Grasslands, a division of DSIR and the Dairy Research Institute, was established in 1935, in Palmerston North because of the excellent growing conditions and the easy access to Massey University. The Dairy Research Institute was established in 1927 as part of the DSIR. It was incorporated in 1947 with the members of the Board of Management becoming the members of the Institute, under the Religious, Educational and Charitable Trust Act of 1908. It is the central Dairy Research organisation in New Zealand. DRI shared facilities and staff with Massey until it opened its own building in 1965.