email us
   
 
1985
B.Ag.Sci. from UWA
 
1985
employed by Department of Agriculture
 
1996
Landcarer of the year in WA
 
2002
M.Sci. from UWA
 
2003
Honorary Life Member of WANTFA
 
2003
Associate Member of AAAC
 
  2006
GRDC Seed of Light Award
   
   
   
   

About us

Bill Crabtree
(B.Ag.Sci., M.Sc. UWA)

Known as "No-Till Bill" for his enthusiasm for no-tillage and the role he played in the Western Australian no-tillage revolution. Bill began his career with the WA Dept of Ag as a researcher into "Minimum tillage for wind erodable soils" in his home erosion-swept town of Jerramungup.

Now Jerramungup is a leader in the adoption of no-till cropping systems. He then extended this work to farmers in Esperance and the rest of the state which led to him receiving the "Landcarer of the year award in WA" in 1996.

Bill spent a year in Canada in 1996, learning how they do no-tillage. While there he co-edited their book Advancing the Art of Zero Tillage which is on the ManDak website.

He returned to WA as the Scientific Officer for the WA No-Till Farmers Association for a 5.5-year term.

Bill is now a consultant specializing in no-tillage technologies based in Cannington WA. His home state now boasts an 90% adoption of no-tillage and no-tillage has dramatically improved WA's production, especially in the recent droughts.

Bill received the prestigious GRDC's Western Panel Seed of Light Award in 2006 for excellence in communication. This was particularly for the role in extending information on no-tillage and biotechnology.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Above: Bill and Jon Crabtree competing in the Avon Descent

In December 2007 Bill purchased 3,200 hectares of York Gum farmland at NE Morawa and has been working closely with his older brother Geoff with great financial support from his father James Crabtree.

Bill also:

  • plays guitar and sings in a band
  • has completed 3 Avon descents
  • coaches sports and walks with Monique