Late Notice for this field day to be held at Bredbo on the 30th November – YES, this Sunday so not much time. BBQ lunch and refreshments will be available and vegetation/wildlife experts on hand to consult. See the flyer for program and location details:
Download the Flyer here for more information ( pdf file 1.1MB in size) or go to the website at www.k2c.org.au).
The field day will be put on by K2C (Kosciuszko 2 Coast) - a community partnership established to help landholders reconnect isolated woodlands and grasslands between Kosciuszko and Namadgi National Parks and the coastal forests of the Far South Coast.
The following article by Haydn Lloyd Davies (Newsletter Editor) is in the latest issue of the newsletter but it is worth repeating here for the benefit of those who do not have access to the online archives. The article highlights the concern of the Grassland Society of NSW at the announced closure of 8 research stations and calls on the Minister to reverse the decision and support agricultural research in NSW:
I was very concerned to learn that the NSW Department of Primary Industries has stated that eight of the State’s Research Stations are to be closed. The stations involved are – Alstonville, Berry, Condobolin. Glen Innes, Gosford, Griffith, Jindabyne Hatchery and Temora. Closure of these Research Stations is part of the Rees Government ’08 mini budget.
I am sure that all members will be surprised and distressed at these proposed closures. Research stations have a very important role in the function of the DPI. The research stations are responsible for research affecting the locality, the state and sometimes Australia as a whole and globally. An example is the excellent work being carried out at Glen Innes on pastures, pasture species and their management. Their research has Australian and International importance.
In many instances extension officers in several fields e.g. agronomy, sheep and cattle production and arable crops are either based at research stations or are in continuous contact with activities of the station. In addition, producers and representatives of agribusiness companies visit the stations to be kept informed on issues relevant to recent agricultural research and information on new products.
Apparently, the difficult financial status of the State Government required some drastic action to be taken and that some cost cutting was necessary. However, closure of the research stations can not be justified in terms of on going science, and more importantly future research projects. At the local level, these closures will have serious effects on the staff and the local community at a time when regional NSW needs all the assistance it can obtain.
The New South Wales Grassland Society appeals to the Minister for Primary Industries and through him the Premier and Cabinet to reconsider and cancel the closures of the eight research stations.
Haydn Lloyd Davies - Grassland Society of NSW (Newsletter Editor), December 2008.
Last newsletter for 2008 is now online with lots of excellent articles.
Click here to download Volume 23, Number 4, 2008 (pdf file 865kb)
- Editorial – Haydn Lloyd-Davies
- Closure of research stations – Haydn Lloyd-Davies
- Tropical pastures on tour at Tamworth - Suzanne Boschma
- All round sound pasture management wins coveted competition – Bob Freebairn
- Retirement of Dr John Ayres – Carol Harris
- XXIIth International Congreee in 2013
- Escalating phosphorus costs – Phil Graham, Richard Simpson, Alan Richardson
- Enabling suitable conditions for recruitment of desirable perennial grass seedlings with existing pastures – Roshan Thapa
- From the President’s Desk – Mick Duncan
