The Week in Beef
The Week in Beef is a weekly update of all the biggest stories from the Australian beef industry. Hosted by Beef Central journalists Lydia Burton and Eric Barker, the podcast uses the company’s unique connection with stakeholders across the beef supply chain from paddock to plate to give you a short an easy to digest update on what is making news that week. The Week in Beef is proudly brought to you by Rabobank and Entegra
Episodes

4 days ago
4 days ago
28 min
In this episode of The Week in Beef:
What is driving up the Eastern Young Cattle Indicator? MLA’s Alex Fry explains how reduced yardings in Qld have impacted the EYCI and Albury livestock agent Dave Benson shares how the season in the south is influencing the market.
What do the latest changes to tariffs announced by US President Donald Trump mean for Australia? Beef Central Editor Jon Condon
Big numbers of cattle are starting to move out of the Channel Country this week, nearly two months later than usual, which Quilpie livestock agent Sam Bartlett
We will always love you - Dolly Parton.

Aug 20, 2026
Aug 20, 2026
32 min
In this episode of The Week in Beef:
Should saleyards be recognised and funded as nationally significant infrastructure? Independent consultant Charles Boog explains the benefits of reshaping how saleyards are viewed.
There are calls for a one-year delay to the implementation of the new EPBC laws. Hear from Nationals leader Matt Canavan and NFF president Hamish McIntyre.
RaboResearch Australia/New Zealand general manager Stefan Vogel gives an overview of how global conflicts are still putting pressure on oil and Australian fuel prices.
Is cattle gestation really 283 days? Find out in Number of the Week.

Aug 13, 2026
Aug 13, 2026
30 min
In this episode of The Week in Beef:
RaboResearch Australia/New Zealand manager Stefan Vogel explains how war is again having an impact on agriculture.
Jon Condon gives an insight into JBS’s deal to sell a quarter of its Australian arm to the Indonesian Sovereign Fund.
Cattle Australia deputy chair Adam Coffey explains why ag groups are frustrated by new guidance to help producers better understand the new Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation act.
Cattle Australia CEO Will Evans gives an update on the group’s review of the cattle transaction levy.
The number of the week looks at the paddock to palate awards and bull selling season.

Aug 6, 2026
Aug 6, 2026
33 min
In this special episode of The Week in Beef:
RNA Councillors and beef committee members Gary Noller and Lachie Hart talk about the future of the Ekka through commercially relevant competitions and the 2032 Olympic Village.
Long time Ekka exhibitor and Charolais breeder Ivan Price explains why he keeps coming back to the Ekka.
And the number of the week talks migrant labour and the sale of Paraway Pastoral company.

Jul 30, 2026
Jul 30, 2026
28 min
In this episode of The Week in Beef:
We look into a recent episode of Four Corners claiming Australian mince had horse meat in it and ask why the industry did not defend itself?
F1 Wagyu prices have rallied in recent weeks, Jon Condon explains why.
James Nason talks about the implications of Argentina gaining access to Indonesia.
The new NSW Farmers president Rebecca Reardon expresses her concerns about feral pig management.
Carbon developer Hamish Webb talks about a recent review of soil carbon.

Jul 23, 2026
Jul 23, 2026
31 min
To celebrate the first birthday of the Week in Beef, the team decided to act on a recommendation from earlier this year to cook a steak in the air fryer.
While the results were mixed on the air fryer steak, there was also plenty of news to cover:
GDL managing director Peter Daniel give his take on the big numbers of cattle going through the Roma and Dalby saleyards.
Jon Condon chats to Australian Agricultural Company managing director David Harris about the company’s financial results.
And the number of the week looks at the sale of Smithfield Feedlot and the alarming number of deaths on farms.

Jul 16, 2026
Jul 16, 2026
34 min
In this episode of The Week in Beef:
Elders agents Tim Salter and Ronnie Dix give an insight into the backgrounding progress of the thousands of cattle that left Northern NSW earlier this year.
Jon Condon looks into the sale of Myola Feedlot, which is carrying on a trend that is prominent in the US.
James Nason reports in from the Cattle Australia levy review meeting in Theodore.
The number of the week looks at data centres, wide loading ramps and how much $25 million can buy you.

Jul 9, 2026
Jul 9, 2026
33 min
In this episode the The Week in Beef:
The team hear from some of the early adopters of virtual fencing – including Adam Armstrong from Russell Pastoral Operation, Tom Coggan from Coggan Farms and Peter Mahony from Gyranda Santa Gertrudis.
The feeder market has gone again this week, Eric Barker wraps up the trends of the market.
Ken Knudson, who was one of the big winners at this year’s Ekka Prime competition, talks about the strategy behind the business.
The number of the week looks at virtual fencing compliance, ICMJ winners and the market for lean beef trimmings.

Jul 2, 2026
Jul 2, 2026
28 min
In this episode of this special episode of the Week in Beef from the Intercollegiate Meat Judging finals in Wagga Wagga:
Lydia Burton catches up with Australian ICMJ competitors Xavier Graham and Michael Bradford.
She takes a look at meat judging overseas with Hailey Harmon from the University of Arizona and Tatsuki Kamata from Japan.
And Eric Barker gives a rundown from the Zero Net Emissions in Agriculture CRC field day and virtual fencing day in Blackall.
Number of the week covers El Nino, bullock numbers in Queensland and a new team at ICMJ.

Jun 25, 2026
Jun 25, 2026
35 min
To read about Buc-ees click here https://www.beefcentral.com/news/beef-the-backbone-the-biggest-convenience-store-in-the-world-photos/
In this episode of The Week in Beef:
The Eastern Young Cattle Indicator closed over 1000 cents for the first time this year, what is driving this price surge for young cattle? We speak with Cyril Close from TopX Roma.
Jon Condon has been at a Feeder Steer Masterclass in Ballarat which looked at the latest research and extension in the feeder steer supply chain.
Are consumers willing to pay more for beef when they know the back story? Professor Peter McGilchrist shares research that looks at this.
Emily Pullen shares the surprising demographic driving sales in beef jerky in Australia.
The number of the week looks at the growth in country abattoirs in Qld, live export prices and how to get more agriculture in curriculum for schools.







