All the news…
Hands-on result
Barry Collett’s unique position as owner operator of an earthworks business, and manager of Todsure, the family business, meant he could take advantage of his experience to undertake the remediation works and subsequent maintenance works.
Regaining land
Earth works were aimed at halting the progress of a linear hillslope gully, about 15m wide and 0.8m deep, consisting of a series of actively eroding gullies. Remediation involved the construction of a 250m long diversion bank and a 20m water spreading structure at the outlet of the bank.
Manage dry times
Running a profitable business while ensuring sufficient end of dry season ground cover has been at the core of Dino and Norma Penna’s grazing enterprise since moving to Kangaroo Hills, south west of Ingham, in 1998.
Slow the flow
Erosion repair works were undertaken at a multi-branched gully in black soil. Importantly for this site, the property boundary is less than 30m up catchment from the most up-catchment gully head.
Tried and true
Erosion repair works aimed to halt an active 2m deep gully located at the base of a small hill with head cuts slowly making their way up-slope. The soil is a sodic duplex with 20cm grey topsoil and deep dispersive mottled red and yellow clay subsoil derived from decomposing granite.
Small-scale repair
Scottville grazier Graham Gordon is undertaking small-scale gully works to slow water on his property to improve soil and pasture health, and reduce sediment loss.
Accelerated Grazing
The Accelerated Grazing Support in the BBB (Landholders Driving Change) project, in partnership with the Great Barrier Reef Foundation (GBRF), is an investment of $5 million, to improve the resilience of the Great Barrier Reef through targeted water quality improvements.
Regenerative ranching
Never stop learning and don’t stop asking questions. This was a key message many Burdekin graziers came away with after attending a regenerative grazing workshop near Bowen.
Working Dogs
An attentive cohort of about 30 people attended a four-day Advanced Livestock Handling and Working Dog School with renowned dog trainer Neil McDonald in Townsville in October, 2023. It’s a bit of a misnomer — it is a school for working dogs, but they’re last on the list that need the education necessary to be able to move mobs of cattle in a calm, controlled manner.
2023 Photo Competition
Competition open for entries from20 September, 2023 to 15 December, 2023.Prizewinners notified 8 January, 2024.Photographs entered in this competition need to have been taken in 2023 in the Burdekin Dry Tropics region.The Burdekin Dry Tropics is unquestionably a...
Lamington Park
As one farm gate closes, another opens. Manager of Lamington Park for more than a decade, Sam and wife Genevieve Clarke are moving onto bigger and better things… almost 50 times bigger at a beef cattle stud near Eidsvold.
Spyglass Station Extension Convention
The North’s graziers stand to benefit most from a collaborative training event at the recent Department of Agriculture and Fisheries’ (DAF) research property, Spyglass Station north of Charters Towers.
Watershed tour for NQ graziers
A five-day trip to The Mulloon Institute near Canberra turned into a watershed event for 10 North Queensland graziers last month.
Lower Burdekin Water Quality Grants
Grants of up to a cap of $30,000 are available to Lower Burdekin cane growers as a 50 per cent rebate on equipment or agronomic services, or both. While there are qualifying conditions, the primary requirement for any application is that there is a demonstrable reduction in Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen (DIN) leaving the farm as a result of that project.
Investment supports First Nations on Country
A $1.37 million Queensland Government investment will enable young First Nations people to connect with Country while helping to improve land condition and reducing sediment run-off.
Maps and Apps at Alpha, Kilcummin
By popular demand, NQ Dry Tropics is taking its Maps and Apps workshop to Alpha and Kilcummin.
Giru growers mobilise to control feral pigs
Queensland’s estimated three to six million feral pigs cost the agricultural industry around $80 million per year. The majority are found in the State’s north, and impact cane farmers through crop damage, weed spread, soil erosion, and damage to infrastructure such as irrigation, fencing and dams.
Clusters tackle pig problem
Landholders from Alpha and Clermont have formed cluster groups as feral pig numbers and control costs surge. The aim is to enhance feral pig control activities of the Isaac and Barcaldine regional councils within the Burdekin Dry Tropics NRM region. Landholders have been engaged through workshops to establish cluster groups in three areas.
Starlink trial
NQ Dry Tropics is trialling a new satellite internet service, which could provide connectivity for field officers working in areas with limited, or no internet service.
Processing facilities tour
A group of North Queensland graziers had an opportunity to learn more about the other side of the beef supply chain during a recent visit to JBS Meatworks and Reid River Export Depot.
Manage land and cattle will thrive
Ulcanbah Station grazier Robert Hollingsworth well-remembers his “light bulb” moment when he decided to concentrate on managing land rather than cattle. That moment came during a KLR Marketing course in 2016 when he realised his business was about more than just cattle.
Ongoing gully maintenance
Between 2017-2020, the Burdekin Major Integrated Project (Landholders Driving Change) completed 25 gully remediation projects (five large-scale and 20 small-scale sites).
Annual Review 2022
North Queensland farmers are continuing to improve land condition, boost productivity and reduce environmental impacts, according to new figures published in NQ Dry Tropics’ Year In Review 2021-22.
Soil fact sheets
Many modern farmers focus first and foremost on the foundation of their enterprise: the soil. Having an understanding of the health of the soil, the different types of soil and their properties, the soil’s ability to accept and hold water is integral to running a profitable primary production business.
Healing Country extension continues support for jobs and the Reef
A highly-successful 12-month project supporting Indigenous jobs and training while protecting the Reef has been extended until June 2022.
Community effort protects sand dunes at Alva
Nearly 50 participants did their bit to protect sand dunes at Lynch’s beach, Alva, at a Community Planting Day.
Animal Health Workshop
More than 70 graziers, industry representatives and extension officers brushed up on the latest knowledge in animal health at a series of workshops held across the Burdekin region in March, co-hosted by NQ Dry Tropics and the Department of Agriculture (DAF).
Mapping helps planning
More than 40 graziers have taken part in workshops held across the Burdekin region to learn how to use Queensland Globe and Avenza Maps mobile app
Prevent fish kills
Heavy rainfall combined with hot sunny days could increase the chances of fish kills in the lower Burdekin’s creeks and wetlands.
Removing ferals
More than 600 feral animal pests have been culled from cattle properties north of the Basalt Wall near Charters Towers. Pigs, deer and feral horses accounted for most of the animals removed from properties during pest management campaigns across two cluster groups.
Planting protects dunes
A major revegetation project kicking off in January will improve the condition of sand dunes on the lower Burdekin’s most popular beach.
Innovations bus tour
A guided bus tour of three grazing properties along the Flinders Highway could be the catalyst for landholders to redouble efforts to change grazing regimes.
GRASS improving land condition
The Grazing Resilience and Sustainable Solutions (GRASS) program is helping graziers to improve land condition on their properties.
2021 EOY Sugar function
The crop was all but harvested and crushed and the excellent early rain made it too wet to work, so Burdekin cane growers were keen to welcome in the festive season with an early Christmas dinner recently.
ICPA barbecue
Kids from all over rural North Queensland will be heading to Charters Towers this weekend to participate in the Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association (ICPA) ‘Fit for Rural Futures’ camp.
Bird’s eye view
Drones are giving NQ Dry Tropics’ field staff greater reach, more information and a new perspective on land condition and grazing patterns as they support graziers to repair degraded or eroding land.
Wongaloo Wetlands Open Day
Nearly 400 North Queenslanders had a unique opportunity to learn about the spectacular Wongaloo Wetlands, which have been described as the east…
Cane Innovation grants – 2021
BURDEKIN cane farmers involved in a project targeting innovative farming practices have succeeded in making spectacular savings in the amount of water and power needed to grow their crops.
Farmers get support to improve productivity and reef water quality
A $20.4 million program to support cane farmers to improve management practices while improving the quality of water flowing into the Great Barrier Reef lagoon has started rolling out in the lower Burdekin.
