South Perth, Western Australia
October 17, 2008
The Department of
Agriculture and Food grains extension officer Ian Pritchard
as been appointed to the co-ordination group of Pulse Breeding
Australia (PBA).
PBA is an unincorporated joint venture between the department,
Grains Research and Development Corporation, Department of
Primary Industries Victoria, South Australian Research and
Development Institute, the University of Adelaide, Department of
Primary Industries New South Wales, Department of Primary
Industries and Fisheries Queensland and Pulse Australia.
PBA carries out pulse breeding and the evaluation of field pea,
faba bean, lentil, chickpea crops across Australia.
Mr Prichard said he had been appointed as the lead research
officer to co-ordinate all PBA activities in Western Australia,
including pulse breeding trials.
“I will be working with breeders to evaluate trials for
agronomic characteristics, levels of disease resistance and
yield.
“I will also be monitoring the National Variety Testing (NVT)
and Crop Variety Testing (CVT) trials, where lines in the final
stages of the commercialisation process are evaluated against
current varieties.
“There are more than 40 early evaluation trials, including
NVT/CVT, spread throughout the State from Esperance in the south
to Mingenew in the north.”
Mr Pritchard said his appointment would also bring together all
of the department’s pulse crop projects under one umbrella,
which would ensure the continued co-ordination and flow of
information to the national breeders about WA’s requirements.
“I have over 21 years experience working on field peas and the
other pulse crops and look forward to the representing Western
Australia research to Pulse Breeding Australia.”
Mr Pritchard, who was nominated for the position, is replacing
Kerry Regan as the WA representative. |
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