1946–1965
Highlights
Further development at Urrbrae
- 1955: Australian Wine Research Institute established
- 1958: CSIRO Soils moved into new facilities, Waite Road. Increased interest in soil microbiology, root diseases
- 1963: CSIRO Division of Horticulture (major viticulture emphasis – breeding, mechanical harvesting)(Other CSIRO Divisions: Mathematical Statistics [Cornish – Wheat Yields]; Water Resources [Alison – Groundwater Studies])
Central laboratories for Department of Agriculture
- 1957: Allan Callaghan suggested Bedford Park to Tom Playford (unsuccessful as later became Flinders University)
- 1958: Northfield Mental Hospital Farm secured leading to the Northfield Laboratories and Research Centre (Soil science, legume breeding, cereal varietal testing, weed science, entomology, dairy technology; dairy research; Northfield Horticulture Unit; Northfield Pig Research Unit; Artificial Breeding Board)
- 1960: Parafield Poultry Centre upgraded
Main aspects of the era
- Rural reconstruction
- Wool boom
- Soldier settlement schemes
- Irrigated horticulture - Loxton
- Dryland - Kangaroo Island, South East
- Allocating land
- Private sector investment in settlement
- Nintey-Mile Desert Scheme
- Micronutrient research - the basis of land settlement
- Legume agriculture-dryland farming
- Role of private sector consultants
- Widespread mechanisation of all agriculture
- Impact of university and Roseworthy graduates
- Quarantine issues
- Fruit fly
- Plague locusts
- Weeds
- Automation begins to supersede manual systems
- Changed relationship with media, impact of television