About Us

Agronomy. Research. Consulting. 

Crop Circle Consulting and Research is an independent research agronomy firm, based in Geraldton, the central hub of the northern agricultural region of Western Australia. The Crop Circle research team combine attention to detail and rigorous methodology to test new plant breeding material, fertilisers and pesticide chemistry in a variable Mediterranean climate.

The region is a world leader in lupin (lupinus angustifolius) production, as well as producing quality hard and noodle wheats, malting and feed barley, canola, chickpeas, oats, triticale and grazing pastures.

The region ranges from light textured grey sandy soils, through to deep loamy sand yellow sandplain soils, acidic wodjil soils, red loamy sand soils through to heavy red clay loam soils overlying limestone.

Grant Thompson

Grant Thompson

Director and Agronomist

Director and Agronomist Grant Thompson has been working as a researcher, agronomist and consultant to farmers in the northern agricultural region for almost 25 years.

     

    Highlights of Crop Circles Research include

    • Research and extension into liquid fertiliser equipment and application. This work led to the importation of liquid fertiliser distribution equipment and tow behind liquid fertiliser carts for many famers in the WA grain growing belt.
    • Developing farming systems to combat climate variability using fallow and residual herbicides. This work culminated in a 3 year, 3 location, 3400 plot project funded by the GRDC.
    • Studies of nutrient distribution patterns in the no-till systems for precision furrow placement and interception of residual nutrients.
    • Spot spraying herbicide applications – a multi location project to determine alternative herbicides for effective spot spraying of hard to kill and resistant weeds in summer and winter fallow.
    • Testing manganese Sources for prevention of Split Seed syndrome in Lupinus Angustifolius

    Currently Crop Circle Research is focusing its work on

    • Evaluation of Canola, Wheat and Barley for Plant breeding companies
    • Testing herbicide tolerance and efficacy of new herbicides pre and post registration in a range of cereal, pulse and oilseed crops
    • MRL studies for new chemicals
    • Evaluating new fertiliser products and practices for local and international fertiliser companies
    • General agronomy management strategy trials
    • Agricultural machinery evaluations
    • Horticulture pesticide and fertiliser evaluations.
    Chloe Paterson

    Chloe Paterson

    Chloe is responsible for ARM protocol and report writing, statistical analysis and systems and data management in the Crop Circle office, as well as conducting field research activities during the season.

    She grew up on a grain and livestock farm in the Wheatbelt, before moving to Geraldton to complete her schooling. Chloe is currently 70% of the way through studying a Bachelor of Agricultural Business Management at Charles Sturt University and has 3 years experience with Crop Circle.

     

    Julie Weir

    Julie Weir

    Julie hails from Tenindewa where her family farmed. She has an Associate Diploma in Farm Management from Orange Agricultural College (Charles Sturt University) and has a wealth of experience including:

    • The Department of Agriculture in South Perth in Plant Pathology
    • On-farm and CBH
    • Department of Agriculture in Geraldton covering various roles including 2 farmer surveys
    • Farmer Cooperatives in the eastern states (3) – Shepherds Producers; Pivot Ltd (now Incitec Pivot) and Walgett Special One. She was involved in setting up the grain department with Pivot, buying and selling grain, storage and delivery across the SE of Australia to producers and end-users.
    • Regional and project development with Regional Development Australia
    • Funding and tender writing with Clayton+Weir, a private consultancy business. 

    Julie joined CCC in June 2022 to assist the research agronomists in conducting and evaluating field trials as well as support report and tender writing.

     

    Jack Sawyer

    Jack Sawyer

    Jack grew up on a family farm at Xantippe before completing the ATAR course at the WA College of Agriculture at Cunderdin. Doing well in his studies, Jack received a principal’s recommendation to attend the Charles Sturt Bachelor of Agricultural Business Management at Muresk.

    Following, Jack worked at Australian Grain Technologies (AGT) as a field and laboratory technician whilst he completed his degree in 2018. Jack spent over 4 years at AGT across all field operations especially breeding trial care and management.

    As Senior Field Research Agronomist Jack manages the Plant Breeding and Variety Performance research arm of Crop Circle Consulting. Jack is passionate about plant breeding and is a keen follower of the NVT program. Jack commenced with CCC this year after 3 years at Australian Grain Technologies in Northam, WA., as a Field Research Agronomist. He is now an integral part of the CCC team.

     

    Vaan Hu

    Vaan Hu

    Vaan has recently completed a Master of Agricultural Science at the University of Western Australia with prior studies at the University of Florida and the South China Agricultural University, majoring in Breeding and Genetics, Biotechnology, Data Management and analysis in Natural sciences.

    As a graduate Research Agronomist, he recently completed a work experience program with Nufarm in field trials, and joins the Crop Circle team to take on the crop protection side of the CCC research program.

     

    Learn more about our research project work.

    Testimonials

    Grant Thompson (Thomo) has been an integral part of the Critch Family farm at Tenindewa for over 10 years. Thomo has a good understanding of the challenges faced by farmers in our region having grown up on a farm north of Mullewa.

    Thomo is always looking to improve the profitability of our business and is a leader in agronomic research in the northern ag region. We have enjoyed working with Thomo in the past and to continue this for years to come. 

    Tim Critch, Wyalong Farm, Tenindewa

    Waringa Farming has been using Grant Thompson from Crop Circle Consulting since 2009. Grant has played a big part in our business by providing independent agronomic consulting to Waringa.  Grant works with us to provide the agronomic knowledge, new ideas and a second opinion and this has been important to our business to ensure we make the right agronomic decisions. 

    As Grant has been brought up in a low rainfall and large broad acre farming environment we believe this experience together with his agronomic accumen combined gives him great knowledge to advise and assist us to make the right decision.

    John Warr, Waringa Farming Co, Yuna

    I have worked closely with Grant over the past 15 years, he has been instrumental in all aspects of his agronomy advise adding a huge amount of value to our business. His vast knowledge gives me all the confidence I need.

    Nick Green

    Want to know more? Get in touch with us.