2020
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Research & Development Projects • 2018
2018 • Supporting Primary Industries
Cherry Exports • 2017
2017 • Biosecurity Alert
2016 • Expanding Exports
Forestry Industry Roadmap • 2016
Drought Strategy Launched • 2015
2016 • Biosecurity Alert
2018 • Severe Drought Impacting NSW
2017 • Biosecurity Alert
2013 • Local Land Services opens
2007 • Equine Influenza Outbreak
Department of Primary Industries Formed
2004 •
2004 • NSW Food Authority established
NSW Footrot Strategy • 1988
Improving Lucerne/alfalfa • 1978
Noxious Weed • 1964
A New Industry Emerges • 1967
Agriculture College Opens • 1965
1932 • NSW Rural Assistance Authority
1937 • First Shark Nets
Introduction of Zero Till • 1960s
Oat Breeding Program • 1954
1916 • Forestry Commission of NSW
1910 • Rice Research Commences
Department
Agriculture Founded
1890 •
1892 • Experimental Farms Established
1893 • Wheat Research Commences
Supporting Primary Industries
$50 million investment in primary industries research and innovation portfolio to help bolster on-farm productivity and protect the $15 billion sector from devastating pests and diseases
Severe Drought Impacting NSW
An additional $584 million dollars in assistance and support measures announced including transport subsidies, cutting farming costs and delivering critical community services
R&D Projects
DPI is ranked in the top 1%
of Ag research organisations
around the globe
Cherry Exports
Improved fruit fly
treatments allows air freight
of cherries to China and resumed trade to Vietnam
Biosecurity Alert
Brown Marmorated Stink
Bug detected in NSW. Declared eradicated in 2018 after a 12 month response from DPI and LLS.
Biosecurity Alert
Russian wheat aphid detected
in NSW, current biosecurity controls
in place to limit the spread in NSW
Forestry Industry Roadmap
The Forestry Industry Roadmap
is released, detailing the NSW Government’s vision and plan to ensure the forestry industry is economically viable and ecologically sustainable into the future
Expanding Exports
NSW hard wheat exported to
South Korea, a result of successful relationship building and promotion of the quality of
NSW hard wheat by DPI
Biosecurity Alert
White spot disease detected in QLD, biosecurity efforts and controls continue to limit the spread to NSW
Drought Strategy Launched
$300 million drought strategy launched focused on preparedness, improved decision making and targeted support
Shark Management Strategy
NSW Shark Management Strategy implemented focusing on shark tagging, surveillance, detection and deterrence, science and research, education and community awareness
Local Land Services Opens
Local Land Services open for business, working with land managers and the community to improve primary production within healthy landscapes
The Department of Primary Industries (DPI) is formed
Name and Shame register
NSW Food Authority establishes the Name and Shame register, allowing publication of successful food business prosecutions
1940
1990
Formation of the Rural Women's Network • 1992
2000 • Recreational Fishing Licences
2010 • Scores on Doors program
2015 • Shark Management Strategy
Scores on Doors progam
NSW Food Authority introduce the voluntary Scores on Doors program, allowing businesses to showcase their hygiene and food safety inspection results
Equine Influenza Outbreak
A DPI led campaign ensured the eradication of a severe EI outbreak within six months of disease detection. At its peak, 47,000 horses were infected across NSW.
2008 • Name and Shame register
NSW Food Authority Formed
This remains Australia’s first
and only paddock to plate food regulatory agency
Recreational Fishing Licences
NSW statewide recreational fishing licences introduced. All money raised by the NSW Recreational Fishing Fee
is spent on improving recreational fishing in NSW.
The Rural Women's Network
Today, DPI’s RWN facilitates networking and education to share information and promote action on rural women’s issues
NSW Footrot Strategy
DPI and NSW sheep industry developed and implemented the NSW Footrot Strategic Plan. By 2009, NSW declared a Protected Area for footrot.
Improving Lucerne/alfalfa
Lucerne breeding program
established in response to the aphid devastation of Hunter River lucerne
A New Industury Emerges
Pre canola ‘Rapeseed’ is sown in Australia from Canadian seed, helping to reduce dependancy on cereals and developing into a key industry for NSW
CB Alexander Presbyterian Agricultural College Opens
Later becoming Tocal College, it is renowned Australia-wide for providing students with practical and industry-relevant skills and experience
Introduction of Zero Till
Zero till trialled with larger
impact when Sprayseed
herbicide introduced
Oat breeding program commences at Temora
Noxious Weeds
Noxious weed grant allocations commence. Now known as the NSW Weeds Action Program which supports compliance, awareness and surveillance functions.
