A group of 60 forward-thinking north Queensland farmers investigated innovative farming techniques during a four day 1600km journey of discovery through the region on a cross-regional bus tour held on April 12-14.
The tour of the Great Barrier Reef catchment area left participating farmers feeling enriched and motivated to step outside the square and try new and improved farming techniques in their operations.
The group which accounted for a diverse range agricultural industry areas traveled the Wet Tropics, Dry Tropics and Mackay/Whitsunday regions to learn from other farmers about the techniques they’re using to improve their land management practices and save money.
As a result of the tour, they gained a better understanding of water quality, a greater knowledge of soil health, updates on new methods and a network of friends to share information with.
Terrain NRM regional landcare facilitator Fiona George said the tour has given many the inspiration and confidence to question their current approaches on their farms and strive to be better in ways of efficiency, economy and environment.
One of the highlights was the visit to the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) where participants heard firsthand information about the state of the reef from coral ecologists and saw the SeaSim marine aquarium research facility to understand the impacts of water quality on lagoon and reef health.
“Every farmer should see this as it puts our contribution into perspective, we can do a lot to help the reef,” Ms George said.
Farmers shared the information they have drawn from other countries with Atherton grower Ben Poggioli’s discussing his cultivator which he brought back from the United States and Marian cane farmer Simon Mattsson telling the tour group about his Nuffield scholarship research regarding multi-species cover crops and how they can enhance soil health and reduce the need for synthetic inputs which he learnt more about in North America, New Zealand and Brazil.
The group visited Ray Zamora’s sugar cane farm at Euramo. Mr Zamora innovative farming approach includes making his own bio-fertiliser, cover cropping, and diversifying into rice; he’s also trialing an aerator to reduce compaction.
They later also stopped in the Spotswood family’s Mt Alma organic farm at Inkerman. The Spotswoods are certified organic producers of low-input vegetables, fruit, and herbs, and they are pioneering integrating cattle into their horticulture and cane production.
“Almost all participants claimed that the trip changed their understanding of innovation in agriculture and many indicated that they would like to try different approaches on their own farms from what they learned on the tour,” Ms George said.
“Cross-industry and cross-regional trips like this take people out of their comfort zone and expose them to new thinking, new ideas, new machines, and new practices,” she said.
“The important thing is that we are able to work together to continue to provide farmers with a supportive network and perhaps funding to bring ideas to fruition.”
Mr Mattsson said it’s the NRM organisations working together in situations like the tour that help farmers to share innovations and get the message out to industry.
Cairns farmer Mark Savina said even gaining just one piece of new information “makes a trip like this a success”.
The tour was a collaboration between Terrain NRM, NQ Dry Tropics, Reef Catchments, and Herbert Cane Productivity Services Ltd with support from the Australian government’s National Landcare Programme, Queensland Water and Land Carers (QWaLC) and the state government.