All the news…

ENI report

The Office of the Great Barrier Reef is funding a CSIRO and James Cook University collaboration to investigate motivations and barriers...

Washdown No2

LDC has committed to fund a second washdown facility in the BBB. If approved, it will be developed in partnership with the Whitsunday...

Rights

The Department of Resources has met with BBB graziers to raise awareness around land access procedures and protocols....

MIP visit

A steering committee provides oversight of the LDC project, and in June, committee members joined the LDC team on a bus tour showcasing...

GRT field walk

Upper Broken River catchment landholders have taken a catchment-wide approach to manage Giant Rat’s Tail (GRT) grass. The group held...

Glencore support

Glencore has supported the LDC project from the start. Glencore has supported training events and landscape remediation field days...

Young guns

A young graziers event held at Strathalbyn Station, near Collinsville, has provided an educational and networking opportunity for those...

Staff training

LDC project partners and landholders work really hard to trial and adopt land management practices to improve water quality flowing to...

BBB incentives

A key component of the LDC has been to look at ways to address barriers to the adoption of improved grazing land management practices...

NESP

The LDC project has collaborated with many partners during its implementation, providing an opportunity for the team to co-author...

Veg workshop

The ins and outs of vegetation management laws and new reef protection regulations have been discussed at information sessions held in...

Property visits

Graziers visited two properties - Glenalpine and Strathalbyn - to review methods being trialed to remediate gullies and unproductive...

Weed together

Host for one of the field days, Shane Watts, of Sonoma Station, spoke about weed control works being carried out, the resources used...

Soil sampling

The Department of Resources has collected soil samples across the BBB to help assess and understand the variability of soils in the region. ...

Mt P data

The 2019-20 wet season monitoring results are in for the Mt Pleasant Learning Hub and they show an improvement in vegetation on the...

Grass ID Mt P

A well-managed pasture provides a security blanket for the land, good nutrition for livestock, and a healthy bottom line....

Glen Bowen gully remediation

Glen Bowen Station was LDC’s second and third large-scale gully remediation sites. Neilly Group Engineering designed the remediation...

Strathmore responds

Strathmore Station near the Bowen River rodeo grounds is LDC’s fourth large-scale gully. The remediated site has responded well...

Havilah gully

LDC’s fifth large-scale gully remediation site is at Havilah Station. Works are expected to start in July. The Havilah gully site has...

Rehydration at Weetalaba

The Mulloon Institute is designing a cost-effective way to address an erosion hotspot on Weetalaba Station to help hold and keep water...

Gas pipe

The North Queensland Gas Pipeline (NQGP) is a 391km onshore natural gas pipeline system, with capacity to transport up to 108...

WRC drains

The LDC project, Whitsunday Regional Council and Fruition Environmental is monitoring fine sediment export from V bottom and flat...

Funding continues

NQ Dry Tropics has secured a $5million funding boost to build on and continue, the efforts of the Landholders Driving Change (LDC)...

Grit welcome

Welcome to the Winter edition of The Grit. You can expect The Grit to drop into your email inbox twice a year. For those of you who...

BBB funds earmarked

The Great Barrier Reef Foundation (GBRF) is appointing a Regional Program Manager to plan and implement the delivery of its...

From LDC HQ

I was appointed as project manager for the Landholders Driving Change project in November 2020, and along with the LDC team, I look...

Scottville videos

Cluster groups supported by the Landholders Driving Change project help disseminate knowledge and skills in the Bowen, Broken, Bogie...

Burdekin reef regulations

Graziers in the Burdekin will be the first required to meet the Queensland Government’s new minimum practice agricultural standards for...

Strathmore work begins

Work has started on LDC’s fourth large-scale gully on Strathmore Station near the Bowen River rodeo grounds, 1.3km from the Bowen River...

M&E – the journey

Each year the Landholders Driving Change project measures progress towards improved water quality outcomes and submits a Performance...

Glen Bowen update

The second phase of gully rehabilitation work at Glen Bowen Station has been completed with engineering firm Neilly Group signing off...

WRC drains

Rural roads in the BBB directly serve thousands of rural and regional residents living along them. They provide essential market access...

AWA conference

Delegates attending this year’s Australian Water Association Queensland Conference heard about the LDC project, and what it has taught...

Function at Flagstone

Manager Brett Scott has made a strategic decision to focus on landscape function at Flagstone. By introducing landscape rehydration...

Drones at work

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....

MLA monitoring

Monitoring baselines have been established at the BBB region’s two Producer Demonstration Sites (PDS). LDC has partnered up with Meat &...

Managing wild dogs

More than 15 landholders from across the BBB attended a two-day Wild Dog Management workshop held at the Collinsville rodeo grounds in...

LCAT

THE LDC project aligns with State and Federal Government priorities to deliver measurable improvements in water quality for the Great...

LOL Connect

LDC was a proud partner of the ‘Taking Time to Connect’ event that was held at the Burdekin Theatre, Ayr in October. This event brought...

