GRDC Agronomist at the forefront of evolving farm systems
9/11/2017
Mr Lamond was recently appointed to the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) Western Regional Panel. He said that growers were adapting their production systems quite rapidly in response to the developing climatic and market forces. With political and social circumstances also featuring as contributing factors.
Michael Lamond, a WA-based research agronomist, specialises in areas such as changing production systems, capacity building and herbicide resistance.Mr Lamond was recently appointed to the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) Western Regional Panel. He said that growers were adapting their production systems quite rapidly in response to the developing climatic and market forces. With political and social factors also featuring as contributing factors.
He mentioned that given the long plant breeding pipelines, climate variability has also challenged the breeders in such a way that they evaluate new crop varieties for specific environments.
His interest in the industry of crop pre-breeding and breeding stems can be associated with his long-term involvement with the GRDC's National Variety Trials investment. The said investment is a national program that focuses on comparative crop variety testing with standardised trial management, data generation, collection and dissemination.
Mr Lamond actively participated in the original review of variety testing across Australia which led to the establishment of the NVT system. Moreover, he was serving on the advisory committee for 11 years.
He envisioned improving the capacity and skill base of the grain sector by encouraging young people to enter the industry and embrace mentoring by experienced professionals.
Driven by his passion, he works as an independent agronomist on a small farm property between York and Northam. He provides contract agronomy advice which enables him to be frequently travelling across Australia to consult with growers.
Michael's work at the moment is as a generic chemical producer and he also is involved with the Grain Industry Association of WA as the chairman of the Oilseeds Council, and lead author of the regular Crop Reports.
He started his career in discovery and innovation of agricultural systems, which included herbicide resistance, herbicide systems with least tillage, legume rotations, pasture systems, soil acidity and crop variety evaluation.
After that, he moved into contract research and development (R&D) which he spent several years as a partner in research organisations or managing projects for several companies that operate in Australia, including the GRDC Western Regional Panel, which represents a broad cross-section of grain industry including growers, researchers, consultants and advisers.
The GRDC's regional panel systems play a critical advisory and strategic role in apprising GRDC Investment in research, development and extension (RD&E) to generate enduring profitability for Australian grain growers.
Mr Lamond said that he sees his role on the panel as a way of contributing to the grain industry that will also be beneficial to him, providing him access to a good overview of the industry.
Mr Lamond believes that the GRDC's regional panel system was a great choice due to its wide variety of projects in the grains RD&E pipeline.
He emphasised the importance of centralising information to the panel from growers, grower groups and Regional Cropping Solutions Networks (RCSN). Moreover, he thinks that the model of investment by Steve Jefferies (managing director) is spot-on.
Mr Lamond was recently appointed to the panel for a two-year term alongside with two new members, Rohan Ford (Binnu grower) and Fiona Gibson (Mingenew grower and applied economist).
Returning panellists include Dunn Rock grower Peter Roberts (chairman); agronomic and agribusiness advisor Chris Wilkins; Ravensthorpe grower Andy Duncan; Mingenew grower Darrin Lee; Munglinup grower Gemma Walker; Merredin grower Jules Alvaro; and wheat geneticist Greg Rebetzke from CSIRO.
