Archives for April 2016

Grazing forum 2016

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More than 110 graziers, keen to adopt Best Management Practice (BMP), attended the Grazing Forum 2016. Industry leaders of innovation, on farm trials, market opportunities, genetics and new pasture varieties presented up-to-date information on the seasonal outlook, biosecurity, and soil erosion.

Increased average sale yard prices, combined with rainfall, has forecasters expecting graziers will be encouraged to restock in order to supply the domestic market, providing the perfect opportunity to make a profit.

An expert in soil health, Bill Thompson, has spent his life in rural Queensland. He grew up in North Burnett on the family farm, moved to the Burdekin, and now has a grazing property at the headwaters of the Bremer River, Ipswich.

“The knowledge and understanding of generations of our farmers and graziers who protect nurture and invest in what soils do for everyone is grossly under-valued in modern society and politics. Such knowledge is more revered in other cultures I have worked in.”

Reef Catchment's Grazing Forum 2016
Bill Thompson presenting at the Field Day

Bill led a field day following the forum in a grazing paddock on Jensens Rd, Farleigh. The property had previously been under cane, however the transition to pasture had been managed successfully and drew a crowd keen to hear Bill share his insight into supporting the soil for optimum growth and nutrition.

Brian Burns
Brian Burns – contributed

Dr Brian Burns a leading expert in beef genetics focused on the topic, Application of Genetic and Animal Breeding Principles to Northern Australian Beef Production Systems. The presentation was intended to make it easier for people to understand gene sequencing and to follow the extensive research into the requirements for tropical grazing.

Graziers heard about the environmental factors, breeds, and Genotypes of Cattle farmed in northern Australia, markets, the structure of breeding programs, and concluded with a summary of why Genetic Improvement Strategies are Important to the Northern Australia Beef Industry?

Amanda Bland, Reef Catchments Grazing Planning Officer, was pleased to see new and familiar faces. With greater numbers of the younger generation that in previous years, she knows attendance is vital to events like these continuing.

“Topics this year have been identified through conversations with our local landholders, as well as feedback from previous forums. We wanted to introduce something new this year and one area of interest has been in selling and marketing produce locally.”

Deb McLucas – President of the Greater Whitsunday Food Network, updated the audience on the increasing opportunities to produce and sell their beef locally.

"Each year, more women and younger men are attending." A Bland
“Each year, more women and younger men are attending.” A Bland

The Queensland Department of Agriculture revealed their most recent trial on Giant Rats Tail, biosecurity rights and obligations, climate outlook and the new tools for farmers to use to improve production and manage climate risk.

Mackay Regional Council educated people on the programs available to eradicate pests and weeds, along with other trade displays from pasture seed supplies, QFES, Reef Catchments and Landcare groups giving away native plants for re-vegetation.

For more information on events, please subscribe to the newsletter or call Michael Boland 4968 4200.

This project is supported by Reef Catchments, through funding from the Australian Government National Landcare Programme (NLP) and the Queensland Government Qld Regional Natural Resource Management Investment Program.

 

 

Soil is a living organism

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There are many ways to improve productivity and yield on farm, however there is a growing movement of producers looking at their soil condition as the place to begin.

Central Queensland Soil Health Systems (CQSHS) is a not for profit group of farmers seeking new and improved ways of growing crops and pasture whilst reducing costs over the long term.

It is widely recognised that soil biology needs soil carbon levels of 3% or more to become fully active. The calcium/magnesium ratio also needs to be correct so that soil PH will be at the desirable level. The group have also found compaction is a widespread issue for good water and air infiltration, vital for healthy soil.

Believing farmer-driven research and trials can address multiple issues at any one time through multiple science disciplines, the aim of CQSHS is to have all landholders involved, regardless of land use. Home gardeners, graziers and growers of crops were certainly given an education at the 3rd Soil Health Symposium April 26/27.

Leading experts and scientists like Dr Greg Bender, Dr Neil Wilson and David Hardwick introduced the concept that soils, like us, need to be treated holistically – addressing the importance of organic matter, mineral levels, pH and microbiology to support optimal growth in plants.

Forum with speaker Dr Neil Wilson, microbial ecologist, University of Sydney
Forum with speaker Dr Neil Wilson, microbial ecologist, University of Sydney

Farmers and garden enthusiasts alike, may have found the scientific information intense, but came away understanding the complexity of soil management.

Fortunately David Hardwick was there to help them understand what they’d learned in the forum by ‘role playing’ in the field, and demonstrations of the latest technology and machinery made accurate lime application easy.

Spraying lime using the latest application technology.
Spraying lime using the latest application technology.

Local farmer Allan McLean has been on the land all of his life, working his property with cattle and cane for 67 years and was keen to share his experience with everyone.

Adaptations made on his property include reduced tillage, stool splitting and the use of legumes to improve pasture (signal grass) to name a few. Cattle have been an integral part of land management in rough terrain where fire can be an issue.

