The latest news…
Keep improving by tackling the weak links
Continual improvement is all about picking the weakest link in the chain, putting a plan in place to improve it, then sticking to it according to grazier Fran Lyons.
Systems repair
THIS is the difference a Natural Resource Management (NRM) group can make. NQ Dry Tropics’ project officers, working with landholders, council and water management agencies, have, during the past decade, made a huge difference to many waterways in the Lower Burdekin.
Making genetic gains
Burdekin graziers attended a Frontier Genetics field day at Greenvale in August to get the latest information on how to achieve genetic gains to improve overall productivity of livestock.
Burdekin Reef Water Quality report card
Burdekin graziers and sugarcane growers are making progress in improving the quality of water flowing to the Great Barrier Reef, according to the recent release of the Reef Water Quality Report Card 2021-22.
Jaeda hit the ground running
Jaeda hit the ground running in her new role On-Country Project Officer Jaeda Lenoy works primarily with the Landholders Driving Change project team, funded by the Queensland Government's Queensland Reef Water Quality Program, working mainly on Birriah Country. Jaeda...
Piles deployed in Station Creek
A large-scale restoration project on Havilah Station, near Collinsville, is almost complete. The Station Creek remediation site consists of two highly-active sections of eroding streambank (1050m and 554m), running into the Bowen River. The sites are 2km upstream of the Bowen Developmental Road crossing.
Edu-tourism
Early foray into edu-tourism is LOOKING UPNQ Dry Tropics Project Officer JJ Walker with Texas A&M University professor Gerard Kyle at Magnetic Island.EXPLAINING to a group of increasingly wide-eyed American university students what will and won't kill them in the...
Beach scrub project
Cool, bare earth underfoot beneath a canopy of lush, green foliage leaving filtered sunlight and no shadows. Colourful tropical fruit is attended by birds, buzzing insects and swarming green ants accompanied by a soft background noise of the sea lapping at the shore, and not very far away.
Dick-isms
ANYBODY who has attended a pasture management workshop presented by Dick Richardson would have heard a Dick-ism or two. For example, one Dick-ism suggests water…
Seeing Eyes
MOST Australians — even those in the cities — grew up having some sort of natural bushland within striking distance of their home or school.
Skilling NQ Gas
Protecting the landscape... and the NQ Gas pipelineUndertaking site visits along the North Queensland Gas Pipeline (pictured, right) between Newlands district, near Collinsville and Woodstock, near Townsville, are from left, Caitlin Mill, Field Officer, Mary River...
TO vegCAT training
Traditional Owners train in vegCAT and Photo Point monitoringWorkshop participants, from left, are: Ray Gaston, Darryl Tranby, Jim Gaston, Sheryl Wake, Darrin Nicholls, Trinity Georgetown (NQ Dry Tropics), Jaeda Lenoy (NQ Dry Tropics), Shannon Duncan, Hayden Saltner,...
Black soil gully
Rubber vine that "sheltered" recalcitrant cattle only a memoryWhenever Bristow Hughes inspects a particular paddock at Strathalbyn, he is visited by a vivid memory of how it used to be. Standing in that 4000ha paddock, he told the 80-plus crowd at an NQ Dry Tropics...
Strathalbyn 20 years
Strathalbyn field day and 20-year anniversary celebrationStrathalbyn Station grazier Bristow Hughes explains to attendees at the field day the history of the remediated large-scale gully on which they were standing. The gully was the first of several locations the...
New virtual fencing trial aims to boost drought resilience
A major virtual fencing trial aimed at improving drought resilience for North Queensland graziers operating remote rangeland enterprises is now underway.
The Grits
MARCH, 2025DECEMBER, 2024SEPTEMBER, 2024JUNE, 2024MARCH, 2024SUMMER, 2023WINTER, 2023SUMMER, 2022WINTER, 2022SUMMER, 2021WINTER, 2021December, 2020October, 2020August, 2020June, 2020April, 2020February, 2020December,...
Weetalaba Case Study
CASE STUDY: Landholders Driving ChangeGround work restores landscape rehydration at Weetalaba StationKey outcomes 258t of fine sediment prevented from entering local waterways. Stabilised and reduced erosion. Increased soil water-holding capacity. Promoted perennial...
RCS subsidy
Always being on the learning curve is making sure your business isn’t standing still. Burdekin graziers who complete one of these RCS courses will be eligible for a $500 subsidy:
Fence trial monitoring
The trial will be monitored to ensure the technology and practices are effective in improving drought resilience capacity, and to ensure the design and demonstration of the trial is responsive and applicable to graziers.
