Research interests

• General biometrical consultancy 
• Recent biometrical analysis of data relating to: 

1. Perennial pasture species persistence in short-term pasture phases.
2. Vineyard nematode abundance under floor management strategies.
3. Pasture species productivity and soil properties of topographically variable landscapes.
4. Soil properties under legumes for sustainable cropping systems in DPRK.
5. Beef production and meat quality under growth regimes.

• Biometrical education

Background

Bev Orchard is a consulting biometrician who joined NSW Department of Primary Industries* in 1995 and is located at Wagga Wagga Agricultural Institute. Currently she is involved in the design and analysis of scientific trials in a variety of research areas. In addition to these duties, she is involved in the design and delivery of biometrical training courses.

She has a background in mathematics, statistics and computing education having worked as a teacher (secondary level and TAFE) and as a Learning Centre consultant/adviser and lecturer (TAFE and University).

*NSW Department of Primary Industries was formed on July 1, 2004 through an amalgamation of NSW Agriculture, NSW Fisheries, State Forests of NSW and the NSW Department of Mineral Resources.

Qualifications

• B Arts – University of New England (1975)
• B Arts (Hons) – University of New England (1976)
• Dip Ed – University of New England (1977)
• Grad Dip App Sci (Computing) – Charles Sturt University (1993)
• M Sc Stud (Statistics) – University of New England (1999)

Current projects

Analysis of data relating to:

• Beef production and carcase traits of steer progeny of sires of different genetic potential. 
• Productivity and sustainability of cropping systems in DPRK. 
• Herbage mineral composition of clovers on acid soils.
• Pasture responses to fertiliser on topographically variable landscapes in NSW.
• Floor vegetation effects on the abundance of nematode trophic groups in vineyards.

Recent Publications

Dear BS, Virgona JM, Sandral GA, Swan AD, and Orchard BA (2007) Lucerne, phalaris and wallaby grass in short-term pasture phases in two eastern Australian wheatbelt environments. 1. Importance of initial perennial density on their persistence and recruitment, and presence of weeds. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research, 58, 113-121

Dear BS, Sandral GA, Virgona JM, Swan AD, Orchard BA and Cocks PS (2007) Lucerne, phalaris and wallaby grass in short-term pasture phases in two eastern Australian wheatbelt environments. 2. Effect of perennial density and species on subterranean clover populations and the relative success of 3 clover cultivars of different maturity. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research, 58, 123-135

Evans J, Murray GM, Scott G, Orchard B, Brennan J, Lemerle D, Kaiser A and Armstrong EL (2006) Impact of annual legume ‘break’ crops on the yield and quality of canola in comparison with the impact on yield of wheat. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture, 46, 1489-1497

Rogiers SY, Hatfield JM, Orchard BA, Keller M, Greer DH (2006) Solute transport into cv. Shiraz berries during development and late-ripening shrinkage. Am. J. Enol. Vitic. 57:1, 73-80.

Rogiers SY, Greer DH, Hatfield JM, Orchard BA and Keller M (2006) Mineral sinks within ripening grape berries (Vitis vinifera L.), Vitis, 45, 115-123.

Professional associations and activities

Member of Statistical Society of Australia Inc.

Fields of Research

010404 Applied Statistics

Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification (ANZSRC)

Keyword/phrase list of research interests

• Biometry 
• Smoothing splines
• REML