Last Chance done

Nine projects that were approved under the last round of grants offered by the LDC project have been finalised. The aim of the grants...

Building on success

THE Great Barrier Reef Foundation (GBRF) BBB project is up and running, and will build on the success of the Queensland Government...

2020_year

IT may have been a transformative year, but I am delighted to say that during 2020, the Landholders Driving Change (LDC) project...

GBRF funds for BBB

NQ Dry Tropics has secured $5 million to continue to roll out water quality projects in the Bowen, Broken and Bogie (BBB)...

Networking event

Women in the country, and particularly the BBB, are invited to the Landholders Driving Change women’s networking event on 9 October,...

Breeder herd workshop back

By popular demand, veterinarian Ian Braithwaite returned to the BBB in September to run a  pregnancy testing and breeder management workshop....

Ongoing state funding

Through the 2020-2021 Queensland Government budget, NQ Dry Tropics has secured an additional $200,000 to invest in the Landholders...

2020 Community Update

Each year in September LDC holds a community event to showcase the project’s achievements, and to outline the next phase of activities....

Drones in agriculture

NQ Dry Tropics has organised two drone demonstration days to show landholders how to implement drone technology to make land management...

GRT Field Day

Landholders of the Upper Broken River catchment are taking a catchment-wide approach to manage giant rat’s tail (GRT) grass. A workshop...

Collinsville Regen Ag support

The Collinsville Region Regenerative Grazier Network is hosting Grazing Naturally principal Dick Richarson this month. He is providing...

PATCHKEY spotlight

If you can measure it, you can manage it. Developed by CSIRO, PATCHKEY is one monitoring tool used by NQ Dry Tropics, and the LDC...

BBB chemical training

Fourteen landholders, contractors and other land managers attended nationally-accredited chemical training in Collinsville in...

Scottville Cluster update

A group of landholders from Scottville, near Collinsville, banded together two years ago to address erosion issues on their...

Eungella rainforest group

Rainforests are the undisputed champions of biodiversity among the world’s ecosystems. The Eungella Rainforest Cluster Group recognises...

Holistic management

In August, 11 BBB graziers took part in a two-day workshop by Holistic Management Educator Brian Wehlburg to learn about a...

Photo competition 2020

Strathalbyn weed control

LANDHOLDERS and government department representatives have come up with a solution to improve land condition (weed control) on a...

Worona Field Day

LDC hosted a field day attended by more than 25 people, at Worona Station to showcase the work the LeFeuvre family has carried out to...

Ladies Mach II

LDC’s second women’s networking event was a virtual success with 17 women joining the online conference that featured three key...

Eungella soil talks

TWENTY landholders and industry representatives from the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF), Reef Catchments, NQ Dry...

Scottville cluster review

THE Scottville Cluster Group has proven that working together can result in great outcomes. Twenty-five people attended a field trip...

M&E at Mt Pleasant

THE Mount Pleasant Learning Hub, featuring Mulloon Institute landscape rehydration techniques, has been designed to reinstate the...

LDC M&E overview

MONITORING and Evaluation (M&E) is an important part of the LDC project because it collects data progressively to keep track of...

Old photos wanted

LDC has teamed up with Collinsville Connect Telecentre to hunt down photos of yesteryear that have been snapped on properties around...

Spotlight on Flagstone

Flagstone Station, near Collinsville, has undergone transformational change in just 12 months, with manager Brett Scott keen to make...

MLA sites in operation

THE BBB’s two Producer Demonstration Sites have enlisted biosecurity and land management experts to help them meet their objectives....

M&E at Strathbogie

Treatment on the gully system at Strathbogie Station included five hillslope flow diversion banks and a small rock revetment near a...

M&E at Glen Bowen

THE Glen Bowen site was selected as the LDC project’s second major gully remediation project in the Bowen Broken Bogie (BBB) catchment....

M&E at Mt Wickham

The Mt Wickham site was selected as the LDC project’s first large-scale gully remediation site. The gully catchment treatment size was...

Feral animal program

THE LDC project matches landholders’ contributions towards the cost of the aerial control of feral pigs in the Whitsunday region. In...

Water monitoring continues

Nine river and creek sites across the Bowen-Broken-Bogie (BBB) catchment are being sampled by landholders during rainfall-generated...

Priority gullies

GRIFFITH University has delivered a report that characterises and prioritises the highest sediment producing gullies within the BBB...

Last Chance program update

NINE projects have been approved under the last round of grants offered by the LDC to help graziers implement changes to better manage...

Glen Bowen gully work

PHASE two of gully remediation at Glen Bowen is about to start. Two gullies will be treated and the effect of the work will be...

LDC COVID response

NQ Dry Tropics, including the LDC team, moved swiftly to put in places measures to mitigate coronavirus risks while upholding critical...

Strathmore gully

A CULTURAL clearance report has given the nod to LDC  to carry out its fourth large-scale gully remediation project. The assessment...

