Field officers brush up on Land Condition Assessment (LCAT) skills
The Land Condition Assessment Tool (LCAT) is a science-based app that enables landholders and extension staff to track land condition in a consistent and repeatable manner.
It was developed in 2014 by Principal Agribusiness Development Officer Rob Hassett (Department of Primary Industries) to meet the growing need for reliable land condition data.
NQ Dry Tropics and Department of Primary Industries field staff spent two hands-on days sharpening their LCAT skills with Rob himself. For seasoned LCAT users, it was an opportunity to review and ensure their assessments remained aligned with how the tool was intended to be used, much like a pilot’s regular flight check.
For those new to the tool, learning directly from the person who built it was a valuable opportunity. They also picked up practical tips from more experienced colleagues about using LCAT in paddock conditions.
LCAT guides users through a set of observations to record the condition of a site at a single point in time. It also logs the site’s exact location and photos to back up what’s been recorded.
The tool works best when the same sites are monitored every year, around the same time.
This consistent approach gives a clearer picture of land condition trends—helping landholders see if their country is improving or declining, and guiding natural resource management groups like NQ Dry Tropics on where to focus their efforts.
Want to learn more about how LCAT works? Check out our YouTube video where Rob walks you through the process.
And if you have any questions, our friendly field officers are happy to help — give us a call on 07 4799 3500.
ABOVE and BELOW: LCAT tracks land condition by recording site observations, exact locations, and photos. With guidance from DPI Principal Agribusiness Development Officer Rob Hassett, the group carried out monitoring exercises to ensure consistent assessments. Repeating this process at the same sites each year helps reveal land condition trends — supporting landholders and informing NRM efforts led by groups like NQ Dry Tropics.
This training was part of the Grazing Resilient and Sustainable Solutions (GRASS) project, delivered by NQ Dry Tropics and the Department of Primary Industries, and funded by the Queensland Government’s Queensland Reef Water Quality Program.
