Western Australia
March 16, 2022
Cassandra Howell (Perth) top left, Dayna Hutchison (Dowerin) top right, Brittany Bolt (Wagin) bottom left and Sai Kiran Veluru (Perth) participated in the recent Young Professionals in Agriculture Forum.
Cassandra Howell has been awarded the coveted Noel Fitzpatrick medal at the annual Young Professionals in Agriculture virtual Forum.
The forum, hosted by Ag Institute Australia (WA Division) and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD), showcases the work of the next generation of scientists in agriculture and natural resource management.
Four university graduates presented their research to the forum, which spanned land management, sheep genetics, sheep husbandry and plant genetics.
The medal is named in honour of a former Department of Agriculture Director General, Noel Fitzpatrick.
Ms Howell, a Bachelor of Philosophy major in Botany from The University of Western Australia, profiled her research on the use of compost and biochar to restore degraded, saline soil, both alone and in combination.
Ms Howell found both ameliorants improved soil condition, reducing pH and increasing nitrate, phosphorous and potassium, paving the way for future field research.
UWA Agricultural Science Masters graduate Sai Kiran Veluru discussed his plant pre-breeding research, which aimed to increase genetic variation in the narrow gene pool of canola and develop a population for hybrid breeding.
The findings from Mr Veluru’s research will help plant breeders to identify genes that generate genetic gains in canola breeding programs.
Murdoch University Bachelor of Science graduate Brittany Bolt presented her Merino sheep research on the use of frame size and liveweight to improve the prediction of whole body energy, or fat stores, compared with condition score and liveweight.
The research concluded that frame size could be used as an alternative to condition score but frame size was not more accurate than using ultrasound and liveweight so not a useful alternative in the genetic selection of fat.
Animal Science Murdoch University graduate Dayna Hutchison’s research assessed the reproductive performance of maiden ewes and subsequent lamb survival.
The research found the marking rate was 58.1 per cent lower for ewe lambs and 22.3 per cent lower for hoggets, compared with older ewes, while the lamb survival rate of both maiden classes was also statistically significant.
These findings will assist Merino producers to improve the reproductive performance of maiden ewes by identifying opportunities for intervention.
DPIRD Director General Terry Hill was impressed by the presentations and the quality and relevance of the research, commenting that the future of primary industries and resource management science was in good hands.
“It is encouraging to see talented, passionate and committed young scientists who are contributing to advancing agriculture and resource management,” he said.
“The calibre of the presentations was very high and I was impressed by the depth of insight in the graduates’ research.
“The forum is a great opportunity to celebrate our early career scientists and I wish this year’s crop all the best for the future.”
Past forum winner, DPIRD Chief Scientist Ben Biddulph said it was important to invest in the next generation of scientists, who will help progress sustainable, profitable agricultural production, fisheries and resource management in Western Australia.
“We are at a pivotal time in science and – with the rapid development of digital technologies and innovations – on the cusp of seeing primary production and land management transformed over the next decade,” Dr Biddulph said.
“It is great to see the tertiary sector continuing to invest in applied science and research and collaborating with other institutions and industry stakeholders to advance WA’s diverse agricultural industries, which support our regional communities.”
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