PETER Woods has been doing a lot of acting for two years - for the same group but under different names.

Mr Woods was appointed acting chief executive officer of the Wheat Export Authority on January 1 last year after the resignation of Glenn Taylor.

Eight months later, the Coalition Government changed the name to the Export Wheat Commission and Mr Woods also served as its acting chief.

The new Labor Government changed the name to Wheat Exports Australia and, again, Mr Woods was its acting boss.

His acting career ended last week when he was appointed chief executive in his own right.

$7m GPS for Victoria

THE State Government is spending $7 million to establish a satellite navigation system for rural Victoria.

Announcing funding for the GPSnet system in the Wimmera last week, Environment and Climate Change Minister Gavin Jennings said the network could save Victorian agriculture more than $400 million over two decades.

Agriculture Minister Joe Helper said the GPSnet technology could be used for tractor and harvester guidance systems.

"It will enable far more accurate dispersal of seed and fertiliser and more efficient harvesting, resulting in yield improvements of 10 to 20 per cent," Mr Helper said.

The GPSnet system will be built in stages by 2011.

Gerogery field day

OAT breeder Pamela Zwer will address farmer's questions at the Gerogery field day next week.

Dr Zwer, principal plant breeder at the South Australian Research and Development Institute, will give an update on oat breeding work.

Other speakers will discuss new wheat, canola and triticale varieties. Triticale breeder Jeremy Roake will talk about triticale varieties and the new rust strains attacking them.

The field day will be held on Evan Moll's property on the Fielder-Moll Rd, Gerogery West, from 1.15pm to 4.30pm on Thursday, November 6.

For further details, contact Janet Walker at the NSW Department of Primary Industries on (02) 6051 7700.

Send grain news to Peter Hemphill, The Weekly Times, PO Box 14999, Melbourne, 8001, email hemphillp@theweeklytimes.com.au or fax (03) 9292 2697.