Representatives
Research Committees
TWYNAM Service
to Industry Award
(scroll down for previous
recipients)
 2007 John
WatsonJohn Watson began cotton growing at Boggabri in 1979, the first cotton to be grown south of Narrabri along the upper Namoi River. As part of the industry’s expansion John was a member of the committee behind the acquisition of a gin for Boggabri. John also won the 2002 Cotton Grower of the Year Award. John’s farm, “Kilmarnock”, was involved in early seed development with Cotton Seed Distributors Ltd (CSD). John was Secretary of the Upper Namoi Cotton Growers Association for 10 years and remains on the executive committee. He has been a member of the Australian Cotton Growers Research Association (ACGRA) since the early 1990s, including being Chair of the Environmental Committee, helping co-ordinate weeds research whilst on the ACGRA Weeds and Diseases Committee. “Kilmarnock” was one of the first farms to take up the Best Management Practices (BMP) Program, with John chairing the Australian Cotton Industry Council’s BMP Committee for three years. He also played an active role in the implementation of BMP in the Boggabri area, encouraging other local growers to get on board with the program and has been an active member o his local Landcare group. John has been involved in every ACGRA Cotton Conference held as either a participant or organiser and has worked closely with the Cotton Research Station (now Cotton Research Centre) at Narrabri, hosting many cotton industry research trials on-farm. He has been a supporter of the Post Graduate Cotton Production Diploma Course and the cotton research department at the University of New England by allowing his farm to be a subject of study for many budding researchers. John has also served two terms on the Board of Namoi Cotton Co-Operative, has served on the committee of local Water Users Association since its inception and was Chair of the Roundup Ready sub-committee of the Transgenic and Insect Management Strategy Committee (TIMS). |
2006 -
John
Grellman
 John Grellman is involved in a family farming operation in the Merah North area. He has been involved in cotton production since 1968 following his move to Wee Waa and two-year stint working for John Holcombe at ‘Purlewah’. In 1970 John worked for the Australian and American Development Company at ‘Weetawaa’ before the 1971 flood which caused major financial problems for the company. In 1974 John was approached to take on the General Manager role for the Agricultural Division of Hungerford Hill’s cotton property ‘Cudgewa’. In the same year, John became a member of the Board of Cotton Seed Distributors Ltd (CSD), a position he still holds today. John has also served as Chairman of CSD since 1997. During his time at ‘Cudgewa’, John employed and mentored a number of people who went on to become industry success stories such as Dave Turner, Rob Harpham and Phil Lawrence. Over the years John has been actively involved in many cotton industry activities and has been a director and/or Chairman on many of the Australian cotton industry’s key organisations. John was a member of the Australian Cotton Growers Research Association (ACGRA) from 1989-2000 and ACGRA’s Chairman in 1998 and 1999. John also represented ACGRA on the Australian Cotton Industry Council for a two year term. John has served as a director of the Cotton CRC and was actively involved as a member of the successful bid team in establishing both the CRC for sustainable cotton production and the Cotton CRC. Other examples of John’s extensive industry involvement include two three-year terms as Director of the Cotton Research and Development Corporation and one two-year term serving on the CSIRO Field Crops Advisory Committee. In this role, John was a member of three separate teams charged with the responsibility of reviewing programs and directions in research in Plant Breeding and biotechnology. After retiring from the CRDC board, John served as Chairman of the program of research into cotton diseases. |
 2005
- Adam
Kay
(AgriRisk Service to Industry Award) Adam Kay, General Manager of Cotton Seed Distributors Ltd. at Wee Waa is currently enjoying his 21st year of service to the Australian Cotton Industry. He began his industry involvement as a NSW Agriculture Agronomist at Warren in the Macquarie Valley of New South Wales. At this time there was 10,000ha of cotton being produced in the valley. Over the next 10 years, Adam provided assistance and guidance to new and established growers and when he left in 1996 the cotton area had increased more than five fold to 55,000 hectares. He won a Churchill Fellowship in 1990 to study soil management in the USA and UK. As a result of this study, Adam set up, through NSW Agriculture, the state’s first Soil Management Service. This assisted growers to manage compaction in cotton soils, a major issue in the industry at the time and led to a significant input from Adam into the SOILPAK Project. During his time in the Macquarie, Adam also initiated the Industry Development Officer (IDO) concept, and put a submission to CRDC for the first IDO. The success of this position, under his management, led to a significant expansion of the IDO network across the industry. Recognising the need to share knowledge and experiences in a relatively new industry Adam ran the