Aquatic weeds to compost improves soil health and crop yield
NQ Dry Tropics is working with five farmers to turn aquatic weeds sourced from local creeks into compost. The aim is to turn problem weeds into a valuable on-farm resource, through cost-effective means, while controlling weeds in waterways.
New Board members bring science and indigenous knowledge
The NQ Dry Tropics Board has been strengthened by the appointment of two new Directors; Richard Hoolihan and Prof. Damien Burrows.
Burdekin farmers dig into soil health
More than 25 Burdekin farmers gathered in Bowen and Ayr recently to learn more about one of their most valuable assets – soil.
Big rocks protect beach scrub
Rocks weighing more than 650 tonnes were recently installed along King’s Beach Road to protect fragile beach scrub, mangroves and saltpans from damage caused by 4WD vehicles.
Community planning prioritises local Reef support projects
A community-driven planning process aimed at identifying local solutions to protect the Great Barrier Reef has generated four ‘shovel ready’ projects.
Cane farmers learn about soil health and cover cropping
A group of Lower Burdekin cane farmers recently learned about optimising soil health and the benefits of cover crops at a workshop held at Denis Pozzebon’s farm in Airville.
Info day fosters better understanding between graziers and government
More than 20 Upper Burdekin graziers recently met with Queensland Government staff at the World Theatre in Charters Towers to learn more about the ins and outs of vegetation management laws and the new Reef protection regulations.
Cane farmers learn benefits of collective action for feral pig management
Cane farmer Robert Boccalatte is fed up with the damage caused by feral pigs on his property at Saltwater Creek.
“In a bad year pigs will eat between 500kg to a tonne of cane, but that’s not the only problem,” Mr Boccalatte said.
Funding boost for work in the BBB
Bowen and Collinsville graziers are encouraged to get involved with a multi-million dollar natural resource management project to enhance land condition and productivity that will help improve water quality outcomes for local waterways, and the Great Barrier Reef lagoon.
New project to help Burdekin landholders
Graziers in the Upper and East Burdekin catchments have an opportunity to get involved in a new extension project to support the adoption of land management practices to boost productivity and profitability, build soils and improve pasture health and enhance biodiversity.
Grazing Science Forum to discuss regional water quality projects
NQ Dry Tropics is hosting a Grazing Regional Integrated Science Forum to bring together local grazing extension officers, government and science representatives to discuss the implementation of the Paddock to Reef (P2R) Integrated Monitoring, Modelling and Reporting Program (Paddock to Reef program) in the Burdekin region.
Cane growers improving reef water quality
Burdekin sugarcane growers are adopting improved management practices for a more sustainable and productive farming future – and the results are in to prove it.
Partnership tackles beach scrub invader
An environmental threat to a patch of valuable endangered beach scrub near Ayr will be tackled by a long-standing partnership.
Farm transformation
Home Hill cane grower Joe Linton has operated the farm where he grew up for more than 50 years and he has always tried to ride the first wave of every innovation in the industry.
Drones fly in agriculture
PEOPLE who work with cattle will be able to muster using a drone, but even the most skilled drone pilots with no cattle nous will fail. That’s the steadfast opinion of veteran helicopter and drone pilot Lyle Gillham
Funding boost to help protect important coastal ecosystems
North Queensland’s spectacular coastal ecosystems will be better protected thanks to a new three-year project delivered by NQ Dry Tropics.
Partnership to help close the gap and protect reef
A new project will create Indigenous jobs in North Queensland while supporting efforts to protect the Great Barrier Reef and nearby coastal ecosystems.
Automated irrigation saves time and money for Burdekin growers
Burdekin grower Heath Salter has hailed the “life changing” benefits gained from installing an automated irrigation system on his parents’ Mulgrave Road farm in Clare.
Education key to moving cattle calmly and safely
THE workshops conducted by Neil McDonald at his Livestock Handling and Working Dog School are all about educating graziers to develop a calm, safe routine for shifting cattle. He has a strict priority in the way he goes about delivering that education.
Restoring Bowling Green Bay Wetlands
The Bowling Green Bay wetlands are a jewel in the lower Burdekin’s crown, and a newly-launched project will help ensure their health is maintained and restored.
Fine-tuning breeder herds
MORE of a good thing was the philosophy behind a sweep through the North by breeding herd management expert Dr Ian Braithwaite last month.
Help to restore degraded land
AN NQ Dry Tropics project is helping Amelia Downs grazier Jane Weir to restore degraded land along a river front on her 20,000ha property. The Linking Landholders to Frontage Country project, funded by the Queensland Government’s Natural Resources Investment Program — will help her to remedy a large and long-standing erosion problem in the Bottom River paddock, one of 32 paddocks on the property.
Traditional Owner Management Group tackles NRM issues
Representatives from 12 indigenous groups within the Burdekin Dry Tropics region met earlier this month in Townsville to discuss conservation and land management issues.
Community Action Plans to help prioritise reef protection measures
A partnership between NQ Dry Tropics, Reef Ecologic and Magnetic Island Community Development Association (MICDA) will boost efforts to protect the Great Barrier Reef.
GRASS plan boost
CAERPHILLY Station graziers Mick Duckett and Emma Robinson have some great ideas about how to improve productivity and land condition on their 59,000ha property 200km south of Charters Towers.
The ‘show’ must go on
AS the saying goes, “necessity is the mother of invention”. To help ensure safety in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic, NQ Dry Tropics has cancelled workshops, field days, and all other face to face events until at least 1 June.
Cane grower reduces pumping costs
Burdekin cane grower Leon Franchina’s efforts to improve the efficiency of irrigation water use are paying off.
Plantation Creek weed removal works to reduce flood and fire risk
Work will begin in early July to remove aquatic weed Typha, commonly known as Cumbungi or Bullrush, from Plantation Creek in the lower Burdekin.
Scottville landscape remediation works paying off
Small-scale land remediation efforts by graziers from six properties at Scottville (near Collinsville) are paying dividends.
Conservation Action Planning to support communities to manage country
Good planning leads to successful outcomes, according to Protecting Biodiversity Program Manager Brett King…
Cochineals eat their way to victory
A COMPREHENSIVE victory is within sight in a battle being waged in an inconspicuous patch of beach scrub near Bowen.
New automated gates and fishways to improve efficiency & fish connectivity
Construction work will begin next month on two automated gates and fishways on Saltwater Creek, near Ayr.
Shutterbugs, train your lenses
NQ Dry Tropics is on the hunt for photos featuring beautiful landscapes and hard working, salt-of-the-earth people in the Bowen and Collinsville region. This is the second year the organisation is running a photography competition through its Landholders Driving Change (LDC) project.
New program to support lower Burdekin farmers and improve reef health
A newly-launched program will support farmers to improve management practices and adopt new technologies – while improving the quality of water flowing into the Great Barrier Reef lagoon.
Workshop helps Gudjuda Rangers improve bird ID and monitoring skills
A group of Gudjuda Rangers are now better able to identify and monitor endangered migratory shore birds thanks to a joint initiative with NQ Dry Tropics and Birdlife Australia.
Burdekin growers reduce nitrogen use and maintain yield
THE first “report cards” are on the way to Burdekin cane growers who participated in a three-year program to reduce the amount of nitrogen fertiliser applied to their crops.
Power of peer-to-peer learning
AN enthusiastic “mob” of North Queensland graziers is gaining an appreciation of the power of peer-to-peer support as they adopt new grazing and pasture management practices on their properties.
Siam Weed information sessions
SIAM weed (Chromolaena odorata) is the focus of weed management information sessions at Reid River and Hervey Range in coming weeks.
World Wetlands Day: shining a spotlight on our beautiful wetlands
If you enjoy fishing, boating or swimming, chances are you have benefited from our regions’s beautiful wetlands.
Growers raise a glass to celebrate 2019 achievements
MORE than 70 cane growers, extension staff, contractors and suppliers were hosted by NQ Dry Tropics at an End Of Year celebration in the Burdekin Theatre this week. Sustainable Agriculture Manager at NQ Dry Tropics Rob Hunt said there was plenty to celebrate.
