Overview
The North West Plains contains some of the most highly productive and sought-after agricultural land in NSW. The alluvial landscape north and west of the Nandewar Range supports a diverse range of agricultural industries that place a high value on the region’s water supply and topography. The high success of broadacre cropping in the area flows on to successful livestock production, primarily beef. Beef production complements cropping through maximising use of crop residues, utilising areas which cannot be cropped and value adding grain produced as a feed source in feedlots.
The Australian Cotton Research Institute (ACRI) is located between Narrabri and Wee Waa in the centre of New South Wales' main cotton production areas.
Research activities at the ACRI have played a key role in the development of cotton in New South Wales and Queensland. Scientists at ACRI are assisting the cotton industry to develop a sustainable future based on productivity and best practice natural resource, disease and pest management.
The Institute is located on the banks of the Namoi River. The site consists of 277 hectares of land with 183 hectares being irrigated. It includes glasshouses, laboratories, cotton gin, controlled environment growth rooms, insectaries, workshops and conference rooms.
In 2021 the NSW Government announced the Food and Fibre Infrastructure Program. The NSW government will invest close to $100 million in the state’s primary industries research and innovation portfolio to help bolster on-farm productivity and protect the $15 billion sector from devastating pests and diseases.
At the DPI Narrabri site, the Food and Fibre Infrastructure Program aims to support cotton and cropping research, biosecurity emergency management to protect primary industries and improve research and human safety.
Our research
ACRI is the primary centre for the Australian cotton industry. R&D activities aim to deliver improved productivity & sustainable natural resource management.
Our facilities & services
The Institute has a range of research, education, farming and community resources.
Visit, events and learn
ACRI offers various event, visit and engagement activities for producers, students and the broader community.
Key Programs and Initiatives
More Profit from Nitrogen cotton research project
The project investigated management strategies to improve cotton nitrogen use efficiency. Final report available.
World-Class Food and Fibre Infrastructure Program
The NSW Government will invest almost $100 million in the State’s primary industries research and innovation portfolio to help bolster on-farm productivity and protect the $15 billion sector from devastating pests and diseases.
SQNNSW Innovation Hub
ACRI is one of six nodes for the UniSQ-led Southern Queensland and Northern New South Wales (SQNNSW) Hub is one of eight national Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hubs
Farms of the Future
The Farms of the Future program will deliver on-farm connectivity and encourage farmers to adopt ag tech to boost productivity and improve resource management, including water efficiency and drought preparedness
Moree Special Activation Precinct
The Special Activation Precinct will foster world class opportunities to value-add, embrace new technologies and develop innovative energy solutions.
Local Land Services - North West
Visit the North West Local Land Services which is located at 101 Barwan Street, Narrabri.
Work with Us
Completing the Research Station Request for Opportunity form assists DPI staff to respond to requests against DPI availability on site.
Request for opportunity formOur region and output
Agriculture is a key industry for the North West Plains economically. The area is particularly important for cotton, broadacre cropping, beef, sheep and wool, poultry, fruits and nuts. The North West Plains is 40,990 km² in area and incorporates Moree Plains, Narrabri, Gunnedah and Liverpool Plains councils.
While the North West Plains is just 5.9% of NSWs agricultural production area, it produced 40% value of NSW cotton, over 60% of NSW chickpeas and nearly 80% of NSW sorghum.
The North West Plains has a distinct advantage of large unfragmented areas needed to achieve economies of scale that support agriculture. This coupled with high quality soil and good water access lays the foundations for a strong profitable agricultural sector that underpins the region’s economy
The following table shows the Gross Value of Production for the region in 2010-2021
| Production | Value | % Share of NSW |
| Cattle and calves | 402,436,141 | 15% |
| Cotton lint | 102,180,866 | 58% |
| Wheat | 76,796,343 | 12% |
| Sheep and lambs | 72,896,080 | 5% |
| Poultry | 54,094,360 | 6% |
| Wool | 38,928,239 | 5% |
| Barley | 33,972,363 | 12% |
| Milk | 25,404,775 | 4% |
| Sorghum | 23,410,835 | 79% |
| Oats | 15,614,237 | 21% |
| Total primary industries | 962,741,644 | 8% |
More details on North West Plains Region Primary Production Data
Our climate
The Australian Cotton Research Institute (149°47′E, 30°13′S) in north-western NSW Australia has a semi-arid climate. Situated on an alluvial floodplain elevation is 212m above sea level. The hottest month is January (mean daily maxima and minima of 34.3 and 20°C, respectively) and July the coolest (mean daily maxima and minima of 17.8 and 4°C, respectively). Mean annual rainfall is 568 mm and is summer dominant.
The ACRI has historical weather station records dating back to 1960. Currently there are a number of OzForecast on-site weather stations that measure a wide variety of climate details - including humidity and radiation. This information can be found at https://ozforecast.com.au/cgi-bin/weather.cgi?station=Myall+Vale.NSW
Our history
The Australian Cotton Research Institute was established by the State government in 1958 to research grains, cotton and pastures.
In 1972 CSIRO moved staff to ACRI from Canberra, Griffith and Kununurra to create a cotton research hub in partnership with the then NSW Department of Agriculture. Three successive cotton cooperative research centres (CRC) operated from the site from 1994 to 2012.
The joint research by DPI and the CSIRO has seen cotton production grow into one of Australia’s biggest agricultural industries with new varieties with improved yield, disease resistance and fibre quality seen throughout the Australian market. The variety development is complemented by research in crop management in pests and agronomy as well as delivery of research information in decision support packages.
Narrabri Australian Cotton Research Institute Site Video
Contact & Location
Wee Waa Road Postal address: Narrabri – Australian Cotton Research Institute | Phone: (02) 6799 1500 International: +61 2 6799 1500 |