Guest Authors
Roger is Lecturer in Agronomy & Farming Systems in the Department of Agribusiness & Wine Science at Curtin University of Technology in Western Australia.
He is currently involved in a GRDC funded project investigating emerging weeds in the WA Wheatbelt, and in two GRDC projects trying to increase the uptake of precision agriculture in WA.
LandWISE met Roger at the 2009 Australian Controlled Traffic Farming Association Conference in Canberra and again at the 2009 Australiasian Precision Agriculture Symposium in Armidale, NSW and again in Albury in 2010. We were most impressed by his presentation “Demystifying Precision Agriculture”, and his cut through the rubbish attitude.
Roger combines scientific education with 25 years of experience on his 1200 hectare family farm in Southern Alberta, Canada. He has experience with dryland cereal and canola production as well as forage production for a 150 head cow/calf operation.
It was no surprise to find that Roger has received a number or awards for teaching. He is committed to teaching that stimulates students to develop a deep knowledge of the subject area and also develop learning skills which can be used in their future careers. “I love teaching.” My goal as an educator is to present material in such a way that the students themselves want to know more using real world examples and explaining the relevance and importance of material in their careers.
Contact Email: R.Mandel@curtin.edu.au
John is an engineer and researcher at the Tasmanian Institute of Agricultural Research (TIAR) and the Department of Primary Industries. His research focus is Controlled Traffic Farming.
His association with LandWISE extends back several years when, along with Tasmanian vegetable grower, John McKenna were guest speakers at the LandWISE Conference in Gisborne. Since then he has hosted NZ growers visiting Tasmania to view CTF sytems in potatoes, onions and other crops.
John doesn’t claim to have all the answers. But he and his colleagues – researchers, farmers and industry poeple – are certainly making strong progress. And they are showing us that, with enthusiasm and a little lateral thinking, plus some engineering nous, problems can be overcome and gains realised.
Contact Email: John.McPhee@dpiw.tas.gov.au
Marc Dresser PhD
Dr Marc Dresser is a Research Engineer working at Landcare research, in Hamilton. From a farming background in UK, he studied at Silsoe, under profs Godwin and Spoor as an Agricultural Engineer and morphed into the soil and water area.
Marc’s passions include Farming, soil dynamics, tillage, traction compaction and soil management. He has been described as “an expert in his field” and by colleagues at Cranfield University as “Captain Birds eye”, after too much research on peas. His pastimes are boating, motorbikes, rugby and fixing things that don’t work.
Contact Email: dresserm@landcareresearch.co.nz
Paul Johnstone PhD
Dr Paul Johnstone is a scientist with Plant and Food Research in Hawkes Bay. He spent post doctoral research years at UC Davis in California.
He ably supports LandWISE with research design and field management for trials and is a leading light in the Holding It Together Project looking at reducing soil loss through cover cropping, management and engineering solutions.
Paul is also a keen extensionist and works well with farmers and LandWISE to find and communicate new ways to move forward with better soil care.
Contact Email: Paul.Johnstone@plantandfood.co.nz
Craig Ross PhD
Craig is Acting Science Leader for the Soils and Landscape Responses Team of Landcare Research, based on the Massey University Turitea Campus, Palmerston North.
With an Agricultural Science degree under the tutelage of the late Prof. Walker, Craig started his soil science career as a soil surveyer in the South Island. Following PhD study in soil physics at Washington State Univ., his research and consultancies have expanded from a pedology focus to general soil management.
His 39 years of experience encompasses conservation tillage, soil compaction, soil flipping and humping/hollowing, soil carbon/organic matter, soil evaluations for effluent disposal and urban development, re-cycling biowastes for rebuilding soils, forestry soil management, land restoration, and minesite rehabilitation. He has work experience throughout New Zealand, in Australia, the USA, and UK.
Craig is a past-President of the NZ Inst. of Agricultural and Horticultural Science, former Councillor of the Royal Society and NZ Soc. of Soil Science, current member of the Science & State Sector Commmittees of the PSA, and is a qualified mediator for dispute resolution.
His passion is to work with farmers and other land managers to help them sustainably manage and conserve our precious soil resources for current and future generations of New Zealanders.
Contact Email: rossc@landcareresearch.co.nz
