Pasture Seeds

Pasture Seeds Advisory Panel

Meredith Mitchell (Chair)

Researcher, Agriculture Victoria

Dr. Meredith Mitchell is an agricultural research scientist with over 35 years of experience in the agriculture industries of north-east Victoria and southern New South Wales. She has spent a large part of her career as a senior research scientist (pasture agronomy) with Agriculture Victoria. She currently works as a Senior Project Officer with Corowa District Landcare.

Meredith holds a Science degree from the University of New South Wales and a PhD from Charles Sturt University. Her career has been dedicated to enhancing the productivity of pastures within southern Australian farming systems. Her research has significantly aided land managers in increasing the production and persistence of perennial pastures at a farm scale. Meredith has been a member of the AgriFutures Pasture Seeds Advisory Panel since November 2020 and since 2022 has served on the board of the Grassland Society of Southern Australia.

Guy Cunningham

South Australian seed grower

Guy Cunningham runs a Lucerne and winter cropping enterprise on his farm in Keith, South Australia. The Cunningham family diversified their farming enterprise moving into pasture seed production in the 90’s when wool and sheep prices fell; this is where Guy’s appreciation for and understanding of pasture seed production began. Guy has been an active member of Lucerne Australia since its beginning in 2005 and served on the Executive Committee from 2011 to 2019, including two years as Chair. Through his experience as a grower and working with Lucerne Australia, he brings a wealth of industry experience and networks to the Advisory Panel. Guy is interested in getting the best return from RD&E investments for pasture seeds growers. Guy has a Bachelor of Agricultural Science from Adelaide University and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Mark Kester

South Australian seed grower

Mark Kester of Kybybolite, SA, has been farming for 37 years on his family farm. Together with his Vietnamese partner of six years, Nhi, Mark loves to travel both internationally and within Australia. They take great pride in showcasing their local area to visitors, often giving farm tours. A dedicated Collingwood supporter, Mark tries to attend a few games each year. He believes in enjoying life while also focusing on running the farm profitably and producing the highest quality products.

The farm consists of 1000 hectares, with 285 hectares being irrigated. They manage first cross ewes and around 75 hectares of cereal crops, growing lucerne hay and seed, as well as sub clover for seed. In recent years, they have successfully hosted a variety trial for a seed company, a clover variety trial for SARDI, and a fertilizer trial on sub clover for SARDI. Mark greatly enjoys hosting these trials and gaining valuable insights.

Bill Fuller

CEO, Australian Seeds Authority

Bill Fuller BAgrSc, GDipBus, MBA, MAICD is currently the part time CEO of the Australian Seeds Authority (ASA) and is highly respected in the seed industry having been the CEO of the Australian Seed Federation prior. Bill is also the principal consultant for Bill Fuller Consulting. Bill Fuller Consulting works in the Australian agribusiness sector and in member based organisations such as the Grasslands Society of Southern Australia, with a focus on project development and management, technology transfer, industry analytics and corporate governance.

Duncan Heazlewood

Tasmanian seed grower

Pasture Seed Grower and Seed Cleaner, Duncan is a 6th generation farmer at Whitemore in Northern Tasmania. Farm enterprises include irrigated pasture seed crops such as ryegrass, clover, and chicory, along with processing peas and poppies. Prime lambs and stud sheep complement the crops. Duncan is Managing Director of Heazlewood Seeds, a family-owned seed cleaning business. It is a major providor of contract seed processing services for pasture seed growers and production companies in Tasmania. Involved in the broader agricultural community, Duncan serves as a committee member and treasurer of the Tasmanian Seed Industry Group. He is also a past chairman of the Cereals and Seeds Committee of TasFarmers. Duncan holds a Bachelor of Agricultural Science from the University of Tasmania.