WeedSmart Week 2025 speakers

The forum program began with WeedSmart western extension agronomist hosting a panel discussion with Bevan Addison, Andrew Messina and Tony Rosser about the history of weed control in the Midwest, and how the Big 6 works in the region.

Bevan Addison, WA, Agronomist

Bevan Addison

Bevan Addison brings 38 years of experience in the agricultural industry, spanning farming systems, product development, on-farm research, and agribusiness strategy. Starting as an adviser with the Department of Agriculture, he became part of Elders’ original agronomy team before managing their technical services division. Over the past 17 years, Bevan has worked with chemical companies in technical and market development roles, while also providing consultancy across the agricultural sector. He was among the first to tackle herbicide resistance in the Wongan Hills area during the early Hoegrass resistance era and has seen resistance challenges evolve across grasses and radish species. Bevan’s career reflects a commitment to advancing sustainable farming systems while equipping growers and consultants with the knowledge to adapt to industry challenges.

Andrew Messina, Mullewa, WA, Grower

Drew-Messina

Andrew Messina, alongside his brother Rod and their families, manages 14,000–16,000 hectares of continuous cropping around Mullewa, WA. Their 100% cropping system on sandplain and sandy loam supports lupins, canola, and wheat, with a strong focus on tackling weeds as their primary challenge. The Messinas are early adopters, trialling research and innovations on-farm to refine weed management practices, addressing herbicide resistance in ryegrass and radish. Their system includes two Harrington Seed Destructors and Agrifac spray rigs with Bilberry green-on-green technology to control weed seeds pre-germination. Andrew’s commitment to innovation and practical application ensures their farming operation remains resilient and adaptive, while maintaining high productivity in challenging sandplain soils.

Tony Rosser, WA, Agronomist

Tony-Rosser

Tony Rosser has dedicated 44 years to agriculture in WA’s Northern Ag Region, witnessing and contributing to transformative changes in farming practices. With a double major in plant nutrition and entomology from UWA, Tony began with fly strike research before joining Hoechst AgriVet in Geraldton, where he saw the early rise of herbicide resistance with Hoegrass. In 1991, he transitioned to Great Northern Rural Services as Principal/Agronomist and continues in this role. Tony has seen the evolution of tramline farming, minimum tillage, canola introduction, satellite imagery, and drone technology. As he approaches retirement, Tony reflects on a career marked by dedication to farmers and adaptation to change. Off the field, he enjoys fishing, golf, rugby, BBQ, and a good beer.

The next session delved into the Big 6 mix and rotate strategy to find ways to reduce the reliance on a single pre-emergent MOA. Craig Topham kicked off the session, followed by a panel discussion with Matt Willis, Ben Parkin and Steve Pettenon.

Craig Topham, WA, Agronomist

Craig Topham

Craig Topham is a director at Agrarian Management, providing independent agronomic and precision agriculture advice across WA’s northern wheatbelt for nearly three decades. Raised on a family farm and a graduate of Muresk, Craig’s early career included roles as a cropping manager and agronomist with Wesfarmers and Landmark before founding Agrarian Management. Craig helps clients develop sustainable, profitable systems, guiding them through seasonal variability and technology adoption. His expertise spans herbicide resistance management, nutrient strategies, soil amelioration, and variable rate farming with a focus on water use efficiency and precision agriculture. Craig is dedicated to supporting the next generation of growers in navigating the complexities of modern agronomy across the Midwest and Northern Wheatbelt.

Steve Pettenon, WA, Agronomist

Stephen Pettenon

Steve Pettenon is a Senior Technical Extension Specialist with FMC Australasia, bringing extensive experience in dryland crop protection and field evaluation across Western Australia. Throughout his career with various R&D companies, Steve has contributed to advancements in crop production, including fungicide-coated fertilisers and grass-free farming systems. At FMC, he focuses on evaluating herbicide strategies, tank mix options, and the synergism of Overwatch® Herbicide with other products to optimise cost-effective weed control in cereals. Steve thrives on fieldwork and values strong engagement with growers, advisers, and researchers. Passionate about improving agricultural outcomes, he is committed to celebrating industry achievements and supporting practical, science-based solutions for growers.

