tasglobal seeds consists of Bob Reid and Robert Dent. Bob and Robert together bring a wealth of skills and knowledge to ensure that the best plant varieties are made available to the farmer and land manager.

Bob has over 40 years experience in agriculture and has an international reputation in plant collecting and pasture germ plasm research and development. Bob has worked in over 20 countries and was formerly Head of Field Program of the International Board for Plant and Genetic Resources and Director of Agriculture in the Falkland Islands.

Robert gained first class honours in Agricultural Science from the University of Tasmania and is a Nuffield Scholar. He is a specialist in high value seed production and is well known for innovation in seed cleaning, drying and handling.

tasglobal seeds has over 60 years of combined experience in seed production and processing, and herbage plant cultivar development.

tasglobal seeds is in partnership with the Tasmanian Institute of Agricultural Research (TIAR) and the Tasmanian Department of Primary Industry and Water (DPIW) to undertake research and promote our jointly developed grass and legume cultivars.

In recent times we have both undertaken, or through our TIAR collegues, had access to unique germplasm collected in Azerbaijan, Kazakstan and Spain.

Cressy Research and Demonstration Station (CRDS)

CRDS, located in the Northern Midlands of Tasmania, just south of the township of Cressy, is the southernmost broad-acreagricultural research station in Australia. The station comprises approximately 483 Ha of a diverse mix of three soil classes. These are light red sandy loam on the rises, grey loam and a fertile, heavy black clay usually found in lower lying areas. These soils are representative of the general types found in the Northern Midlands. Brumby ’s Creek (arguably one of the best trout fishing waters in Australia - some say the world!), denoting the western boundary, is the source of irrigation water. The average annual rainfall is 640mm.

Current projects being undertaken at CRDS include:

• Pasture plant cultivar development
• Pasture plant cultivar comparative assessment including animal production performance
• Grain legume and oil seed evaluation v Water use efficiency
• Quarantine facility for captive Tasmanian Devils as part of the ‘Save the Tasmanian Devil Program’

The full team (left to right): Bob Reid (tasglobal seeds), Stuart Smith (DPIN), Gary Martin (TIAR), Rob Dent (tasglobal seeds), Andrea Hurst and Eric Hall (TIAR).

Bob Reid and Rob Dent at AGFEST 2005.