Profitability dominates breeder management strategies
CASH flow, not calving rates should be the measure North Queensland graziers use to manage their breeding herds according to cattle veterinarian Dr Ian Braithwaite. Without cash flow, herd performance declined and land condition suffered.
Burdekin property planning takes a front seat
IT was Benjamin Franklin who said: “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail”. Eight Burdekin extension officers on a learning journey to support graziers develop land-based property management plans focused on water quality and ecology are definitely planning to succeed.
Grazing Science Forum discusses water quality results
NQ Dry Tropics hosted a Grazing Regional Integrated Science Forum in Townsville that brought together local grazing extension officers, government and science representatives…
NQ Dry Tropics sponsors Fit 4 Rural Futures event
NQ Dry Tropics sponsored a sports camp in Charters Towers last week that gave children and parents from rural areas a chance to have fun and make community connections.
Basalt wall erosion threatens highway
THE Commonwealth and Queensland governments’ Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) will help to prevent expensive repairs by averting a disastrous landscape change that could threaten a section of the Lynd Highway.
Changes clear at LDC midway point
THE NQ Dry Tropics’ Landholders Driving Change (LDC) project has reached the halfway point.It is piloting land management and repair approaches at a catchment scale, evaluating their effectiveness in improving water quality and long-term sustainable land management.
Weed removal to benefit animal habitat and farm productivity
Work is underway at Merryplain’s Creek to remove invasive aquatic weeds for use as a nutrient-rich compost on local farms.
Changing the landscape with soil health
GRAZIERS in the Bowen, Collinsville Ayr and Eungella regions have delved deeper into soil health with two of the best in the ‘soil health’ business – internationally renowned soil ecologist and founder of Amazing Carbon Dr Christine Jones, and agricultural ecologist David Hardwick, of Soil Land Food.
Central Queensland funding boost
Extension providers, landcare groups and primary producers in the Central Highlands area will have the chance to increase their skills while learning from each other and industry experts, thanks to a series of upcoming projects worth around $50,000.
Cochineals to the rescue
An insect used to make dyes and food colouring has been employed to destroy an infestation of drooping prickly pear in a patch of threatened Beach Scrub near Bowen.
Digging in for good health
SOIL health and tips on managing land to achieve good healthy soil will be the subject of a series of up to five workshops conducted in North Queensland by soils specialist David Hardwick.
Graziers make a change for the better
MOST people find change uncomfortable. Grazing Naturally advocate Dick Richardson revels in it. He believes change is the keenest tool he has as a land manager, particularly in a grazing setting.
Erosion experts converge on Townsville for gully symposium
The global issue of gully erosion was the focus for a major international conference held in Townsville last week.
Irrigation improvement funding to support cane growers and the reef
Download Water Quality Grant Guidelines Irrigation improvement funding to support cane growers and the reef Burdekin cane growers can apply for support worth up to $20,000 to improve irrigation practices and profitability while preventing valuable water and nutrients...
Graziers get Reefwise to protect land and business
BURDEKIN graziers will be supported to boost productivity and improve water quality flowing to the Great Barrier Reef, as part of the recently-launched Reefwise Grazing of Burdekin Rangelands project. The two-year project will work with 12 properties to improve landscape function and business performance in a challenging climate, and is funded by the partnership between the Australian Government’s Reef Trust and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation.
Agricultural professionals learn to flourish as influential leaders
RENOWNED Australian behavioural scientist Allan Parker, OAM, is guiding agricultural professionals through an accelerated program to learn how to excel as influential leaders. With an emphasis on frameworks and techniques to help broaden perspectives in family and business negotiations, 44 participants completed two days of theory and practical scenarios around conversation, conflict resolution, questioning and body language.
Managing breeders for profit
A take-home message for graziers who attended a herd management and pregnancy testing workshop at Glenden Station, near Glenden: if you want to develop a good maternal herd, cull hard and cull consistently. Earlier this month, nine graziers from near Glenden and Collinsville took part in a NQ Dry Tropics’ Landholders Driving Change two-day workshop, led by Dr Ian Braithwaite, a cattle veterinarian with more than 30 years experience.
Burdekin cane growers meet AIMS scientists
LOWER Burdekin cane growers have met face to face with scientists who are monitoring water quality in the Great Barrier Reef as part of the Marine Monitoring Program. The NQ Dry Tropics event, supported by the Australian and Queensland governments, gave scientists an opportunity to learn about the issues growers faced as they embraced practice change – and the growers had no shortage of questions on the science.
Conserving Brigalow corridors in the Burdekin
Conserving Brigalow corridors in the Burdekin Land managers in the Northern Brigalow Belt region are working to conserve and protect brigalow threatened ecological community corridors to help conserve wildlife, specifically endangered species. The NQ Dry Tropics’...
Collaborate to benefit landholders and the environment
NQ Dry Tropics is focused on its people and building cross-program collaboration to work towards a common goal – to partner with the organisation’s stakeholders to create connected and functioning landscapes. Recently, 16 staff across three program areas – Sustainable Agriculture, Strategy and Partnerships and Landholders Driving Change – attended a masterclass with industry specialists Brian Wehlburg (Inside Outside Management), Dr Christine Jones (Amazing Carbon) and Dick Richardson (Grazing Naturally).
Minimising grazing impact on stream frontage pastures
NQ Dry Tropics is working with landholders in the Upper Burdekin catchment to find ways to manage grazing pressure to maintain productive frontage pastures and minimise impacts on waterways and wetlands. The Linking Burdekin landholders to their frontage country for vegetation, and soil quality gains project, funded by the Natural Resources Investment Program, is taking a ‘ground-up’ approach that combines landholders’ knowledge with the latest scientific research to develop and trial solutions designed to remove social, financial and technical barriers to practice change.
Water monitoring helps protect wetlands
PREVENTING runoff makes good business sense for cane farmers in North Queensland’s Lower Burdekin region, and with internationally significant wetlands and the Great Barrier Reef on their doorstep, it makes good environmental sense too. NQ Dry Tropics’ Connecting Burdekin Cane Farmers To Their Local Wetlands project supported a group of farmers located near Lilliesmere Lagoon, Ayr, and Horseshoe Lagoon, Giru, to monitor their runoff and improve their irrigation and nutrient efficiency.
Use natural tools to develop a “fit for purpose” landscape
THE best tool to develop a fit for purpose grazing landscape was the animal for which the pasture was intended, according to renowned regenerative grazing expert Dick Richardson. Speaking at a workshop designed to coach graziers in pasture management and grazing planning, Mr Richardson said nature provided the tools to “inoculate” land with desirable pasture, and those tools were the same animals that were going to be grazed there.
Workshop to address soil health in sugar cane crops
FRESH from conducting soil health workshops across the region with a range of primary producers from graziers to market gardeners, agroecologist David Hardwick will share his knowledge with Burdekin cane growers at the end of the month.
Leadership program for local graziers
A LEADERSHIP program, developed specifically for graziers in the Bowen and Collinsville region, has kicked off. Thirteen local producers have signed up to the program that has been designed by NQ Dry Tropics’ Landholders Driving Change (LDC) project.
Toolbox to assess soil health
NQ Dry Tropics has developed an online tool box to help landholders assess the condition of soil on different land types across their properties.
Learning how to build healthy soil
Soil is an important asset for every farmer, and Central Queensland graziers now have a greater understanding of soil health and soil-building practices thanks to a six-month soils extension and training program that wrapped up last week.
Farmers and scientists learn from each other at Horseshoe Lagoon
Two water quality scientists visited a cane recycle pit at Horseshoe Lagoon, Giru, last week to chat with local cane farmers about the importance of local wetlands as habitat for species such as fish, birds, turtles and crustaceans.Principal Research...
Taking stock – pasture management is key
The Landholders Driving Change (LDC) grazier support program for 2019 kicked off with 40 producers attending a Taking Stock – Managing Pastures and Productivity Day at Weetalaba Station, near Collinsville last month.
