Well known NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Technical Specialist (Pulses and Oilseeds), Don McCaffery is wrapping up his stellar career with 40 years of significant contribution to the NSW cropping industry.
DPI Director General Scott Hansen congratulated Mr McCaffery on his dedication to the industry through research, development and extension to support profitable farming systems.
“Mr McCaffery has made an exceptional contribution to growers, continually providing the best agronomic advice and support they need, playing a pivotal role in growing the grains industry of NSW,” Mr Hansen said.
“Well known by farmers and industry, Mr McCaffery has consistently led key agronomic research and extension work into the production of canola, soybeans, safflower, pulses, rice and maize.”
Mr Hansen noted the versatility of Mr McCaffery’s skills and service, across irrigation and dryland cropping enterprises in NSW.
“Mr McCaffery spent his early career in the Murrumbidgee and Coleambally irrigation areas, promoting furrow irrigation and bed farming in the maize and soybean industries, a catalyst for a more efficient water use efficient farming system now supporting the southern cotton industry,” Mr Hansen said.
Mr Hansen said Mr McCaffery has played a key role either leading or as a key contributor to many of DPI’s flagship publications and research projects.
“For 10 years Mr McCaffery has co-authored the annual Winter crop variety sowing guide, a comprehensive publication enabling farmers and advisors to make better cropping decisions and increase profitability,” Mr Hansen said.
“Mr McCaffery has played a key author role in developing the Canola best practice management guide for south-eastern Australia and the Insect and mite control control in field crops.
“His unmissable presence and decades worth of trial and varietal knowledge will be missed by his colleagues at DPI and his associates and friends at field days, conferences and farm walks.”
Mr McCaffery commenced working with DPI at Yanco Agricultural Institute as Technical Officer in Rice Agronomy and Physiology, managing rice variety and agronomy trials and glasshouse physiology experiments.
He was then appointed as Agronomist-in-training at Wagga Wagga and Coleambally’s District Agronomist specialising in rice, maize and soybean production.
Mr McCaffery then moved to Orange to take up the role of Technical Specialist (Oilseeds and Pulses), specialising in canola, soybeans, sunflower, safflower and pulses.
Mr McCaffery’s tireless efforts and research has been acknowledged through the award of Life Membership of the Australian Oilseeds Federation in April 2022.
Mr McCaffery is Chair of the Canola Sub-Committee of the Australian Oilseeds Federation from 2002 and holds significant working relationships with Pulse Australia and the Irrigation Research and Extension Committee.
