From the President’s desk – Mick Duncan (December 2009)
Seasonal conditions across NSW vary greatly, with good winter crop prospects in northern NSW, patchy further south, and pasture conditions also varying according to location. Irrespective whether you are a climate change sceptic or not, there is no doubt that variable climate has significantly changed attitudes to plant and animal production in recent years, if not longer. A study of climatic data for the past century makes for interesting reading and suggests that pastoralists way back were concerned with changes in both rainfall pattern and yearly totals. We will attempt to print an article on this subject in a coming newsletter.
Our editor for this newsletter over the past eight years, Professor Haydn Lloyd Davies, has finally and reluctantly decided to retire from this position, but not, I’m pleased to report, from either the Society or his state committee membership. Haydn, one of the few life members of the Society, has contributed enormously to its functioning by serving in many capacities, including that of President from 1997 -1999. On behalf of all our members I thank Haydn for his long service to the Society and his editorship of this highly regarded newsletter, with much assistance from Helen.
Carol Harris, from Glen Innes has kindly offered to take on this very important task. I thank her for this and ask all members to consider letters to her as editor, on topical subjects. I also welcome Cathy Waters to our committee and look forward to her valued contributions.
Our internet site that provides members with linkages to a broad range of seed, fertilizer, chemical companies and weather stations, to name a few, is in the process of review. I am grateful to Cathy Waters from Industry and Investment at Trangie and Carol Harris, Glen Innes for agreeing to review our site in an attempt to make it even more useful. One suggestion is to have the abstract of conference papers available for people who do not wish to wade through all the papers in full. I know that Cathy and Carol would welcome any suggestions that may improve our internet site.
Best wishes to all members.
