A global soft drink manufacturer and an environment group are getting behind north Queensland sugar cane farmers.

Project Catalyst supports farmers who are developing practices that improve the quality of water leaving farms.

Project Catalyst was born in the Mackay Whitsundays area and is expanding to the Burdekin region in north Queensland. The initiative is supported by the Coca-Cola Foundation, World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) and Mackay Whitsunday natural resource management group Reef Catchments.

It’s expanding into north Queensland with the support of local natural resource management group NQ Dry Tropics. NQ Dry Tropics CEO Scott Crawford said the initiative has already seen changes in the Mackay area. He says, “In the first year of Project Catalyst it improved soil, nutrient, pesticide, irrigation and storm water management on almost 5,000 hectares of farms.

“It’s greatly reduced pollutants running off farms and into nearby waterways.”

Farmers in the Burdekin are experiencing cash flow issues because of the impact extreme weather has had on harvesting.

The region’s natural resource management group NQ Dry Tropics is responding to these unusual circumstances by making sustainable land management changes affordable.

Small grants are available until the end of April to sugar cane growers in the Burdekin. They’re quick and painless to apply for and

Paul Duncanson from NQ Dry Tropics said, “We’ve already had response to the grants from farmers who aren’t familiar with getting help to pay for farm equipment.

“They’re pleased to see how easy it is to apply.

“Offering small grants is a great way for us to get in touch with growers we haven’t spoken to before and for them to learn how we can help them.” Paul said.

The small grants are made possible through the Australian Government’s Reef Rescue initiative. In a new approach to delivering grants NQ Dry Tropics is working directly with local businesses to make it easier and quicker for growers to get.

Items include chemical storage and spill prevention equipment, farm

For more information visit nqdrytropics.com.au or call Paul Duncanson on 4724 3544.

Two new Reef Rescue publications will be available in March, helping to spread the word about the unique Queensland program. A fact sheet provides an overview of the program, the role of industry and regional NRM groups and how funding can be accessed by land managers across reef catchments. A new quarterly newsletter provides industry and regional groups with an avenue for sharing news about how their work is contributing to improving the water quality of the Great Barrier Reef lagoon. The first newsletter features stories about a new DVD produced by CANEGROWERS, managing for fire across Cape York and how Reef Rescue has given new graziers a hand in the NQ Dry Tropics region. Both publications, produced in partnership by Queensland Farmers Federation and Queensland Regional NRM Groups Collective are available online at www.rgc.org.au from 10 March 2010 or by contacting Lane Pilon on 07 4699 5000. The deadline for the next edition of the newsletter is Tuesday 30 April and contributions can be sent to sam@wombatcreative.com.au.

The Queensland Landcare Conference will run from Thursday 15 to Saturday 17 October 2009 in Longreach and will showcase land and water management practices involving everything from water wise gardens, the control of woody and exotic weeds, to feral animal control and the rehabilitation of our natural water courses.

Registrations have now closed.

For further details see www.iceaustralia.com/qldlandcare09/
 

Location

Reef Catchments Mackay Whitsunday Inc has progressed its ‘Managing Climate Change’ project, assessing the impacts of sugar cane production in the Mackay Whitsunday region and the efficacy of Reef Rescue targets to deliver improved reef water quality under a more variable climate.

Working with Queensland producers to identify how to adapt to climate change and reduce their carbon footprint, to negate the cost increases expected under a carbon economy, has been a strong focus of the Queensland Murray-Darling Committee (QMDC).

The Fitzroy Basin Association has been working diligently with landholders across the region to address a range of factors impacted by, and impacting on climate change. Programs designed to increase the long-term resilience of all natural assets and systems to climate change are currently being run on a range of levels, from species to ecosystems, and paddocks to catchments.

Informative, thought-provoking, enjoyable. This is how the Queensland Murray-Darling Committee hopes participants will find a two-day Natural Resource Management, Climate Change and Production forum in Goondiwindi on November 11 and 12.

The rabbits around Stanthorpe are in for a tough time as a project targeting their homes aims to reduce the pest animals’ impact on valuable crops and pastures.

Farmers in the Border Rivers and Moonie areas have implemented more than 66km of contour banks and 10km of waterways to help protect 1320 hectares of agricultural land.