Finding common ground on how to prevent erosion
PREVENTING and managing erosion isn’t just an issue for graziers, but one for all land managers including utilities, mines, local councils and government departments. Through its Landholders Driving Change project, NQ Dry Tropics is facilitating cross-sector collaboration…
Erosion control information never goes ‘stale’
Erosion control always topical Erosion control expert Darryl Hill constructs a whoa boy on Springview Station during the workshop. Inset: Payne's Lagoon grazier Don Wincen uses a dumpy level during the workshop ...
Gully restoration prevents erosion and promotes grass growth
Grass, not gullies follow the heavy rain at Riverview BEFORE: A blacksoil gully 500m long and 50m wide AFTER: Not even a scar and the pasture grass is thick and lush GAZING out onto lush green pasture at Riverview Station,...
Pilot weed control a win-win for farmers and the environment
A win-win for farmers and the environment Pilot project turns a problem into a plus A PILOT project is turning the problem of weed chokes in a Lower Burdekin creek into a solution that benefits farmers. NQ Dry Tropics partnered with Evolution...
Whoa boys stand up to monsoon at 6 Mile Creek Station
A series of erosion control measures installed at a grazing property south west of Home Hill have held firm despite nearly record monsoonal rainfall during February. Last September, whoa boys – a type of diversion bank – were installed along 14 km of roads throughout...
Make a difference to the environment on your next holiday
IF words like “voluntouring”, “purposeful travel”, “socially responsible travel” and “sustainable tourism” are commonly part of your holiday plans, this opportunity may be a dream come true. Natural Resource Management group NQ Dry Tropics and Conservation...
Focus on Lower Burdekin wetlands for World Wetlands Day
Spotlight on outstanding Lower Burdekin wetlands. World Wetlands Day on Saturday 2 February is a time to celebrate the importance of wetlands for our people and planet, as well as their natural beauty. Wetlands are home to a dazzling array of native wildlife,...
Big year ahead for cane projects in the Lower Burdekin
It promises to be a busy 2019 for NQ Dry Tropics and its project partners in the Lower Burdekin, with several initiatives continuing to support cane growers to implement practices that improve water quality and their bottom line. NQ Dry Tropics’ Sugarcane Team Leader...
Water quality monitoring group mobilises for Cyclone Penny deluge
Water quality monitoring group mobilises for Cyclone Penny delugeA community-based water quality monitoring group established in September is already proving its worth to scientists trying to get hard data on how much sediment and nutrient run-off is flowing into the...
2018 Reef Champion Awards
Success for Burdekin Dry Tropics producers at 2018 Reef Champion Awards Graziers and cane growers from the Burdekin Dry Tropics region were recognised for their contributions towards improving water quality through adopting...
Cane growers and scientists share knowledge at Lilliesmere Lagoon
Water quality scientists from James Cook University (JCU) headed down to Ayr last week to chat with local cane growers about fish health and water quality at Lilliesmere Lagoon. Principal Research Scientist Dr Nathan Waltham, and Scientist Dr Christina Buelow, both...
Graziers learn how to handle a herd with care
Increased weight gain, increased conception rates and improved carcass quality are just a few of the benefits of low stress cattle handling. A total of 21 graziers representing 12 properties attended a low stress stock handling clinic at the Bowen River showgrounds...
Benefits of automated irrigation flows for farmers and the reef
ALMOST 30 Burdekin district cane farmers explored the benefits of automating their irrigation schedule at a workshop conducted by NQ Dry Tropics on Russell Jordan’s Upper Haughton River farm recently. At the workshop, NQ Dry Tropics Project Officer Lisa Pulman...
Reef and Beef Tour 2018
Reef and Beef trip connects graziers with scientists and the reef North Queensland graziers working to improve land condition and reduce sediment erosion had a chance to strengthen their connection with the Great Barrier Reef this week as part of the Reef and Beef...
Going back to the future to tackle Tilapia threat
Traditional knowledge is being harnessed to fight the growing tilapia threat in the Lower Burdekin. NQ Dry Tropics and Traditional Owners are partnering to trial an indigenous technique that uses native plant material to capture fish without impacting water quality. A...
Project supports Burdekin cane growers to reduce irrigation runoff
A monitoring project in the Burdekin has found that up to 20 percent of irrigation used on participating cane farms is being lost to runoff – costing growers money on fertilisers and water. NQ Dry Tropics’ Landscape Resilience project monitored irrigation events on...
Community groups empowered to protect environment
A long-term project wraps up this month having supported 42 regional community groups to protect endangered wildlife, regenerate native bushland, and tackle marine debris. NQ Dry Tropics’ Engaging and Strengthening Communities project, funded through the Australian...
Landcare groups learn mapping skills at Magnetic Island workshop
Community volunteers from local environmental groups recently attended a free Geographical Information Systems workshop on Magnetic Island. The NQ Dry Tropics event, funded through the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program, taught participants the tools,...
National Volunteer Week
Community nursery volunteers celebrate National Volunteer Week Native plant nursery volunteers from Townsville and Ayr celebrated National Volunteer Week by visiting the Whitsunday Landcare Nursery in Proserpine to exchange nursery management knowledge, including...
Early project results show cane growers improving Reef water quality and boosting profits
A project supporting Burdekin cane growers to reduce fertiliser use without affecting yield has so far prevented 116 tonnes of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) from entering waterways and impacting the Great Barrier Reef. A high level of DIN in water has been linked...
Charters Towers Traditional Owners focus on ways to record and archive their history
A workshop held in Charters Towers this week supported members of the local Gudjal Traditional Owner group to capture and archive key information about their country and cultural history. The NQ Dry Tropics event, funded through the Australian Government’s National...
Round Three workshop well attended
Growers keen to hear about third round of Repeat Tenders project NQ Dry Tropics project officer Shakira Todd hosted the Reef Trust Repeated Tenders presentation in Ayr. MORE than 30 Burdekin growers and industry leaders attended an...
NQ Dry Tropics streamlining Paddock to Reef efficiencies
NQ Dry Tropics has streamlined its project management and Paddock to Reef data, adopting Esri technology to complement its current web-based software applications to manage natural resource management projects. The Esri Collector App enables field staff and NQ Dry...
World Fish Migration Day
Community supports fish stocks and habitat for World Fish Migration Day The Burdekin community celebrated World Fish Migration Day on Saturday by helping to replenish fish stocks and planting trees to create fish habitat. Around 100 people of all ages from Ayr, Home...
Pasture and grazing management key to productivity
Nineteen graziers and land managers representing 10 enterprises met recently at Toomba Station, north of Charters Towers, for the first of a four-part series of NQ Dry Tropics Grazing Management courses. Participants learned how well-managed grazing can stimulate...
Landholders see benefits of mapping technology
Landholders see benefits of mapping technology at workshop Bowen and Collinsville graziers have taken part in an online mapping application workshop to assist with property management and planning. The one-day FarmMap4D workshop provided landholders with the...
Workshops on menace weeds
Residents from Townsville and its surrounds have shown a keen interest in weed identification and eradication, attending workshops held across the region. More than 30 residents attended workshops held in Majors Creek and on Magnetic Island, hosted by NQ Dry Tropics...
Stop shifting soils and water runoff at the source
Initial gully remediation efforts on a grazing property is already paying dividends for a Collinsville landholder. Shane Watts, of Sonoma Station, had barely finished constructing four diversion banks on a 110 hectare catchment hotspot, when the heavens opened and...
LDC project steps up engagement efforts
Landholders Driving Change project steps up engagement efforts The Landholders Driving Change project has stepped up its efforts to coordinate engagement between government agencies, utility companies and landholders on biosecurity awareness, policy and regulatory...
Burdekin graziers to profit from workshop
The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) and NQ Dry Tropics grazing teams have met to discuss how best to provide extension and formal training to help improve grazing business resilience in the Burdekin region. The workshop aimed to streamline training and...
Burdekin graziers profit from Grazing BMP
Burdekin graziers profit from Grazing Best Management Practices program Increasing international demand for high-quality beef means that the northern Australian beef industry can - and should have - a bright future. That’s the view of beef producer Simone Howard, of...
