Australian Grain Technologies (AGT) is pleased to announce the appointment of Douglas Lush as Marketing and Production Manager in northern New South Wales and Queensland.

Based in Toowoomba and working closely with AGT’s Narrabri Breeding Centre, Douglas will help in managing AGT breeding trials in Queensland, whilst working with current but out-going AGT Marketing and Production Manager Kerrie Gleeson to assume marketing responsibilities into the future.

Bringing a breadth of experience in broadacre cropping field research in the North, Douglas will add significant value to the AGT Northern breeding programme. Having worked with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries (DAF) in Queensland for over 18 years, he is intimate with the industry and the specific challenges and opportunities that growers face in the region.

Douglas has worked closely with breeding and research organisations in a number of projects, including wheat breeding yield and quality evaluation, synthetic wheat evaluation, crop modelling and northern adaptation studies and Queensland National Variety Trials (NVT). Most recently, as a research agronomist for DAF, Douglas has managed the central Queensland NVT’s, as well as other research projects focusing on winter cereal production and nutrition, and been responsible for compiling and editing the Queensland Wheat Varieties publication since 2002.

Having been contracted to undertake field trials for AGT for the past eight years, Douglas joins the team with a working knowledge of the latest AGT germplasm and breeding objectives that will enable him to hit the ground running.

“Even in the short time I have been a part of AGT, already I appreciate the enthusiasm of this company for increasing profitability of our growers through genetic gains. It is refreshing and invigorating to be involved with what AGT is doing and be a part of benefiting the whole grains industry,” said Douglas.

“I hope that my previous experience working in the Northern Region will bring additional knowledge and opportunities to AGT, to strengthen our ability to deliver to growers into the future. I look forward to working closely with Kerrie Gleeson until his retirement in June to put the Narrabri Breeding Centre and the wider company in the best possible position for success in the years to come.”

The Northern Region is a diverse cropping area, with almost 3.5 million hectares planted to broadacre winter crops each year, producing in excess of 5.6 million tonnes.  Recent AGT wheat varieties such as Sunmax, Coolah, Suntop and Suntime have been well received by growers and a welcome addition to a wheat variety portfolio that must cater for varying environments.  AGT remain dedicated to their efforts into producing high yielding varieties that combat the environmental and disease challenges prevalent in the north, with Douglas being supported by the talented members of the Narrabri Breeding Centre.

Douglas can be contacted on 0407 177 029 or douglas.lush@agtbreeding.com.au.