Macquarie Cotton Field Days in the late 80’s and early 90’s that were widely recognised as the industry’s best, and are still emulated today. Whilst employed by NSW Agriculture, Adam received an Award for Excellence and Outstanding Contribution for Services to the Cotton Industry, presented by the NSW Minister for Agriculture. Adam joined Cotton Seed Distributors in 1996. He and colleague Rob Eveleigh started the CSD Extension and Development Team that is so well respected around the whole industry. In September 1999 he was appointed as a Director to the Cotton Research and Development Corporation (CRDC), a position he is still holds. During his time as a Director of the CRDC, Adam has been responsible for the People and Knowledge Program (including extension), the Soil’s Program and has been on the Strategic Planning and Audit Committees. In 1996 Adam was awarded a position on the 2nd course of the Australian Rural Leadership Program, and is a Graduate. He is also a Graduate of the CRC Cotton Production Course run through the University of New England (UNE). Adam is currently General Manager of Cotton Seed Distributors and looks after the day to day running of the business. Under his guidance, the Extension and Development Team has grown and developed, to the stage that they are recognised as an integral conduit of information between researchers and growers, using innovative extension techniques. During his 20 years in the industry, Adam had demonstrated a philosophy of working for the ‘greater good’ of the Australian industry. Often going beyond his job description, Adam has initiated and developed a range of innovative and successful projects that have brought many sectors of the industry together for its long term gain. |
 2004
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Stuart Higgins In 2003 Stuart Higgins, a cotton grower from Jandowae in Queensland, introduced the cotton industry to a wider audience in urban and regional Australia through the “Grow Your Own” series on ABC Radio National. Stuart gave national and international audiences a chance to be “back seat farmers” for a season. Listeners gained an understanding of issues affecting the cotton industry by voting on a series of real life cotton farming challenges, explained clearly by industry experts. His commitment to a sustainable industry drove him to open 5 acres of his Jandowae property to the public. Debating the issues was often involved and heated. By the end of the program, 12.5 bales of cotton had been produced and the profit (over $3000) was delivered to three worthwhile charities. This commitment to educating the wider community about issues affecting the Cotton industry has earned a number of awards including the United Nations Environment Award for Media Communications/Radio, the QLD Department of Primary Industries Communications Award and a “Highly Commended” at the Walkley Awards for Excellence in Journalism. Since Grow Your Own he created the Radio National “Bush Telegraph Water Challenge” raising awareness on water issues in both rural and urban Australia. Stuart produced an educational CD on water use efficiency in cotton and he has been actively engaging with diverse groups ranging from Primary Schools to National Conferences on the issues and decisions cotton farmers face in growing the clothes people wear. In response to the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami he coordinated the collection of over 3000 cotton tarpaulins from cotton farmers for the relief effort in Sri Lanka, in conjunction with World Vision, DHL Couries and Cotton Industry organizations. He was elected to the board of the Cotton Catchment Communities CRC in mid 2005. |
 2003
- Iain Macpherson Iain started in the cotton industry in 1983 when after four years with Cargill Seeds he was offered a position with the Coulton Farming Group as their on farm agronomist servicing properties in Goondiwindi, North Star and Moree. In 1987 he took a position of agronomist/ merchandise manager for Elders in Goondiwindi servicing broad-acre clients and developing the cotton client base. In 1989 he commenced his own agricultural consultancy business, servicing irrigated and dryland cotton, pulse crops, winter cereals, vegetables and pastures, which has developed into one of the largest private consultancy businesses in the Macintyre Valley. In 1994 Iain was instrumental in forming the Boggabilla Irrigation Land Care Group, which was the first land care group of irrigated cotton growers set up to address the issues of spray drift and storm water management. Iain and Greg Kauter used this group in 1998 to develop the first non-government Area Wide Management Group that was the catalyst for the rest of the Macintyre Valley to set up similar groups. Through this group Iain has worked closely with researchers and extension personnel developing and extending Area Wide Management groups and IPM systems. From 2002 to 2005 the Macintyre Valley AWM groups ran a trial IRM strategy to allow researchers to study the impact of beneficial insects on resistance management. Iain was the driving force behind this trial and was Chair of the Mac Valley trial trouble shooting committee. Iain has been a member of the Fusarium Working Group since its inception, as a consultant representative, helping with extension and lobbying for growers and consultants. Iain served on the Executive of Cotton Consultants Australia from 1997 to 2004 and was the president from 2000 to 2002. During this time he sat on numerous industry committees and promoted the adoption of the Certified Consultant Program to lift the standard of cotton consultancy. He has held CPCC status with the CCA since 2000. He is currently a member of the Australian Association of Agricultural Consultants, holds CPAg certification with the Australian Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology. Iain also holds Roundup Ready accreditation, Bollgard accreditation, Clearfield accreditation and is an accredited chick pea agronomist. |
