High rainfall zone wheat growers have struggled with disease and yields that have not reached the area's potential, according to Grains Research & Development Corporation non-executive Chairman, Keith Perrett.

That situation is about to shift following changes to ownership of HRZ Wheats Pty Ltd and appointment of New South Wales farmer, Richard Clark, to board of the company.

Keith says Richard's firsthand cropping experience combined with his corporate experience serving on a number of industry boards, makes him the ideal choice for HRZ Wheats.

The Grains Research & Development Corporation (GRDC) is one of five companies with a share in HRZ Wheats, Australia's youngest wheat breeding company. Other shareholders include Landmark, the CSIRO, New Zealand Plant & Food Research (NZPFR) and Dow AgroSciences.

"Richard's appointment at the board level is very positive, as it will ensure that grain growers in high rainfall zones will no longer be overlooked by wheat breeding companies," explained Keith.

"His appointment is also critical when you consider the changes we've been seeing in high rainfall zone areas with more farmers including cropping in the mix as they strive to ensure a diversified income.

"Despite this diversification, these farmers have been limited in the cropping options to date and have struggled with low yields and disease. HRZ Wheats changes the playing field, with its first commercialised variety, Forrest, already proving itself as a high-yielding, disease-resistant variety ideal for growers in high rainfall zones."

Richard said that his appointment to the board would help ensure the needs of growers continues to be at the forefront as HRZ Wheats undertakes plant breeding research to further increase Forrest's yield capabilities and disease resistance.

"My experience running a 1,300-hectare mixed cropping operation at Boggabilla, near Moree in New South Wales, gives me a firsthand insight into the issues that growers face," said Richard.

"This is balanced by my experience at a corporate level. As the current Chairman of the Wheat Research Foundation, I am very proud of our new $8 million plant breeding facility at Narrabri which is leased for grains research by the University of Sydney for the next 20 years.

"I've also worked with the New South Wales Farmers Association, where I drove improvement in governance through the establishment of Board Committees and the documentation of policies and procedures with a view to move towards ISO accreditation."

With Forrest widely available to farmers this year, Richard added that his appointment comes at an exciting time.

"One of my key goals will be to ensure HRZ Wheats continues to be relevant for growers in high rainfall zones for generations to come," he said.

Image: Richard Clark, NSW farmer appointed to HRZ Wheats board.