15. From Barley to Breakthrough: The Untold Story of Mohawk Wheat

In this 15th episode, we sit down with Kevin Young, one of Western Australia’s most respected agricultural minds, to unpack decades of innovation, failure, and breakthrough in crop science. From his early days in barley agronomy to pioneering high-yield systems, Kevin shares how farming evolved from 2-ton crops to 6–8 ton potential, and what made that shift possible. We dive deep into: The rise of no-till farming The science behind yield improvements Lessons from decades in plant breeding The reality of failure in agriculture And the development of Mohawk, a winter wheat variety changing how farmers think about early sowing This episode is both technical and deeply human, a story of persistence, curiosity, and long-term impact on Australian agriculture. Whether you’re a farmer, agronomist, or just curious about how food systems evolve, this is one conversation worth listening to.