Cropping research boosted
MILLIONS of dollars is being poured into a Darling Downs property that will be transformed into an epicentre for Queensland grains and cropping research.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources Barnaby Joyce was in Toowoomba last week to announce the
$11 million co-investment by the Grains Research Development Corporation and the Queensland Government.
The 740ha farming property at Yandilla, on the Condamine River, was owned by Glen and Diane Elsden, who farmed crops including cotton, corn, soya beans and chickpeas.
The property, Tosari, adjoins the couple’s other property, Carinya, with plans from the GRDC and State Government to purchase that property next year.
For now, Tosari will be transformed into a world-class grains applied research, development and extension facility and be operated by a Grains and Cropping Research and Development Trust on behalf of Australian grain growers.
But the Elsdens said the property had always been innovative, including fourth-generation farmer Mr Elsden, who had often participated in different trials.
“It has always been an innovative farm, way back in the 1880s, and I have got a very grainy photo at home of the first overland irrigation in Queensland, and then in the 1930s it was the largest dairy shed,” Mrs Elsden said.
While the farm was not on the market and Mr Elsden had no intention of selling, the couple said the purchase had been a “dream”.
With no children wanting the farm and Mr Elsden approaching retirement age, passing the property on to help with farming innovation was the perfect ending.
Mr Elsden is now committed to helping with the transition.
Mr Joyce said the worldclass grains research facility would have high relevance to the cropping sector as it was in one of the country’s prime agricultural areas.
“Australia has world-class grain growers, but what this facility will do is focus on issues like new technology, crop genetics and weed control to boost growers’ farm gate profits and bolster our competitiveness globally,” he said.
At 740ha, it will be one of Australia’s biggest cropping research stations.