Testing the fence
A virtual fence is an invisible line in the landscape that can be created on a digital map using GPS technology. The technology manages grazing cattle behind a ‘virtual boundary’ that has been set via GPS by using audio and electrical cues, rather than physical fencing.
Connecting the fence
Like much of remote Northern Australia, Spyglass has no mobile coverage, meaning virtual fencing systems requiring network access couldn’t be used as a tool for improving grazing efficiency, cattle production and land condition.
Virtual fencing trial
NQ Dry Tropics has been awarded a grant through the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund (FDF) Long-term Trials of Drought Resilient Farming Practices (LTT) Program to conduct a trial into testing the efficacy of drought resilient grazing strategies in the Burdekin region.
Leaky weir remedies
Have you got small gullies continuing to creep? NQ Dry Tropics’ Healing Country team can help landholders tackle small-scale erosion before it develops into a bigger problem.
Sustainable Agriculture Facilitator
The Australian Government is investing in new programs to help the agriculture industry transition to a more climate resilient, productive and sustainable sector.
Plan to GRASS
The Grazing Resilience and Sustainable Solutions(GRASS) program supports graziers with areas of poor (C) or degraded (D) land condition to develop and implement a tailor-made action plan for land management.
Monitors continue good work
A community-based water quality monitoring group established in 2019 continues to prove its worth to scientists, collecting data on how much sediment and nutrient run-off is flowing into the Great Barrier Reef from the Bowen, Broken, Bogie (BBB) catchment, around Bowen and Collinsville.
Integrated weed control
LDC’s grazing land management activity area continues supporting the BBB community to develop a region-wide integrated approach to weed management to help improve healthy and productive landscapes.
Optiweigh cluster
A BBB cluster group is being formed to use a Optiweigh unit to demonstrate the value of in-paddock cattle weighing systems for improved monitoring animal weights, optimising compliance with target market weight specifications and for improved labour efficiency.
Two important tenets
LDC is continuing to encourage non-graziers who manage or use land in the BBB to get involved with the project so it can truly be a whole-of-catchment effort.
Station Creek start
LDC is soon to undertake another large-scale gully restoration project on Havilah Station, near Collinsville. Remediation efforts expect to stop 9,920t/y sediment from entering local waterways.
Belmore work complete
Remediation work carried out at Belmore Downs on seven active gullies covering 19ha is now complete. It’s been a big job and it will have a big impact.
Herding Change wrap up
This two-day event wraps up the Herding Change project and includes a Christine Jones soil health workshop, tour of AIMS, a day on the reefs around Orpheus and Pelorus islands.
LDC 2024 celebration
We reckon it’s time to throw another shindig. Join us for a gourmet barbecue, a few drinks, and a whole heap of banter and laughs at the Workers Club in Collinsville on Wednesday, 15 April.
Data collection fun
Portable laser scanners, such as handheld 3D scanners and mobile lidar systems, have transformed the 3D mapping industry. Their advantage over typical 3D mapping technology includes mobility, flexibility to be used in a wide range of environments and industries, and are easy to use.
Birriah planning success
During the past six months several Birriah families have been working together to develop a Caring for Country Plan at a series of workshops held in Townsville, Collinsville and Ravenswood. The most recent workshop in mid-January attracted more than 35 participants, demonstrating a high level of interest and commitment.
Cultural fire for grazing landscapes
NQ Dry Tropics’ Cultural Fire Management for Grazing Landscapes project is demonstrating how cultural fire can improve the health and productivity of grazing land by controlling invasive weeds and bringing back native pastures.
Community Planting Day
More than 30 participants did their bit to protect sand dunes at Wunjunga, at a Community Planting Day in December, 2023. In little more than two hours, they planted 900 native seedlings to stabilise the dunes and protect the access road from storm surges and future extreme weather events.
EOY Sugar industry function
There was plenty of festive fun and laughter at the Burdekin Theatre last week as nearly 60 growers, extension officers and service providers attended the NQ Dry Tropics End Of Year Sugar Celebration.
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.
Real collaboration
An important tenet of NQ Dry Tropics’ extension program — collaboration with key stakeholders, including landholders, to work towards solutions for NRM outcomes. It leads to deeper insights, fresher perspectives and delivers results.
Healing gullies
NQ Dry Tropics’ Healing Country team can help landholders tackle small-scale erosion before it develops into a bigger problem. The team uses non-mechanical methods where fragile soils mean machines aren’t the best option.
Virtual fencing
NQ Dry Tropics has been awarded a Future Drought Fund grant to conduct a five-year trial into the efficacy of drought-resilient grazing strategies in the Burdekin region.
Kickstart GRASS
The Grazing Resilience and Sustainable Solutions (GRASS) program is aimed at helping beef producers improve areas of poor or degraded land condition and to develop and implement a tailor-made action plan for land management.