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ACGRA Service to
Industry Award (established 1991) |
 2002
- Peter
CorishPeter Corish was elected President of the National Farmers’ Federation at the NFF Annual Conference at Carnarvon, Western Australia, in May 2002. He has previously held the position of Chairman of Cotton Australia Limited and Chairman of the Australian Cotton Industry Council and has served on the NFF Executive Committee since 1999. Mr. Corish has represented the National Farmers’ Federation on a national and international level and is currently chair of the Cairns Group Farm Leaders and a member of the International Federation of Agricultural Producers Executive. He is also a board member of the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research and a member of the Business Roundtable on Sustainable Development. Mr. Corish is a Commissioner for the Natural Water Commission and chair of the Agriculture and Food Policy Reference Group He is also an active member on the Trade Policy Advisory Council as well as the Australian Farmers’ Fighting Fund board of trustees. Mr. Corish chairs the Australian Wool and Sheep Industry Taskforce. With his family, Mr. Corish owns and operates a farming business based in Goondiwindi, Queensland, with properties in New South Wales and Queensland. The Corish family produce irrigated cotton as well as dry farming cereals, oilseed, beef and prime lamb. In recent years, the Corish family has won several awards for excellence and environmental sustainability in cotton production. In 2003, Mr. Corish was awarded the Centenary Medal for Services to trade reform. |
 2001
- Dick BrowneGraduated from Wagga Agricultural College in 1964 and in January 1965 applied for a job with NSW Agriculture as an extension officer and was appointed to the Narrabri Research Station (Myall Vale) for training. This involved field trials on cotton both on the Station and on farms in the district. 1967 employed by Bayer to work on product development of agricultural chemicals and advisory services to the cotton industry. Whilst with Bayer worked for short periods in the Ord Irrigation Area and the WA wheat belt. In 1969 joined Auscott as an agronomist stationed at Trangie. Auscott had opened up operations in the Macquarie Valley in 1957 at Warren and in 1969 was developing a farm at Trangie. In 1970 he transferred to Auscott Narrabri as agronomist. 1972 appointed Manager of Auscott, Narrabri operations. Responsibilities included farming operations, ginning and grower servicing. 1985 he was appointed General Manager Auscott, Midkin continuing with similar duties. 1999 appointed Regional General Manager operations in the Gwydir and Namoi valleys. 2001 appointed General Manager Corporate Operations, responsible for supporting the management team for company operations over three locations in NSW. In July 2003 he retired from Auscott after 34 years with the Company and 38 years in the cotton industry. Apart from his commitment to Auscott he has been involved in a range of organizations that support the cotton industry, particularly those which are involved in research and development. Water policy and politics has been an additional interest in recent years. Over the years he has belonged to the following industry organisations. * Currently Director and Deputy Chair of the Cotton Research and Development Corporation. First appointed in 1999 for a three year term. His was reappointed to the Board in 2002 and again in 2005 until November 2008. * Past Chair of the CRC for Sustainable Cotton Production, a position held for the six year life of that CRC. Recently rejoined the Board as a Director representing the CRDC. * Current member and past Chair of ACGRA. Held membership for 28 years, Chairman for 2 terms and Chaired two Industry Conferences. Past associations include; * Member of the Australian Cotton Industry Council representing the CRC. * Director of Cotton Seed Distributors (1973- 1984). * Director and Chair of Siratac Ltd., the original provider of a computer based decision support system for integrated pest management, * Industry representative on the Cotton Research Council, the predecessor to the CRDC. * Served a a member and Chair of the TIMS Committee for a period. * Recently retired as Vice Chair and past Chair of the Gwydir Valley Irrigators Association, representing the interests of Irrigators in the Gwydir Valley. * ACGRA nominee on two CRDC selection committees (1996 and 1993). Received the Gwydir Valley Cotton Growers Award for service to the Industry in 1993 and 2003. In 2003 appointed Chair of Condamine Catchment Natural Resource Management Corporation Ltd, a Regional NRM Body in Queensland. He plans to continue a strong interest in the Industry, especially in the area of research and development. The great strength of the Australian Cotton Industry is the science that underpins its production systems and has positioned it as a leader in the world. |
