Five-year partnership builds foundations of sustainable cattle production

• New five-year partnership between the Queensland Government, Meat & Livestock Australia and Australian Government backs graziers
• $24.4 million investment in research to improve Queensland pastures and grazing land management
• Projects to deliver world-class improvements to pasture-based livestock industries

A new $24.4 million partnership between Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) and MLA is planning to address three significant threats to beef productivity in northern Australia: pasture dieback, land condition decline and pasture rundown.

The Queensland Pasture Resilience Program (QPRP) will incorporate research, development and extension activities across QLD for the next five years and is also supported by the Australian Government through the MLA Donor Company (MDC).

As well as improving land condition through sustainable grazing land management, the program will encourage greater adoption of pasture legumes, which reduces methane emissions intensity. This will support the red meat industry’s goal to be carbon neutral by 2030 and the Queensland Government’s Low Emissions Agriculture Roadmap 2022-2032.

Pasture legumes improve the productivity of native and sown grasses that are in good condition, boosting profitability. They can also help manage pasture dieback, pasture rundown and declining land condition.

Capitalising on DAF’s world-leading research and extension expertise, the Queensland Pasture Resilience Program will help grazing businesses improve:

• land condition and carrying capacity
• animal growth and reproduction rates
• capacity to manage drought.
• carbon market opportunities and methane reduction.

In particular, the program will focus on:

• best-practice grazing land management
• adoption of tropical/sub-tropical pasture legumes
• development of new pasture legume varieties
• optimum fertilising of sown pastures
• pasture dieback management.

DAF’s extension officers can help graziers improve the profitability, productivity and sustainability of their businesses. Call 13 25 23 or email info@daf.qld.gov.au for more information.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries and Minister for Rural Communities Mark Furner:

“This partnership is about helping our producers build on their world-leading success,” Mr Furner said.

“The program will form the centrepiece of the Queensland Government and MLA’s feedbase investment in Queensland.

“With a heavy focus on adoption, this program will give graziers the skills they need to improve the sustainability and profitability of their businesses, and that means good jobs for Queenslanders.”

Quotes from Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) managing director Jason Strong:

Meat & Livestock Australia is excited to partner with the Queensland Government on the Queensland Pasture Resilience Program (QPRP) to deliver significant outcomes for livestock producers in northern Australia.

“Pasture is the foundation of profitable and sustainable beef production, and the QPRP is strengthening our pasture systems from the ground up,” Mr Strong said.

“The QPRP is a long-term partnership that will tackle major issues including pasture rundown, declining land condition and pasture dieback with practical research and adoption activities, creating a pathway to help producers lift their productivity.

“It will also link strongly with the industry’s goal of being carbon neutral by 2030 (CN30), as resilient and productive pastures are a key component of the CN30 target.”

ENDS

Media contacts:

Minister’s office: Martin Philip – 0407 675 008

Meat & Livestock Australia:  Jack Johnstone – 0407 282 971