Extension Staff

Gerard Kelly

District Horticulturist (Vegetables), Dareton
Tel.: (03) 5027 4409, Mob.: 0411 139 657
E-mail: gerard.kelly@dpi.nsw.gov.au

Gerard is a technical and industry specialist in melons and asparagus. He is an executive committee member of the Australian Melon Association (AMA) and works with the Asparagus Growers of Sunraysia (AGOS).

He has over 20 years experience in the vegetable industry and as a horticulturist with NSW Agriculture at several inland and coastal production locations. His current industry development projects include;

• Quality Management- train grower groups (Approved Supplier Program & HACCP)
  
• Technology Transfer - publish melon and asparagus industry newsletters, organise grower & industry conferences, seminars and workshops; produce production information booklets & agfacts
  
• MB Alternatives- field trails assessing alternatives to methyl bromide for soil fumigation
  
• Strategic Planning- assist industries with research & development plans & industry development plans
  
• Levy Consultation - Process to introduce national levy for R&D in the melon industry

Gerard has also worked with; glasshouse capsicum & cucumber crops with emphasis on production and integrated pest & disease management, cucurbits, garlic and cut foliage & flowers for production in inland NSW.

Bachelor of Applied Science, Horticultural Technology, University of Queensland, Gatton Campus.

Stephen Wade

District Horticulturist (Vegetables), Bathurst
Tel.: (02) 6330 1216
E-mail: stephen.wade@dpi.nsw.gov.au

Stephen Wade was the District Horticulturist at Finley since 1989 and has recently taken over the Bathurst position from the illustrious Clarrie Beckingham. With 20 years experience in the Department, he is the NSW Agriculture specialist for potatoes and processing tomatoes. His current work includes potato extension and vegetable market development.

Stephen is a member of the Advisory Council for the Potato Australia and edits "Eyes on Potatoes" a publication, which he distributes for the potato industry in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory.

Leigh James

District Horticulturist (Vegetables), Windsor
Tel.: (02) 4577 0622, Mob.: 0412 429 418
E-mail: leigh.james@dpi.nsw.gov.au

Leigh James has worked as an extension horticulturist with NSW Agriculture for over 20 years. He has been District Horticulturist (Vegetables) at Windsor, which covers the Sydney basin, for over 13 years. He works with a diverse range of vegetable crops, growing systems and grower's ethnic backgrounds, promoting best practices to attain environmental, farmer and consumer safety.

Leigh was a foundation member of the Sydney Hydroponics Association and served as the inaugural secretary/treasurer. He had 5 years experience associated with commercial hydroponic NFT lettuce production. He has worked for over a decade with greenhouse cucumber & tomatoes and initiated many first ever extension activities for these industries. His expertise assisted in the formation of Greenhouse Vegetables NSW.

Leigh is an experienced Farm Chemical User trainer and qualified SMARTtrain instructor. He is the Chief Investigator of the Horticulture Australia Greenhouse Cucumber & Capsicum Productivity and Profitability project being conducted at the NCGH. He is also a member of the HAL Greenhouse & Hydroponics Waste Water Management project at Gosford.

Tony Napier

District Horticulturist (Vegetables)
Ph: (02) 6951 2796 Mob.: 0427 201 839
E-mail: tony.napier@dpi.nsw.gov.au

Tony Napier has worked as an extension horticulturist at the National Vegetable Industry Centre, Yanco since 1999. Tony previously worked with the Department of Agriculture on a number of projects including Rice research and Lucerne breeding. Current projects include integrated pest management of Lettuce and Sweet corn. The main areas of focus have been helping evaluate biological options for heliothis control, spray application techniques and variety evaluation of lettuce. Tony edits the National Vegetable Industry Centre regular newsletters, which include "Vegie Bites" and "Lettuce Leaf".

David Troldahl

District Horticulturist (Vegetables), Yanco
Tel.: (02) 6951 2546, Mob.: 0447 276997
Email: david.troldahl@dpi.nsw.gov.au

David started as District Horticulturist, Vegetables, at Yanco in February 2009. Prior to this appointment he worked at Yanco for 20 years as a technical officer in plant breeding. He has an excellent knowledge of the Riverina area and its different agricultural industries.

David has begun working closely with the Riverina vegetable industry to help further develop what is already the largest vegetable growing area in NSW. He has started work on projects to help vegetable growers improve their irrigation practices and business management.

Research Staff

Len Tesoriero

Plant Pathologist (Vegetable Diseases), EMAI Camden
Tel: (02) 4640 6406
E-mail: len.tesoriero@dpi.nsw.gov.au

Len Tesoriero has 20 years experience in plant pathology with NSW Agriculture. He specialises in diagnostic plant pathology and integrated disease management of horticultural crops. Much of Len's time is spent at EMAI, Menangle where he runs the Plant Health Diagnostic Service. This service includes pathology support to a number of R&D projects as well as inspections of pre-field production of seed potatoes (minitubers and TechniTubers). Len leads current research projects on disease management of greenhouse vegetables and nursery plants.

Dr Deborah Hailstones

Molecular Biologist (Horticulture)
Tel: (02) 4640 6442
E-mail: deborah.hailstones@dpi.nsw.gov.au

Deborah Hailstones is a molecular biologists who designs and implements molecular (DNA-based) techniques for the detection and typing of plant pathogens (bacteria, viruses, fungi, insects etc) and to characterise plant germplasm. Molecular methods offer improved senstivity, specificity and rapidity over conventional techniques to identify organisms. These features are used to advantage in diagnostic applications, including the molecular detection of exotic pathogens (such as fire blight of pears and apples) and endemic pathogens (such as the discrimination of Phytophthora species in nursery stock).

Research projects to date have included work on mild strain cross protection of Citrus tristeza virus and DNA fingerprinting (genetic profiling) of Citrus rootstocks.