Matt Willis, WA, Agronomist

Matt Willis

Matt Willis is the Technical Solutions Agronomist for Bayer Crop Science in the Geraldton and Kwinana port zones, with eight years at Bayer and a decade of prior agronomy roles with Elders and AACL. Matt’s work involves developing and introducing new products while delivering technical support and training to growers and consultants. Passionate about crop protection, Matt specialises in herbicides and fungicides, exploring the integration of digital tools to improve their efficiency and impact. Through comprehensive field trials and local adaptation of products, Matt ensures Bayer’s offerings meet grower needs and regional conditions. His commitment to innovation and practical solutions helps growers maximise productivity while managing evolving challenges in crop protection

Ben Parkin, WA, Agronomist

Ben Parkin

Ben Parkin is the Technical Services Lead for Western Australia at Syngenta, where he has been a key team member for over a decade. Based in Esperance, Ben brings a wealth of practical experience across agronomy, crop nutrition, grain marketing, and agricultural research, allowing him to deliver practical, tailored solutions to WA growers. His current role focuses on weed control and disease management strategies, supporting growers and agricultural professionals to improve productivity and sustainability. Ben’s approachable, collaborative style and deep technical knowledge make him a valued resource across the region. Outside work, Ben enjoys spending time on his rural property and with his family, balancing hands-on farming with industry leadership to support a resilient agricultural community.

The next speaker, Steve Tilbrook, tackled the critical issue of killing weeds and delivering low residue grain to our export and domestic markets.

Steve Tilbrook, WA, Agronomist

Steven Tilbrook

Steve Tilbrook works with the CBH Group, Australia’s largest grain cooperative, ensuring the high standards of WA grain in export markets through his agronomist role. With over 15 years in agricultural research, Steve specialises in agrochemical product development and chemical residue management in grain, supporting food safety and quality across the supply chain. His experience includes all aspects of broadacre research, and his role with CBH focuses on safeguarding WA’s strong reputation in international markets by providing practical, science-based agronomy advice to growers. Steve’s commitment to ensuring food safety and quality underpins CBH’s global reputation, while supporting growers to manage chemical use effectively within sustainable systems.

The next three spreakers addressed the future challenges and strategies of knockdown herbicides in grain production systems. Roberto Busi outlined the challenges with glyphosate and paraquat resistant ryegrass. Bill Moore outlined knockdown strategies to make the best of future farming systems and Daniel Birch provided a grower’s perspective on managing glyphosate-resistant weeds.

Roberto Busi, WA, Researcher

Roberto Busi

Dr Roberto Busi conducts research on the evolutionary dynamics of herbicide resistance to discover and understand why and how weeds can evolve resistance so fast. Over the past seven years, his research has focused on the impact of using low herbicide rates, and in a world first, established that persistent use of some pre-emergent herbicides at low rates can lead to rapid resistance evolution

Bill Moore, WA, Agronomist

Bill Moore

Bill Moore is a Senior Broadacre Field Research and Development Specialist with Nufarm, bringing 27 years of distribution agronomy experience across WA’s Wheatbelt. Beginning his career as an agronomist, Bill has witnessed firsthand the evolving needs of growers while maintaining a strong connection to practical, on-ground challenges. After overcoming a personal battle with cancer, Bill returned to the field with renewed energy, focusing on shaping the future of broadacre agriculture through research and development. His work at Nufarm supports innovation and industry growth, providing growers with effective, sustainable solutions. Bill’s passion for the industry and commitment to continual improvement ensures he remains a respected and valued member of the WA agricultural community.

Daniel Birch, Coorow, WA, Grower

Daniel Birch

Daniel Birch is the General Manager of his family’s continuous cropping enterprise east of Coorow, WA, focusing on wheat, canola, and lupins in a lower-medium rainfall zone. Bringing 12 years of experience from the mining industry, Daniel applies transferable skills to the science of agronomy, staying engaged with WeedSmart and AHRI resources to support informed decision-making on resistance and weed control. Actively involved with Liebe Group and GRDC’s grower network, Daniel values learning from industry experts and peers to enhance operational practices. His commitment to continuous improvement and collaboration ensures the family farm remains adaptive and resilient while embracing effective weed management and agronomic innovations.

The following session dived into the spray technology that is enabling farming at scale. Cameron Jenkins gave a run-down of how they are using swarm bot sprayers in their operation and Bill Campbell outlined the key factors for optimising boomspray setup for optical spot spraying. They were joined by Dylan Hirsch and Chad Eva in a panel discussion.

Cameron Jenkins, Mullewa, WA, Grower

Cameron Jenkin

Cameron Jenkins is the farm manager for Mark and John Flannagan, overseeing 44,000 hectares across WA’s northern Wheatbelt. Growing up on a family farm in Mullewa sparked Cameron’s passion for broadacre cropping and practical agriculture. He manages full-season operations, including paddock planning, chemical applications, and machinery logistics, with a focus on moisture conservation and input efficiency through a 50/50 chemical fallow and wheat rotation. Cameron is particularly interested in where technology and farming intersect, using data, automation, and precision tools to improve decision-making and efficiency. His practical, innovative approach ensures the operation remains productive and adaptable in WA’s challenging cropping environment.

