Fresh faces join crop networks
From northern Tasmania to South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula and into the Wimmera-mallee, membership of the Grains Research and Development Corporation’s new-look Southern Regional Cropping Solutions Network, RCSN, stretches far and wide.
The corporation has appointed Southern RCSN members for a two-year term, bringing together diversity in geographical representation, knowledge, skills and experience.
Three experienced network heads and an overall co-ordinator will lead a total of 38 RCSN members.
GRDC southern grower relations manager Courtney Ramsey said the RCSN provided a transparent process to ensure it covered priority grains industry issues.
She said the process helped the GRDC develop investments, which provided knowledge, tools and technology to growers to adopt farming practices to increase profitability.
“Since its establishment in 2012, the Southern RCSN has played a pivotal role in identifying and prioritising the constraints and opportunities facing growers and shaping targeted GRDC investments in research, development and extension,” Ms Ramsey said.
“In recent years, the RCSN’S role has focused on analysing the important issues, reviewing existing investments and identifying ideas to improve the profitability of growers.”
Providing advice to GRDC staff and the GRDC Southern Region Panel, the RCSN comprises three groups, each of which is focused on soil types, climatic conditions and farming systems within a particular production zone – low rain, medium rain and high rain – across the three states.
Network members are growers, researchers, advisers and agribusiness professionals who liaise closely with, and represent, growers and the wider grains community within their areas and respective rain zones.
Panel members are connected to the network through participation as members on the Southern RCSN.
Ms Ramsey thanked outgoing Southern RSCN members who had served three terms and made a significant contribution to the grains industry. She also welcomed new members.
The 2019-20 panel includes Southern Regional Cropping Solutions network manager, Courtney Ramsey, GRDC grower relations manager – South, and Southern Regional Cropping Solutions co-ordinator, Jen Lillecrapp, Struan.
Victorian members include, medium rain zone – lead John Stuchbery, Donald; Gavin Sait, Charlton; John Robertson, Horsham; Bruce Macague, Rochester; Denise Mclellan, Horsham; Luke Milgate, Serpentine; and Simon Mock, Horsham. Panel members – John Bennett, Lawloit; Richard Murdoch, Warooka; and Andrew Russell, Rutherglen.
Low rain zone – leads John Stuchbery, Donald, and Barry Mudge, Port Germein; Victorian members Alistair Murdoch, Kooloonong; and Tim Mcclelland, Birchip. Panel members – Peter Kuhlmann, Mudamuckla; Rohan Mott, Ninda; and Kate Wilson, Hopetoun.
High rainfall zone – lead Cam Nicholson, Geelong; Victorian members Rowan Paulet, Flynns Creek; Jim Zwar, Glenthompson; Craig Drum, Tatyoon; Peter Mccann, Ceres; Roger Armstrong, Horsham; Vernon Dawson, Skipton; Vicky French, Vite Vite; and Simon Gabb, Shelford. Panel members – Mike Mclaughlin, Adelaide; Jon Midwood, Inverleigh; Fiona Marshall, Mulwala; and Michael Chilvers, Nile.