BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES BOOST FOR GRAIN INDUSTRY
Published Thursday, 18 October, 2007 at 01:37 PM
Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries
The Honourable Tim Mulherin
A new project to develop best management practice tools has been approved for the Queensland grains industry under the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries’ Property Management Systems Initiative.
Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries Tim Mulherin said the successful project was submitted by AgForce Grains in partnership with the Fitzroy Basin Association and Queensland Regional Natural Resource Management (NRM) Groups Collective.
“The grains BMP tool will be a voluntary, online and paper-based information tool for producers to use for self-assessing and benchmarking their operations,” Mr Mulherin said.
“The project will draw on the experiences of the cotton BMP program, and gives producers a user-friendly system that value-adds to their grains enterprise.
“DPI&F have appointed two officers to support the project – one in Central Queensland and one in South Queensland – for up to three years.
“The officers will help to develop and implement practical on-farm assessment and practice change tools for the grains industry throughout central and southern Queensland.
“This grains BMP tool will document key BMPs for growers to compare their performance and further improve their systems.
“The BMP tool will be linked to the targets and incentives funding of Regional NRM Groups and engage with these Groups and other stakeholders to support the rollout of BMP at the farm level.
“It builds on existing initiatives such as the Sustainable Farming Systems projects supported by DPI&F and funded by the Grains Research and Development Corporation.
“These projects achieve more economically and environmentally sustainable grain production systems.
"The Property Management Systems Initiative is a key project for the department under the Queensland Government's Blueprint for the Bush to support rural Queensland.
“This is the sixth PMSI project approved so far for Queensland primary industries, and others are in negotiation.” Mr Mulherin said.
The project will be supported by the strong partnerships developed between the FBA, Queensland Regional NRM Groups Collective, AgForce and GRDC.
Media:
Minister’s office 3239 6530
DPI&F 3225 1386
Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries Tim Mulherin said the successful project was submitted by AgForce Grains in partnership with the Fitzroy Basin Association and Queensland Regional Natural Resource Management (NRM) Groups Collective.
“The grains BMP tool will be a voluntary, online and paper-based information tool for producers to use for self-assessing and benchmarking their operations,” Mr Mulherin said.
“The project will draw on the experiences of the cotton BMP program, and gives producers a user-friendly system that value-adds to their grains enterprise.
“DPI&F have appointed two officers to support the project – one in Central Queensland and one in South Queensland – for up to three years.
“The officers will help to develop and implement practical on-farm assessment and practice change tools for the grains industry throughout central and southern Queensland.
“This grains BMP tool will document key BMPs for growers to compare their performance and further improve their systems.
“The BMP tool will be linked to the targets and incentives funding of Regional NRM Groups and engage with these Groups and other stakeholders to support the rollout of BMP at the farm level.
“It builds on existing initiatives such as the Sustainable Farming Systems projects supported by DPI&F and funded by the Grains Research and Development Corporation.
“These projects achieve more economically and environmentally sustainable grain production systems.
"The Property Management Systems Initiative is a key project for the department under the Queensland Government's Blueprint for the Bush to support rural Queensland.
“This is the sixth PMSI project approved so far for Queensland primary industries, and others are in negotiation.” Mr Mulherin said.
The project will be supported by the strong partnerships developed between the FBA, Queensland Regional NRM Groups Collective, AgForce and GRDC.
Media:
Minister’s office 3239 6530
DPI&F 3225 1386