Funding boost for Fitzroy farmers improves land management to assist the Reef

Funding of almost $1million from the Palaszczuk Government will enable Fitzroy primary producers to make better land management decisions which will help improve water quality in the Great Barrier Reef catchments.

Speaking from Rockhampton, Agriculture Minister Bill Byrne and Minister for the Great Barrier Reef Steven Miles announced a grant of $800,000 for delivery of grains best management practice (Grains BMP) - and $180,000 for a new project to help graziers reduce sediment run-off from their farms.

“We know that the financial support we provide to bolster best management practices on farms has real benefits for producers as well as the environment,” said Mr Byrne.

“This latest investment will continue the great work done to date that has helped growers to be more profitable while improving the quality of run-off from properties into waterways and eventually on to the Reef.

“Grains producers have been enthusiastic about environmental sustainability for some time, and the programs are constantly evolving to be more effective.”

Minister for the Great Barrier Reef Steven Miles said the program would support industry to improve land management practices in the Great Barrier Reef catchment areas.

“Our farmers are the heroes of the Palaszczuk Government’s Reef protection story,” Mr Miles said.

“We are supporting farmers through improved land management practices which deliver environmental benefits. 

“It is our farmers, with the support of bodies such as AgForce, the Queensland Farmers’ Federation, and the Fitzroy Basin Association, who have partnered with the Palaszczuk Government to improve farm management practices.

“This approach ensures we see more profitable farms, and a healthier Great Barrier Reef.

“Today’s announcement marks the start of an important partnership with the grains industry and their BMP program.

“It will involve the development and implementation of an industry communications and engagement strategy, an irrigation module, a voluntary audit and accreditation system and a training and competency framework.

“Funding the Grains BMP program ensures that growers can identify practices to improve their environmental and business sustainability, which benefits both growers, and the Reef.”

The Grains BMP program in the Great Barrier Reef catchments is funded by the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection and administered by the Fitzroy Basin Association (FBA), in partnership with AgForce and the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.

Paul Birch, CEO of the FBA said that the program allowed growers and industry to demonstrate environmental stewardship, continuous management practice improvement, and farming system innovation.

“The program involves targeted training to help growers improve their understanding of management practices so they have the capacity and knowledge to make improvements on their farms,” Mr Birch said.

“Through the Grains BMP benchmarking process, growers can identify gaps in their knowledge and take the necessary steps to incorporate best management practices into their farming system.”

AgForce CEO Charles Burke said the program was vital to enabling the grains industry to demonstrate their commitment to adopt farming practices that are low risk to the health of their local waterways and the Great Barrier Reef. 

“This $800,000 funding will align Grains BMP standards with relevant environmental principles and outcomes, refine monitoring, evaluation, data collection and reporting processes as well as refine and implement extension and support services in key focus areas.” Mr Burke said.

Mr Byrne said a new $180,000 project funded by the Government would see a team from Central Queensland University work with 40 graziers to better understand the economic outcomes of actions on properties to mitigate areas of low ground cover, early gullies and scalds.

“It will consider costs and benefits associated with actions, such as managing for weather risk, stocking rates, land condition and capacity to mitigate,” Mr Byrne said.

Mr Miles said that the project was one of four funded as part of a pool of $1.22 million dedicated to help the Great Barrier Reef.

“The other science projects are similarly focused – they aim to help manage sediment and nutrient losses in priority Reef catchment areas of the Burdekin, Fitzroy and Mackay Whitsundays regions.

“The selected projects came ahead of 35 others and were chosen based on a range of factors including due their location in priority catchments.

“The tenders were part of the continued investment in research, development and innovation projects by the Office of the Great Barrier Reef.”

More information is available from: www.qld.gov.au/farminginreefcatchments

Media contacts: Minister Miles’ office – Katharine Wright: 0422 580 342 | Minister Byrne’s office – Adrian Taylor: 0448 994 172