A different kind of hay fever

A different kind of hay fever A different kind of hay feverPosted September 11, 2013, by Julia Watters With spring upon us, plenty of people are rediscovering their green thumbs. But as you tend to the small veggie patch in the back corner of your garden, consider those who look after a much bigger veggie patch like 4600 hectares of it Agriculture is a broad industry that encompasses more than most people realise. From food to fibres and fuels to raw materials, its an industry that literally keeps us going. Its also subject to the cruel vagaries that Mother Nature conjures up, although fields such as agronomy help to minimise risk and maximise harvest. I spoke to Rohan Brill, a Research and Development Agronomist for the NSW Department of Primary Industries in Wagga Wagga, about why he chose a career in agriculture. Did you always want a career in agriculture and why? I always enjoyed the science side of farming but I struggled with much of the mundane jobs involved with farming suc h as shearing, going up and back on a tractor, etc. But once I got involved in agriculture after leaving school I enjoyed the challenge of it, that success is really up to you and not anyone else. The mundane jobs I now view as an essential part of the job and they also give me time to think. Why did you choose agronomy specifically? Agronomy is a good blend of science and practicality and it allows me to work in a field Im interested in, especially since I still have the goal of expanding the family farm, and Im always keen to learn. Im lucky that while I work full-time in agronomy I still have the family farm, which keeps me in touch with the risk management decisions that farmers need to make and enables me to evaluate the usefulness of my work. How did your university experience shape your career aspirations? The main thing I learnt was how to find things out. I learnt the value of evidence in driving decision-making and now use that in my job. There are so many fads and gimmick s in agriculture, its hard to decipher what is actually good for productivity as opposed to what is a sales pitch or a trend. This ability to filter and apply information and learn from experience really sorts people out. What do you find the most rewarding part of your job? I like conducting research and development that leads to grower adoption and an improved practice in the farming community. For example, in my