The Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) has announced the Queensland and NSW recipients of infrastructure grants delivered in 2023 to boost capacity in grains research, development and extension (RD&E).

The grants are part of a $20 million national investment program to build Australia’s long-term grains research capacity and support the enduring profitability of the nation’s grain growers.

GRDC Board chair and Queensland grain grower John Woods says that the program reflected GRDC’s priority of putting growers’ money towards investments that will make a genuine difference.

“Our investments must make an impact, and building Australia’s research capacity is critical for the future of the grains industry for generations to come,” Mr Woods says.

“We have some of the best researchers and technicians in the world working in Australia and to continue to attract and retain these quality specialists we need to have the best infrastructure and equipment.

“GRDC is investing in infrastructure in regional areas to support R&D undertaken in local labs and facilities, and equipment and buildings to support on-farm research and extension through grower groups and other partners.”

The grants have provided regional grower groups, government departments and universities with machinery, plant and agricultural equipment, research tools and a variety of additional ag-related infrastructure.

Among the grant recipients is The Irrigation Farmers Network (formerly Irrigated Cropping Council), which received more than $400,000 for specialised research tools and machinery.

Irrigation Farmers Network executive officer Charlie Aves says the grant benefits not just the organisation, but the entire farming network.

“We're so grateful to receive a GRDC infrastructure grant because it's challenging for small organisations like ours to pull together cash for this kind of equipment,” Ms Aves says.

“The Irrigation Farmers Network is a farmer-driven, not-for-profit independent research organisation, committed to providing the latest research in irrigated grain production and connecting growers with local, state and national research and extension.

Ms Aves says that collaborating with partners ensures growers across the region have access to the latest information in irrigated grain production systems to enable them to make informed decisions about best practice and drive profitable, sustainable farm systems.

“The grant will be used to purchase a specialised harvester which will allow us to support others in the region with small crop research.”

Queensland and NSW grants received include:

• Grain Orana Alliance Inc: 4WD diesel truck, grain cleaning equipment consisting of Kimseed Seed cleaner, vacuum separator, and a stationary thrasher, one side by side vehicle with a mounted trial sprayer, and GPS equipment for autosteering the existing plot header.
• Department of Regional NSW: Essential research equipment and Narrabri Research Station upgrades.
• FarmLink Research Limited: Fit-out for the lab kitchen, dehydrator, NIR machine, generation oven, and Kimseed Threshing Machine.
• Field Applied Research (FAR) Australia: Zurn 160 Plot header.
• Central West Farming Systems: Zurn 150 Plot header.
• University of Sydney: Narrabri Plant Breeding Institute facility upgrades.
• Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries: Hermitage Research Facility Glasshouse upgrades.
• Riverine Plains Inc: New laboratory and seed cleaning equipment.
• Ag Grow Agronomy Research: Shed and office infrastructure.
• Brill Ag: Laboratory and fit-out for agricultural research.
• Charles Sturt University: Global Digital Farm infrastructure and equipment.
• Irrigation Farmers Network (formerly Irrigated Cropping Council): New Harvester.

The infrastructure will be received and installed over the next 12 months to build fundamental and long-term research capacity that will support innovation for Queensland and NSW grain growers.