 2000
- David
AnthonyCompleting a BSc (Agriculture) Hons 1 in 1976, Dave commenced work as a Bug-checker/technical representative with the agrochemical company Lanes at Moree. That year coincided with the first cotton crops planted in the Moree district. Dave’s duties involved contact with people like Peter Glennie, Peter Gregg and Dick Browne. The dynamic, expanding Cotton Industry lured him away from plans for a PhD in Agronomy with the opportunity to join Auscott’s Warren operation as an agronomist in 1977. With keen interest in soil science one of Dave’s first activities was working on slow- growing crops in the Macquarie. Along side Professor Jim Brownell, Dave’s trail program helped unravel the importance of wetting and drying cycles using “Biological” ripping strategic mechanical manipulation and equipment design to improve/maintain the productivity of the predominately heavy clays of the cotton belt. This led to the development of Soilpak concept with Dave McKenzie. Maintaining his strong interest in research (especially concerning soil and water) as well as ginning, Dave was appointed Assistant Manager Auscott Macquarie in 1979 and in 1985 moved to Narrabri as General Manager for the Namoi Valley operations. In 1999 he moved to Sydney as Operations Manager and 2000 saw him appointed Auscott’s managing Director. In 2003 he was also appointed as Auscott’s chairman and CEO. In 2004 Dave was appointed to the NSW Minister for Primary Industries Ministerial Advisory Committee for Primary Industries Sciences and in 2006 was appointed as a member of the Agricultural Ministerial Advisory Council in NSW. In 2005 he took on the role of Chair of the new Cotton Catchment Communities Cooperative Research Centre. |
 1999
- John
BloodI commenced my career in the textile Apparel Industry with a Hobart textile Group and then joined the Sportscraft/Sportsgirl Group in 1961 and over a span of some 26 years I held numerous positions advancing to group CEO. I became CEO of the Linter Textiles Group in 1987, during which time I had responsibility for a group of Apparel Companies and two Textile firms in Bradmill and National Textiles, both companies’ significant users of Australian Cotton I was appointed by Senator John Button as Chair of TCF Industry Council and my new interest led me to be appointed Chair of the Cotton Research Council in 1990. With the Corporatisation of the Research Council, I became the inaugural Chairperson of the Cotton Research and Development Corporation, a position I held for nine years. During this time I held positions with the two CRC’s and the CSIRO TCF Sector Committee. Over the period July 1991 to June 1996 I held two Directorships in a wide range of Government Wool Organizations, broadening my interest in the Australian Fibre industry. I have been a Director of Australian Weaving Mills (Dri-Glo and Dickie Towels) and am currently Chairman of Gazal Corporation and a Director of Canning Vale Weaving Mills and Cotton Seed Distributors. It has been an honour and privilege to be involved in such a progressive and growing Cotton Industry. My major disappointment has been the demise that has taken place in the local textile and garment manufacturing industry. |
 1998
- David SwallowDavid was appointed to Cotton Seed Distributors Ltd (CSD). Wee Waa in 1970 as Quality Control Officer. This position covered all areas of quality control through choice of fields and contracting of pure seed growers, planting of seed production areas, checking fields for cleanliness throughout the growing season. Cleanliness of pickers, trailers, module builders prior to picking, the suitability of the contracted area for seed production, cleanliness of module trucks, and gins prior to commencement of pure seed runs, seed trucks, receival of fuzzy cotton seed at CSD. Supervision of the laboratory for testing of seed, both prior to and after acid delinting process, thus ensuring that all cotton seed that was delivered to growers for planting was superior to the minimum quality and germination percentages set by the Company and by statutory regulations. David was a member of the Blight Investigation Group (BIG) that set out to, and achieved within 3 years, to reduce the level of Bacterial Blight in Cotton planting seed to less than 0.3%, prior to the introduction of varieties resistant to Bacterial Blight. David was appointed Assistant General Manager of CSD in 1980, and General Manager of CSD from November 1993 to December 1997.In November 1994 he was appointed as a Director and Secretary of Cotton Seed International Pty.Ltd, (CSI). He served on the Board of CSI until December 1997. David was appointed as Secretary of the Australian Cotton Growers Research Association (ACGRA) in June 1985. With the assistance of the ACGRA Cotton Conference Committee, the 13th Australian Cotton Conference in August 2006 will be the eleventh conference he has helped to organise. During this period the number of delegates attending has increased 4 times. David also assisted as Coordinator of the International Cotton Advisory Committee’s 59th Plenary Meeting held in Cairns November 2000. |
