Facilities and resources of the Grafton Primary Industries Institute

The station comprises an area of 830ha with the following facilities:

Three sets of cattle yards; the main set conveniently located adjacent to the office block
Highly improved coastal pastures comprised of kikuyu, setaria, Rhodes grass and white clover
Field staff experienced in pasture development, beef cattle management and broad-acre cropping
A range of agricultural equipment and machinery necessary for the operation of a large scale farming enterprise with workshop support and expertise for maintaining and modifying research equipment
Excellent fencing and a system of internal laneways for the safe and efficient movement of livestock and secured paddocks for crop research
An extensive spray irrigation system
Grain and seed handling facilities including driers, threshers and sorters to suit a range of crop and pasture species
Storage facilities for hay and grain, including cold de-humidified seed storage
A specialised facility for assessing weathering tolerance in soybean
Weed Biological Breeding Facility
Two glass houses for plant propagation and insect breeding
A hothouse and potting shed for plant propagation

Salvinia biocontrol ponds

The National Aquatic Weeds Management Group and the NSW Department of Primary Industries established a salvinia biological control rearing facility at the Grafton Primary Industries Institute. The facility supplies salvinia biological control agents to local control authorities throughout NSW that have salvinia infestations. This is a joint operation between Federal, State and local government. Funds to construct the facility were provided by the Australian Government. NSW DPI provides staff to operate the facility and weed control authorities or local councils that wish to use the facility contribute approx $500 per year to provide the facility with an operating and maintenance budget. Salvinia biological control is an essential component of best practice resulting in less reliance on herbicides and expensive mechanical removal. Therefore this facility provides biological control agents which can provide a long term solution to salvinia control.

This heritage-listed building is used as the Grafton PII administration centre

This heritage-listed building is used as the Grafton PII administration centre
Aquaculture research centre including hatchery with office and laboratory facilities, numerous grow out ponds, water supply from the Clarence River with provision for recycling effluent water
Specialised facilities for conducting studies into aquatic weed ecology

A heritage listed office and administration complex including library
Conference room
Automated weather station. The Bureau of Meteorology weather radar is also located on the station.

Bureau of Meteorology weather radar located at Grafton PII