Removing barriers the key to healthy fish stocks
Many of our native fish species need to migrate between freshwater and the ocean to breed. But stocks of local favourites such as barramundi and mangrove jack plummet if juveniles fail to make it past the many barriers they face on their journey, such as dams, weirs...
Catalyst shares ideas on future for cane growers
The 2018 Project Catalyst Forum has attracted more than 150 sugar cane growers from partner regions of the Wet Tropics, Burdekin and Mackay Whitsunday, to network with researchers, program partners and industry groups, and share knowledge and new ideas. The two-day...
Cane farmers and scientists focus on water quality during AIMS visit
A visit to the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) last week gave a group of Burdekin cane farmers an opportunity to learn more about the science behind water quality research. The NQ Dry Tropics event, designed to help foster a better understanding between...
Wet weather highlights fishway success and boosts fish migration
NQ Dry Tropics, Lower Burdekin Water and TropWater took advantage of last week’s wet weather by deploying fish monitoring survey traps at Lilliesmere Lagoon to see whether recently installed fishways are working effectively. Due to the extended dry, this was the first...
Forum investigates best returns for graziers and Reef
Burdekin graziers are adopting management practices for a more sustainable and productive farming future – and the results are in to prove it. The estimated annual average total suspended sediment load leaving Burdekin catchments had reduced by 17.7 per cent since the...
Fish numbers up as weed control improves Burdekin waterway
Latest monitoring results show that ongoing work to improve the health of Sheepstation Creek, near Ayr, is improving native fish populations. Since 2013 NQ Dry Tropics has worked with Burdekin Shire Council, Lower Burdekin Water and local landowners to remove weeds,...
Ayr workshop will support cane farmers to develop Reef Trust funding bids
An upcoming workshop in Ayr will support Burdekin sugarcane farmers to apply for Australian Government funding of up to $500,000 to reduce their fertiliser use while maintaining yields, as part of the Reef Trust competitive tender round three. The NQ Dry Tropics...
Project to boost Bowen and Collinsville economies and keep soil on land
Erosion is a big issue in the Dry Tropics of North Queensland. It causes valuable topsoil primarily from grazing lands to wash downstream, carrying fine sediment particles that reduce the amount of light needed by coral reefs and seagrass to grow and thrive. NQ Dry...
Graziers use spatial data to improve production outcomes
As the beef industry comes under increased external scrutiny from customers and regulators to demonstrate environmental compliance, graziers in North Queensland are responding, using spatial information to improve on-farm production outcomes and environmental...
Reef Conservation Award
Burdekin farmers Gary and Angela Spotswood, of Mt Alma Fresh Organics, at Inkerman, has claimed the coveted Reef Conservation Award at the 2017 Reef Alliance Awards, held in Townsville on 22 November. The Reef Alliance awards recognise the work of farmers who are...
Burdekin graziers setting up for success
Australian agriculture is a success story that often goes untold - every year more than 85,000 farming businesses actively care for close to 50 per cent of Australia’s land mass, through meat, food, fibre or crop production. Tuesday, November 21 is National...
Burdekin weed control trial
Burdekin weed control trial could boost farming productivity. NQ Dry Tropics and Evolution Mining have partnered on an innovative pilot project in the Lower Burdekin that could use harvested aquatic weeds to improve local agricultural soils. Evolution Mining has...
Community groups share $70,000
Community groups share $70,000 funding for environmental projects Community groups in the Burdekin Dry Tropics region will share almost $70,000 to deliver a range of local on-ground environmental projects under the 2017-2018 NQ Dry Tropics Community Landcare Grants...
Working Dog School
Handling livestock with man’s best friend can pay dividends for graziers With the correct handling, livestock will become cooperative which in turn leads to a safer working environment for the livestock and the people handling them. Cooperative animals lead to...
Low Stress Stockhandling course
Low stress stockhandling holds key to northern beef profitability Sustainability is not a destination - it’s a continuous journey being carried out by each generation of graziers responsible for raising and supplying beef across the world. That’s why Australia’s...
Soil health key to improving grazing productivity
Landholders will have the chance to learn how improving soil health can benefit their bottom line at NQ Dry Tropics’ upcoming Healthy Soils Healthy Profits field day near Bowen on Wednesday 11 October. NQ Dry Tropics project officer Sharon Cunial said the event, at...
Regeneration of the Rainforest
The NQ Dry Tropics Protecting Biodiversity Program is working with landholders to deliver a project to improve the condition and extent of dry rainforest in the Upper Burdekin Rangelands. Funding from the National Landcare Program has enabled four landholders over 10...
Cane farmers needed to help control pest fish in the Lower Burdekin
Burdekin cane farmers are being urged to take part in a trial that will use Barramundi as a weapon in the fight against invasive Tilapia. Tilapia have colonised farm recycling pits across the Lower Burdekin causing erosion, however, recent evidence from the Mackay...
Landcare Week bus tour highlights community sustainability projects
A bus tour to celebrate National Landcare Week gave more than 20 volunteers from Ayr, Townsville and Magnetic Island a chance to visit project sites and share ideas on sustainable land management. NQ Dry Tropics partnered with local landcare groups to organise the...
Green light for Burdekin project to keep soil on land
Work has started on a project to tackle erosion, boost grazing productivity and improve Reef water quality in the Burdekin. The groundbreaking Landholders Driving Change project is combining graziers’ knowledge with the latest scientific research to achieve more...
Volunteers defy Cyclone Debbie to complete Queens Beach project
It takes more than a severe tropical cyclone to deter the dedicated volunteers of the Queens Beach Action Group (QBAG) from looking after Bowen’s longest beach. Despite Debbie’s best efforts, QBAG recently completed a project on time to restore native habitat and...
Fish surveys to monitor effectiveness of weed control
Electrofishing surveys taking place around Sheepstation Creek over the next few weeks will shine a light on the health of juvenile fish stocks in the area. Since 2013 NQ Dry Tropics has worked with Burdekin Shire Council, Lower Burdekin Water and local landowners to...
Land improvement project benefits grazing productivity and endangered finch
The head of a project designed to support dwindling populations of Black-throated Finch located on grazing properties in North Queensland has said that it is also benefiting pasture cover and productivity. NQ Dry Tropics’ Conserving Black-throated Finch Habitat...
Protecting our ancient dunes
NQ Dry Tropics has been working with enthusiastic volunteers to clean up and restore beach scrubs, one of our most important coastal communities. More than 40 hectares of weeds, including Weeds of National Significance, lantana, prickly pear and rubber vine has been...
Burdekin cane farmers help protect local wetlands
A recently-completed NQ Dry Tropics project focused on cane farms in the Lower Burdekin has shown that productivity and environmental benefits can go hand-in-hand. The Queensland Government-funded Landscape Resilience project used monitoring techniques to provide...
Positive practice change helps Reef
Determined to embrace positive management practice change, Kale and Karin Robinson, of Hillsborough Station, are working to improve pasture on their Ravenswood grazing property to achieve a sustainable and profitable enterprise. Since taking over the property two...
Sweet Taste of Success: Irrigating for results
Burdekin sugar cane growers are finding innovative ways to improve water quality on the Great Barrier Reef by minimising water run-off from their properties. The Burdekin is the engine room of Queensland’s sugar industry, producing between 8-9 million tonnes of sugar...
Grazier ideas forming basis of Landholders Driving Change action plan
A member of NQ Dry Tropics’ Landholders Driving Change project team has described how graziers’ ideas are being developed into a program of actions to tackle gully erosion and improve land management practices. Jane Waterhouse, a water quality scientist at James Cook...
Cool lesson on ‘cool burns’
Cool lesson on ‘cool burns’ at workshop Residents and landholders of the Woodstock/Majors Creek region received a cool lesson on cool burns at a “Fire as a Tool for Conservation and Land Management” workshop held on Saturday. Workshop organiser, NQ Dry Tropics project...
