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 December, and at the Charters Towers Council Chambers on Wednesday 9 December. They are part of NQ Dry Tropics’ Building Resilience in the Burdekin Grazing Industry project, funded through the Queensland Government Regional NRM Investment programme.

NQ Dry Tropics Sustainable Agriculture Programme Coordinator, Colleen James, said that the  Holistic Management approach involves developing a decision-making framework to help graziers improve the performance of their business.

“It also, supports practical, cost effective and innovative approaches to land management”, she said.

“A growing number of beef producers are keen to build resilience into their operations, and we currently have 18 enterprises across the Burdekin region completing a Holistic Management training programme, including seven from the Bowen area and 11 from the Charters Towers region” she said.

Charters Towers grazier Damien Lyons, who is currently undergoing the training, said that he now better understands how to grow the grass he needs to improve both his herd’s performance and to better protect his soils.

Inside Outside Management’s certified Holistic Management trainers Brian Wehlburg and Helen Lewis are delivering the training programme, and have extensive experience in working with people across many types of agricultural operations and environments.

“The training process enables business managers to develop a clear vision of the future they want on a personal level and in their operation”, said Mr Wehlburg.

“As well as developing a better decision making process, the Holistic Management approach uses your livestock as a tool to improve your pastures and the productivity of your soils,” he said.

Many of the current group of graziers undertaking the Holistic Management programme were inspired by what they saw  during an NQ Dry Tropics open day at Barry and Leanne O’Sullivan’s Bowen district property Glenalpine, in March 2015.

Ms James said the information provided at the open day had impressed many of the attendees and generated a lot of interest.

“The open day highlighted, in particular, that Holistic Management practices can improve pasture composition and ground cover, thereby improving water quality leaving the property, and reducing gully erosion” she said.

Graziers wishing to attend the information sessions in either Bowen or Charters Towers should contact NQ Dry Tropics on 07 4724 3544 or email sustainableag@nqdrytropics.com.au for more information and to register.