Community update 2020

LOCK in 18 September and join us on a bus tour of properties showcasing LDC’s achievements. It’s an opportunity to talk with...

Cow scans

More producers are incorporating ultrasound on their properties to manage pregnancy checking. Mt Crompton Station is one of those, and...

MLA demo sites

LDC has partnered with Meat Livestock Australia (MLA) to develop two Producer Demonstration Sites (PDS) to improve business...

Strathmore gully

Work is expected to start at Strathmore Station shortly, LDC’s fourth large-scale gully remediation site....

History photographs

We’re on the hunt for photos that convey some aspect of a forgotten history, or a story not widely known....

Last chance

The LDC project launched its “Last Chance” call for project proposals by BBB landholders last month. With the project scheduled to...

Ladies virtual meet

Rising to the challenge of Covid-19, LDC’s first women’s networking event turned into a virtual event. Seventeen ladies joined the...

More funding

More funding is to be directed into the BBB. The Great Barrier Reef Foundation (GBRF) has announced a $5 million program...

Welcome Dan

NQ Dry Tropics welcomes new staff member Dan Hazelman, who brings with him more than 20 years of civil engineering experience in the...

Rod’s leading

Rod Kerr has been appointed to lead the LDC team. Rod has strong connections with the BBB grazing community having worked with NQ Dry...

GRASS a big help

THE Grazing Resilience and Sustainable Solutions (GRASS) program supports producers to address land in poor or degraded condition....

Case Study – Glen Bowen

A GULLY, covering more than 3ha of Glen Bowen Station has always been “off-limits” to graziers Christian and Melissa Cormack....

The road ahead

As part of an integrated program the LDC team, in conjunction with project partners, is delivering a series of workshops and supported...

Worona field trip

In response to considerable landholder interest, NQ Dry Tropics has become increasingly involved with the concept of landscape...

LDC Policy Engagement

THE LDC project facilitates and fosters grassroots input into policy formulation and implementation. LDC has, through roundtable...

Holistic management

A TWO-DAY ‘Introduction to Holistic Management’ workshop is being held at the DAF Bowen Research facility in May. Take advantage of...

Network for women

LDC would like to host an event dedicated to the ladies of the land. We need ladies input to help organise an event that is fun,...

No boundaries for weeds

WEEDS don’t recognise property boundaries. LDC hosted an ‘Inspect and clean machinery for plant animal and soil material’ (accredited...

Benchmarking land condition

EIGHTEEN graziers took part in a Land Condition Assessment Tool (LCAT) training workshop at Mt Pleasant Learning Hub in March. It...

LDC sponsorships

A SIGNIFICANT and important component of LDC is building community relationships. That’s why LDC is proud to sponsor local events in...

Raining on The Hub

LOOK at the Mt Pleasant Learning Hub. The rain came and the small-scale, low-cost interventions installed at the Hub did what they were...

Eungella update

SWATHES of burnt-out rainforest at Eungella are being transformed thanks to the dedication of the Eungella Rainforest Recovery Cluster group....

Soil secrets

UPPER Broken River landholders are working with soil experts to enhance soil health, increase pasture productivity, and improve...

Trajectory

THE Landholders Driving Change project has laid a foundation on which it can accelerate the rate of transformational change in the BBB....

MLA – weed project

THIS three-year project will develop five demonstration properties within the BBB catchment to trial and promote holistic approaches to...

MLA – grazing

LDC has been successful in securing funding from MLA to establish two Producer Demonstration Sites (PDS). ...

BOM 2019

THE BOM Annual Climate Statement is published in early January each year and provides the initial summary of annual values and overview...

GRT case study

LDC is working with Eungella and Crediton landholders to manage Giant rat’s tail (GRT) grass. A case study on how graziers near Minani...

GRASS

THE Grazing Resilience and Sustainable Solutions (GRASS) program supports producers to address land in poor or degraded condition....

M and E is fun

MONITORING and evaluation (M&E) is used to assess the performance of LDC with the goal to improve current and future management of...

Popular workshop back

BY popular demand, veterinarian Ian Braithwaite returns to the BBB in March to run a breeder management workshop....

Leaders program open

A LEADERSHIP program has been developed specifically for graziers in the Bowen Broken Bogie catchment.  Register your interest by 13 March....

Rainforest field day

RAINFOREST at Eungella is still recovering from the impacts of the 2018 fires that roared through the region, and a dedicated group of...

Scottville field day

The Scottville Cluster Group has proven that working together can result in great outcomes. A field trip is being organised to share...

Small gullies update

THERE'S been a great deal of focus on large scale gully projects in the BBB, but there’s also been a significant amount of work on...

LDC extension

THE Queensland Government has granted the Landholders Driving Change (LDC) project more time. The new completion date is September 2021....

Cash flow key

CASH flow, not calving rates should be the measure North Queensland graziers use to manage their breeding herds according to cattle...

