Federal Member for Hume Angus Taylor has flagged the new Boorowa Ag Research Station as a potential world-leader in agricultural research.

Mr Taylor recently toured the $11.5 million Cunningar Road centre with CSIRO staff.

“This is world leading research going on here for agriculture - broadacre and livestock,” Mr Taylor said.

“It’s extremely exciting. We have the potential in this area to pioneer new approaches to agriculture which will deliver better outcomes for consumers and better outcomes for everyone involved in agriculture - and CSIRO is at the heart of it.”

Boorowa Agricultural Research Station is a purpose-built, 290 hectare facility designed to test emerging technologies in crop science, agronomy and farming systems.

Mr Taylor said the centre would use the latest digital agriculture technologies such as precision agriculture and remote, phenomic crop monitoring.

“I know the CSIRO is keen to show off the research and technology being developed at Boorowa,” Mr Taylor said.

“They will be involving the local farming community in field days, joint programs with partners and other extension activities that will be developed as research progresses on the farm.”

Mr Taylor said the research station would provide far-reaching benefits for the Boorowa economy.

“There will be casual and seasonal labour jobs, both in the field and in the laboratory.

“You’ll see people moving through here all the time – not just the main researchers, but also students who are trialling different plant varieties, students who are learning about agricultural technologies and agriculture more generally and that will add enormously to the reputation of Boorowa and to the economy.”

CSIRO expects the site will be fully operational by the end of 2019.

Caption: Member for Hume Angus Taylor with Dr John Kirkegaard, Farming Systems Agronomist, Crop & Pasture Agronomy, CSIRO and Cathrine Ingvordsen, Postdoctoral Fellow, Grains Research and Development at the Boorowa Agricultural Research Station.