James DeBarro
James De Barro has worked as a private consultant in the lucerne industry since 1989. In this time he has refined his knowledge of irrigated and dryland lucerne seed production and has particular interests in pollination, soil moisture monitoring and irrigation scheduling as well as integrated pest management. As an entomologist James has developed and tested numerous concepts relating to pest management and has written and spoken on this topic on many occasions. In 2001 James completed a seed wasp research project named ‘Living with the enemy’ which focused on the integrated pest management techniques required for this lucerne seed pest. James has published a number of research findings in reports on an eclectic range of topics such as seed quality, crop water balances, irrigation delivery technology, pest management and olive production. James is one of Australia’s leading independent and private researchers and is aptly referred to as a myth buster. In 1999 James was awarded a Churchill Fellowship to study the commercial pollination of lucerne in North America. In particular James studied the comparative commercial uses of European honey bees, leafcutter bees and alkali bees to pollinate lucerne seed crops in the USA and Canada.
Shane Oster
Shane Oster owned and operated a successful consulting business prior to the formation of The Alpha group in 2007. Shane grew up on lucerne farms firstly in the Langhorne Creek area, then later at Keith. Lucerne hay in small square bales at Langhorne Creek, and then seed production at Keith. After graduating from Roseworthy Agricultural College in 1996 Shane worked at home on his parents farm for a short stint before commencing work with a local consulting firm, Wally Cole & Co.
After working with Wally for four years Shane took over the consulting side of the business which was successfully run for six years before the formation of The Alpha Group.
Shane is married and lives in the Keith township with his wife Kirralie.
Scott Manser
Scott Manser started with Alpha Group Consulting in 2008, taking on an agronomy role. Scott comes from a lucerne seed and mixed cropping farming background and has lived in the local area most of his life. Scott completed his Bachelor of Agriculture with Adelaide University in 2004. Scott brings three years of agronomy experience to the Alpha Group Consulting team.
