The Department of Agriculture in Merredin began as a demonstration unit in the Nangeenan Land Settlement Scheme in 1904, it was considered an area only marginal for farming due to the dry climatic conditions.
In 1907 it was taken over by the Department of Agriculture and in 1911 the farm became an experimental and seed wheat station. Its main objectives were to collect reliable information on wheat production and to provide pedigree seed for the Merredin district and other areas with similar climatic conditions. A Plant Breeding Station was also established at the same time producing some outstanding wheat varieties such as the Bencubbin, which for no less than 19 years, was planted over more area in Australia than any other variety.
In 1960 a further area of light land adjoining the station was purchased. This land was to become the Dryland Research Institute, allowing the Department of Ag to co-join with the Research Station allowing researchers and development officers to investigate new farming techniques at the Research Station.
The Department of Agriculture now houses forty staff members and manages Hyden, Narembeen, Mukinbudin and Southern Cross outstations.
The Department of Agriculture Merredin specialises in the following areas:
- Variety testing and agronomy
- Herbicide testing and species interaction
- Irrigated seasonality research
- Seed production and sale
- Tillage research in all soil types
- Broad-scale demonstrations
- Production and quality of wool
- Biosecurity management and control of plant and animal pests
- Animal research
- Climatic research
- Ground water and surface water hydrology
- Being waterwise and saltwise
- Regional bore monitoring
- Mapping and CRIS
The Merredin Research Station Field Day allows the Department of Agriculture to showcase the latest agronomic research and trial sites, attracting hundreds of people locally and from many other Shires.
The field day allows farmers and other interested peole to spend a day out in the field seeing the trials first hand with informative speakers who have extensive experience in their field.