Bill Campbell, WA, Agronomist

Bill Campbell

Bill Campbell is an independent agronomist and application specialist based in Geraldton, WA, with over 25 years of experience in agronomy and spray application. Holding a Bachelor of Science (Agriculture) from UWA, Bill’s career spans Nufarm, private consulting, and his own family farming background. He specialises in sprayer purchasing, setup, and calibration, providing practical, science-based advice to growers across WA. Bill has delivered extensive GRDC-funded workshops on spray efficiencies and technologies, contributing to nozzle and PWM guide standards. His deep understanding of spray systems and commitment to practical application make him a trusted advisor in the industry, helping growers optimise their operations while embracing emerging spray technologies.

Dylan Hirsch, Latham, WA, Grower

Dylan Hirsch

Dylan Hirsch manages a family cropping enterprise in WA’s Midwest, focusing on practical, efficient weed management. For over a decade, Dylan has used WeedIt cameras for summer spot spraying and in 2024, adopted Bilberry green-on-green camera technology to enhance in-season weed control. This decision reflects Dylan’s commitment to maintaining clean paddocks while reducing the impact of post-emergent chemicals on crop health and input costs. His proactive approach to adopting new technology ensures the family’s farming operations remain productive, sustainable, and responsive to evolving challenges in weed control, contributing to a resilient, efficient farming system in the region.

Chad Eva, Three Springs, WA, Grower

Chad Eva

Chad Eva farms 7,200 hectares with his family southwest of Three Springs, growing wheat, lupins, and canola. Having farmed in the region since 1998, Chad is dedicated to improving efficiency and reducing input costs while maintaining productivity. Recently, Chad’s operation adopted a Miller boom with Bilberry camera technology for targeted weed control, aiming to reduce chemical usage and improve cost-effectiveness. His openness to trialling new technologies demonstrates a commitment to continuous improvement, resilience, and sustainability within their farming system. Chad’s practical experience and willingness to embrace change help ensure his family’s farming business remains adaptive in a challenging environment.

Guest speaker Ben Wundersitz brought a South Australian perspective to the day, sharing his farming system on the Yorke Peninsula and the power of lentils.

Ben Wundersitz, Yorke Penisula, SA, Grower

Ben Wundersitz

Ben Wundersitz is a fifth-generation farmer on the Yorke Peninsula, with his family farming there since 1875. Managing Anna Binna Farms, which spans 6,000 hectares from Port Victoria to Price, Ben focuses on producing high-protein wheat, malt barley, and lentils. He has been an early adopter of precision guidance systems, enabling 24-hour operation when needed and contributing to operational efficiency. Ben’s leadership ensures Anna Binna remains a lean, innovative enterprise while prioritising sustainability and productivity. His commitment to precision farming and embracing technology continues to drive advancements within the family’s long-standing farming operation, maintaining its strong reputation across the region.

Next, three Midwest growers, Rod Messina, Brady Green and Austin Rayor, talked about making the Big 6 crop competition great again with wide seeders at wide-row spacing.

Rod Messina, Mullewa, WA, Grower

Rod Messina

Rod Messina is the director and general manager of his family’s broadacre farm in WA’s Midwest, working alongside his brother and wife to drive innovation and efficiency in their cropping operations. Holding a degree in Finance and Marketing, Rod blends financial acumen with hands-on agricultural knowledge. Passionate about technology and sustainability, Rod has led the adoption of new practices to enhance profitability while caring for natural resources. He is active in community leadership, serving as president of his local grower group, secretary/treasurer of the local Fire and Emergency Services, and a non-executive director on various committees. Rod’s dedication to industry, community, and innovation ensures ongoing contributions to the WA farming sector.

Brady Green, Yuna, WA, Grower

Brady Green

Brady Green, alongside his wife Erin, manages Carrawingee Farms northeast of Geraldton, growing grain while focusing on soil health and operational efficiency. Erin and I work extremely well together, she is very intelligent and I can lift heavy things. Since taking over management in 2005, Brady has led the business through significant changes, including addressing radish control challenges, implementing controlled traffic farming, and soil amelioration to increase productivity beyond previous generations’ expectations. Brady values adaptability, acknowledging the variables in farming while maintaining resilience in their business operations. Supported by a loyal, effective team, Brady and Erin ensure Carrawingee Farms remains innovative and sustainable while navigating the highs and lows of agriculture, contributing positively to the local farming community.

Austin Rayner, Grower

Austin Rayner

Austin Rayner is the Farm Manager at EF Smart Pty Ltd, overseeing a continuous cropping operation now in its tenth year. He has capitalised on a period of soil amelioration investment, implementing a robust and diverse weed management strategy to maintain a low weed seed bank while minimising future challenges. Growing up on farms and completing a mechanical apprenticeship with a John Deere dealership, alongside experience in FIFO, pastoral, and broadacre operations, has equipped Austin with a broad skillset. This diverse background enables him to effectively manage a stable labour force across a large-scale holding, ensuring efficient, productive, and sustainable farm management.

