Download Young Farmers in Spotlight

Farm Weekly, Perth
03 Apr 2014, by Jessica Hayes
General News, page 30 - 540.00 cm²
Rural - circulation 12,992 (---T---)
Copyright Agency licensed
copy (www.copyright.com.au)
ID 247577677
PAGE 1 of 3
Young farmers in spotlight
By JESSICA HAYES
A HIGH calibre line-up of
enthusiastic graduates were
recognised for their outstanding
research efforts at the WA
Young Professionals in
Agriculture Forum last week.
But it was UWA graduate
Kimberley Adams who took top
honours for her research into
stubble retention and the impact
on water-repellence in sandy
soils.
Hosted by Ag Institute
Australia (AIA) and the
Department of Agriculture and
Food (DAFWA), the annual
award highlights the work of
young professionals in WA
agriculture and natural resources
management.
It also recognises the
scientific endeavours of a
student completing a final year
thesis project in agricultural
science or related fields.
Six finalists representing
various WA universities were
required to submit a research
paper and deliver a presentation
on their research findings to
industry professionals,
academics and peers.
Ms Adams now works as an
agronomist for Landmark
Northam, and as the winner, will
go on to represent WA at the
national forum later this year.
Her research centred on a
seven month trial at her family’s
Mt Barker property, where she
endeavoured to investigate nonwetting soils as a limiting factor
for farms in the region.
Ms Adams aimed to
determine if firstly, stubble
quantity and orientation could
influence water-repellency,
increase the incidence of dark,
firm or dry beef carcases in
Australia.
Liam Ryan, Toodyay, was
awarded best presentation for
secondly, establish whether soil
water content was different
between the row and inter-row
and finally to find a stubble
management practice that would
reduce soil water-repellence or
its impact on crop production.
Measuring stubble biomass,
soil total carbon, soil water
repellence, plant emergence,
Normalised Difference
Vegetation Index and density
and vigour, Ms Adams found
that higher loads of stubble had
no impact on soil waterrepellence but negatively
impacted canola crop growth.
Nikki Dumbrell, Walpole,
was awarded second place for
her presentation on farmers’
willingness to adopt carbon
farming practises.
And Georgia Pugh, Narrikup,
received third place for her
research into factors that
the delivery of his findings on
monitoring hydration status in
wheat continuously and in realtime, using novel magnetic
probes.
RURAL STOCKS WATCH LIST
As at April 1, 2014
Company
Code
Last
Week
This
Week
Movement
Australian Agricultural
AAC
1.250
1.250
■
Australian Vintage Ltd
AVG
0.340
0.345
▲
Elders Limited
ELD
0.107
0.110
▲
Fairfax Limited
FXJ
0.912
0.925
▲
FarmWorks
CQA
0.020
0.020
■
GrainCorp Limited
GNC
8.510
8.345
▼
Incitec Pivot Limited
IPL
2.910
2.910
■
Ridley Corporation
RIC
0.822
0.825
▲
Ruralco Holdings Limited
RHL
3.320
3.360
▲
TFS Corporation Limited
TFC
1.550
1.680
▲
Webster Limited
WBA
1.220
1.300
▲
WES
41.575
41.140
▼
Wesfarmers
1415387
Farm Weekly, Perth
03 Apr 2014, by Jessica Hayes
General News, page 30 - 540.00 cm²
Rural - circulation 12,992 (---T---)
Copyright Agency licensed
copy (www.copyright.com.au)
ID 247577677
PAGE 2 of 3
❒ UWA graduate
Kimberley Adams
who took top
honours for her
research into stubble
retention and the
impact on waterrepellence in sandy
soils at the WA
Young Professionals
in Agriculture
Forum last week.
❒ Nikki Dumbrell (left), winner Kimberley Adams, Georgia Pugh and
Liam Ryan at the WA Young Professionals in Agriculture Forum last
week.
❒ Back row: Tim Fialkowski (left), Curtin University, Sena Baiero,
Curtin University, Matt Tropiano, Mullewa, Wyatt Verghoot, Bruce
Rock, Jordan McAllistar, Ravensthorpe, Roo Hall, Curtin
University,Front row: Curtis Liebeck, Muntadgin, Simon Panizza,
Williams and Brad Joyce, Kukerin.
❒ Georgia
Pugh (left),
Narrikup
and winner
Kimberley
Adams, Mt
Barker.
Farm Weekly, Perth
03 Apr 2014, by Jessica Hayes
General News, page 30 - 540.00 cm²
Rural - circulation 12,992 (---T---)
Copyright Agency licensed
copy (www.copyright.com.au)
ID 247577677
❒ Amy Corsini (left), Westonia and Tahlia McSwain, Busselton.
❒ Georgia Gammage (left), Taryn Waters, Tamryn Davies, Jessica
Perrin and Zoe Eagger.
PAGE 3 of 3