shooting-kangaroos-and-wallabies-non-commercial The Kangaroo Management Taskforce website has several resources including Integrated Options for Kangaroo Management in the Western Region kangaroomanagementtaskforce.com.au/kangaroo-facts/best-practice-management/ Kangaroo Management Taskforce Facebook page - www.facebook.com/kangarootaskforce The Pastoral Poddy is brought to you by Western Local Land Services and the kangaroo series is supported through funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund. Produced by Grow Love Project

Kangaroo management is a complicated, nationwide issue that involves many diverse stakeholders. From landholders to the kangaroo industry to animal welfare groups and everyone else in between, it impacts people across Australia. In this first episode, we’ll talk to an ecologist and an academic to better understand the complex issues surrounding kangaroo management, including diverse approaches such as translocation, fertility control, culling and commercial harvesting.  Want to learn about options on how to help improve the management of kangaroos and the environment in your neck of the woods? Tune in and hear from a researcher who’s looking for solutions by developing a tool for land managers to forecast kangaroo numbers. Guests featured in this episode include: Dr John Read - Ecologist and author - johnlread.com Dr. Steve McLeod - Manager Vertebrate Pest Research, NSW Department of Primary Industries Dr Graham Coulson -  Kangaroo Ecologist Other useful resources Special Issue of Ecological Management & Restoration: Optimum management of overabundant macropods - https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/14428903/2021/22/S1 Kangaroo management in NSW - https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/Topics/Animals-and-plants/Wildlife-management/Kangaroo-management Kangaroo Management Taskforce website - kangaroomanagementtaskforce.com.au Kangaroo Management Taskforce Facebook page - www.facebook.com/kangarootaskforce Short film about the Future Drought Fund research project - https://youtu.be/6f6rBUTiTxE The Pastoral Poddy is brought to you by Western Local Land Services and the Kangaroo Series is supported through funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund.

Ground cover and stubble retention in cropping enterprises is really important for managing soil erosion in western NSW. Dust storms caused by wind erosion not only have a big impact on agricultural productivity but also on towns and cities where dust is quite literally a dirty word. So in this episode we’ll talk to a soil conservationist about how to avoid those dust storms and we’ll hear from a farmer who’s trying a few innovative things like planting into a dry river bed to manage his groundcover and look after his soils. Thank you to our guests  John Leys,  Soil Conservationist  Darren O'Halloran, Farmer  Produced and hosted by Edgars Greste for NSW Local Land Services  For more information https://www.lls.nsw.gov.au/regions/western  To get in touch, call 1300 795 299

In western NSW, managing perennial grasses, trees and shrubs is key to maintaining healthy landscapes and resilience for your grazing operation. Perennials have deep root systems that help with soil health and stability. They can tap into available soil nutrients, enhance biodiversity and capture any available water. And for one farmer we talked to, perennials got him and his livestock through a few tough seasons. So, how do you increase perennials in a variable climate? Well, our guests in this episode all agree that the key is to know the plants on your patch so you can match them with the right grazing strategies. Guests featured in this episode: Trudy Atkinson, LLS technical specialist, grazing systems James Leigo, landholder Russell Grant,  Former NSW Catchment Management Authorities, Operations Officer.

For a lot of farmers in Western NSW, the sheer scale of managing total grazing pressure in the rangelands can be really overwhelming, not to mention expensive. But it is really important to help maintain the proper functioning of ecosystems to maximise profitability and regeneration. And the experts all agree that, just like healthy food and exercise it might be hard to get started, but its good for you in the long run. So in this episode we’ll talk to some industry experts about the benefits and some strategies to get on top of total grazing pressure. And we’ll hear from a farmer about one strategy that was so successful it even got addictive. Guests featured in this episode: Trudy Atkinson, Technical Specialist (Grazing Systems) NSW Department of Primary Industries  James Leigo, landholder  Russell Grant,  Former NSW Catchment Management Authorities, Operations Officer. 

The rangelands of Western NSW can be a challenging place to farm in. Historical overgrazing has caused major dust storms and erosion and with farmers having just been through one of the toughest droughts in living memory, repairing landscapes to be rain ready is critical. From grading contours to constructing ponding banks, it's all about slowing the flow before the next rain comes to give the land a chance for a drink. But before you get out any tools, rehabilitating the rangelands starts with having an awareness of our impact on landscape function and prioritising what’s achievable. And today’s guests all agree that focusing on landscape rehabilitation is not only good for the land, its good for their own health too, especially during tough times. Guests featured in this episode: Hugh Pringle, co-founder Ecosystem Management Understanding (EMU program) - www.emulandrecovery.org.au Paul Theakston, LLS rangeland rehabilitation officer Luke Mashford, landholder Katalpa Station. Watch the video of restoration on Luke's property - https://youtu.be/Z78AYBbSOcc?t=2 Out Back Roads Manuel https://www.lls.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/895868/Outback-Roads-manual-WEB.pdf

Did you know that NSW has the largest rangeland goat population in Australia? For part of Western NSW, they’re a key source of farm income. Goats are a hardy animal well suited to the rangelands and whilst the last drought was tough on everyone, goat numbers. have rebounded from 2.4 to 6.8 million and more goats are coming onto the market. To take advantage of this growing opportunity, many producers are transitioning toward semi-managed or managed systems. So what lessons can be learned from other livestock sectors? Well if a farmer, a scientist and a geneticist walked into a pub this is what they’d say. Guests featured in this episode James Boland - bigampi.com.au Dr. Gordon Refshauge - www.researchgate.net/profile/Gordon-Refshauge Tom Granleese - www.researchgate.net/profile/Tom-Granleese