Coming up in GEST

Home Grazing Coming up in GEST

*NQ Dry Tropics Senior Grazing Field Officer Callum Olver and John Simmons, Avon Downs, during a property visit.*

*Percy Large, Cattle Creek and NQ Dry Tropics Senior Grazing Field Officer Callum Olver.*

*Will Fordyce, Hillalong, left, with NQ Dry Tropics Senior Grazing Field Officer Callum Olver.*

Coming up for Enterprise Support and Productive Pastures projects

There’s plenty on the horizon for graziers involved in the Grazing Enterprise Support and Training (GEST) and Burdekin Productive Pastures (BPP) projects.

Next up is an RCS Keep in Touch (KIT) Day at Bungobine Station near Mt Coolon on 10 April.

These hands-on sessions bring participants together on-property to share experiences, troubleshoot challenges, and learn practical strategies alongside expert advisors.

Coming up later in the year, a practical grader workshop led by experienced soil conservation specialist Darryl Hill will focus on protecting soils when planning and maintaining infrastructure.

The workshop will cover erosion control, firebreak and fence line maintenance, and track and road construction — with a strong focus on long-term land condition.

How GEST and BPP work together

*DPI Senior Extension Officer — Carbon Toni Cottle speaking at the Pentland workshop.*

While they’re separate initiatives, GEST and BPP are closely connected — with GEST building knowledge, skills and planning, and both projects supporting graziers to put those plans into action on the ground.

The GEST project, funded through the Queensland Government, is supporting grazing enterprises across the Suttor, Belyando and Cape Campaspe catchments to strengthen business resilience and land productivity through coaching, training and decision-support tools.

Participants receive one-on-one mentoring and extension support through NQ Dry Tropics and RCS, complete intensive training like RCS Grazing for Profit.

They develop detailed property plans to guide long-term management. Both projects complement this by helping graziers implement practice changes that improve pasture productivity, soil health and overall land condition.

BPP is delivered in partnership with the Australian Government, focusing on natural capital, emissions awareness, and practical grazing management improvements, backed by workshops, peer learning and tailored support.

The two projects create a clear pathway — from learning and planning through to on-ground action — helping grazing businesses build productive, resilient landscapes for whatever is coming up in the future.

Grazing Field Officers running the project:

Callum Olver

(callum.olver@nqdrytropics.com.au)

Kirra Williams

(kirra.williams@nqdrytropics.com.au)

The Grazing Enterprise Support and Training (GEST) project is part of the $6 million Grazing Practice Change Program, funded through the Queensland Government’s Queensland Reef Water Quality Program.

The Burdekin Productive Pastures project is supported by the Australian Government through funding from the Natural Heritage Trust under the Climate-Smart Agriculture Program and delivered by NQ Dry Tropics, a member of the Commonwealth Regional Delivery Partners panel.