Learning Hub

A DEMONSTRATION site and learning hub at Mt Pleasant Station, Bowen, is trialling how regenerative agriculture practices can restore...

LDC halfway

The NQ Dry Tropics’ Landholders Driving Change (LDC) project has reached the halfway point. It is piloting land management and repair...

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...

Leadership program

IN its inaugural year, 13 emerging grazing leaders are graduating from a leadership program developed specifically for graziers in the...

Phosphorus workshop

PHOSPHORUS is one of the most important nutritional deficiencies in grazing beef cattle in northern Australia. LDC hosted nutrition...

Time to look back

AS the year draws to a close, we are all looking for relief from the atrocious weather conditions that we’re currently experiencing....

Exciting M&E

Monitoring and evaluation is an important part of the LDC project because it collects data as we go.  It also makes sure the right...

Normanby cluster works

THE LDC project has enlisted the expertise of agriculture consultant and qualified nutritionist Jim Wade of Wade Agriculture...

Herd nutrition plan

THE proper nutrition of beef cattle is a key component of a successful production system. Feed usually accounts for the single largest...

Mt Wickham phase 2

GULLY remediation phase two at Mt Wickham has been completed. The work consisted of a series of rock chutes in the main gully and the...

Cultural survey

A cultural heritage survey and impact assessment was completed on Glen Bowen in consultation with the Birriah People to address NQ Dry...

Glen Bowen work begins

WORK has started at Glen Bowen Station, the LDC’s second large-scale gully remediation site.  Machinery was mobilised in November, and...

Regulations info

THE Queensland Government has provided LDC with Reef protection regulations information for Burdekin graziers. It’s a must read.  If...

Christmas catch-ups

The LDC ‘Catchment Catch ups’ are an opportunity for graziers to quiz the LDC team about the project and priorities specific to their area....

Leadership program

REGISTRATION is now open for the Landholders Driving Change Leadership program.  It has been developed specifically for graziers in the...

Scottville success

THE ‘Scottville Mob’ has proven that working together can result in great outcomes.  The cluster group developed an action plan to...

Rainforest recovery

LDC has enlisted the expertise of Pioneer Catchment & Landcare to work with the Eungella Rainforest Recovery Cluster group. The group...

Learning hub

The Mt Pleasant Demonstration and Learning Hub is up and running. Earthworks are complete, and the first field walk, which was open to...

Breeder management

THE key to profitability is not necessarily how little or how much you spend on inputs, but getting greatest return from investments...

Reef report card

The latest reports on Great Barrier Reef water quality are available. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority has published the...

Reef, vegetation rules

The LDC project is planning a one day workshop to unpack the vegetation management laws and reef regulations - how will they impact...

Policy roundtable

LDC will host a policy roundtable in Townsville in the New Year.  This will be the second round table to facilitate engagement between...

Low Stress workshop

SIXTEEN landholders attended a two-day low stress stock handling school at Strathalbyn Station with leading education Jim Lindsay in...

Herd performance

The Breeder Management and Preg Testing Workshop will focus on the theoretical and practical skills of pregnancy testing and foetal...

David Hardwick

Graziers interested in boosting their soil quality and increasing productivity got the chance to learn from one of the best in the...

Christine Jones

LDC hosted a week-long tour of the BBB region by Dr Christine Jones, of Amazing Carbon. Workshops were held at Six Mile, Glenalpine,...

Halfway Social

Graziers, project delivery partners, science collaborators and industry representatives joined the LDC team at the Collinsville...

Nutrition workshop

Dry pastures can leave graziers with low protein, stubble and roughage to get stock through summer, so supplementation could play a...

Weed training

A huge response to LDC’s weed hygiene training workshop held earlier this year has prompted the LDC team to organise another one for...

Experts about

The LDC project would not be possible without the help of its delivery partners and collaborations with other organisations and...

Mt Pleasant demo

A demonstration site and learning hub will ground truth a wide range of management and landscape remediation techniques. The aim is to...

Bus tour

SEPTEMBER marked the halfway point for the LDC project. To showcase the project’s achievements, and to outline the next phase of...

Eungella cluster

A Eungella Rainforest Cluster Group has been formed to ensure landholders and the wider Eungella community are provided with on-ground...

Develop training package

LDC is seeking a professional to develop a training package for BBB graziers to make sure they meet minimum legislative requirements...

New panel members

The LDC project is looking for two more landholder representatives on its project panel to provide strategic and management oversight....

All_comp_photos

ALMOST 100 eye-catching entries were submitted in the Landholders Driving Change BBB Photography Competition in September. The...

Mt Wickham update

The Landholders Driving Change Landscape Remediation Activity Area is about trialling different remediation approaches to determine...

War on GRT

Eungella and Crediton landholders are waging war with Giant rat’s tail (GRT) grass. The African native is an aggressive grass that can...

Braithwaite column

Fundamental to any business is having a known and accurate inventory (stock) the business has on hand at a particular point in...

