Nellie is a graduate research agronomist for the independent research company, Kalyx, based in Young, NSW.
Originally from the Southern Highlands, she moved to the area last year and is definitely enjoying the change of scenery thanks to the interesting aspects of her role.
She conducts all sorts of research in areas including crop phenology, fertiliser trials, herbicide and fungicide trials in label extension and development, as well as National Variety Trials for the GRDC.
Nellie’s currently working on a large job in canola, chickpea and lentil phenology for CSIRO, which is looking to develop a genetic model to determine sowing dates for varieties across different regions planting days and how to push their varieties in different regions.
She loves being outside and seeing how things work in the field.
“We get to test a lot of cool products and techniques, and seeing how things work really well and efficiently is exciting,” she says.
She doesn’t love those days as much when they’re freezing cold, though!
What is Nellie continually striving towards in the grain industry?
Nellie graduated university with a Bachelor of Ag Science two years ago, and she is currently striving for self-development in the industry and paving the way she wants to follow.
“There are so many new areas evolving in the ag and grain industry, especially with technology, and I think I’m trying to find my path to get to know what I enjoy doing best.”
What are Nellie’s go-to sources for farm related intel?
Nellie’s go-to sources are My Crop App series, the Cesar publication of insect pests of establishing canola in New South Wales and GRDC’s National reference manuals for agronomic advisors.
What can Nellie rely on her mates for in the grain industry?
“For a laugh, and to back you up when you’re feeling like you haven’t got it,” says Nellie. “They’re always behind you – even if you haven’t got it!”
“You see them everywhere you go – that’s the best part about the industry. I could turn up at the Henty Field Days or a GRDC event in Wagga and I’d know people there. It’s such a broad industry.”
