Grains Industry Research Development and Extension

Grains Industry Research, Development & Extension

TCRC’s vision of providing the Australian grains industry with a world-class applied research, development, extension and training facility is taking shape.

As a purpose-built, industry-owned grains research centre, TCRC aims to overcome common issues currently experienced by researchers and create a world-class facility to advance the Australian grains industry.

Through the continued development of land and research infrastructure, TCRC is working towards becoming the key Queensland link for national and regional breeding, abiotic and biotic traits, soils, water, weeds, plus crop and systems modelling research.

393ha of some of the best research-ready land in Australia

One of the most reliable irrigation water sources for research in Australia

Focus on innovative RD&E that addresses grains production constraints

On-site education, training and demonstrations to increase adoption

Tosari Crop Research Centre - Grains Industry Research Development and Extension

Current capacity and capability for:

The Land

TCRC has some of the best research-ready land in Australia which is fully characterised and free from previous plot effects.

Having the added distinction of being designed from the bottom up, TCRC’s permanent 2m x 12m plots are set up with precise RTK surveyed GPS, and all irrigation and machinery is configured to use permanent tramlines in a controlled traffic farming system.

To alleviate common research issues such as disease, compaction, soil constraints or cropping history, TCRC research plots have been developed based on permanent tramlines and eight-year commercial cropping rotation.

Grains Industry Research Development and Extension - Tosari Crop Research Centre

The facility also encompasses a variety of soil types, representative of those found throughout the northern region, which opens up even more opportunities for research and extension, to compare and contrast treatments on different sites.

Several public and commercial organisations already conduct successful research trials at TCRC, and the continued development of additional research-ready land and infrastructure has increased capacity. There is currently 50 ha winter crop and 50 ha of summer crop research-ready land in an eight-year rotation.

Grains Industry Research Development and Extension

Water

TCRC’s significant on-farm water storage, as well as river, alluvial bore and artesian bore water allocations, broadens the scope and reliability of research options, even during dry periods. The facility will have one of the most reliable irrigation water sources for research in Australia, allowing continuity of research across various season types.

To ensure that RD&E clients obtain trial data, research trials will have priority access to irrigation water in dry seasons.

Currently, overhead lateral and boom irrigation options are available. To achieve the precision application of water, TCRC is continuing to build improved lateral guidance and sprinkler uniformity and efficiency.

Training and Demonstration

A critical part of TCRC’s design was to ensure it could offer education, training, and demonstrations on-site, so that the vital linkage between research and industry adoption is significantly improved.

Regular field days, including National Variety Trial Field Days, are held at TCRC to keep growers, researchers and industry stakeholders informed, and share key research outcomes for on-farm application and adoption.

Grains Industry Research Development and Extension - Grains Industry Research Development and Extension

Interested in running training or demonstrations at TCRC?

TCRC is also the perfect facility for machinery, equipment and technology demonstrations, with commercial cropping land available to trial and showcase the latest developments and prove up new technology.

Classroom-style training, seminars and workshops will be made possible with the planned development of an indoor training facility at TCRC. This will allow organisations to complement their in-field training and demonstrations with indoor theoretical training for their staff, growers or students.

Innovation

As an industry-led facility, TCRC has a clear focus on innovative RD&E that addresses production constraints and as a training facility to increase the adoption of research findings to improve industry-wide resilience.

TCRC will enable the advancement of digital technologies including data management, artificial intelligence and smart machinery.

The critical advantage of being a commercial farm and research centre is in ensuring the long-term sustainability of the research centre which will help to increase innovative research, training and adoption, and be a unique demonstration site for cutting-edge developments in digital agriculture and autonomy.

Further Developments

The vision of providing the Australian grains industry with a world-class applied research, development, extension and training facility is taking shape. TCRC continues to work on transitioning from a commercial irrigation farm to a purpose-designed research facility.

There are development plans for both the land and research infrastructure. Currently, 393.31 ha has been transitioned to research-ready including updating all irrigation components. The other 354 ha is awaiting final council approval to allow earthworks to begin and then irrigation infrastructure to be installed.

Grains Industry Research Development and Extension

The research and training facilities to be built continue to be refined, as the board of directors and management team engages with industry participants around their current and future requirements. TCRC is an industry asset held in perpetuity for industry, so we are conscious of planning not only for today’s requirements but future-proofing for ongoing success.  

Creating a world-class research facility to advance the Australian grains industry

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