Episode 1: Welcome to Agriculture From the Ground Up

Welcome to the very first episode of **Agriculture From The Ground Up:** a practical video podcast series dedicated to bridging cutting-edge soil science with real on-farm application in Western Australia and beyond. Hosted by Leonie Smith; an aspiring soil scientist, agricultural educator, former farm manager, and mum of four. This introductory episode explains why this podcast exists and what you can expect. With over 10 years of hands-on experience managing soils on south coast of WA and SA properties, roles at BHP Billiton Ravensthorpe Nickel Mine, Southern Dirt drought resilience trials, TAFE and university delivery at SRTAFE, UWA and Murdoch, two agriculture masters and current research on deep spading and clay incorporation, Leonie is passionate about making complex agriculture topics accessible and actionable. In this episode, discover: - The "why" behind the podcast: closing the gap between research and practical farming decisions on sandy and duplex soils. - How we'll cover the fundamentals: starting with soil parameters, moving to roots and the rhizosphere, then plants and systems. - What to expect in future episodes: ~20-minute video episodes featuring expert guests (DPIRD, GRDC, university researchers, and more), on-farm updates with agronomist Alec Smith, visuals, demos, and short clips for quick insights. - Focus areas including soil constraints (acidity, compaction, water repellence, etc.), amelioration techniques like rotary spading, soil organic carbon, drought resilience, and regenerative practices, then moving to plants and livestock. Whether you're a farmer looking for better yields and soil health, an agronomist, student, or anyone interested in agriculture, this series is for you. **Subscribe now** on your favourite podcast platform, watch the full video episode, and join the conversation! Drop a comment or message with your biggest soil challenge — we’d love to feature listener questions in future episodes. New episodes drop regularly. Let's build healthier soils and more resilient farms **from the ground up**. #SoilScience #WesternAustraliaAgriculture #SoilAmelioration #RegenerativeAg #DeepSpading #FarmersPodcast **Connect with Leonie** Instagram: @agfromthegroundup Website: www.agriculturefromthegroundup.com.au