Research interests

• Organic Farming Systems
• Farming Systems sustainability

Background

Robyn is New South Wales Department of Primary Industries' Organic Farming Liaison Officer based at Yanco Agricultural Institute. She joined New South Wales Agriculture* as a Technical Officer in 1981.

From 1993 – 1996 Robyn was appointed to the position of Project Officer responsible for the identification, development and promotion of best management practices for a range of farming systems, with particular emphasis on horticulture, for inclusion in the Murray Irrigation Area (MIA) and Districts Land and Water Management Plan (now EnviroWise). She was appointed to her current position in 1996.

In her current position Robyn has a state-wide role to develop and provide information and advice on organic farming systems, liaise with the peak National Organic body and other organic industry groups and provide advice to the NSW Department of Primary Industry senior management and other State and Federal Government bodies on policy matters and correspondence in relation to organic farming systems.

*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

• HDA. Diploma of Applied Science (Agriculture). Hawkesbury Agricultural College. Graduated 1980. 
• Graduate Diploma in Sustainable Agriculture (with Distinction). Orange Agricultural College - Sydney University. 1995.

Current projects

• Optimising the quality & yield of spelt & other specialty grains under organic production
• Development and production of an Organic Farming Short Course
• On-going industry liaison and development

Recent Publications

Neeson R (2008) Going Organic. Organic Soybean and Rice Production. A guide to convert to organic production. RIRDC and NSW Dept. of Primary Industries. 

Neeson R (2007) Going Organic. Organic Vegetable Production. A guide to convert to organic production. RIRDC and NSW Dept. of Primary Industries. 

Neeson R (2007) Going Organic. Organic Livestock Production A guide to convert to organic production in the Rangelands of Western N.S.W. RIRDC and NSW Dept. of Primary Industries.

Book chapters

Neeson R (2000) Organic Livestock Management. In: The Organic Alternative. The complete guide to organic farming. pp65-68. Kondinin Group. ISBN 1-876068-22-1.

Neeson R (2002) “Storage viable for organic producers”. In: Stalk to Store. pp178-179. Kondinin Group. ISBN 1 876068 33 7.

Neeson R (2004) Organic production. In: Production of Quality Rice in South Eastern Australia. Chapter 6. Nutrition. RIRDC and NSW Agriculture. (Chapter update currently: In Publication). RIRDC, 2004. ISBN 0-642-58032-4. ISSN 1440-6845.
 
Conference papers

Neeson R (2003) “Facilitating Conversion of Organic Rice and Soybean Production in the NSW Riverina.” Presentation at: Organic Futures for Australia. 2nd National Organic Conference Adelaide October 2-3, 2003. In: OFA, (2003). Organic Futures for Australia. 2nd National Organic Conference Adelaide October 2-3 2003. Record of Proceedings. Organic Federation of Australia, 2003.

Neeson R (2003) “Organic Rice and Soybean Production in the NSW Riverina”. Presentation at: The Inaugural Queensland Organics Conference. Organically Speaking – Soil and Society. Cairns 31 July - 2 August, 2003. In: Leu, A. (2003). The Inaugural Queensland Organics Conference. Organically Speaking – Soil and Society. Conference Proceedings. pp.112-122. Cairns 31 July - 2 August, 2003.

Neeson R (2001) Organic Agriculture Soil Health Strategies. Presentation at: NSW Agriculture Soil Health Workshop Wollongbar Agricultural Research Institute Wollongbar June 20-21, 2001. In: NSW Agriculture (2001). Soil health. The foundation of sustainable agriculture. Proceedings of a workshop on the importance of soil health in agriculture. NSW Agriculture, 2001. ISBN 0 7347 1306 1.

Neeson R (2001) “Organic Production Opportunities”. Presentation at:  GRDC Growers Update,  Finley August 15, 2001. In: GRDC Growers Update. Irrigation Value Adding. VICC, MRDC and GRDC, August 15, 2001.

Neeson R (2001) Government and Organics: A Decade of Association and Beyond. Presentation at: Inaugural OFA National Organics Conference Darling Harbour Sydney August 27-28, 2001.  In: RIRDC (2001) Inaugural OFA National Organics Conference 2001 Record of Proceedings. Darling Harbour. Sydney. August 27-28, 2001. RIRDC Pub. No. 01/121.

