We offer extension services and programs to support growers and graziers to adopt more sustainable and profitable business and farming practices throughout reef catchments.
Our extension services are funded through the Queensland Government’s Queensland Reef Water Quality Program.
Industry programs
Our specialist extension staff and agricultural economists provide:
- hands-on technical assistance
- economic analysis and research
- on-farm assistance to trial new practices
- information resources
- economic decision support tools
- field days and other events
- research into improved farming systems.
Grazing
Our beef extension staff help graziers implement profitable and productive grazing systems that that improve land condition and ground cover.
The Grazing Resilience and Sustainable Solutions (GRASS) program works with beef producers in the Burdekin, Fitzroy and Burnett Mary regions to deliver tailored land-management plans to help address land in poor or degraded condition.
GRASS is funded through the Queensland Government’s Queensland Reef Water Quality Program and delivered by:
- Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF)
- Burnett Mary Regional Group
- Fitzroy Basin Association
- NQ Dry Tropics.
Grazing Futures assists graziers to recover from drought and be better equipped to prepare for and manage future droughts as an every-day part of their business.
Sugarcane
Our coastal farming systems team works in the Burnett Mary, Mackay, Burdekin and Wet Tropics regions to support:
- sugarcane farmers to adopt holistic management systems which deliver water quality, production and sustainable outcomes
- CANEGROWERS' Smartcane Best Management Practice (BMP) program.
We work closely with:
- research organisations
- productivity service boards
- natural resource management bodies
- CANEGROWERS.
Grains
Our team of grains extension officers and economists work with growers to help them improve business and environmental outcomes.
The team focuses on grain production in central Queensland.
Bananas
In the Wet Tropics we have extension officers supporting the Australian Banana Growers’ Council Banana BMP program. They provide research and extension services to growers to improve business and environmental outcomes.
Horticulture
Our horticultural research and extension officers work with growers in target reef catchments to:
- identify science-based options for management practice change
- maintain business profitability
- deliver environmental outcomes for reef water quality.
Agricultural economic analysis
DAF agricultural economists work with industry stakeholders to:
- assess the costs and benefits of different management practices and systems
- improve decision-making
- increase the adoption of profitable and sustainable practices.
We’ve produced economic analysis sets for:
Enhanced extension
Our Integrated Engagement and Capacity Building project team is working to:
- facilitate better engagement with the farming community in the Great Barrier Reef catchment
- assist industry to achieve improved water quality outcomes more effectively.
Key focus areas
Develop farmer peer-to-peer learning group networks:
- developing farmer capability
- reaching and actively engaging with more people.
Build extension capacity amongst agricultural sector organisations:
- strengthening technical skills
- delivering more effective farmer-centred extension practice
- broadening the skills of extension providers
- enabling a more integrated approach.
Last updated: 14 Aug 2023