Celebrating Grazing BMP accredited graziers
Twenty-one local graziers will be recognised for setting the benchmark for industry this month when they receive their Grazing BMP accredited producer certificates at a gala dinner held in Townsville. The event marks the largest number of producers to be presented...
Bob Harris – Landholders Driving Change
Demonstration sites key to project success says Bowen grazier Grazier Bob Harris is working alongside other graziers, scientists and technical specialists to design land and water quality improvement solutions as part of NQ Dry Tropics’ Landholders Driving Change...
Riparian Planting
Local cane farmer improves natural areas Giru cane farmer John Cernusco is partnering with NQ Dry Tropics to plant native vegetation along a lagoon on his property to reduce weeds and restore habitat. NQ Dry Tropics project officer Thijs Krugers is working with Mr...
Community Grants Hub Live
Online North Queensland Grants Hub up and running NQ Dry Tropics has created an online North Queensland Grants Hub to simplify the grant experience for applicants. The hub, located on NQ Dry Tropics’ website, has been designed to advise landcare groups, community...
Grazing Naturally Workshop
Grazing takes grass back to its roots Graziers are always looking for ways to improve their grazing management, and landholders from the Burdekin Dry Tropics region have had the chance to do just that, through Grazing Naturally workshops. Hosted by NQ Dry Tropics and...
New Regional Ecosystem identified in Plantation Park
The NQ Dry Tropics Biodiversity team has identified a unique ecosystem in a section of Ayr’s Plantation Park that has resulted in a regional ecosystem code being created specifically for this area of the park. Regional ecosystems (REs) are groupings of vegetation...
Romy Greiner – LANDHOLDERS DRIVING CHANGE PROJECT
Dr Romy Greiner, Environmental Economist, Director River Consulting Pty Ltd Government policies and programs that target an ‘average’ landholder will appeal to few. Instead, successful policies and programs must respond to the many different situations that...
Scott Crawford – Landholders Driving Change Project
Dr Scott Crawford, CEO, NQ Dry Tropics Watching graziers, scientists and government staff work side by side to design solutions to improve land condition and water quality is exciting – and one of the groundbreaking aspects of the Landholders Driving Change project....
Andrew Brooks – Landholders Driving Change project
Associate Professor Andrew Brooks – Griffith Centre for Coastal Management – Griffith University Gullies are a nuisance for landholders; undermining fences, stockyards and roads – and eventually contributing to reduced available productive land. They are also a major...
Community landcare groups plan for the future
Local community groups who attended an NQ Dry Tropics site management planning workshop in Townsville last week learned important skills that will help them deliver their projects more effectively. The aim of the workshop was to to help landcare community groups...
“Unlikely bedfellows” working together
“Unlikely bedfellows” working together to improve land condition Fifth-generation grazier Bristow Hughes believes that bringing graziers, scientists and technical experts around the table to design gully erosion solutions and improve water quality is already yielding...
Managing breeder mobs
Managing breeder mobs for sustainability and profitability By putting in place a number of key management practices, northern beef producers can tighten an inefficient calving pattern into a cost-effective and profitable breeder management system. “We now have a...
Ground cover key to project success
The Queensland Government-funded Landholders Driving Change project supports graziers in the Collinsville/Bowen area to improve land condition and productivity, and repair erosion which affects water quality. Unlike traditional government funding programs, this is...
Landholders Driving Change
Graziers and scientists unite to design land and water quality solutions. “Working with scientists has been surprising. They are just like us. They want our input and have been putting the water science information into our language, so it's understandable”. So says...
Traditional Owners Grants
Traditional Owners Grants helping to protect land and preserve knowledge. Five Traditional Owner groups in the Burdekin Dry Tropics region have been carrying out projects to manage landscapes and preserve cultural heritage thanks to NQ Dry Tropics’ Traditional Owner...
Beach Scrubs get tender loving care
NQ Dry Tropics has started work to protect and restore beach scrubs along Queensland’s coastline between Crystal Creek and Bowen. NQ Dry Tropics’ Biodiversity team has implemented a management program to improve the condition of the endangered beach scrubs, which are...
Graziers rise to the challenge
Graziers rise to challenge of generating ideas to fix gully erosion “The idea of introducing graziers into the thought process of grant development is refreshing”. That’s the view of Jessie Gooding, a young grazier from Mount Aberdeen Station, near Collinsville, who...
World Wetlands Day 2017
World Wetlands Day celebrates region’s special waterways Townsville landcare groups and volunteers today celebrated World Wetlands Day by visiting Reef HQ and the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) to learn how wetlands can protect coastal communities...
New NQ Dry Tropics Chair
Former Townsville Mayor Les Tyrell appointed new NQ Dry Tropics Chair The NQ Dry Tropics Board has a new Chair, following the appointment of Les Tyrell OAM, former Mayor of Townsville and Thuringowa City Councils. He takes over from Mark Stoneman AM, who served with...
Grant funds recording of Indigenous history
Grant funds recording of Indigenous history at Murdering Lagoon Murdering Lagoon, as the name suggests, has a dark history. Located on Vine Creek Station, south of Charters Towers, it was the scene of some brutal killings in 1864, an account of which is written in a...
Major Integrated Project – Burdekin
Graziers to design land condition, pasture cover and productivity solutions A new multi-million dollar natural resource management program will give graziers from the Bowen, Broken and Bogie (BBB) River catchments the opportunity to say how projects to improve land...
Reef Trust New Funding Package
New funding package worth $11.8 million to support cane farmers and the Reef Burdekin and Wet Tropics sugar cane farmers can bid for funding of up to $500,000 to reduce nitrogen levels in water leaving their farms and entering the Great Barrier Reef Lagoon. The...
Revitalising Horseshoe Lagoon
New project to revitalise Horseshoe Lagoon and protect the Reef Graziers, cane farmers, and community groups came together in Giru last week to find out how a new NQ Dry Tropics project will improve the health of Horseshoe Lagoon, local wetlands and the Great Barrier...
Landscape Regeneration
Charters Towers workshop focuses on landscape regeneration More than 30 graziers and growers attended a two-day workshop at Wambiana Station near Charters Towers last week that focused on regenerating and restoring production landscapes. Renowned agrarian expert...
Community effort helps clean up Aplins Weir
Plastic shopping bags, drinks bottles, crab pots, bicycle tyres and a bollard were just some of the items that filled more than 20 large sacks of rubbish on Saturday during a community clean up of popular fishing spot Aplins Weir. More than thirty dedicated locals...
Community groups’ Townsville forum
Community groups share knowledge and achievements at Townsville forum Landcare group representatives from as far afield as Barcaldine, Charters Towers and Bowen travelled to Townsville last week to share experiences, troubleshoot problems, and explore new...
Infrastructure upgrade a boost for fish and farmers
A much-needed culvert upgrade is underway at Lilliesmere Lagoon, which could increase fish stocks by supporting them to breed, and also help deliver irrigation water to farmers more efficiently. NQ Dry Tropics is working with Lower Burdekin Water to install fishways...
Improving soil health
Burdekin graziers learn key tips for improving soil health Twenty-three North Queensland graziers from 15 enterprises learnt about the importance of good soil health at a series of three NQ Dry Tropics Building Healthy Soils workshops last week. They discovered what...
Landcare Grants 2016-2017
Community groups in the Burdekin Dry Tropics region will share in over $110,000 to deliver a range of local on-ground environmental projects under the 2016-2017 NQ Dry Tropics Community Landcare Grants Programme. NQ Dry Tropics CEO, Dr Scott Crawford, thanked the...
Great Northern Clean Up
Forty volunteers collect 50kg rubbish in two hours in Great Northern Clean Up A microphone, a basketball, a dozen thongs, and a seemingly endless number of plastic bottles and cigarette butts – these are examples of just some of the rubbish found and removed from the...
Graziers network and learn
Graziers take opportunity to network and learn at Clothes Peg Station From managing animal nutrition in the dry season to adopting strategic planning tools for business development: fifteen graziers from across northern Queensland discussed some of their key...
