Farmers are using radio transmitters to better protect the Great Barrier Reef whilst reducing their own costs.
The transmitters and moisture probes which turn irrigation off at precisely the right moment to reduce runoff, save water and potentially boost crop yield, are being trialled on farm.
This is just one innovation farmers will learn about at the annual Project Catalyst Forum in Cairns being held in Cairns on February 22-23.
With more attention on the health of the Great Barrier Reef than ever, the forum will be significant for sugar growers nationally.
Results and findings from innovation trials under Project Catalyst will be shared with the aim of improving water quality, limiting water use and reducing agricultural runoff. To date, Project Catalyst growers in Queensland have helped improve the quality of more than 150 billion litres of water flowing to the Great Barrier Reef.
Reef Catchments Manager Katrina Dent said this year’s forum comes at a significant time, as the sugar industry as a whole seeks to find ways to help meet ambitious reef targets to reduce sediment and chemical runoff from farms into river catchments that connect to the Reef.
Terrain NRM CEO Carole Sweatman said Project Catalyst is an agriculture program that is assisting over 70 innovative cane growers with developing, testing and validating new farming practices that are improving the quality of water running off into the Great Barrier Reef. These farmers are driving the adoption of cutting edge practices that will yield improved environmental outcomes.
“The Project Catalyst Forum is a fantastic opportunity to bring this network of farmers together to share knowledge and learn about new developments in the industry,” Ms Sweatman said.
“Terrain is committed to fostering agricultural innovation so we are delighted to be hosting these innovative growers from the Burdekin, Mackay Whitsundays and the Wet Tropics,” she said.
New developments and topics up for discussion at this year’s forum will include automated irrigation, sub-surface (buried) soil ameliorants and soil health, improving nitrogen use, herbicide and pesticide resistance management and more.
John Markley, CEO Farmacist (on-ground agricultural extension officers for Project Catalyst) said a lot of people don’t realise that ordinary Queensland cane farmers are doing this kind of work.
“Our sugarcane growers are really leading the charge in trialing cutting-edge concepts and ideas that are potential game changers, both for the health of our Reef and the long term viability of the sugar industry,” Mr Markley said.
He said outcomes were expected this year in several project areas, including automated irrigation trials.
“Growers are using moisture probes and radio transmitters to cut water use at the optimal point, saving water, alleviating runoff and potentially improving yield at a reduced cost.” he said.
NRM Groups in all three regions are now also currently working with the Australian Government to support farmers to distribute change more widely.
Ms Dent said the good work being done under Project Catalyst is now being extended across Queensland through the Game Changer program, which is funded through the Australian Government’s Reef Program.
“Game Changer supports farmers to adopt strategies where evidence has shown they can be applied across farms with sound economic outcomes while significantly increasing the cuts to sugarcane pollutant run.”
“We now want to see this figure built on and amplified by wider uptake of practice change by our cane farmers.”