Deniliquin, with a population of 8000, is the largest town in the 1.7 million ha Murray Irrigation Area. The then Department of Agriculture* opened an office in Deniliquin in 1940 to provide agricultural advice to farmers of the newly established Murray Valley irrigation schemes. Irrigation enabled the expansion of existing agricultural practices such as wool and meat production and the establishment of new industries such as horticulture, dairying and rice growing. Trials were conducted to evaluate cereal varieties, pasture mixes, and to demonstrate agronomic management and water control measures.

One consequence of the application of additional irrigation water to poorly-drained soils was an increased incidence of water-logging. Conversely, irrigation of the more porous soils contributed to a rise in watertable levels and the mobilisation of soluble salts into the root zone. The combination of these two conditions, first recognised in the 1950s, can significantly decrease crop yields. Best management practices were investigated and these issues continue to be monitored and addressed.

• In the 1960s collaboration between the Department of Agriculture and the Deniliquin CSIRO Pastoral Laboratory resulted in the development of soil amelioration techniques to overcome establishment problems in pasture production on various soil types in the district.
• Salinity and waterlogging research has been conducted since the ratification of the Salinity Agreement by Federal and State Governments in the 1980s.

The Murray Valley Research and Advisory Unit was formed in 1983 with new offices completed at the Charlotte Street site in 1985. In 1987 the Murray Valley Field Station was purchased. The high watertable on the property suited the Department’s research objectives of determining more efficient and environmentally sustainable irrigation farming practices in southern New South Wales. The field station was used for various trial programs, including rice varietal trials until the decision was made to pass ownership of the field station to the Deniliquin community and divide NSW DPI trials between the field station and collaborating farmers’ properties.

*NSW Department of Primary Industries was formed on July 1, 2004 through an amalgamation of NSW Agriculture, NSW Fisheries, State Forests of NSW and the NSW Department of Mineral Resources.