Students and community groups join to tackle noxious weed
Local landcare community groups and students from Shalom Christian College in Townsville recently took to the Ross River to learn about the invasive water weed sagittaria, its impacts and how to record sightings to limit its spread. Like many water weeds, sagittaria...
Graziers gain pregnancy testing skills
A recent NQ Dry Tropics event taught 10 graziers from seven properties across North Queensland how to conduct pregnancy tests – a critical skill to help them better manage their herds and pastures. The Griffiths family, at Allandale Station, 60km west of Charters...
Reef Tender fast-tracks improvements
Progressive Home Hill canefarmer uses Reef Tender to fast-track improvementsWhile second-generation Home Hill canefarmer Mark Vass has strategically reduced the nitrogen application on his 110 hectare farm since taking over its management in 2013, a recent...
Bowen Office Official Opening
Bowen region gets direct access to support, skills and funding for better environmental outcomes The Bowen region has improved access to priority projects and expertise to better manage the diverse region’s water, land, animals and vegetation with natural resource...
Graziers take in best practices
Graziers take in best practices at Charters Towers Building upon the success of the inaugural Women in Grazing Bus Tour held in the Bowen/Collinsville area last year, this year’s event took nearly 70 forward-thinking landholders and industry representatives on a...
Forward-thinking approaches
Forward-thinking approach leverages on-farm efficiency The improvements Burdekin Delta canefarmer Mark Castelanelli is making to the family’s 400-plus hectare farm in the name of increasing productivity are as constant as they are varied. By drawing on the knowledge...
Burdekin Dry Tropics NRM Plan
Innovative plan is blueprint for how to safeguard our region’s natural resources. A newly-released plan identifies collaborative strategies to improve the long-term productivity of the region’s graziers, sugarcane farmers and horticulturalists, while protecting our...
Volunteers improve waterways
Volunteers improve waterways for a healthier Great Barrier Reef Community group volunteers across the Burdekin region are helping to protect the Great Barrier Reef by improving the health of local waterways through the NQ Dry Tropics’ Community Landcare Grants....
Beware of sagittaria spread
River users urged to beware of sagittaria spread As a local not-for-profit organisation that helps the Burdekin Dry Tropics community to sustainably manage its natural resources, NQ Dry Tropics said it was important that Ross River users understood the risks of...
Herd impact trial transforms gully
Dramatic before and after photos demonstrate how a severely eroded gully has been transformed within two years thanks to an ultra high-density grazing technique. The gully, on Barry and Leanne O’Sullivan’s 23,000ha Glenalpine grazing property near Bowen, is now barely...
Look out for Siam weed
Siam weed is considered one of the world's most destructive tropical weeds, and North Queenslanders – especially residents in the Townsville area – are being urged to play their part in controlling it. Originally from Central America, Siam weed was first identified in...
Recording traditional knowledge
Traditional ecological knowledge and land management techniques can play a key role in protecting our natural resources. In 2011, NQ Dry Tropics made an online cultural database available for Traditional Owners in the Burdekin Dry Tropics region to collate knowledge....
Economic approach to management
A recent NQ Dry Tropics workshop in Charters Towers highlighted the importance of graziers keeping accurate and detailed financial and stock records to plan for a profitable future. Across the two-day event, 16 graziers from 9 enterprises learned from leading business...
Healthy Landscapes Field Day
Graziers learn from each other to improve water management “Drought was a great educator, it taught us that we had to change if we were to survive”, said Baralaba producer Ross McLean at a recent NQ Dry Tropics Healthy Landscapes Field Day held at Mt Coolon. Thirty...
Peter Andrews to help graziers
Burdekin graziers looking for ways to make their land more sustainable and drought-resistant will have the opportunity to learn about Natural Sequence Farming at an event on 14 and 15 June 2016, featuring renowned agricultural pioneer Peter Andrews. The event will be...
World Fish Migration Day
Burdekin community celebrates World Fish Migration Day with barra release Around 50 Burdekin landholders and community members came to Kalamia Creek, Ayr, on Saturday 21 May to celebrate World Fish Migration Day and learn about the threats faced by local fish...
Low-stress stock handling school
Low-stress stock handling school supports cattle welfare Nearly 30 graziers attended NQ Dry Tropics’ recent two-day Low Stress Stock Handling school, with leading educator and cattleman Jim Lindsay. The school took place at the Burnett family’s Mt Douglas Station via...
Marine debris workshop
Marine debris workshop – taking local action on a global issue Marine debris is a major global issue that kills millions of animals each year, but dedicated locals are taking action to protect our oceans. Tangaroa Blue Foundation recently hosted a Source Reduction...
Nth Queensland graziers talk reef & beef
The ongoing drought means naturally stressed pastures are generally producing below average yields – and graziers continue to look for ways to conserve pasture and maximise productivity while building resilience into their enterprises. On 27 April 2016, 21 graziers...
Graziers spread water to reduce erosion
Eighteen graziers from 12 enterprises attended a recent two-day NQ Dry Tropics Landscape Function Workshop, on Des Bolton’s 16,600ha Gadara Station in Greenvale. The workshop, funded through the Australian Government Reef Programme, focused on reducing erosion by...
Celebrate innovation on cross-regional bus tour
North Queensland growers celebrate innovation on cross-regional bus tour More than 60 of North Queensland’s most forward-thinking land managers celebrated agricultural innovation, and shared knowledge on a three-day cross-regional bus tour last week. NQ Dry Tropics,...
Burdekin Tender
Burdekin growers successfully bid for $2.84 million to improve reef water quality Burdekin sugar cane farmers have secured $2.84 million in Australian Government funding to reduce their surplus nitrogen levels and help improve water quality on the Great Barrier Reef....
Resilience in Grazing Open Day
Resilience in Grazing Open Day attracts nearly 100 North Queensland graziers Market fluctuations and the ongoing Big Dry are two major challenges faced by North Queensland graziers, and nearly 100 of them attended NQ Dry Tropics’ Resilience In Grazing Open Day to look...
Workshop supports Traditional Owners
NQ Dry Tropics proudly works in partnership with regional Traditional Owner groups to build their capacity to care for their country. This includes ensuring that traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) is preserved and recorded in a dedicated cultural database, so that...
Innovative farming techniques
How innovative farming techniques are saving farmers time, money and waste Some of North Queensland’s most forward-thinking land managers will celebrate agricultural innovation, and share knowledge on a cross-regional bus tour from 12-14 April 2016. The Innovation in...
Maintaining yield while reducing nitrogen
Burdekin cane growers aim to maintain yield while reducing nitrogen Using enhanced efficiency fertilisers could maintain cane and sugar yields while reducing the need for nitrogen inputs, according to early results from an NQ Dry Tropics trial....
Holistic Context frames decisions
Learning about Holistic Management has led to the Murphy family dramatically changing their cattle operations at Tabletop Station, Collinsville. Holistic Management is a goal-driven management and decision-making process that considers how everything is...
Clean Up Australia Day
Community comes together for Clean Up Australia Day Recent rainfall did not dampen the spirits of one hundred community members who came together to remove 75 kg of rubbish from the Upper Ross River for Clean Up Australia Day. The clean-up drew a crowd of...
Single herd reaps benefits in tough season
When her parents Tom and Karen first suggested consolidating their six breeding herds into a single mob of 2500 cows, grazier Nikki Murphy knew it wouldn’t be a simple task. “I expected it to be a bit difficult to handle, but have since seen that there are lots of...
Biofertiliser Course
North Queensland farmers brew their own biofertiliser Fifteen farmers from properties stretching between Crystal Creek and Mackay recently joined Gary and Angela Spotswood on their Lower Burdekin property for a three-day make-your-own biofertiliser course. NQ Dry...
Soil Health Workshop
Cane growers learn that good structure is at the root of soil health Burdekin cane growers learnt how understanding soil biology and chemistry can have a positive effect on production, at a recent NQ Dry Tropics workshop in Ayr. Soil expert David Hardwick presented...
