Soils4Grazing is a joint project between Southern Gulf Catchments Limited and the Queensland government’s FutureBeef team to assist producers recover pastures on degraded but otherwise productive land types.
The project is investigating the use of mechanical treatments to restore productive grazing land, increase vegetation cover and promote storage of carbon in the soil. It aims to identify the most suitable methods for different land types. Continue Reading…
THE Queensland Farmers’ Federation and the Regional NRM Groups Collective today congratulated the inaugural farmer and grazier winners of the Reef Rescue Awards, unveiled at a ceremony in Cairns this evening (Thursday May 9).
The top achieving farmers have been recognised for their outstanding achievements through involvement in the Reef Rescue program, by completing on farm projects that deliver substantial environmental outcomes and also improve farm productivity.
A Burdekin grazier couple who installed fencing the equivalent of the distance between Ayr and Townsville have taken out a prestigious national award.
NQ Dry Tropics, the Burdekin Dry Tropics natural resource management company, nominated Glenalpine Station couple Barry and Leanne O’Sullivan for the 2013 Reef Rescue Grazier Award after they transformed the layout of their cattle grazing land. Continue Reading…
David and Adele O’Connor of Springsure property “Mountain View” have been awarded the Reef Rescue award in the grain category for their outstanding work through the program.
Mountain View has been in the family for 127 years and sits South of the Springsure watershed of the Comet and Nogoa River Catchments with several creeks originating in the area. The O’Connor’s have reduced the amount of nutrients, sediment and chemicals flowing into these creeks and improved their bottom line by introducing a grazing and cropping management regime that rests pastures and improves pasture-cropping practices.
Southern Gulf Catchments worked with landholders to protect priority habitat areas in the Southern Gulf of Carpentaria catchments, as part of the Back on Track – Actions for Biodiversity project.
Three properties (Barr Creek, Mount Emu, Maiden Springs) received funding to complete four on-ground projects, which assisted in grazing management to protect species and habitat. The total area of over 17,000 hectares directly benefited from these on-ground works. Each participating property was assisted and encouraged to enter further discussions with the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection (EHP) about potential completion of an Nature Refuge Agreement.
Reef Rescue grazing program coordinated by Reef Catchments leads the way for adoption of improved grazing practices. “The fifth year of the program should impact directly on over 120 properties, twice as many as in 2011-12,” said Michael Boyd, Grazing Team Leader.
With three full-time staff running the program, Reef Catchments anticipates that the ambitious target of reaching 80 new grazing properties in the Mackay Whitsunday region in 2012-13 will be met. They attribute the increased involvement of graziers in the program to direct mail campaigns, the May 2012 Reef Rescue Forum, support from industry and word of mouth from previous grant recipients.
More than 100 students gathered in Croydon from across the Gulf to celebrate Gulf Kids Environment Day over winter. Northern Gulf Resource Management Group hosted the event which was themed around the Australian Year of the Farmer, as well as celebrating growing and cooking food at school and home.
Local producer Peter Kennedy from Alehvale Station opened the day with a speech about sustainable farming and what graziers on the Gulf Plains and Einasleigh Uplands are doing to manage their properties sustainably. This was followed by a working collie demonstration by Tom Mauloni, from Mena Creek.
Making cattle eat the right grass in the right place is a lot like forcing a child to eat their vegetables – it’s difficult. When cattle find a more desirable grass species in a level, shady spot, they stick around.
This was the problem that faced Phil and Deborah Reid, the owners of Limestone, a cattle property located at the base of the Peak Downs Ranges near Emerald, with spectacular Open Downs and Mountain Coolibah Woodland country. Continue Reading…
A rotational grazing field day was held for beef cattle producers on a private property at Running Creek in South East Queensland recently.
Rotational grazing is gaining in popularity with local beef producers, as it is can provide a variety of benefits including improved pasture retention and soil moisture, ease of herd management and improved tick control.
The field day involved a tour around the property of local cattle producer Clyde Bain, who has been developing the property for rotational grazing since late 2007.
Across Southern Gulf Catchments (SGC), future sustainable agriculture projects and services are being guided by the governments’ funding guidelines and local industry priorities through the Pastoral Industry Advisory Group (PIAG).
Our focus is on securing a strong future for our region and as primary land users, the grazing industry plays a vital role in the viability of our rural communities and overall landscape health. Simone Parker, Operations Manager, Southern Gulf Catchments.
The Pasture Industry Advisory Group is made up of twelve local landholders from across the region as well as representatives from Southern Gulf Catchments and the former Queensland Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation. It was initially established in 2010 to provide comment on natural resource management strategies as well as guidance on future projects and investment programs relevant to the region’s grazing industry. Continue Reading…
