National Grain Young Judges Championship finalists: Zoey Skinner, Olivia Delaforce, Ruby Gow, Emily Taylor, Matilda Scott and Emily Chambers. Photo: Agricultural Shows Australia
- Australian Society of Agronomy Award winners
- Vale Peter Semmler
- New chair of Soy Australia
- Vale John Webster
- Taylor named National Champion Young Grain Judge
- GIWA leaders celebrated
- New leadership at National Irrigators
- NFF announces directors
Australian Society of Agronomy Award winners
The Australian Society of Agronomy has announced the recipients of the C.M. Donald Medal, the inaugural Neil Fettell Award and the 2024 Young Agronomist Award at its biennial conference held at Albany, Western Australia.
Geoff Fosbery, pictured with his wife Allison, was awarded the 2024 Donald Medal.
WA agronomy consultant Geoff ‘Foz’ Fosbery is the recipient of the CM Donald Medal, an award that celebrates eminent agriculturalists and recognises their long and distinguished career in all areas of agronomy.
After starting his career in 1981 at the WA Department of Agriculture’s Dryland Research Institute in Merredin, Mr Fosbery in 1992 took a “leap of faith” to establish himself as an independent agronomist.
Australian Society of Agronomy president Ben Biddulph said the landscape of agronomic consulting would look very different today if it had not been for Mr Fosbery and his dedication to assist farm businesses increase productivity.
“It is not only Geoff’s engagement with growers that testifies to his strengths as an agronomist, but it is his connection with researchers themselves that sets him apart,” Dr Biddulph said.
DPIRD grains research and industry development director, Kerry Regan, was awarded the inaugural Neil Fettell Award, named in honour of the late NSW agronomist, while research scientist Brenton Leske won the 2024 Young Agronomist Award.
In addition, Esperance-based principal research scientist Mark Seymour was admitted as a Fellow of the Australian Society of Agronomy.
DPIRD primary industries development deputy director general Cec McConnell said she was proud of the scientists’ contributions, which reflected their passion and commitment to advancing WA’s grain industry.
“These scientists are all worthy recipients of their awards and I thank them for the contribution they have made and continue to make to agronomic R&D and driving growth and prosperity in the grains industry,” Ms McConnell said.
“Kerry has had a diverse career with the department, holding leadership positions in recent years where she has reflected the virtues held by Neil Fettell, who was esteemed for sharing knowledge and nurturing young scientists.
“Brenton has established himself as a leader in frost research as part of DPIRD’s genetic improvement team, working alongside growers and R&D partners.
“I am delighted Mark has been admitted as a Fellow of the Society, having worked closely with growers and scientists for more than 30 years, particularly in pulse and oilseed agronomy.”
Australian Society of Agronomy Neil Fettell Award recipient Kerry Regan (left), new Society Fellow Mark Seymour and Young Agronomist Award winner Brenton Leske are congratulated on their awards by Society president Dr Ben Biddulph. Photo: WA DPIRD
Vale Peter Semmler
AUSTRALIA has lost one of its pioneer pulse traders and brokers with the passing of Peter Semmler.
Mr Semmler worked for companies including Demeter Cormack and William Charlick before joining The Lentil Company and shifting to Victoria’s Wimmera district in 1994.
In his role as TLC’s export manager, Mr Semmler helped to establish key relationships with growers and offshore markets for southern Australia’s major pulse.
He was a long-serving, active and valued member of the now-defunct Pulse Australia, and in recent years worked in his own company, AgriSemm, from his base in Adelaide.
“Peter was one of those unique individuals who understood the supply chain from the dusty paddocks through to the international customer, and he was always willing to share his knowledge around production, logistics, or consumption,” Farm Trade Australia director and former Wimmera Grain Company director David Matthews said.
“He was a great contributor to the industry.”
Maryann Salvetti and Paul Fleming. Photo: Soy Australia
Mr Semmler is survived by his wife Di, and their children Kate, Josh, and Jono.
New chair of Soy Australia
Soy Australia has welcomed new chair, Maryann Salvetti, at its annual general meeting held at Toowoomba this month.
Ms Salvetti is a soybean grower and processor from Far North Queensland and has been a part of the Soy Australia board for 13 years.
The organisation thanked outgoing chair, soybean grower from the Northern Rivers of NSW, Paul Fleming, for his hard work and dedication to the industry.
Mr Fleming will be staying on as a Soy Australia board member.
Ms Salvetti is a well-known north Queensland agribusiness figure and is also a partner of Salvetti Farming Co, co-director of Profeeds NQ, Tableland Contracting Services, Tanita, and Australian Superfoods NQ.
Vale John Webster
The New South Wales grains industry is mourning the passing of Quirindi’s John Webster.
John Webster. Photo: Grain Trade Australia
Mr Webster spent his early working life share-farming in the Quirindi district and later managing properties for BM Kenny at Caroona, Willow Tree and Wallabadah.
During this time, he managed the Barley Marketing Board silos at Waverley, Caroona and later he and wife Denise started Waverley Grain and Seed.
The business evolved into Quirindi Grain and Produce and Webster’s Stockfeeds with brother Rob and his wife Lyn; a business that recently celebrated 44 years of operation across the Liverpool Plains and beyond.
In a statement, Grain Trade Australia said Mr Webster was passionate about farming and grain trading, establishing wide-ranging connections and lifelong friendships over the years.
“He was a kind and gentle man, who enjoyed a story and a laugh,” the statement said.
“While planning his retirement, which did include grain trading from home, John became unwell, and after a short illness died on 29 September at John Hunter Hospital with family by his side.”
