Our major objectives are to improve the quality, profitability and sustainability of deciduous fruit, wool and sheep meat production, minimise the impacts of weeds in crops, pastures and natural ecosystems, reduce salinity through improved management of recharge areas, reduce the incidence of diseases in domestic livestock, and limit the effects of vertebrate pests on production and the environment.

Our approach to achieve profitable agriculture for a better environment covers a wide range of research activities including genetic improvement of sheep and fruit trees, development and timing of farming operations that incorporate integrated management practices (including biological methods) to minimise the use of chemical to control diseases, weeds and other pests, and the formulation of grazing management systems to increase productivity of both native and sown pastures all complemented by research that targets environmental problems such as salinity, acidity and loss of biodiversity.

Key research units

NSW DPI has research units spread across various locations. For example, the Weeds Research unit has research staff based in Orange, Wagga Wagga, Narrabri, Grafton and Tamworth.

Some of the units located at Orange Agricultural Institute include:

Systems Research (branch) 
Pastures and Rangelands (unit)

Health Sciences, Strategic Alliances and Evaluation
Vertebrate Pests
Weeds Research

Rural Innovation
Sheep Genetics and Improvement

Research Operations
Regional Diagnostic Laboratories

Our DPI satellites

To achieve our goals we collaborate closely with satellite facilities at Cowra and Bathurst.

The Cowra Agricultural Research and Advisory Station supports the cropping and prime lamb industries of the central western slopes with emphasis on crop rotations, tillage systems and meat quality research.

At the Bathurst Agricultural Research and Advisory Station research and extension is mainly focused on deciduous horticulture including pome and stone fruits and berries, with an increasing focus on organic agriculture.