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In his Report for the year 1901, the Chief Inspector of Agriculture emphisised the importance of establishing experimental farms stating,
"The sites were selected for the purpose of ascertaining by experiment the most suitable crops for the district in which the areas selected are situated, to collect facts for determination of best times to sow and plant, and various matters of that sort. ..(T)he public are apparently under the impression that everything is known beforehand without trial, and that the departmental officers can immediately work wonders and revolutionise the farming of the district, whereas probably no one at time of beginning work may have even the remotest idea of the real capabilities of the soil and climate" (1)
A result of the Boer War was increasing international trade, particularly to South Africa and London, various countries keen to exploit rising prices of primary produce in the expanding international market (2) The Chief Inspector of Agriculture emphasised that for New South Wales to take advantage of the market it needed to be competitive, as other countries were also producing goods of a high standard. An example of this was Argentina, whose butter was renowned to be of such good quality that even Australia imported it (3).
"These facts must be looked squarely in the face unflinchingly; and our Agricultural Department must be alive and find means to meet them, mainly by instruction and by strict supervision" (4).
It was in this mood that the Glen Innes Experimental Farm was established in 1902. In his report R.H.Gennys, the first Manager of Glen Innes Experiment Farm, stated the following reasons for its selection:
"This new farm is situated pretty well in the centre of the New England table-land, and, as regards altitude, the highest in the State, and it would be difficult to find a spot more representative of its climate and soils." (5).
A 12 acre paddock was set aside for the Wheat Experimentalist, and additional land provided for orchard, sheep and dairying purposes. Crops under consideration were oats, potatoes, and various vegetables. Fertilisers were also to be tested. Ten acres of apple trees left from previous land use were retained, but a program of ring barking and scrubbing useless wood was commenced to provide more land (6). Dams and tanks were completed by June 1904, as had the first building, used for storage of tools and grain, and inhabited by day workers (7). The first brick building was constructed at the farm during the financial year 1911-1912, as was an octagonal concrete grain silo used for feeding animals during winter (8).
The Farm School for apprentices commenced 1 February, 1912, which by the end of June had six lads, with another due to commence on I July (9). The students were taught practical operations of the mixed farm which included dairy, piggery, sheep, stables, clearing, fencing, garden and household work along with caring for fowl and bees (10). Due to the enlistment of men of military age the Farm School did not operate during World War One, but was resumed in early 1919 by an intake of returned soldiers (11). University undergraduates and students from the Armidale Teachers' College were also accepted in later years (12).
During the Fiscal Year 1928-1929 an Advisory Committee was established at Glen Innes Experiment Farm, this Committee comprising of members representing the local farming community and a representative of the Experiment Farm. This Committee met regularly to discuss work either proposed or current at the Farm with the object of obtaining a closer knowledge of the work and exchanging advice (13).
The Glen Innes Experiment Farm was renamed New England Experiment Farm from 1 July, 1930, although this seems to have been the only change at this time (14). However, in a reorganisation of the Department of Agriculture in September 1940, the New England and other Experiment Farms were placed under the control of the Division of Plant Industry (15).
The combination of prolonged drought and the Second World War had a major impact upon the activities of the Experiment Farm. The shortage of materials and expert staff (who were serving with the Military) resulted in either the suspension, curtailment and in some cases abandonment of Field Days, demonstrations, and stock and crop experiment programs (16). Essential operations at the Farm were maintained at a reduced level, but student training was halted (17). The Farm School at New England did not reopen, student training immediately after the War being confined to Hawkesbury Agricultural College, Yanco and Wagga Experiment Farms (18).
In an effort to "tighten the relationship between research and extension and between Divisions", a Departmental Committee surveyed New England and other Experiment Farms (19). The Committee placed all such Farms on a definite basis as research stations in the financial year 1945-1946 where research programs and planned future development was outlined (20). Experiments with the mechanisation of farm activities also began in the immediate Post War years as opportunity permitted (21).
From 1 November, 1950 control within the Department of Agriculture of the New England Experiment Farm shifted from the Division of Plant Industry to the Experiment Stations Branch, Division of Central Administration (22).
By 1960, New England Experiment Farm had commenced research programs associated with the raising of beef cattle, the production of bean varieties and the development of tobacco plants. Because of its economic importance to the New England region the establishment also carried out extensive studies into pasture preservation (23).
Under the Research Stations Branch, the New England Experiment Farm became the Glen Innes Agricultural Research Station (24). Since 1982 it has been referred to as the Glen Innes Agricultural Research and Advisory Station (25).
ENDNOTES
(1) Report of the Department of Agriculture for the Year 1900, pp 9, 10.
(2) ibid., p 8.
(3) ibid.
(4) ibid.
(5) Report of the Department of Agriculture for the Period 1st January, 1902, to 30th June, 1903, p 97.
(6) ibid., pp 97, 98.
(7) Report of the Department of Agriculture for the Year Ended 30 June, 1904, pp 81, 82.
(8) Report of the Department of Agriculture for the Year Ended 30 June, 1912, p 110.
(9) ibid.
(10) ibid.
(11) Report of the Department of Agriculture for the Year Ended 30th June, 1919, p 69.
(12) Report of the Department of Agriculture for the Year Ended 30th June, 1939, p 35
(13) Report of the Department of Agriculture for the Year Ended 30th June, 1929, p 3.
(14) Report of the Department of Agriculture for the Year Ended 30th June, 1930, footnote, p 28.
(15) S. R. Carver (editor), The Official Year Book of New South Wales 1939-1940, Government Printer, Sydney, 1941, p 671.
(16) Report of the Under-Secretary and Director to the Honourable the Minister for Agriculture for the year ended 30th June, 1945, p 32.
(17) ibid.
(18) Report of the Department of Agriculture for the Year Ended 30th June, 1947, p 5
(19) Report of the Department of Agriculture for the Year Ended 30th June, 1946, p 16.
(20) ibid.
(21) Report of the Department of Agriculture for the Year Ended 30th June, 1947, p 20
(22) Report of the Department of Agriculture for the Year Ended 30th June, 1951, p 6.
(23) The Archives Authority of New South Wales, Disposal Recommendation DR 3411, dated 9 September, 1986.
(24) Report of the Department of Agriculture for the Year Ended 30th June, 1978, p20.
(25) The New South Wales Government Directory of Administrative Services, Third Edition, New South Wales Government Information Service, 1982, p 48.
REFERENCE
NSW Agriculture website, Research, Extension and Education page, "Research Stations": Glen Innes Agricultural Research and Advisory Station.
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