4. How No-Till Farming Transformed the WA Wheatbelt

From battling wind erosion to leading the no-till revolution in Western Australia, Bill “No-Till Bill” Crabtree sits down with Rick Madden and Owen Grieve to reflect on the innovations, challenges, and breakthroughs that reshaped farming across the WA Wheatbelt. Together, they share raw, funny, and insightful stories about the shift from conventional tillage to direct drilling, the machinery and chemical innovations that made it possible, and the farmer-led movement that spread from WA to the world. In this episode: • Life in the WA Wheatbelt and the challenges of farming in the 1980s • How no-till farming transformed Australian agriculture • The science and debate around chemicals, soil health, and sustainability • Stories of resilience, community, and lessons learned on the land Whether you’re a farmer, ag professional, or simply curious about the people behind modern agriculture, this episode offers a rare look into the highs, lows, and lasting impact of no-till farming in Australia.