New Queensland cropping research facility to be the Nation's Largest
7/11/2017
Former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, Barnaby Joyce and the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) announced that the 740-hectare property on the Condamine River, south-west of Toowoomba is to become one of Australia's biggest cropping research stations.
Former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, Barnaby Joyce and the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) announced that the 740-hectare property on the Condamine River, south-west of Toowoomba is to become one of Australia's biggest cropping research stations.The federal government and the GRDC through the Grains and Cropping R&D Trust co-invested $11 million to see that the Darling Downs farm becomes the epicentre for Queensland grains and cropping research.
In 2016-17, it was estimated the gross value of production of Queensland's grains and crops to be around $4 billion, apart from sugar and cotton, some of the leading contributors are wheat, chickpeas and sorghum crops.
The goal is to develop the Queensland farming property into world-class grain applied research, development and extension (RD&E) facility, which will then be operated by the trust on behalf of Australian grain growers.
Then Deputy Prime Minister Joyce mentioned that the co-investment highlighted Queensland's and northern NSW's importance to the national grains industry and the necessity for continuous, grass-roots driven research, development and engineering.
Moreover, due to an advantageous location in one of the country's prime agricultural areas which happened to be close to the established scientific research institutions, the world-class grains research facility will have high importance to the cropping sector.
He emphasised that the facility would focus on issues such as new technology, crop genetics and weed control. It will also address issues regarding boosting the growers' farmgate profits and bolstering competitiveness globally.
The research facility has been located strategically to allow both summer and winter farming methods that are significant not just to Queensland grain growers but nationally.
GRDC Chairman John Woods assures the facility will be open to both public and private organisations to undertake R&D. It is to ensure the enduring profitability for all Australian grain growers.
Mr Wood said that the facility would be the key to Queensland's connection to breeding programs as well as research into abiotic and biotic traits, water, soil, weed and modelling.
He further explained that the 740 hectares would be one of the biggest cropping research station in Australia meaning that researchers will have the capability and capacity to run efficient short and long-term trials.
The property has significant on-farm water storage and bore and river irrigation systems.
With its water security, it will broaden the scope and reliability of research options. Moreover, it will enable focused, innovative RD&E that will address significant constraints and challenges to farm profitability in the region.
The GRDC chairman said that the investment is strategic due to its location to be near established Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) grains research centres in Warwick and Toowoomba. Not only that, but the facility is also near to key research partners like University of Queensland (UQ), University of Southern Queensland (USQ) and CSIRO.
Mr Wood elaborated that while the DAF and GRDC were co-investors in the Trust with the aim of developing the "fit-for-purpose" property, the facility will be administered by a trustee company, Queensland Crop Research Limited (QCR).
