Dr Karl Behrendt

Karl has over 20 years industry experience in the field of agribusiness management consulting, extension and research. He holds a Bachelor of Rural Science, Graduate Diploma in Agricultural Economics and a Doctor of Philosophy, all from the University of New England. Karl undertakes research and teaching in the fields of bioeconomic modelling of grazing and mixed farming systems (including integrated weed management) through simulation and stochastic dynamic programming, farm management economics and extension, rural finance and risk management, marketing and sustainable landscape management. He is currently involved in sustainable grazing systems research in China, Mongolia and Australia, as well as being the Australian representative and lead researcher in the international agri benchmark network which undertakes the international comparative analysis of Australian beef and sheep farms.

Since joining CSU in 2008 Karl has coordinated annual Agribusiness Today Forums in partnership with Regional Development Australia Central West. Karl is focused on developing the agribusiness and agricultural economic research capacity and profile of the school.

Prior to joining CSU Karl operated a agricultural consulting firm for over 10 years, which serviced rural clients, conducted research, training and extension activities throughout the central west of NSW. Karl has also previously been employed as an agricultural consultant at Wagga, a rural financial counsellor at Scone, farm management advisory officer at Tocal Agricultural College, and as an economist with the NSW Department of Primary Industries at Goulburn.

Teaching Interests

Dr Behrendt lectures in the following subjects:

• AGB450 Agricultural Business Risk and Investment
• AGB575/AGR375 Agribusiness Planning Post Graduate
• AGB581 Agricultural Business Management Dissertation

Research Interests

• Bioeconomic modelling and analysis of agricultural and ecological systems
• Grazing and livestock production systems modelling
• Farm management and Agribusiness economics and efficiency analysis
• Agribusiness planning, risk management and analysis
• Economics of technology adoption in farming
• Decision support tools for agriculture

Current Research Projects

• 2016-2018 Strengthening incentives for improved grassland management in China and Mongolia. Funded by ACIAR $1,780,000 (CSU $365,000). Collaborating scientists: D Kemp (CSU), C Brown (UQ), J Addison (CSIRO), J Bennett (ANU), S Waldron (UQ)
• 2011-2016 Sustainable Livestock Grazing Systems on Chinese Temperate Grasslands. Funded by ACIAR $1,331,528. Collaborating scientists: D Kemp (CSU), D Michalk (NSW DPI), T Takahashi (Uni Tokyo), W Badgery (NSW DPI), C Langford, G Millar.
• 2015 Agribenchmark: Beef and Sheep networks. Funded by MLA $40,000.
• 2014-2016 Improving adoption of management strategies for summer perennial weeds through effective engagement processes. Funded by MLA $586,000. Collaborating scientists: Hanwen Wu (NSW DPI), Phil Bowden (Murrumbidgee Landcare Inc.), Vaughan Higgins (CSU/IWLS).
• 2015 Determining the value of ground cover to limit serrated tussock invasion. Funded by NSW Weeds Action Program $127,013. Collaborating Scientists: Warwick Badgery (NSW DPI), Aaron Simmons (NSW DPI).
• 2014-2015 Overdependence on Agrochemicals. Funded by GRDC $74,000. Collaborating groups: Central West Farming Systems (lead), Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation.
• 2015-2016 Development of FarmEcon analysis module for economic assessment of mixed farm biophysical simulations. Funded by Murray LLS $20,000. Collaborating scientists: Michael Cashen (NSW DPI), Phil Graham (NSW DPI), Kim Broadfoot (NSW DPI), Anthony Clark (NSW DPI).

Research Students

PhD Current

• Jane Kelly "Impact of weed seeds on carcase quality in sheep meat enterprises".  2015-1019
• Sosheel Godfrey "Traditional domestic milk value chains and dairy policy environment in Pakistan" 2010-2015

Masters Current

• Shana Wilkinson "Optimising the use of key performance indicators in Corporate Farming Systems: relationships with enterprise scale and the adaption potential of alternate industry indicators" 2015

Professional Memberships

• Member of Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society
• Member of Australian Society of Animal Production
• Member of The Grasslands Society of NSW Inc.
• Member of The Grasslands Society of Southern Australia
• Member of Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand

Other Professional Activities

• Organising Committee (Co-chair), Agribusiness Today Forums, CSU in conjunction with Regional Development Australia Central West
• Editorial Board, International Journal of Agricultural Management

Recent Publications

View Dr Behrendt's publications on CRO.

View Dr Behrendt's past publications.