LDC in a nutshell
Between 2017-2020, the Burdekin Major Integrated Project (Landholders Driving Change) completed 25 gully remediation projects, five large-scale and 20 small-scale sites.
Gully sweet spot
Sick and tired of seeing topsoil disappear down gullies and creeping gully heads gobble up productive land, graziers have been working hard to fix them. The trick is finding the sweet spot — low cost interventions that stop further erosion and enable grazing land to be reclaimed.
Monitoring works
CSIRO produces an annual report to present the monitoring results for control and treatment gully rehabilitation projects on four properties in the BBB catchment area, on behalf of the Landholders Driving Change project.
Plan for LDC 2
The Queensland Government has committed a further $3 million for the LDC project in the Bowen Broken Bogie (BBB) catchment which includes the Bowen and Collinsville region.
Real-life science
Community science validates sediment reduction modellingJames Cook University TropWATER’s Dr Stephen Lewis and NQ Dry Tropics Drought Resilience Coordinator Marc McConnell told an audience of scientists how community involvement in a water quality monitoring...
Belmore gullies
Remediation of seven active gullies covering 19ha on Belmore Downs, near Collinsville, has been completed. Until this large-scale intervention, the gullies were sending an estimated 4617 tonnes of sediment downstream every year and expanding at an accelerated rate.
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.
Zippas seal the deal
StoolZippas, funded through NQ Dry Tropics’ Lower Burdekin Major Grants project have improved the effectiveness of fertiliser applied by participating cane farmers. StoolZippas are designed to ensure fertiliser and pesticide applied during routine farming operations, are completely covered by soil.
Sugar Innovation Field Day
Lower Burdekin cane growers heard about the “latest and greatest” innovations available to improve efficiency, profitability and sustainability at a Field Day on Aaron Linton’s Home Hill farm recently.
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.
CAMM group in GRASS
Bryce Camm was a dinkum bush kid who grew up on Natal Downs south of Charters Towers… riding horses, chasing cows and enjoying nature. As for his parents’ grazing business, he remembers a crew of eight was employed to maintain the 55,000ha family property.
2023 Photo Competition
The Burdekin Dry Tropics is unquestionably a beautiful part of the world. It has inspired us to celebrate the region through a photography competition. We’re looking for amazing standalone images that capture ‘our environment’, ‘our people’ and ‘our work’ to show off all the dry tropics offers.
Natural balance crucial
Jervoise Station grazier Kerry Jonsson is keen to fight a fire. It’s in an unproductive patch of softwood scrub in a remote part of the property that’s difficult to access. The fire hasn’t started yet, but she knows doing nothing means it will happen.
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.
Landholder survey
Natural Capital Accounting (NCA) and Carbon Accounting (CA) aren’t just buzzwords, they’re potential opportunities for landholders… and for Natural Resource Management groups to help landholders realise that potential.
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.
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).
GRASS — Kirkland Downs
A little mothering from Nature did the trickA little mothering from Nature did the trickKirkland Downs graziers Stacey Kirkwood and Ian Collins.Kirkland Downs graziers Stacey Kirkwood and Ian Collins have never been so happy to be wrong. They have a lush new...
Soil Fact Sheet #10
Focus on the soil 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...
Soil Fact Sheet #9
Focus on the soil 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...
Soil Fact Sheet #8
Focus on the soil 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...
Soil Fact Sheet #7
Focus on the soil 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...
Soil Fact Sheet #6
Focus on the soil 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...
Soil Fact Sheet #5
Focus on the soil 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...
Soil Fact Sheet #3
Focus on the soil 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...
Soil Fact Sheet #2
Focus on the soil 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...
SoilFactSheet #1
Focus on the soil 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...
Prime Cuts photographs
The 2022 year in pictures: 24 Workshops; 540 attendees. Four projects were involved in activities: Grazing Resilience and Sustainable Solutions; Landholders Driving Change; Herding Change Through Grassroots Practice and Stomping Out Sediment.
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.
RISF June 2022
Agenda for the Paddock To Reef Integrated Monitoring, Modelling and Reporting program’s Burdekin Science Forum, a part of the Conversation Series.
Rubbervine
A rubbervine infestation so thick it threatens to pull down 100-year-old trees will be tackled by a united trio of grazing properties along Maryvale Creek.
Northern Beef Producers Expo – Top Rail Forums
NORTHERN BEEF PRODUCERS' EXPO TOP RAIL FORUMS Charters Towers, 3-4 JuneNQ Dry Tropics is proudly hosting the second Top Rail Forums at this year's Northern Beef Producers Expo. A range of speakers including leading Australian producers, scientists and advisors will...
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...
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...
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...