Neeson R, and Koenig T (1999) Demonstrating Organic Farming – the way forward. Presentation at: Opportunities in Organics. A two day workshop for broadacre organic producers. Rutherglen Agricultural research Station, Rutherglen, February 25-26, 1999. In: Burnett V (1999) Opportunities in Organics. A two day workshop for broadacre organic producers. Rutherglen, February 25-26, 1999. Department of Natural Resources and Environment Agriculture Victoria.
 
Extension and Industry Publications

Neeson R (2004) A snapshot of organic farming worldwide. In: WA Grower. March 2004 Vol. 36 No. 1. pp. 35. Vegetable grower Association Inc. 2004.

Neeson R and Howell G (2004) National Organic Seed & Seedling Production Workshops Report. A Preliminary Report for RIRDC Project No DAN-217A: “Organic Vegetable Seedling Production”. RIRDC and NSW Agriculture publication.

Neeson R (2004) Latest Growth Statistics for Organic Agriculture. In: WA Grower. March 2004 Vol. 36 No. 1. pp. 35. Vegetable grower Association Inc. 2004.

Neeson R and Koenig T (2004). Improving yields of organic rice. In: IREC Farmers Newsletter. 60th Anniversary Edition. No. 167, winter 2004. IREC, 2004.

Neeson R (2003) Organic mangoes – the certification process. In: NSW Mango Newsletter No. 21 December, 2003. pp. 3-6.

Neeson R (2003) New Rule Presents Threats and Opportunities for Organic Vegetable Producers. In: The Producer August 2003. Vol. 4 No. 4. Sapphire Coast Producers Association, 2003.

Neeson R (2002) Organics on a global upswing. In: Onions Australia. Vol. 19 pp. 33-34. Australian Onion Industry Association, 2002.

Neeson R (2002) Organic Production and Training Workshops for N.S.W. Final Report for the RIRDC Project No DAN-188A. RIRDC and NSW Agriculture, 2002.

Burnett V, Neeson R and Wynen E (2001) Organic Grain Production. An information kit for primary producers. DNRE, Vic. August 2001.

McIntosh G and Neeson R (2000) Alternative Enterprises – Organic Farming. In: Western Division Newsletter pp. 5-7. Sept-Oct. 2000. New Series 78. ISSN 0314-5352.

Neeson R (2000) Organic farming on the move. In: IREC Farmers Newsletter. Horticulture. June 2000 – No. 184. pp. 34-39. IREC, 2000.

Neeson R (2000) Organic field day attracts keen interest. In: NASAA Bulletin, February 2000. Vol. 7 No.1 pp. 25.

Neeson R (Ed) (1998) Marketing Organic & Bio-Dynamic Products: Conference Proceedings. NSW Agriculture, 1998. ISBN 0 7313 1497 2.

Neeson R (1998) Incentive and Support Schemes. In: NASAA Bulletin. November 1998. Vol. 5 No. 4. pp.18-19. NASAA, 1998.

Agfacts/Agnotes

Neeson R (2008) Use of vaccinations and other veterinary treatments in organic livestock farming. NSW DPI Primefact 760, February 2008.

Neeson R (2004) Organic Asparagus Production. NSW Agriculture Agfact H8.3.5

Neeson R (2004) Organic Processing Tomato Production. . NSW Agriculture Agfact H8.3.6

Neeson R (2004) Organic Pumpkin Production. NSW Agriculture Agfact H8.3.7

Neeson R (2004) NSW Agriculture and organic farming. NSW Agriculture Agnote DPI-461 (2nd Ed.)

Neeson R (2004) Organic farming: an introduction. NSW Agriculture Agnote DPI/17 (2nd Ed.)

Neeson R (2004) Organic fruit production. NSW Agriculture Agnote DPI-190 (2nd Ed.)

Neeson R and Banks J (2000, rev. 2004). On-farm storage of organic grain. NSW Agriculture Agfact P3.5.1.

Professional associations and activities

• PISC - NSW representative on Organic Industry Export Consultative Committee
• Executive Officer, NSW Organic Ministerial Advisory Council
• Member Organic Federation of Australia

Fields of Research

• 070106 Farm Management, Rural Management and Agribusiness
• 070107 Farming Systems Research
• 070108 Sustainable Agricultural Development

Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification (ANZSRC)

Keyword/phrase list of research interests

• Organic farming