Whoa boy video

Fast flowing water caused by heavy rainfall can wreak havoc on rural roads and access tracks, and fencelines. Constructing erosion...

Gully video

When tackling soil erosion on grazing lands, it’s important to treat both the cause and symptoms. NQ Dry Tropics works closely with...

Gully symposium

More than 100 delegates including engineers, scientists and practitioners, from Australia, USA, China, Japan, Germany, Spain, France,...

Breedcow software

Queensland’s Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) Breedcow software package can help graziers to plan, evaluate and improve...

Weed hygiene

A huge response to LDC’s weed hygiene training workshop held earlier this year has prompted the LDC team to organise another one for...

Nutrition matters

Dry pastures can leave graziers with low protein, stubble and roughage to get stock through summer, so supplementation can play a vital...

Healthy soil

Collective action will secure the conservation and economic benefits of healthy soils in the BBB region. That’s why LDC is taking a...

Property mapping

A property map can assist with property management and planning including: identifying areas on the property that are sensitive areas...

Herd performance

Measuring and benchmarking your herd’s performance and productivity is a key step in analysing the profitability and productivity of...

Whoa boy project

MORE than 20 grazing properties are taking part in the whoa boy project that is being rolled out across the BBB catchment. LDC hosted...

Soil test

THE only way to determine the soil nutrient profile is to undertake a soil test. Soil analysis can measure the soil’s ability to supply...

NIRS Testing

THE quality of the diet consumed by cattle is one of the main determinants of productivity, including reproductive performance, growth...

Forage budgeting

NOW is a good time to start planning for the next dry season. Adjusting stocking rates to meet current feed supply, animal...

Incentives grants

The Exploring New Incentives program area – scoping and trialling incentives and institutional arrangements – works in conjunction with...

Grazier Support 2019

As part of an integrated program the LDC team in conjunction with project partners RCS and DAF is delivering a series of workshops and...

Financials – August

A primary production business varies from other businesses in the sense that there is no singe skill needed to make the business...

Feedback, please

Landholders Driving Change is a three-year project that runs to the end of August 2020. From August to December 2020, the team will...

Marketing School

LDC will pay up to 75 per cent of the cost of an upcoming KLR Marketing school for graziers who live in the BBB to attend. The school...

Carbon Farming Expo

Theme:  Setting the domestic and international scene and advances in the soil C space. Interested in carbon farming? LDC will pay the...

Financials – July

PREVIOUSLY, the Farm Financial Series has looked at smoothing out income (through available primary production concessions such as farm...

MIP visit

MAJOR Integrated Projects (MIPs) Steering Committee chair Bob Speirs and grazier representative Roger Landsberg toured the BBB...

WQ monitoring

The LDC Community Water Quality Monitoring Group and TropWATER scientists reviewed water sampling results from the 2018-2019 wet season...

GRT grass

THIS workshop is an excellent opportunity to connect with other landholders to discuss catchment considerations in managing Giant Rat’s...

Hello Sheridan

Change is afoot.  We farewell Matt Miles and Brendan Smith and welcome Sheridan Callcott to the team. Matt Miles and Brendan Smith have...

WRC baiting

FERAL pigs contribute to soil erosion and weed spread, consume and foul molasses, lick blocks, pasture and watering points, spread...

Herd performance

THE workshop, run by Dr Ian Braithwaite, focused on the theoretical and practical skills of pregnancy testing and foetal ageing in...

Financials – June

THIS article is the second instalment looking at the criteria and advantages of small businesses utilising Capital Gains Tax (CGT)...

Event sponsors

COMMUNITY is all about building relationships. That’s why NQ Dry Tropics, through its LDC project, is proud to sponsor local events in...

Change training

As part of the Regional Extension Coordination program, NQ Dry Tropics is proud to support Allan Parker from Peak Performance to run a...

Normanby cluster

Diagnostic tests from plant tissue, soil and and water is helping landholders of the Normanby Cluster Group to improve nutrition,...

SOS Field Days

The LDC project builds on, and aligns with, existing local initiatives in the BBB catchment. One of those initiatives is the NQ Dry...

Collaborate

CROSS team collaboration is a win for natural resource management, landholders, the environment, and the Great Barrier Reef. NQ Dry...

WQ website

This website is home to the Reef 2050 Water Quality Improvement Plan 2017–2022, a joint commitment of the Australian and Queensland...

Dam desilting

The Dam Desilting Rebate has been provided by the Australian Government for up to 25 per cent of the cost of a private contractor to...

Gully book

CHECK out this new gully erosion publication from the Burnett Mary Regional Group, written by John Day and Queensland Department of...

Breeder management

The workshop will focus on the theoretical and practical skills of pregnancy testing and foetal ageing in cattle, and will focus on how...

Symposium

THE Eighth International Symposium on Gully Erosion (ISGE) is being held in Townsville 21-27 July, the first ISGE in the southern...

Monitoring group

THE Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research (TropWATER) trained local landholders on how to collect and store water...