 1997
- Vic
EdgeVic Edge has been closely associated with the Australian cotton industry for over 20 years. Initially, he conducted research on miticide resistance, establishing a resistance monitoring program for cotton mites in the late 1970s which is still operating successfully today. Vic was also instrumental in establishing a comprehensive resistance monitoring program for heliothis and he was the original proponent of the resistance management strategy for H. armigera following the detection of pyrethroid resistance in 1988. Vic was a member of the Cotton Research Council and was then appointed to the original CRDC Board in 1990, continuing as a Director until 1999. His specialist areas with the Corporation were pest management and the environmental effects of pesticides. In the latter capacity, he played a leading role in the $7.1 million program “Minimising the Impact of Pesticides on the Riverine Environment – Using the Cotton Industry as a Model”. This was a joint initiative with the Land and Water Resources R&D Corporation and the Murray Darling Basin Commission from 1993-1999. Major outcomes of the program included the development of BMP for the cotton industry and provision of data, which enabled the continued use of endosulfan in cotton. He was a member of the Board of Management of the Cotton CRC from 1993-1999 and a Director on the Board of the NRA (1997-2000). After 29 years with NSW Agriculture, Vic retired in late 1999. However, he continues to provide valuable assistance to the cotton industry as a consultant to CRDC on pest management and pesticides. |
 1996
- Jim
PeacockI was honoured by the ACGRA Award. There is nothing better than being recognised by an industry and group of whom you think highly. My association with the Cotton industry extends right through my career as Chief of Plant Industry. In 1978 I visited our Myall Vale Research Group and was extremely impressed by the calibre of the work and the people, especially Norm Thomson, Brian Hearn, and Peter Room. On the same day I met many of the growers from the Namoi Valley and saw the Namoi Co-op and Auscott operations. The contacts of the researchers with the industry and the obvious interest of the growers in research made a big impression on me that day. After that I proposed Siratac should be a goal for our research group along with our colleagues in the NSW Department of Agriculture. Then followed several exciting years whilst we got Siratac going and Norm Thomson was creating magic with his new Australian varieties. I then saw the opportunity of bringing the new techniques of gene technology into cotton breeding and argued it would be necessary because of increasing insect resistance problems. My initial approach was through Richard Williams whom I greatly admired and who, at the time, was Chairman of ACGRA. The industry immediately gave support. That was the beginning of the transgenic era and transgenic varieties are now the major components of the successful industry. Greg Constable, Danny Llewellyn and Gary Fitt and all their colleagues are to be congratulated on providing the industry with the best cotton varieties in the world. I am convinced of the buoyant future of the industry. To me, the cotton industry is the prime example of industry/research synergism in Australia. Dr. Peacock is currently President of the Australian Academy of Science and has stepped down as Chief of Plant Industry. He is a CSIRO Fellow and still very connected with the cotton industry. Dr. Peacock has recently been appointed as the Australian Government Chief Scientist. |
 1995
- Bruce LoderBruce commenced work in the Cotton Industry with Auscott in the Namoi Valley in 1963 when the company started their operation between Narrabri and Wee Waa. His first duties were involved with the initial development of the irrigation system, mainly as a grader driver. In 1964 he was promoted to Farm Foreman and in 1967 became Farm Manager. Issues relating to water policy were prevalent even then and he could see the importance of Involvement in helping determine that policy. Bruce spent time as President of the Wee Waa Water Users Association and the Namoi Valley Co Ordination Committee. In 1972 Bruce was promoted to the position of Operations Manager for Auscott. In 1976 he was transferred to Auscott head office in Sydney. In 1982 irrigators groups around the State formed the Irrigators Council; Bruce was elected to the Council Executive and was Chairman from 1992 to 1997 when he retired. From 1985 to 1995, he represented Auscott on the Board of the Cotton Foundation (Now Cotton Australia). In 1990 he was given the responsibility for Auscott as its managing Director, a position he held until 1993 when he retires and became Chairman of the Company. In 1995 he had the honor of be awarded the prestigious ACGRA Service to Industry Award. |
 1994
- Geoff
