Weekly Bulletin

Hot temperatures again bake regional Queensland

MANY of Queensland’s farming districts will welcome the relief from the recent hot and dry weather, which began before Christmas and became scorching hot for many in the days leading up to last Thursday. The handy rain and preceding hot and dry weather is in contrast to this time last year, and the rainfall across many of the State’s farming regions over the weekend will be very welcome for those who had been irrigating or looking for some relief from the heat for their livestock. Of interest, the hot temperatures were broken late last week by a severe cold snap in southern Australia. According to the Bureau of Meteorology, on January 11 and into 12, areas of northeast Victoria and eastern NSW broke low minimum and maximum temperature records that have stood for several decades. The unseasonal cold was due to a low pressure system and associated strong cold front which crossed the south-eastern states (Victoria, Tasmania and NSW) and Bass Strait on the morning of January 11.

While this summer is shaping up better than last summer, farmers won’t be complacent about the potential for severe wet weather, given there is still several months yet to run of the wet season.

FREE DVD AND BOOKLET TO QFF REGROWTH CODE WORKSHOP PARTICIPANTS

SINCE March 2011, the QFF Vegetation Project Officer (VPO) has been conducting half-day workshops to assist landholders to help them better understand and implement the Regrowth Vegetation Code (2009). These workshops are designed to inform landholders about the Regrowth Vegetation Code (RVC) and how it is implemented. For those who have previously attended one of these workshops, the Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM) has now produced a handy DVD that summarises the major requirements and details of the RVC. QFF has now a limited number of these free DVDs for distribution to attendees of the RVC training workshops. QFF will also shortly release a handy pocket-size ready-reckoner booklet, which is an abbreviated version of the Regrowth Code (which should still be read in conjunction with the full description in the RVC and guide, which is available on the DERM website). For farmers who haven’t yet been to one of the RVC workshops, there are future planned free QFF half-day workshops to be rolled in many towns and regions throughout the state. Anyone who attends these workshops will also receive a free RVC DVD and ready-reckoner booklet. These workshops are aimed at anyone with regrowth vegetation on their properties, who does not currently have a Property Map of Assessable Vegetation (PMAV) or has questions about native trees on their farm. Contact Kel Towerton on (07) 3837 4747 or kel@qff.org.au for more information.

MEMBER NEWS

INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT OFFICER SOUGHT AT QDO

QDO is seeking an Industry Development Officer. This is an excellent opportunity to join a proactive and motivated team in providing support to dairy farmers throughout Queensland where you will have the ability to make the role and region your own. The Industry Development Officer will be work collaboratively with farmers to help them achieve goals for their farm and therefore the industry, through the Dairying Better ‘n Better program. Essential attributes for this position are experience in and passion for agriculture (including relevant tertiary qualifications), ability to work both autonomously and within a team, an ability to prioritise work within contractual timeframes, with good communication and time management skills. This is a full time contract position for a 12 month period which may be extended subject to accessing future funding commitments. The role will initially be based in Brisbane CBD, with training provided as required and following this, the location base is flexible upon negotiation. For detailed roles and responsibilities and the selection criteria please email nrm@dairypage.com.au. Applications in writing addressing selection criteria are required by the closing deadline of 5pm Tuesday 31st January 2012.

GROWCOM INVESTIGATES OPTIONS FOR GROWERS UNDER CARBON FARMING INITIATIVE (CFI)

GROWCOM will this year assess opportunities for horticultural enterprises to generate credits under the Carbon Farming Initiative (CFI). The CFI provides a mechanism to allow landowners to generate carbon credits, and ultimately income streams, by conducting projects that reduce emissions or sequester carbon in the environment. Growcom’s Climate Program Coordinator David Putland said the CFI revolved around a set of ‘approved methodologies’ that determined exactly what farmers can do to generate credits and how many credits can be generated from these activities. “Methodologies relevant to horticulture, however, are yet to be developed and require more research,” Mr Putland said. “There certainly seem to be some opportunities for producers within the grazing and grains industries to develop projects that may both reduce emissions and potentially generate useful income. However, the suggestion that carbon sinks could be made by establishing large areas of carbon forestry in horticulture is highly impractical on commercial fruit and vegetable farms. Intensive industries like horticulture use relatively small areas of land and this issue was not considered fully during the development of the CFI legislation and regulations.

COTTON CONTINUES THE LONG ROAD TO RECOVERY

WITH the first anniversary of those terrible floods which washed over many cotton crops last summer, the resilience and resurgence of the cotton industry demonstrates the difference that 12 months can make. Cotton Australia Queensland Policy Manager, Michael Murray says around 60 of the worst affected cotton growers have been able to replant this season and remain on track for a healthy harvest, thanks to the Cotton Industry Flood Relief Fund. Mr Murray says there were 85 applications made for assistance to the Cotton Industry Flood Relief Fund and the independent fund administrator assessed those applications in order of need, with those most severely affected by flooding receiving priority. “The vast majority of assistance was provided on the Darling Downs, where 57% of the $2 million-plus fund was allocated and 28% went to cotton growing family farms in Theodore. The Cotton Industry Flood Relief Fund also approved assistance for growers in Emerald as well as growers further south in the Macintyre Valley.” Recovering from that loss, the Australian cotton industry remains on track for a record harvest this year, which could mean over 5 million bales. Picking of the earliest crops is likely to begin around Emerald in about six weeks.

OTHER NEWS

2012 IS AUSTRALIAN YEAR OF THE FARMER – QUEENSLAND’S RURAL FARMING COMMUNITIES COULD BE WINNERS

DO you know a rural project that deserves state wide recognition for adopting sustainable farming practises? If you do, QFF encourages you to enter that project in the 2012 Premier’s ClimateSmart Sustainability Awards. Nominations are now open for the awards, which showcases the work of Queenslanders achieving excellence in sustainable practices. Award nominations are open to Queensland-based initiatives, businesses, communities, schools, individuals, not-for-profit organisations and local government areas that are implementing smart sustainable projects and helping to reduce our state’s carbon footprint. Winners will be officially announced on Friday June 8 during Queensland week celebrations at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. Applications can be completed online at www.derm.qld.gov.au/premiersawards or call 3225 1764 for more information. Nominations close on March 16. Each category winner will also receive $5000 cash to support on-going or future sustainability projects.

PESTSMART ROADSHOW COMING TO QUEENSLAND

INVASIVE animals cost Australia more than a billion dollars annually. For an update on research and management developments to control invasive animals such as wild dogs, rabbits, foxes, feral pigs and carp, the Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre for is bringing the PestSmart Roadshow to Queensland in March and May 2012. The roadshow is carried out in conjunction with the Invasive Animals CRC partners Australian Wool Innovation, Meat and Livestock Australia and the Murray‐Darling Basin Authority. Queensland events include:

• March 14 (8am-5pm): Charleville Memorial RSL Club

• March 16 (8am – 5pm): Toowoomba Highfields Cultural Centre

• May 1 (8am – 5pm): Townsville RSL

Places are limited so you must register at http://pestsmart.eventbrite.com.au/ for each Roadshow and for catering purposes, which provides free morning and afternoon teas and lunch.

« Back to Weekly Bulletin