Eungella meet

THE LDC project is extending into the Upper Broken River catchment (Eungella, Broken River, Crediton and Dalrymple Heights). More than...

Biosecurity regulations

PEOPLE going onto a farming operation where animals are kept must now comply with the property’s biosecurity management plan when...

Meet and greet

LDC, in collaboration with the Pioneer Catchment and Landcare Group is hosting a ‘meet and greet’ at Eungella Memorial Hall (The Hub)...

Plan to succeed

I STARTED as project manager for the Landholders Driving Change project on 1 April. The irony was lost on me - but a number of people...

Scottville Cluster

DAF principal extension officer (grazing land management) Bob Shepherd is providing expertise to help the Scottville cluster group...

Financials – May

SMALL businesses are the engine room of our economy, representing 99 per cent of all businesses in Australia. There are a range of...

NQDT newsletter

NQ Dry Tropics has launched its newsletter.  It will be published online four times a year. The company is an independent community-based...

Toolbox

NQ DRY Tropics has developed an online tool box to help landholders assess the condition of soil on different land types across their...

Hub

A FACEBOOK group has been formed for BBB graziers and non-grazing land managers who work in the Bowen, Broken, Bogie (BBB) catchment...

Soil

THE only way to determine the soil nutrient profile is to undertake a soil test.  Soil analysis can measure the soil’s ability to supply...

Trial something

WANT to trial something on your property?  Up to $40,000 per enterprise is available to help make your business more resilient while...

NIRS Testing

THE quality of the diet consumed by cattle is one of the main determinants of productivity, including reproductive performance, growth...

Herd productivity

MEASURING and benchmarking the herd’s performance and productivity is a key step in analysing the profitability and productivity of...

Walking landscape

THE field day will visit three properties, Mt Wickham, Riverview and Glen Bowen stations on 1 May. At Mt Wickham and Riverview,...

Leadership course

A LEADERSHIP program, developed specifically for graziers in the Bowen and Collinsville region, has kicked off. Thirteen local...

RASH

WE have packaged a soil health tool kit for graziers  - a Rapid Assessment of Soil Health (RASH) manual written by well known...

Paneleers

STRONG and ongoing local participation is the cornerstone of the Landholders Driving Change project (LDC).  Local graziers have been...

Hygiene workshop

LDC hosted a Weed Hygiene workshop at the Collinsville Scottville Workers Club in March.  Landholders learned about biosecurity,...

MERI

MONITORING and evaluation of the LDC project is a process of zooming in and zooming out across a number of scales. We zoom in on some...

Whoa

The LDC whoa boy project continues to roll out across the catchment in 2019. Whoa boys are a simple method for controlling erosion on...

Soil test

THE only way to determine the soil nutrient profile is to undertake a soil test. Soil analysis can measure the soil’s ability to supply...

Faecel testing

The quality of the diet consumed by cattle is one of the main determinants of productivity, including reproductive performance, growth...

Forage budget

ADJUSTING stocking rates to meet current feed supply, animal requirements, and ground cover targets is considered best management...

Weetalaba workshop

FIVE quality speakers from RCS, DAF and cattle producers gave informative presentations, and the common message from all speakers was...

Remediation

THE aim of the Landscape Remediation Activity Area is to develop effective and economical approaches to gully remediation.  LDC is...

Clusters

COLLINSVILLE grazier Jim Hillier (pictured) knows a thing or two about landscape remediation - he has spent his whole life working with...

BBB hub

A FACEBOOK group has been formed for BBB graziers and non-grazing land managers who work in the Bowen, Broken, Bogie (BBB) catchment...

Regulations

TO address frustration about the complexity of the regulatory system affecting agriculture - specifically grazing - the LDC project has...

Common ground

THE LDC team is engaging with non-grazing land managers to help them get involved with the project. Two forums were held in Eungella...

Reef regulations

THE LDC project aims to connect landholders around Bowen and Collinsville with government representatives to discuss policy and...

New Boss

I have tendered my resignation to NQ Dry Tropics to support my wife in an exciting career move. Congratulations to Lisa Hutchinson who...

Incentives grant

WANT to trial something on your property?  Up to $40,000 per enterprise is available to help make your business more resilient while...

Collaboration

LEVERAGING cross team collaboration is a no-brainer, it leads to deeper insights, fresher perspectives and delivers results. Staff from...

River Symposium 2019

This year’s International RiverSymposium is showcasing innovative programs from around the world that are transforming ailing rivers...

Policy engagement

LDC has held a round table to coordinate engagement between landholders and government decision makers on relevant policy and...

Reef 2050 WQIP

The Reef 2050 Water Quality Improvement Plan 2017-2022 is a joint commitment of the Australian and Queensland governments. The plan is...

Provider workshops

Two workshops were held in February for non-graziers who manage or use land in the BBB, on how they can get involved in the LDC project...

Farm Financials – Disaster

The past few weeks have been truly heartbreaking and a test of industry survival for many primary producers.Many have gone from years...

