Ep 20: Communication with Yacker

EPISODE 20:

In this episode we’re talking about communication. It’s a topic at the heart of agtech adoption and there are also now agtech tools and platforms available to help the industry disseminate knowledge and build communities.

We speak to Food Agility CRC chief scientist David Lamb about the correlations between the use of social media and agtech adoption.

We’re joined by Emma Ayliffe, an agronomist and farmer, who co-founded Yacker, a social media app for farmers and the ag industry to share ideas and connect with each other.

And we chat to Queensland cattle farmer and podcaster Sam Fryer, who has been using Yacker to gain insights from farmers and others in the ag industry, particularly those operating a long way away from his north Queensland home.

FEATURING:

PROFESSOR DAVID LAMB

Dave is a physicist and has worked in precision agriculture for more than 25 years. In this time, he has led more than 40 R&D projects and championed the concept of smart farming. He led the launch of Australia’s first SMART Farm at the University of New England and, more recently, the Global Digital Farm at Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga, NSW.

In addition to his role as Chief Scientist at Food Agility, David took on the additional role of Deputy CEO on 1 November 2023. He also holds adjunct and visiting Professor appointments at University of New England, Charles Sturt University and the University of Technology Sydney.

EMMA AYLIFFE

Emma Ayliffe is an agronomist, farmer and co-founder of ag centric social media app Yacker. Based in the Central West of NSW Emma specialises in irrigated and dryland crops. Emma is passionate about connecting the ag indsutry and finding ways to push the productivity of Australian farmers. She was the 2021 Australian Young Farmer of the Year and 2021 Chris Lehmann Cotton Young Achiever. 

SAM FRYER

Sam is based just outside of Hughenden, Queensland with his wife and three kids, where they run a cattle operation on agistment in the area. Sam also founded the ‘A Place To Call Home’ podcast which focuses on bringing the next generation into the agricultural industry. The podcast complements Sam’s role at QRIDA as Regional Area Manager for North West and Gulf region.