The next panel session brought together Jess Cole, Sarah Johnson and Greg Condon to discuss management strategies for some new summer weed challenges – fleabane, button grass, caltrop and tomato weed.

Jess Cole, WA, Agronomist

Jess Cole

Jess Cole is an experienced agronomist with Independent Rural, based in Perenjori and servicing the North Midlands. Raised on a mixed cropping and livestock farm east of Carnamah, Jess holds a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from Curtin University. Her career spans Landmark, DKT, Nutrien, Elders, and Liebe Group, advising on a variety of soil types, rainfall zones, and farming systems across WA’s Wheatbelt. Jess is active in grower groups and R&D committees, contributing to practical trials and industry learning. Passionate about low-rainfall agronomy and sustainable crop rotations, Jess focuses on building long-term relationships with growers, helping them navigate challenges while supporting profitable, resilient farming systems.

Sarah Johnson, WA, Agronomist

Sarah Johnson

Sarah Johnson grew up on a mixed cropping and livestock enterprise in central Victoria before completing a Bachelor of Agricultural Science at La Trobe University in 2017. She began her career with Elders in Bendigo, specialising in mixed cropping and pasture agronomy before transferring to Geraldton, where she now covers the northern cropping zone from Coorow to Ajana. Sarah values the variety and challenge that agronomy offers, embracing the unique conditions of each season while supporting growers to adapt and thrive. Her practical, science-based approach helps growers improve productivity and sustainability across the diverse farming systems in WA’s northern agricultural region.

In the next panel, Belinda Eastough, Grant Thompson and Rob Campbell gave their insights into the control options for wild radish facing the threat of Group H (HPPD) and glyphosate resistance.

Belinda Eastough, WA, Agronomist

Belinda Eastough

Belinda Eastough has worked in agronomy in WA’s Geraldton region for 36 years, bringing extensive knowledge of cropping, grazing, farming economics, and landcare systems. Originally from a beef cattle property on King Island, Belinda completed her Bachelor of Agricultural Science at the University of Tasmania before joining DPIRD in Geraldton in 1989. She has since worked with Agrarian Management and the Elders Agronomy team while managing a mixed farm with her husband near Nolba. Belinda is passionate about the agricultural industry and admires growers’ ability to adapt to changing climatic, technological, and political conditions, continuing to support the farming community with practical, science-based advice.

Grant Thompson, WA, Agronomist

Grant Thompson

Grant Thompson is an agronomist and researcher with nearly 25 years of experience in WA’s northern agricultural region. Through his business, Crop Circle Consulting and Research in Geraldton, Grant leads a team conducting independent trials on plant breeding, fertilisers, and pesticide chemistry under variable Mediterranean conditions. His research priorities include variety evaluation, herbicide efficacy and tolerance, MRL studies, and agronomy strategy assessments to improve profitability for growers. Grant’s commitment to rigorous methodology and practical application ensures growers receive reliable, science-based recommendations to enhance productivity and sustainability in their farming systems across WA’s diverse cropping environments.

Rob Campbell, WA, Agronomist

Rob Campbell

Rob Campbell spent 15 years managing the family farm after studying at Muresk, later transitioning into agronomy with Elders before joining Nutrien, where he has worked for the past 11 years. Based in Geraldton since 2015, Rob specialises in broadacre cropping, with a keen interest in research and precision agriculture technology, including prescription mapping. He values the constant learning that agronomy offers while helping growers improve productivity and sustainability in their operations. Outside of work, Rob enjoys coastal living, fishing, spearfishing, and previously played veteran football until the body said otherwise, embracing a balanced lifestyle alongside his professional commitment to agriculture.

In the final session of the day Lance Turner, Dylan Hirsch and Andrew Messina shared their exeriences with the Big 6 harvest weed seed control strategy – the consensus was that it’s still needed to keep weed numbers low.

Lance Turner, Pingelly, WA, Grower

Lance Turner

Lance and his family farm in Pingelly, East Corrigin and Goodlands, WA where they run a continuous cropping program in these three very different regions. Lance successfully used chaff carts for many years and has now converted to iHSD on John Deere harvesters. These tools have driven weeds numbers low enough that he is confident to dry sow 80 to 100 per cent of his program without concern about weeds.

The WeedSmart team appreciates the generous contributions from all the speakers at the forum days and the growers who hosted the farm tours – Simon Smart, Brady and Erin Green, Tim and Daniel Critch, Rod and Andrew Messina, and Mark and John Flannagan.

The machinery expo and herbicide trial sites shone the spotlight on the expertise and technologies that WeedSmart partners bring to growers. The ongoing support of all the WeedSmart partners is truly appreciated.