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 events across the region. It was also an opportunity to share the latest research and development projects being undertaken within the catchment.

Project updates were provided across the extension space, and included gully remediation demonstrations, soil conservation trials, technology apps in grazing, revamped training packages, repronomics and genomics research and the Landholders Driving Change project.

 DAF Beef extension officer Kate Brown said “working together during planning stages allows for a more organised calendar of events for graziers”.

“Our goal is to provide timely, relevant events and training that address specific producer needs.

“We want to provide fully informed extension, formal training and innovative events to help improve grazing business resilience, and we can’t do this without feedback from the industry we are supporting.

“DAF and NQ Dry Tropics encourage all Burdekin graziers to give feedback and ideas to shape upcoming events that are of interest and local relevance to them,” Ms Brown said.

NQ Dry Tropics Senior Field Officer Linda Anderson said the workshop provided an opportunity to meet with extension staff from across both organisations to find ways to deliver collaborative services to support the growth of a productive and profitable agriculture sector.

“We are fortunate in the Burdekin to have a grazing community that is passionate, resilient and dedicated to improving the triple bottom line of their businesses,” Ms Anderson said.

“Likewise, as extension staff we have so much to gain from working in collaboration and across the sector, to service the diversity of topics and landscapes we operate in.

“This workshop, and future workshops, will streamline how extension and education is delivered in the Burdekin, and target what graziers want and need,” she said.

The meeting was held at the Charters Towers DAF facility earlier this month.  For further information or to provide feedback on training and events you’d like to see in the Burdekin, contact Kate Brown on Kate.Brown@daf.qld.gov.au or Linda Anderson on linda.anderson@nqdrytropics.com.au