New centre in NSW to focus on improving grain yields in dry conditions

Digital agriculture, heat-tolerant crops and robotic farming will be explored at the new centre.

Future bright: NSW Farmers grains committee chairman Matthew Madden said the centre would further improve drought and heat tolerance, crown rot resistance and the pre-breeding and development of varieties with greater yield potential and improved disease resistance.

The NSW grains industry has been given a significant boost with the announcement of a new research centre, which it is hoped will help growers produce crops through difficult drought conditions.

Digital agriculture, heat-tolerant crops and robotic farming will be explored ­following the announcement of the new multi-million-­dollar International Centre of Crop and Digital Farming.

NSW Farmers grains committee chairman Matthew Madden welcomed the announcement.

He said the centre was a boost for key research using overseas germ plasm, to further improve drought and heat tolerance, crown rot resistance and the pre-breeding and development of varieties with greater yield potential and improved disease resistance.

“The drought has been devastating for grain growers in NSW, with many not having a decent crop since 2016,” Mr Madden said.

“Average wheat production over the last 10 years is about 8.3 million tonnes and production has been below one million tonnes in the last two years due to drought.”

Mr Madden said it was also important producers were made aware of the advances in digital agriculture.

“Robotics will have a place and sound research will help to ensure actual productivity and efficiency gain,” he said.

The $12 million centre will be based at the 2000ha University of Sydney Plant Breeding Institute, north of Narrabri in central-west NSW.

NSW Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW John Barilaro announced $9.45 million in state government funding to support the new centre on site in Narrabri.

The University of Sydney with the Wheat Research Foundation is investing $1.5 million and the Grains Research Development Corporation will contribute $1 million.

“We’ve seen the devastating impacts that this record drought has had on farmers and communities across regional NSW and the research that will be undertaken at this new centre will help boost our resilience to future dry spells,” Mr Barilaro said.

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