$1.8 million infrastructure grant for TAIC

An investment of more than $1.8 million will help to drought proof field trials for cereals, oilseeds and pulses in southern New South Wales, underpinning investment in research, development and extension (RD&E) in the region.
The Temora Agricultural Innovation Centre (TAIC) is a community owned research farm with soils and an environment typical of more than half the state’s grain producing area.
Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) Chairman John Woods announced on Friday, September 1 the GRDC Grains Research and Development (R&D) Infrastructure Grant to FarmLink Research Limited, which manages the site for Temora Shire Council.
“There are currently 17 private and public organisations conducting RD&E at TAIC, which attracts more than 3000 visitors a year,” Mr Woods said.
“The project will see the construction of a 100 megalitre dam with the capacity to irrigate 100 hectares of trials. It will also upgrade administrative and sample processing facilities; and build a machinery shed to accommodate increased trial and farm equipment and allow for machinery, technology and other agricultural training activities.
“Our RD&E partners need good infrastructure and the right tools to help GRDC to deliver on its purpose of investing in RD&E to create enduring profitability for Australian grain growers.
“Dow AgroSciences is committed to centring their wheat breeding at TAIC and is making substantial additional investment,” he said.
FarmLink Chairman Darryl Harper said enhancing the capacity of TAIC to deliver innovation will benefit grain growers across southern NSW.
“Delivering locally relevant innovation, locally, is core to the operation of FarmLink, so making the most out of the resource at TAIC is just good sense,” Mr Harper said.
“FarmLink was established by local growers and researchers to deliver long term productivity, profitability and sustainability, through innovation. We are proud to be continuing and building on that history.”
Temora Shire Council will make a cash and in-kind investment of $444,000 towards the project.
Temora Shire Mayor, Rick Firman, said the Council is proud to be custodian of the site of significant advances in agricultural production.
“Over its 100 year history, the centre has developed new wheat, oats and barley varieties, along with a range of new farming practices,” he said.
“While the research benefits growers across the whole region – not just Temora Shire – the Temora Shire benefits not only through increased agricultural production but also through the significant research investment and visitor dollars that are attracted by FarmLink.
“We are very pleased to work with GRDC to develop infrastructure at TAIC that will further enhance the value and relevance of the activities at the centre.”
The $1,822,792 GRDC Grains R&D Infrastructure Grant is part of $15 million the GRDC Board had agreed to invest in a strategy to build national research capacity.
The purpose of the grant program is to boost capacity and capability in Australian grain research and development through funding key infrastructure, and to create enduring profitability for grain growers.