NSW Department of Primary Industries

DPI Open Day to celebrate 65 years of Ag R&D in Narrabri

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24 Apr 2023

The NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) will swing open the gates to its Australian Cotton Research Institute (ACRI) in Narrabri on Saturday, 13 May 2023 and welcome the community to join in celebration to mark 65 years of primary industries research at the site.

NSW DPI Narrabri Institute Director, Rod Jackson said staff are excited to invite the local community and other stakeholders to the DPI open day, which will showcase their achievements in cotton and grain research as well as the economic and social contribution DPI makes to the region.

“DPI is pleased to be able to welcome the community to view our world-class facilities, learn about current research and development programs as well as hear about our rich history and ongoing commitment to creating stronger primary industries,” Mr Jackson said.

“Since being established in 1958, the DPI ACRI has played a vital role in ensuring the cotton and broadacre cropping industries continue to be productive, profitable and sustainable.

“This 65 year milestone reminds us of the important, and broad, research and development we undertake here at Narrabri and DPI’s commitment to deliver world renowned research and development that maximises outcomes for NSW primary industries and the communities they support.”

Some of the achievements at the DPI ACRI include:

  • The development of over 100 different cotton varieties with world-leading yields, due to superior disease resistance and fibre quality traits.
  • The development of integrated pest management (IPM) products for use in cotton and other broadacre crops such as new biological pesticide products and an insect behaviour modifying product that can be used to control sucking pests on cotton, macadamias and other agricultural crops.
  • Long term research trials that track the changes in key agricultural sustainability measures such as water use, nutrient management and soil carbon under different production rotations and systems.
  • Research programs specialising in weed management and herbicide damage in cotton.
  • Research into cotton and grains insect pesticide resistance surveillance program, cotton and grains integrated farming systems programs, fall army worm insecticide management program, cotton pathology surveillance and pulse and cereal pathology
  • The release of WEEDpak, a comprehensive manual for weed management in cotton.

The open day will be held on Saturday 13 May 2023 from 9:00am to 3:30pm at the DPI ACRI, which is located on Wee Waa Road, Narrabri. It will consist of farm tours, talks and demonstrations by DPI and CSIRO staff as well as historical displays and food stalls and other fun activities.

A workshop organised by DPI’s Farm Business Resilience Program will also be held on attracting, retaining, and developing skilled agricultural staff.

For more information, visit the DPI website, www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/openday.

Media contact: 02 6391 3686

www.dpi.nsw.gov.au