{"id":256073,"date":"2020-04-01T15:19:48","date_gmt":"2020-04-01T05:19:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=256073"},"modified":"2020-07-11T12:23:23","modified_gmt":"2020-07-11T02:23:23","slug":"applications-sought-for-grdc-panel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2020\/04\/01\/applications-sought-for-grdc-panel\/","title":{"rendered":"Applications Sought For GRDC Panel"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Peanut grower Peter Howlett with GRDC Northern Panel chairman John Minogue … the panel visited Peter’s Benair farm in 2019 as part of a fact-finding tour through the Wide Bay and Burnett regions (Photo: GRDC)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

April 1, 2020<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) is seeking applications from people interested in joining its Northern Region Panel, which covers Queensland and NSW.<\/p>\n

The regional panel provides a link between growers, the research community and the GRDC and plays an important role guiding GRDC decisions about investing grower levies into industry research and development.<\/p>\n

Applications close on April 15. The successful applicants will take up the part-time positions from September 1 and appointments will be for two years.<\/p>\n

GRDC Managing Director Dr Steve Jefferies said the regional panel system helped ensure that GRDC\u2019s RD&E investments delivered gains in profitability to grain growers by helping to prioritise local, regional and national grains industry issues.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe GRDC\u2019s primary focus is improving grower profitability and we all know there are many factors, both on and off farm, that influence growers\u2019 returns,\u201d Dr Jefferies said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe regional panels play an important role in sourcing feedback from growers and industry about regional production constraints, as well as opportunities, and bringing that information back to GRDC to help guide investment direction.<\/p>\n

\u201cDiversity within these panels is an integral part of the system\u2019s success so each is comprised of primary producers, agribusiness practitioners, scientists and the GRDC\u2019s executive managers with provision for other industry experts.\u201d<\/p>\n

GRDC Northern Region Panel Chair John Minogue said the panel roles required a time commitment and knowledge of the grains industry, but the experience gained was invaluable.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cI was a panel member before taking on the role of chair, and both experiences have been very rewarding from both a personal and professional perspective. But most importantly, it has been a chance to give back to the grains industry,\u201d Mr Minogue said.<\/p>\n

\u201cBeing on the panel has given me the opportunity to go beyond my farm gate and engage with some of Australia\u2019s most respected researchers, along with some of the industry\u2019s most progressive growers and agronomists.<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom an industry perspective it has given me a chance to play a role in working with my fellow panel members and GRDC staff to help ensure grower levies are directed into RD&E that has a meaningful and profitable impact on-farm.<\/p>\n

Mr Minogue said the Northern Region Panel positions were ideally suited to people who understood the challenges and opportunities associated with farming systems in Queensland and NSW\u00a0 and were good communicators with a sound knowledge of the grains industry.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe GRDC\u2019s priority has always been to attract a diversity of expertise and knowledge to bring different perspectives and views.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Northern Regional Panel currently consists of chair John Minogue (Barmedman, NSW), Roy Hamilton (Rand, NSW), Graham Spackman (Emerald), Arthur Gearon (Chinchilla), Tony Hamilton (Forbes), Bruce Watson (Parkes), Roger Bolte (West Wyalong), Andrew McFadyen (Lake Cargelligo), Dr Jo White (Bundaberg), Peter McKenzie (Quirindi), Dr Steve Jefferies (Canberra).<\/p>\n

Current members of the Panel are eligible to re-apply for a position.<\/p>\n