MAITLAND graingrower Neil Smith has been remembered for his service and many achievements within the grain industry in the past 40 years.
Mr Smith recently passed away, aged 71.
Grain Producers SA chief executive officer Darren Arney said Mr Smith had been keenly aware of the importance of soil fertility and health.
“Neil managed the family farm east of Maitland, growing durum, wheat, barley, canola, pulse crops and vetch, but ensured the farm maintained a focus on green-manuring and trash retention for soil fertility and health,” he said.
“He initiated a long-term tree planting program with more than 20,000 trees established on the property, which won an environmental award. He also kept another site near Port Wakefield for spring grazing which was 100 per cent native shrub vegetation. His involvement with the grains industry began in 1975 as a member of the United Farmers and Graziers Grain Section. He also served as a councillor for the District Council of Central Yorke Peninsula.”
Mr Smith’s later roles included being a member of the Advisory Board of Agriculture, the SA Barley Research Committee, the SA committee of the GRDC, the Native Vegetation Authority and the Natural Resources Council.
He also chaired the Soil Conservation Council of SA from 1990 to 1996 and was a member of the GRDC Southern Regional Panel from 1994-2003.
He was also an inaugural member of the Eyre Peninsula Agricultural Research Foundation.
