Burdekin nitrogen trials pay off for cane farmers and Reef Report Card

Burdekin farmers are using less nitrogen, increasing their profits and improving water quality in the Great Barrier Reef thanks to the Palaszczuk Government’s RP20 Burdekin Nitrogen Trials. 

The latest results from the Great Barrier Reef Report Card 2016 show their efforts have paid off with the Burdekin region making the most significant improvement by reducing dissolved inorganic nitrogen run-off by 5.5 per cent.

Minister for the Great Barrier Reef Steven Miles said the RP20 Burdekin Nitrogen Trials project had produced outstanding results for growers, industry and the Reef.

“These trials proved the industry standard maintains grower productivity and maximises their profitability while producing a fantastic outcome for the Great Barrier Reef,” Mr Miles said.

“In the last two years of this project, 1,000 less tonnes of nitrogen was applied to farms. This is an enduring change—growers will continue to reap more profit while local waterways and the Reef are benefitting now and into the future.

The RP20 Burdekin Nitrogen Trials were a six-year project that aimed to prove the industry standard, SIX EASY STEPS, on all major soil types in the Burdekin and reduce nutrient run-off to the Great Barrier Reef lagoon.

The results showed where a trial site was run for more than one year, the SIX EASY STEPS method was more profitable 100% of the time.

The project was a collaboration involving growers, industry and the Queensland Government.

Mr Miles commended the growers who took on the challenge and committed to this project.

“The results achieved through this collaboration have been inspiring, with growers making whole-of-farm management changes. Thanks to their great work we are seeing real and positive results and we will continue to work with growers in the Burdekin region through follow-on projects.”

Mr Miles said it was heartening to see the hard work of Burdekin growers reflected in the Great Barrier Reef report card.

“This achievement is a win for everyone and continued progress will help ensure our producers are prosperous and our Reef remains great.”

Results of the trials and a video of the grower collaborators is available on the Sugar Research Australia website at sugarresearch.com.au.

The Great Barrier Reef Report Card 2016 is available at www.reefplan.qld.gov.au/measuring-success/report-cards/

ENDS

Media contact: Katharine Wright - 0422 580 342