Wonderful World of Wetlands
The sun peeks over the horizon, green stalks sway in the breeze, turtles and birds find their perfect spot to bask in the hot morning sun, the hum of insects crescendos to a dull roar – and another day begins on one of the many wetlands in the Burdekin Dry Tropics....
Conservation Action Planning (CAP)
Two recent NQ Dry Tropics workshops in Townsville and Bowen brought together knowledgeable local natural resource managers to discuss the best way to protect biodiversity in the Burdekin Dry Tropics region. The workshops are part of NQ Dry Tropics’ roll out of the...
Community improves habitat
A local project to improve endangered Beach Scrub vegetation at the Pocket along Horseshoe Bay Road in Bowen, has strengthened links between local groups, while improving important native habitat. The joint project between NQ Dry Tropics, Whitsunday Regional Council,...
Community Landcare Grants 2015-16
Community groups in the Burdekin Dry Tropics region will share just over $70,000 to deliver a range of local on-ground environmental projects, under NQ Dry Tropics’ Community Landcare Grants 2015-2016 programme. NQ Dry Tropics CEO, Dr Scott Crawford, thanked the...
Cane farmers innovate & automate
More than 20 Burdekin sugarcane farmers participated in a field walk last week on Willy Lucas’ Osbourne cane farm, near Home Hill, to inspect an NQ Dry Tropics low-cost furrow irrigation automation trial. Affordable automation in furrow irrigation can deliver multiple...
Fish Kills
Fish Kills: What are they and how do we stop them? It’s that time of year again! No, not the holiday season - it’s fish kill season. With summer rapidly approaching, dead fish have already been found in the Burdekin’s local rivers, creeks and lakes, causing...
Inspiration from abroad
Local farmers take inspiration from abroad to improve soil health Two recent soil events in Ayr attracted more than thirty Burdekin cane farmers, who learnt how increasing plant biodiversity can improve soil health and could help reduce yield decline. NQ Dry Tropics...
Burdekin graziers keen to build resilience
NQ Dry Tropics will hold Holistic Management information sessions in Charters Towers and Bowen, to cater for a surge of interest about the practice among Burdekin graziers. The events will be held from 6.30pm to 8.30pm at the Bowen Research Station on Monday 7...
Tree planting reduces “dead zones”
Recent results from a trial undertaken at Sheepstation Creek in Brandon indicate that planting trees along river banks can help increase fish stocks. In 2012, NQ Dry Tropics carried out a project on a property owned by John and Frank Gorizia, to remove weeds from half...
Reef Trust Tender
Burdekin sugarcane farmers can now submit expressions of interest to access up to $500,000 to undertake projects that reduce the level of nitrogen leaving their farms. The Australian Government has made up to $2.5 million available under the $140 million Reef Trust...
Burdekin growers on tour
On Monday 26 October, ten Burdekin sugarcane growers recently headed to the Wet Tropics on a three-day bus tour to observe how their northern neighbours are reducing nutrient and pesticide run-off into the Great Barrier Reef catchments. The NQ Dry Tropics Sugarcane...
Graziers to share their experiences
Graziers from across Queensland will share their successes at a forum in Charters Towers on Friday 16 October 2015. Forum host NQ Dry Tropics has secured Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) Managing Director, Richard Norton, as a keynote speaker for the event. The...
Holistic management workshop
Holistic management workshop inspires North Queensland graziers With the Big Dry showing no sign of ending anytime soon, an increasing number of graziers are looking at ways to better maintain good levels of pasture and to make their businesses more resilient. NQ Dry...
Cane growers study innovation on tour
Cane growers study innovation on tour to Springsure NQ Dry Tropics recently took five Burdekin cane growers on an 1800 km road trip to check out new technologies and management systems that could help them improve the quality of water leaving their farms. The tour...
Weed Control Trial
NQ Dry Tropics invites Bowen landholders to participate in weed control trial Bowen graziers, landholders and landcarers are being invited to become "citizen scientists” by taking part in a trial to tackle woody weeds with a new bioherbicide. NQ Dry Tropics has teamed...
Low Stress Stockhandling (LSS) schools
Graziers learn how reducing stress improves animal welfare and increases production A total of 48 beef producers recently attended two Low Stress Stockhandling (LSS) schools, held at the Webb family’s “The Bluff” station in the Charters Towers region, and the Dobe...
Weed Identification Workshop
Weed workshop spreads the word about invasive species Over forty participants attended NQ Dry Tropics’ Weed Identification Workshop, aimed at increasing local knowledge about regional priority weeds in the Townsville area. The event, held on the banks of the Ross...
Barramundi Tag and Release Day
Barramundi Tag and Release Day makes a splash in the Burdekin NQ Dry Tropics teamed up with Lower Burdekin Landcare Association (LBLCA) and Burdekin Fish Restocking Association (BFRA) to deliver an educational event in Brandon, focused on how native vegetation along...
Threatened Species Strategy
NQ Dry Tropics gets behind Australian Government Threatened Species initiative. NQ Dry Tropics has welcomed the Australian Government’s new Threatened Species Strategy, launched by Environment Minister Greg Hunt MP at the recent Threatened Species summit, held at...
Mundy Creek attracts community crowd
Garbutt residents and local community groups came together on Saturday, 1 August, to link Landcare and Indigenous culture along Mundy Creek. Local Indigenous group – Grassroots Walk the Talk Collective together with Mundy Creek Environmental Arts Collective identified...
Managing Your Soil Field Tour
Burdekin growers get down and dirty to learn about soil health Twenty-two growers visited four Burdekin farms on Friday 17 July 2015 at NQ Dry Tropics’ Managing Your Soil Field Tour. “The field tour was delivered by NQ Dry Tropics through the Queensland...
Controlling invasive weeds
Community groups team up to protect threatened local rainforest A joint environmental project between Conservation Volunteers Australia (CVA), and Traditional Owners the Gudjuda Reference Group, has helped protect more than 25 hectares of endangered rainforest and...
Queens Beach gets a helping hand
Community groups give Queens Beach a helping hand A joint environmental project between Queens Beach Action Group (QBAG) and Conservation Volunteers Australia (CVA) has helped save important coastal dunes at Yasso Point. The two local community groups have joined...
Community groups join forces
Community groups join forces to conserve significant Maggie Island environment A joint environmental project between the Wulgurukaba Traditional Owner group and the Magnetic Island Nature Care Association (MINCA) has improved over 30 hectares of significant coastal...
New Chairperson for NQ Dry Tropics
Former Burdekin Mayor takes the helm at NQ Dry Tropics The NQ Dry Tropics Board has a new Chairperson, following the appointment of Lyn McLaughlin, former Mayor of Burdekin Shire Council. She takes over from Mark Stoneman, who served with distinction in the role for...
Drought Declared Shires
As of June 2015, 65.8% of the Burdekin Dry Tropics region has been officially declared as in drought. Approximately 80% of Queensland is drought declared. The following Shires in the region have been fully or partially drought declared: Barcaldine Charters Towers...
Women in Grazing Bus Tour
Grazing industry women share knowledge and experiences on unique bus tour Thirty-three female graziers, representing 28 grazing enterprises, attended NQ Dry Tropics’ Women In Grazing Bus Tour, held on Wednesday 24 June 2015. At the unique event, leading female...
Drone Field Day
Unmanned aerial vehicle display brings a glimpse of the future to the Burdekin The emerging Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) industry could have a major impact on agricultural practices, and the Drone Field Day on 25 May at the Barattas gave Burdekin sugarcane farmers...
Healthy Habitats – Majors Creek
Nearly 30 interested locals came along to a beautiful property in Majors Creek on Saturday 9th May to find out more about managing woody weeds, and how fire can be a useful land management tool. Children from one family took home copies of the free resource books on...
Pest Advisory Forum
Pest forum helps Burdekin community tackle unwanted species More than 65 people including sugar growers, scientists, property owners and other interested community members, attended the Dry Tropics Pest Advisory Forum at the Ayr Showgrounds, to learn more about how to...