New WALRC producer members, from left, Matt Camarri, Lynley Anderson, executive officer Esther Jones and WALRC chair Dr Tim Watts.

WESTERN Australia has welcomed three new producer members to the WA Livestock Research Council.

Kojonup sheep producer Lynley Anderson; Nannup lot feeder and beef producer Matt Camarri and Gascoyne pastoralist Clint Thompson of Wyloo station were formally inducted into the WALRC process this month.

The WALRC is funded primarily by Meat & Livestock Australia producer levies with the charter of helping extract meaningful red meat research and extension priorities from the producers across the lower half of the state.

WALRC chairman, Pingelly sheep producer and veterinarian Tim Watts said the strength of the WALRC process is the calibre and geographic spread of its producer council members, which is designed to ensure a comprehensive collection of what research activities will provide tangible on-ground benefit to beef and sheep producers.

“We have eight producers on the council but importantly, we also have strong industry representation with contribution from the Australian Association of Agricultural Consultants and the NRM sector,” Dr Watts said.

“Our five major agricultural research institutions – DPIRD, UWA, CSIRO, Murdoch and Curtin are also at the table providing a structure that really ensures collaboration between producer and researcher from the start.”

Incoming WALRC councillor Matt Camarri said the beef industry has been very good to our family and we have gained a tremendous amount both personally and financially from the industry and it is now time for me to give something back.

The WALRC has also announced the appointment of a new secretariat service, with experienced agricultural services executive officer Esther Jones replacing retiring secretariat Sarah Hyde of the Facey Group.

“Sarah has been with WALRC since its inception and has played an excellent support role to both myself and my predecessor Erin Gorter,” Dr Watts said.

“She has been instrumental in setting up the processes and protocols under which we now operate and we are really appreciative of that.”

One of the new council members’ first tasks will be to review the initial round of research and development applications that have been submitted under the current call for projects.

Dr Watts and his council hold the expectation that WALRC’s responsibilities and scope will to be more aligned with the style of its counterpart organisations in the north and east of the country.