The Digital Farmer

LDC hosted AGDATA Australia to deliver Phoenix Farm Management Software workshops to local graziers in February. Participants completed...

Feral pig control

The Whitsunday Regional Council’s 2018/19 feral pig aerial control program is on course to eclipse the previous year’s tally.  The LDC...

Gully symposium

The 8th International Symposium on Gully Erosion (ISGE) is being held in Townsville on 21-27 July - the first ISGE in the southern...

Leadership Program

Do you want to be part of the future of your region?  Do you want to work with your community to plan your future?A leadership program...

Demo sites

LDC wants to establish two ‘whole of enterprise’ demonstration sites to ground truth a wide range of management and landscape...

Mackay Grazing Forum

Reef Catchments is once again hosting a Grazing Forum in Mackay. Guest speakers at the 28 March forum include Charles Massey, author of...

Catchment catchups

The LDC ‘Catchment Catch ups’ are an opportunity for graziers to quiz the grazier support team about the LDC project and priorities...

New panel members

The LDC has two new panel members - grazier Dan Kenny, of Dartmoor Station, and Samantha Stone-Jovicich, a CSIRO scientist.  We welcome...

Erosion control training

Register now to take advantage of two erosion control workshops being held this month. Highly-respected landcare specialist and plant...

Weed hygiene workshop

LDC is hosting a Weed Hygiene at the Collinsville Workers Club on Monday, 4 March, 9am to 3pm.  Landholders will learn about...

Mt Wickham update

LDC is conducting a large-scale gully remediation project on Mt Wickham. Since initial works were completed in November 2018, 745mm of...

Wet start to 2019

TropWATER has generously shared these images of plume extending to Old Reef, Midshelf Reef, and central Great Barrier Reef, along with...

Grazier Support 2019

As part of an integrated program the LDC team in conjunction with project partners RCS and DAF is delivering a series of workshops and...

Financials – FMDs

WITH drought ravishing most of the State, forced sales are a point of conversation for many primary producers and tax advisers. If used...

Let it rain, let it rain, let it rain

CADE Colls at Glenroc Station wasn't quick enough to empty the rain gauge when the downpour from ex-Cyclone Penny began on the night of...

Rain Roundup – 2018

IT'S not just the recent weather that makes us want to look back on the year's rainfall, it's also the time of year when we reflect....

Grazing fundamentals

THE Landholders Driving Change (LDC) Grazing Support Team will this year deliver four events targeting grazing fundamentals. The first...

Two demo sites

RESTORING landscape function, the introduction of technology and innovation in land management and access to cutting-edge monitoring...

Gully symposium

THE 8th International Symposium on Gully Erosion will be held in Townsville on 21-27 July. This will be the first ISGE in the southern...

Borrow a level

THE LDC project  has a state-of-the-art laser level to help landholders plan and design surface water management structures. Managing...

Demo site search

ARE you keen to integrate innovation and technology into your management system to optimise productivity and profit? Keen to access...

LDC design

LDC is tackling erosion and improving land management from the ground up.  Strong and ongoing local participation is the cornerstone of...

Water Quality program

The Queensland Government is rolling out two large scale reef water quality projects that will become blueprints for improving water...

The 2050 Plan

The Reef 2050 Water Quality Improvement Plan 2017-2022 is a joint commitment of the Australian and Queensland governments. The plan is...

Soil the key

Effective management of soils and pastures is fundamental to the productivity of the agricultural industry and the health of the...

Welcome Lisa

NQ Dry Tropics’ Lisa Hutchinson is joining the LDC team as a Senior Project Officer. Lisa’s strong connections with the BBB grazing...

Water Tester

WATER samples collected by the volunteer network of graziers across Burdekin tributaries and major sub-catchments will help trace the...

Financials – Forced Sales

WITH drought ravishing most of the State, forced sales are a point of conversation for many primary producers and tax advisers. If used...

Rain test

Great news - the rain poured down and remediation work on a large-scale gully at Mt Wickham held up! A total of 33.6mm of rain fell...

Manager’s message

The end of year is always a good time to reflect and 2018 has been a busy year. This year the priority has been getting BBB graziers...

Meet Matt

I was born in Mudgee in Central West NSW before moving to Northern NSW to study Environmental Science. I started my career in aquatic...

Works and Training

Graziers in the BBB have a suite of funded on-ground works, and training opportunities available to them as part of the LDC project to...

Mt Pleasant

Searching for answers, the Mt Pleasant business decision makers  - Jamie Gordon, his wife Garlone Moulin, Jamie’s sister Joan and her...

Reef Champions

The Reef Champion Awards are supported by the ‘Reef Trust: Reef Alliance – Growing a Great Barrier Reef’ project, which is funded by...

LDC knees-up

Graziers along with the LDC team enjoyed a end of year social at the Bowen River Hotel last month. Guest speaker Roger Landsberg, of...

Farm Financials

Agriculture is a sophisticated and highly technical industry, and contributes significantly to the Australian economy and community....

