--- title: New agriculture research station to help future-proof farms description: New agriculture research station to help future-proof farms --- [![Indigo by AWA logo](https://www.awa.asn.au/hs-fs/hubfs/AWA-Website/Logos/Indigo_colour.png?height=24&name=Indigo_colour.png)](https://indigo.awa.asn.au/) [![Ozwater logo](https://www.awa.asn.au/hs-fs/hubfs/AWA-Website/Logos/Ozwater.png?height=24&name=Ozwater.png)](https://www.ozwater.org/) [![Careers in Water logo](https://www.awa.asn.au/hs-fs/hubfs/AWA-Website/Logos/Careers%20in%20Water_colour.png?height=24&name=Careers%20in%20Water_colour.png)](https://www.careersinwater.com.au/) [![NWW logo](https://www.awa.asn.au/hs-fs/hubfs/AWA-Website/Logos/NWW.png?height=24&name=NWW.png)](https://www.nationalwaterweek.org/) - [Join ![user icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/awa-nav-user-icon.svg "user icon")](https://www.awa.asn.au/new-registration) - [Member Hub ![user icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/awa-nav-locked-icon.svg "user icon")](https://memberhub.awa.asn.au) - 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The CSIRO’s Boorowa Agricultural Research Station (BARS), which opened earlier this month, will use drones, remote monitoring and advanced data analytics to test emerging technologies in crop science, agronomy and farming systems. The 290 ha facility took four years to design and build and is equipped with 100 temperature and humidity probes, 72 soil moisture probes and six weather stations. Hundreds of small plots will be used to trial new methods of food production, while long-term experiments will investigate changes to the soil over time. [![](https://static.hsstatic.net/BlogImporterAssetsUI/ex/missing-image.png)](https://static.hsstatic.net/BlogImporterAssetsUI/ex/missing-image.png) Director of CSIRO Agriculture and Food Michiel van Lookeren Campagne said the current drought made it more important than ever to build resilient agriculture systems. “We’ll be trialling new varieties of wheat, canola, legumes and pastures that can withstand warmer conditions, such as those predicted for the future,” he [said](https://www.csiro.au/en/News/News-releases/2019/New-digital-Ag-research-station-to-help-future-proof-our-farms). “We’ll also continue to research the best farming practices to manage our fragile soils and get the most from every drop of water.” Australian farming businesses used 10.5 ML of water in 2017-18, with most of this going to irrigate crops and pastures, according to the [Australian Bureau of Statistics](https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/4618.0). Minister for Agriculture Bridget McKenzie said the facility would help farmers navigate uncertain times ahead. “This is a particularly significant milestone for the industry and farming community Australia-wide given the crippling effects of drought,” she said. “[BARS] will equip us with decision-making tools, climate adapted crops and the ability to monitor farms at unprecedented levels of accuracy.” **Related video:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULK_nmKEczw   [ Research ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/research) [ Videos ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/videos) [ NSW ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/nsw) [ science ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/science) [ Farming ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/farming) [ CSIRO ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/csiro) [ Agriculture ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/agriculture) [ Farmers ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/farmers) Share [![email icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/icon-dark-sandstone-email.svg "email icon") ](mailto:?subject=New%20agriculture%20research%20station%20to%20help%20future-proof%20farms&body=Check%20out%20https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/technology/research/new-agriculture-research-station-to-help-future-proof-farms) [![facebook-icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/icon-dark-sandstone-facebook.svg "facebook icon") ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/technology/research/new-agriculture-research-station-to-help-future-proof-farms) [![LinkedIn icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/icon-dark-sandstone-linkedin.svg "LinkedIn icon") ](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/technology/research/new-agriculture-research-station-to-help-future-proof-farms) [![Twitter icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/icon-dark-sandstone-twitter.svg "Twitter icon") ](https://twitter.com/home?status=https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/technology/research/new-agriculture-research-station-to-help-future-proof-farms) ## RELATED NEWS [![](https://www.awa.asn.au/hs-fs/hubfs/coal-plant.jpg?width=352&name=coal-plant.jpg) ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/mitigating-mercury-contamination-in-estuaries-near-coal-plants) ### [ Mitigating mercury contamination in estuaries near coal plants ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/mitigating-mercury-contamination-in-estuaries-near-coal-plants) Cecilia Harris Many estuaries across Australia are at increased risk of contamination by metals, particularly mercury, from nearby coal-fired… [ Read Full Paper ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/mitigating-mercury-contamination-in-estuaries-near-coal-plants) ### [ Queensland cotton irrigator charged over $20m Murray-Darling funding fraud ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/environment/natural-environment/queensland-cotton-irrigator-charged-over-20m-murray-darling-funding-fraud-2) Water Source A Queensland cotton irrigator has been arrested over an alleged $20 million scam involving federal funds designated for… [ Read Full Paper ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/environment/natural-environment/queensland-cotton-irrigator-charged-over-20m-murray-darling-funding-fraud-2) [![Week in water](https://www.awa.asn.au/hs-fs/hubfs/Week%20In%20Water%20-%2030%20Oct%202024.png?width=352&name=Week%20In%20Water%20-%2030%20Oct%202024.png) ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/week-in-water-updates-from-across-the-water-community-26-may) ### [ Week in water: updates from across the water community ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/week-in-water-updates-from-across-the-water-community-26-may) Water Source This week in water, extreme flooding across New South Wales has placed pressure on emergency services and infrastructure, while… [ Read Full Paper ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/week-in-water-updates-from-across-the-water-community-26-may) Advertising --- ### Subscribe to our newsletters Sign up to get the latest news and insights from us Advertising --- ![white arrow pointing upwards](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/awa-white-arrow-up.svg) Top [![Footer-logo-02](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/Footer-logo-02.svg) ](https://www.awa.asn.au/) The **Australian Water Association** acknowledges the Traditional Custodians across Australia, where we live, work and play, for their deep connection to our precious waters and land. 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