Grasslands president looks for relevance

With a membership base of 550 across Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania, he said the society was well positioned to continue its 56-year tradition of bringing new information to farmers.

"It's a diverse age group so we have to have relevance across new farmers through to older farmers," Mr Pepper said.

"If we do that, then finding new members should take care of itself."

The Adelaide-based marketing and industry liaison manager for Heritage Seeds replaced James Whale as the society's president at the annual conference in Naracoorte, SA, on July 21-23.

Mr Pepper aims to provide support to the society's seven branches to make sure they remain active and hold functions that are interesting and relevant.

"Branch activity is what will ensure we remain important to grassland agriculture," he said.

Mr Pepper attended his first Grassland Society annual conference in 1990 and more recently took a role on the central committee.

He said an organisation focused on grassland agriculture was a rare but important entity.

"There are many cropping groups and farming groups whereas the Grassland Society is focused on issues that face grassland agriculture and in many cases red meat and wool producers in southern Australia," he said.

"It's quite a unique focus."

Mr Pepper said although governments had reduced extension and breeding research, there were still many researchers from industry and aligned organisations focused on getting the most out of grassland agriculture.

"The society brings together a group of like-minded people to share ideas, listen to new ideas and new takes on old ideas and then share that information. Often farmers have as much to give as they get from the researchers," he added.

Mr Pepper said many grassland farmers now have mixed operations and would benefit from learning the latest pasture information.

He added that he also aimed to ensure the society remained a financially stable organisation.