Emily Taylor. Photo: ASA
Taylor named National Champion Young Grain Judge
The National Grains Young Judges Championship has crowned Emily Taylor from Quipolly, NSW as the 2024 winner at the Melbourne Royal Show on October 2.
As part of the Agricultural Shows Australia (ASA) Young Judges Championships, the national competition tested not only on the young judges’ ability to evaluate grain quality but also their oral presentation skills.
Currently a second-year Bachelor of Rural Science student at the University of New England, Ms Taylor also runs her own stud, Eclipse Poll Herefords, and serves as the chief beef cattle steward at the Quirindi Show.
Competition runner-up was Olivia Delaforce from Mt Beppo, Queensland with Zoe Skinner from Woogenellup, Western Australia, placed third.
Other finalists included South Australia’s Emily Chambers, Tasmania’s Matilda Scott and Victoria’s Ruby Gow.
“This is an extremely prestigious competition that highlights the talent and dedication of Australia’s young agriculturalists,” ASA’s Katie Stanley said.
“These young people are the future of agricultural show competitions and I commend them on their performances.”
GIWA CEO Peter Nash, GIWA Chair Tress Walmsley, Mark Narustrang, Kerry Regan and Lyndon Mickel. Photo: GIWA
GIWA leaders celebrated
Beaumont grower Lyndon Mickel, current deputy chair of the Barley Council, and independent board directors Kerry Regan and Mark Narustrang, stepped down from their roles at the 2024 Grain Industry Association of Western Australia Annual General Meeting, held on October 9.
In addition to their departure from the GIWA Board, Mr Mickel and Mr Narustrang were also recognised with GIWA Life Memberships.
Incumbent GIWA Chair Tress Walmsley, who was uncontested in her nomination after serving one year as chair, said the departing directors had provided invaluable leadership of the grain industry association.
“GIWA life membership recognises a significant contribution to the Association, and Lyndon and Mark have exemplified this over their tenure on the Board and Council,” Ms Walmsley said.
“Together, Lyndon, Kerry and Mark have spent more than two decades supporting the direction of GIWA.’
Board representatives were also announced for the five GIWA Commodity Councils, which are made up of dedicated volunteers from the whole of the grain supply chain including a large proportion of grain growers.
The following delegates were confirmed to represent the Councils on the GIWA Board:
- returning Wheat Council chair – Tracy Lefroy, grower, Bindi Bindi;
- new Barley Council deputy chair – Linda Hewson, grower, Broomehill;
- returning Oat Council deputy chair – Ashley Wiese, grower, Highbury;
- returning Oilseeds Council chair – Peter Bostock, Pioneer Seeds; and
- returning Pulses Council chair – Steve Powles, grower, Kojonup.
Independent seats on the GIWA Board were also confirmed, including: Commercial Skills – Eamonn Lanagan, Byfields; Plant Breeding – Tress Walmsley, InterGrain; Handling and Storage – Kellie Todman, CBH Group; Research and Development – Darshan Sharma, DPIRD (co-opted).
While up for nomination, the GIWA chair, deputy chair and treasurer remain unchanged.
New leadership at National Irrigators
The National Irrigators Council has announced the election of a new leadership team at its AGM in Canberra last week.
New National Irrigators’ Council chair, Jenny McLeod with CEO, Zara Lowien following the Annual General Meeting in Canberra recently.
This transition includes the appointment of Jenny McLeod as the first female chair and Rosalie Auricht as vice-chair, alongside two new board members, Jenna Bell and Ben Fessey.
National Irrigators Council CEO Zara Lowien welcomed the commitment by members to embrace these industry leadership roles and thanked outgoing chair Jeremy Morton for his dedication to the organisation.
“We are excited to welcome a new board with a strong diversity of locations, industry roles, age, and gender to the organisation,” Ms Lowien said.
Jenny McLeod, who serves as the policy and communication manager at Coleambally Irrigation Co-operative Limited, brings extensive experience in water policy and a passion for resilient agricultural communities, driven by living and farming in Finley, New South Wales.
Following the AGM the complete list of directors include Jenny McLeod (CICL); Rosalie Auricht (Renmark Irrigation Trust); Michael Murray (Cotton Australia); Bernie George (Australian Food and Fibre); Caren Martin (South Australian Murray Irrigators); John Shannon (Border Rivers Food and Fibre); Phil Snowden (Murray Irrigation Limited); Michael Drum (Macquarie Food and Fibre); Jenna Bell (Murrumbidgee Groundwater/Murrumbidgee Private Diverters) and Ben Fessey (OLAM Orchards Australia).
NFF announces directors
Former director Mark Horan has been elected and current director Georgie Somerset re-elected to the National Farmers’ Federation board.
Mark Horan
Mr Horan is a NSW Southern Tablelands cattle producer and previously served on the NFF Board from 2014-2017.
Ms Somerset, a cattle producer from Qld’s South Burnett region, stood for immediate re-election as director, after reaching the three-year term limit.
“Georgie and Mark both bring extensive experience to the NFF Board, through their previous roles at the organisation, as well as their knowledge of the ag industry,” NFF president David Jochinke said.
Mr Horan replaces Tony York, who reached his maximum term with NFF after six years of dedicated service.
“We’re grateful for Tony’s insightful, passionate contributions to the NFF since his election in 2018,” Mr Jochinke said.
NFF current board members are: Mr Jochinke (president), John Hassell (vice president), Lisa Minogue (director), Ms Somerset (director), Mr Horan (director), Hamish McIntyre (director), David Connolly (director) and Nat Sommerville (independent director).
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