McIntyreGeoff McIntyre commenced work with Dr. Vince Mungomery in the Queensland Department of Primary Industries Cotton breeding program in 1968. He was stationed at Biloela Research Station until 1971 before moving to Toowoomba and continuing to work with the Cotton variety trials until 1982. He was appointed as Extension Agronomist at Dalby in 1982 after completing a Bachelor of Applied Science (Biology) degree at the Darling Downs Institute of Advanced Education – now the University of Southern Queensland. He has worked continuously with the Cotton Industry in Queensland since that time. He is now Principal Development Extension Officer (Cotton) and Team leader for the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries Cotton team responsible for leadership of the Cotton Research and Extension programs. He was associated with the development, implementation and management of the Cooperative Research Centre for Sustainable Cotton Production from 1993, the Australian Cotton Cooperative Research Centre from 1999 and the Cotton Catchment Communities CRC from 2005. He was a Cotton CRC joint program leader of the Education and Technology Transfer program and continues to represent DPI&F with respect to the Cotton Catchment Communities CRC. |
 1993
- Ralph SchulzéActive in the Australian industry for more than 40 years, Ralph Schulzé has been a key participant in the development of the modern cotton landscape. After being transferred by NSW Agriculture from Trangie to the new research station at Narrabri in 1960, Ralph undertook the first agronomy trials in the Namoi Valley. In 1962 he spent a year at the University of California and helped persuade a number of Californian growers to emigrate. In 1965 Ralph left the Department to begin a career with Auscott Ltd, which included various senior management roles in both the Macquarie and Namoi Valleys. In 1986 Ralph and his wife Merilyn set up a consultancy concentrating on industry wide issues, including technical, research and environmental concerns Since the beginning of his Cotton career Ralph has participated actively in most cross-industry Associations and initiatives, including Cotton Seed Distributors Ltd, Australian Cotton Growers Research (ACGRA), Raw Cotton Marketing Advisory Committee, and what is now Cotton Australia. In the late 1990s he was involved with the Development of a Strategic Plan for the Cotton Industry that recommended the establishment of the Australian Cotton Industry Council. In 1993 he helped initiate action that led to the establishment of the first cotton Cooperative Research Centre Ralph has been involved with the organization of every Australian Cotton Conference held to date. He was the instigator of the first World Cotton Research Conference, held in Brisbane, in 1994, and served on the international organizing committee for subsequent conferences in 1998 and 2003. He has been a member of Australian delegations to International Cotton Advisory Committee on numerous occasions principally presenting the technical side of the industry. Towards the end of the seventies Ralph and several other activists successfully lobbied the Federal Government to establish a matching funding arrangement for Cotton Research, with funds administered by the Cotton Research Committee and then the Cotton Research Council. New legislation saw the formation of the Cotton Research and Development Corporation (CRDC) in 1990, with Ralph selected as the inaugural Executive Director. He has guided that organization for thirteen years, retiring from the position in August 2004. Ralph Plans to continue an active roll in the industry, with a particular focus on post-farmgate issues. His future activities will include membership of the International Cotton Advisory Committee’s recently established committee on international cotton classification. |
 1992 -
David DowlingDavid took over as publisher and editor of the Australian Cottongrower magazine in 1985 after it had been established for five years. The magazine has since been built into one of the most respected agricultural publications in Australia, if not the world. It became the recognised communication bridge between researchers and growers in the Cotton Industry. David has a farming background from Dorrigo in Northern NSW. After graduating with science and economics qualifications (B. Sc. Dip. Ag. Econ.) from the University of New England in 1979, David worked for NSW Agriculture for four years in the Namoi and Gwydir valleys, In this period he helped develop the highly regarded SIRTAC program which helped form the foundation for today’s world class insect pest management strategies widely adopted by Australian Cotton growers. After several years of commercial involvement with the Cotton chemical industry David then worked in rural journalism for two years before taking over the Australian Cottongrower. In 1990 David along with Lloyd and Brian O’Çonnell launched Australian Grain, followed in 1997 by Australian Sugarcane, with James Holden. These publications transferred the success of the Australian Cottongrower to two new industries. The Greenmount Press group now publishes these magazines along with yearbooks in each of the three industries and various associated publications Some of the offshoots of the publications endeavors have been the highly successful Cotton Trade Show, the Australian Cotton Grower of the Year Award and International Study tours for Cotton and Grain framer groups. David is a director of CottonON.net, an Australian developed virtual cotton exchange which traded the first bale of Cotton on the internet anywhere in the world this year. |
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1991
- Bruce
Pyke