Reef champions

CONGRATULATIONS to local graziers who have been announced as finalists in the 2018 Reef Champion Awards. Barry and Leanne O’Sullivan,...

Drought review

THE Queensland Government’s Drought Program is being reviewed.  An expert panel is considering what has worked well, what could be...

Washdown opening

THE Collinsville small vehicle washdown facility was officially opened last week by Cr Peter Ramage, Whitsunday Regional Council. The...

Carbon farming

CARBON farming projects generate income for landholders through changes in land management practices which reduce greenhouse gas...

Beefier panel

The LDC project is looking for more landholder representation on its project panel to provide strategic and management oversight....

Agronomy workshops

THE LDC has enlisted the expertise of agriculture consultant and qualified nutritionist Jim Wade of Wade Agriculture Consultants to...

Plan for succession

THE LDC has enlisted the expertise of Proagtive Agribusiness Solutions to deliver a Succession Planning workshop in Bowen. It’s aimed...

On-ground opportunities

Grazing practice change is central to the Landholders Driving Change (LDC) project because it is the proven most cost-effective way of...

Washdown working

THE region’s first community washdown facility has been installed in Collinsville to prevent the spread of weeds. Designed for 4WDs,...

Whoa boy project

MORE than 20 grazing properties are taking part in the whoa boy project that is being rolled out across the BBB catchment. LDC hosted...

Protecting land in the dry

HIGHLY-respected grazing management consultant Brian Wehlburg spent a week in the BBB in mid-September visiting a number of...

Riversymposium

LANDHOLDERS Driving Change is facilitating a multidisciplinary approach to designing cost-effective approaches to remediate large-scale...

Having a say

NEVER before has a project taken such a wide-ranging approach to improving land and water quality at a catchment scale. Strong and...

Project Panel meets

THE next LDC project panel meeting will be held on 27 and 28 September. Panel members will also inspect several sites on which...

New Incentives update

EXPLORING New Incentives is an important component of the LDC project, working with landholders to investigate a range of approaches...

Feral pig control

THE LDC project will match landholders’ contributions towards the cost of the aerial control of feral pigs in the Whitsunday region. ...

Water monitoring groups

The LDC has set up a Community Water Quality Monitoring Group, comprised of local graziers. These graziers will undertake water...

The need for an LDC

In response to the ongoing water quality impacts affecting the health of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR), the Queensland and Australian...

Less stress

The aim of the workshop is to help graziers to handle stock in a calm and confident manner in all situations. Topics covered include:...

Works at Mt Wickham

LANDHOLDERS Driving Change is conducting a large-scale gully remediation project on Mt Wickham. In mid-August LDC staff walked the...

Gully work begins

THANKS to the landholders who nominated potential gully remediation works.  It was great to receive a high level of interest and it is...

Whoa boy project

Never before has a whoa boy project rolled out across the BBB catchment.  Every landholder in the catchment is invited to be involved. ...

Rehydration workshop

AFTER experiencing a succession of dry winters, Mingela grazier Chris LeFeurve decided to take steps to improve the drought resilience...

Beef Up Forum

THE LDC project will cover the admission fee and overnight accommodation for BBB landholders who attend the Beef Up Forum...

BBB Training

THE LDC team has put together a suite of training opportunities that could be useful for graziers in the BBB. It is not a complete...

Landscape Rehydration

THIS workshop is a must to attend.  Learn about Natural Sequence Farming, soil rehydration and erosion control in grazing landscapes at...

Soil Health brochure

PEOPLE are the most important asset in any grazing business, but soil is a close second. Soil underpins the growth of all plants,...

Whoa boy project

NEVER before has a whoa boy project rolled out across the catchment. LDC will host highly-respected landcare specialist and plant...

RCS Grazing Clinic

This power-packed two and a half day clinic will have you walking away with the confidence and practical know-how to go home and begin...

Less stress

The aim of the workshop is to help graziers to handle stock in a calm and confident manner in all situations. Topics covered include:...

Eco-graze Workshop

Eco-graze workshop Holistic Grazing Planning - Increasing pasture and animal productivity: Day 1 - learn about how nature functions...

Catchment repair sites

PROBLEM gullies are the focus of the first Landscape Remediation sites in the Landholders Driving Change project throughout the BBB...

Five Activity Areas

THE activities of the Landholders Driving Change project fall within five main areas: BBB Grazier Support; Landscape Remediation;...

Laser Level to borrow

THE LDC project now has a state-of-the-art laser level to help landholders plan and design surface water management structures....

Training opportunities

THE list of training opportunities available to landholders in the Bowen, Broken, Bogie catchment area through the Landholders Driving...

BBB Gully Repair

GOT an eroding gully problem? If you’re in the Bowen, Broken, Bogie catchment, you’re probably in luck. The Landholders Driving Change...

Washdown facility

THE region’s first community washdown facility is expected to open in Collinsville in July, 2018. LDC committed to fund the small...