As per the GGA constitution, the vacancy for a director in GGA's zone two, which centres on central and southern NSW has been filled by Steve Hargreaves, a farmer from Boree Creek in the Riverina, with Mr Hargreaves appointed by the board to fill the casual vacancy left by Mr Mangelsdorf.

The board has the power to reappoint Mr Hargreaves at next month’s AGM without the decision going to a vote of Zone 2 members, as there is not due to be another Zone 2 election until 2011.

Mr Hargreaves, who runs a 2400ha property, has been a member of the GGA regional committee and is well regarded by the GGA board.

Mr Mangelsdorf's decision to resign comes as no surprise for those in GGA circles.

Last June his fellow directors unceremoniously voted him out of the chairman's chair under mysterious circumstances.

No explanation was given for the decision, although industry rumour centred on an issue with Mr Mangelsdorf failing to stand down from his GrainCorp directorship as other GGA board members had.

However, current chairman John Eastburn paid tribute to Mr Mangelsdorf.

"Dan has made an enormous contribution to GGA as a Director, including helping to set the Association on its current path forward for the next five years," Mr Eastburn said.

Mr Mangelsdorf's passion for and knowledge of the grains industry led to his appointment in 2008 to the Federal Government’s Wheat Industry Expert Group and he is currently the deputy chairman of GrainCorp Limited.