First shark nets installed between Newcastle and Wollongong
NSW Rural Assistance Authority began with the setting up of
the Farmer’s Relief Board
Forestry Commission of NSW
The first piece of forestry legislation in Australia, the Forestry Act 1916, is enacted, forming the Forestry Commission of NSW
90 years of rice research commences, with early experiments beginning at Yanco
Experimental Farms Established
Experiment farms in NSW are established across NSW,
commencing education and
research and development
Fish Stocking reaches 1 million
First Rainbow Trout stocked into the southern highlands. DPI now releases over 1 million native fish in NSW environments each year
The Dept. of Agriculture founded in 1890
The Hon. Sydney Smith, first ministerial head of the Department
Federation Wheat
Created by William Farrer, the first specifically Australian wheat variety “Federation” released. Rust and drought resistant, Farrer’s early maturing wheats enabled a rapid expansion of wheat growing in Australia.
Continuing on from the early
works of experiment farms, research institutes were established from both the experimental farms and in other locations across NSW
NSW DPI shark scientists commence largest shark tagging exercise in the world
2011/12
Cotton production reached a historic high of more than 3.3 million bales in NSW
2016/17
Wheat, barley, canola and chickpea production and yields close to or at their highest level recorded
2017/18
NSW Lamb production
was at its highest level on record
Wheat Research
Wheat research commences
with trials of 200 varieties
planted in Wagga Wagga
1894 • Fish Stocking
Federation Drought
January 1895 -
March 1903
WWII Drought
January 1935 - January 1945
Drought
January 1965 - March 1968
Millennium Drought
January 2001 -
January 2009
Current Drought
September 2017 -
Current
Severe Bushfires
Bushfires begin to ravage parts of the state mid year, worsening significantly in November 2019. DPI led the Agriculture and Animal Services emergency response, with the State Coordination Centre in Orange
2020 • Bushfires, drought recovery and COVID-19
Drought continues to impact NSW • 2019
2019 • Severe Bushfires
2020 • RAA delivers bushfire grants
DPI provides COVID-19 support • 2020
2020 • Drought Recovery
2020 • Fish stocking
Chickpea Breeding Australia • 2020
New DPI head office opens • 2020
Bushfires, drought recovery and COVID-19
Jan 2020 - Catastrophic conditions result in bushfires significantly impacting primary industries across NSW, in particular the south coast and southern NSW. DPI staff provided face-to-face support for bushfire affected producers in Recovery Centres and ongoing support through the Rural Resilience team
RAA delivers bushfire grants
Support for primary producers impacted by the 2019-20 bushfires, through RAA’s Special Disaster Grants program, reached over $100 million
Fish stocking
DPI releases around 6 million fish, including 3 million native fish in NSW environments
Drought Recovery
The recent drought is officially over for more than 80% of NSW, with continuing rains and bumper seasons predicted for much
of the state
Southern Multi Breed cattle project
This joint DPI and UNE R&D project will deliver significant enhancements to within-breed genetic evaluations for cattle, as well as allow producers for the first time to directly compare bulls for all BREEDPLAN traits and assess their genetic merit irrespective of breed
Drought Continues
At its peak more than 99% of NSW experienced drought conditions. In September, DPI’s drought assistance bus began touring the State, with DPI staff providing immediate assistance to farmers.
DPI provides COVID-19 support
DPI established a COVID-19
Primary Industries Liaison Team and online toolkit to help primary producers navigate the challenges and impacts of COVID-19 on their business and industry
Chickpea Breeding Australia
A $30 million, 5-year partnership between the NSW Government and the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) announced, creating a national chickpea breeding program called Chickpea Breeding Australia
New DPI head office opens
The new state-of-the-art
Ian Armstrong Building at
105 Prince St opens
Department of Agriculture moves to Orange • 1992
Department of Agriculture moves to Orange
On 22 January 1992, NSW Agriculture
relocated from Sydney to Orange. This was the single largest decentralisation project undertaken by a Government department at the time
Visit the R&D Hub
to learn more
2020 • Launch of Southern Multi Breed Cattle Project
Southern Multi Breed cattle project
This joint DPI and UNE R&D project will deliver significant enhancements to within-breed genetic evaluations for cattle, as well as allow producers for the first time to directly compare bulls for all BREEDPLAN traits and assess their genetic merit irrespective of breed