A crop of Moonlight field peas. Photo: Eric Armstrong

Research staff at Wagga Wagga Agricultural Institute (WWAI) are divided between:

• plant improvement (breeding and selection for improved yield and quality for wheat, barley, canola, lupins, annual and perennial pasture species), and,
  
• improved management of agricultural systems (soil fertility, weed science, plant pathology, entomology, ruminant nutrition, pasture and crop agronomy).
  

There are also scientists who specialise in:

• plant protection (entomology and plant pathology),
  
• soil management and plant nutrition,
  
• hydrology including the management of recharge and dryland salinity, and,
  
• economics and marketing. All of these are supported by world class biometric services.

Southern farming systems

WWAI carries out research into the profitability and sustainability of dryland farming systems in southern NSW, particularly the management of soils – nutrition, sodic and acid soils; and on filling feed gaps in mixed-farming enterprises with grazing cereals, pastures and alternative crops. ...more about Farming Systems research unit

Plant breeding

WWAI has been at the forefront of plant breeding in NSW for many years with the state based spring and winter wheat, barley, lupin and canola programs housed here.

Viticulture

Grape harvest, including leaves and and shoots. Photo: Michael Dignand

The National Wine & Grape Industry Centre (NWGIC) which supports the viticulture industry across the state is a collaborative venture between the two organisations, and has been in existence since 1997. This forms part of NSW DPI's Viticulture Unit.

Collaboration

Co-location with Charles Sturt University (CSU)’s Wagga Wagga campus allows complementary and collaborative provision of research services and access to postgraduate students.

In 2005, WWAI and CSU launched another partnership - the E.H. Graham Centre - utilising staff from both organisations to enhance the ability to attract competitive project funding for research, education, extension and training.

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 WWAI include:

Systems Research (branch)  
Farming Systems (unit)

Health Sciences, Strategic Alliances and Evaluation
Plant Health Sciences
Weeds Research

Resources Research
Salinity and Catchment Hydrology
Soils and Recycled Organics

Rural Innovation
Pulse and Oilseed Genetics and Improvement
Cereal Genetics and Improvement
Pasture Genetics and Improvement

Research Operations
Regional Diagnostic Laboratories
Biometrics