“Bill has had a huge impact on the local beef industry working closely with producers to bring the latest and most effective techniques and technologies into practice,” said I&I NSW regional director John Williams.

“He has stood with local beef producers through the highs and lows of the last four decades, in droughts and floods, price crashes and disease scares – always providing timely and well-researched advice.”

Mr Gary Want, Orange-based Manager Extensive Livestock Industry Development, said Bill has been a major advocate of crossbreeding in the north coast environment and has played a big role in having the results of highly-regarded Grafton-based research work adopted by industry.

“That has led to significant production gains for beef producers as a result of breeding better-adapted bos indicus cross cattle,” he said.

“Bill has also managed programs for Meat & Livestock Australia and the Beef CRC across all of NSW and southern Australia, on top of his work in the northern coastal areas.

“That work has focussed on producing more beef from pastures and boosting profitability for beef cattle producers,” said Mr Want.

“The many field days and producer meetings Bill organises each year are highlights on the calendar for the local industry.”

Mr Want said Bill’s informative 12-page quarterly newsletter Beef News has been distributed to more than 1300 local beef producers for the past 24 years and is one of the longest running and consistently-produced agricultural newsletters in the country. The next issue will be out before Bill retires.

“Bill has also been a mentor for staff, providing valuable guidance, and is highly regarded by his colleagues across all sections of the Department,” he said.

Bill’s last day of duty will be Friday March 12, 2010 and a farewell has been arranged for Thursday March 18 in Casino. Friends and colleagues who wish to attend are invited to RSVP to Robyn Dietrich on 6662 2288.