Staff work closely with other research organisations such as research and development corporations, cooperative research centres, CSIRO and a number of universities, as well as agricultural industry groups and Catchment Management Authorities.

The Institute has a strong record in attracting external funding to support its research and extension activities. This figure has grown from close to $4 million in 2001/2002 to $6.4 million in 2005/06.

• E.H. Graham Centre (NSW DPI and Charles Sturt University (CSU)).
  
• National Wine and Grape Industry Centre (NSW DPI, CSU, the NSW Wine Industry Association and Deakin University.)
  
• NSW Agricultural Genomics Centre (NSW DPI, CSIRO Plant Industry and Macquarie University, funded by BioFirst biotechnology strategy of NSW government).
  
• Enterprise Grains Australia (NSW DPI, Queensland DPI and GRDC).
  
• Barley Breeding Australia
  
• Canola Alliance (NSW DPI, GRDC, Nugrain, PlantTech)
  
• Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) for Australian Weed Management
  
• CRC for Plant-Based Management of Dryland Salinity
  
• CRC for Value Added Wheat
  
• CRC for Viticulture
  
• CRC for Cattle and Beef Quality
  
• Rothamsted Research Institute, Rothamsted, UK
  
• Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
  
• Lanzhou University, China
  
• Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research – China, Tibet, North Korea
  
• National Agriculture Research Institute, Eritrea
  
• Regional Farming Systems Groups – Farmlink, Riverine Plains, Central West Farming Systems
  
• Agribusiness – Wesfarmers Landmark, Ag and Vet
  
• Catchment Management Authorities – Murrumbidgee, Murray, Central-West. Lachlan