The Nationals have opened nominations for preselection in the seat ahead of the next state general election in March 2019.

The Liberals are not fielding a candidate after losing seat to Mr McGirr and getting into a stoush with The Nationals over which of the two Coalition partners should run in the byelection.

Niall Blair, who is the Minister for Primary Industries, was in Wagga on Monday to announced a new $8 million project, which he said was aimed at protecting red meat production from the impacts of climate change.

“We know every seat across NSW is a challenge,” Mr Blair said.

“We never take any seat for granted. We’ve got an opportunity now to put a local candidate up.”

Speaking about the $8m research project, a joint collaboration between the Department of Primary Industries  and Meat and Livestock Australia, Mr Blair said it would investigate how far south tropical grass pastures currently grown in northern NSW might be able to be used in a changing climate.

“The agriculture sector in NSW operates in one of the most variable climates in the world, which presents significant challenges to operating sustainable and profitable businesses,” he said.

“This project is vital to guard against those challenges by identifying how alternate pastures respond in different locations around central and southern NSW.

“By mapping the growth patterns for key species of tropical grasses we will be able to identify options for growers giving them an extra tool in their feed base management.

“Without these changes the operating profits of red meat producers in southern NSW are predicted to be reduced by more than 30 per cent; an expected loss of more than $1 billion annually to the red meat industry.”

Trial sites for testing the different pastures will be at yet-to-be-named sites across southern and central NSW for the next four years.