A founding member of CQSHS Allan feels collaboration is the way forward “Collectively we can come up with better strategies to improve practices, soil health is very important to remaining a viable farming enterprise. I’ve seen the benefits in soils becoming easier to till, hence less costs to work the soil and water retention from rain and irrigation greatly improved resulting in less runoff.”

Reef Catchments has been proud to support the event since it’s inception, thanks to funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Programme.

Regional Landcare Facilitator Jacob Betros understands optimum soil condition is essential to all forms of agriculture, and ensuring healthy soils can deliver greater production to producers in an environmentally conscious manner.

His job is to support groups and individuals to promote sustainable farm and land management practices.

“Not only do we work with sugarcane, but the programme also focuses on grazing, horticulture, and forestry. New scientific information regarding soil health is being generated faster than ever, and it’s important for local land managers, to adapt this information and implement new methods, to remain viable, and ensure sustainable production for future generations.”

According to Jacob, the most exciting change to date has been the improvement to soil compaction through remediation on Simon Mattsson’s cane farm.

“Intercropping with sunflowers has really given the soil a new lease on life. I was recently at his property and have seen how well the cane as done in the year following the sunflower harvest.” Jacob said. “Increased production means increasing economic viability. This ensures the Central QLD Coast region benefits environmentally and continues to offer stability to the community with employment, tourism, and agricultural industries.

More information about Central Queensland Soil Health Systems and National Landcare Programme

Baby barramundi ascending

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Following recent fishway monitoring in the Mackay-Whitsunday region, sampling on Boundary Creek in the Rocky Dam Creek Catchment in Koumala has revealed juvenile barramundi as small as 43 mm were successfully ascending the fishway.

Catchment Solutions aquatic ecologist, Matt Moore, remains excited about the construction of purpose built fishways in the Mackay-Whitsunday area.

“Most fishways built in the past have not presented conditions favourable for weaker swimming juveniles – they only ever recorded larger 150mm +Barra – so scientists thought this was the minimum size – but really it was poor fishway design, and poor knowledge of fish biology/migration. Every fishway we build we gain new knowledge on migration.”

65 mm juvenile barramundi (top) and crescent perch (bottom) (1)

The numbers, and particularly the small size of the barra are significant, some of the smallest juvenile barra recorded migrating through fishways in Australia.

“This is an indication that our newly designed fishways are successful at passing fish- as in the past fishway designs, I.e Marian weir, Fitzroy river, were based on northern hemisphere designs- specifically for Atlantic salmon, which can jump, our fish can’t. So the velocity and drops between pools must be smaller, which is what we have done.” Mr Moore said.

The concrete-cone fishway consists of 75 mm drops between pools – whereby the fish use their ‘burst speed’ to swim through this small ‘drop’ before reaching the pool, resting, and going again, until they reach the wetland habitat upstream.

At their peak, 2 barramundi an hour were migrating through the concrete-cone fishway. The fishway was successful at passing other important fish species attempting to reach their nursery habitat, including giant herring, silverbiddy’s, mullet, crescent perch and banded scats.

Importantly, all these fish species are diadromous (migratory), migrating between the sea where they breed and freshwater habitats such as wetlands and rivers. These habitats have abundant food resources and good in-stream cover (habitat) which enables them to feed, grow quickly and evade large predators before migrating back downstream to breed. In just 2 days 4056 fish successfully migrated through the fishway.

Choosing locally sold and sustainable fish like Barramundi means not only are you buying fresh, but you’ll support your local seafood industry – providing a much needed boost.

“More Barra and mullet migrating upstream through fishways reaching their nursery wetland habitats, means more fish for anglers to catch. If they don’t reach wetlands they get eaten by the abundant predators that live in the estuary. This is why correctly designed fishways are so important, now and into the future.” Mr Moore said.

*Fishway: Many important commercial and recreational fish species require unimpeded access between freshwater and estuarine habitats to complete their life cycle or maintain sustainable populations. Fishways (also often known as fish ladders or fish passes) are structures placed on or around anthropogenic barriers such as dams or weirs to give fish the opportunity to migrate. Fishways are designed, constructed and maintained to facilitate aquatic connectivity between upstream waterways, wetlands and estuarine ecosystems and provide fish passage though barriers that could otherwise prevent, delay or obstruct fish migration.

Native fish can’t jump

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Reef Catchments and local landholders – working to improve the health of the O’Connell River through the removing barriers and improving in-stream habitat.

To many, paradise is living and fishing in and around the Mackay Whitsunday region with many visitors coming to the region each year for the opportunity to catch a Barra or Jungle Perch. The region is blessed with many beautiful streams and river to explore with the potential to catch a fish in the process. However, over a century of development has impacted on the ability of diadromous fish species migrating up through the river systems.

Diadromous fish move between the fresh and saltwater environments for some aspect of their lifecycle. The movement of Diadromous fish along our waterways is considered crucial to their life cycle and breeding patterns. In Mackay-Whitsunday there are 48 freshwater fish species and half of those are ‘diadromous’, Queensland’s two most important and iconic in-shore commercial net species, barramundi and sea mullet (Williams, 2002) require unimpeded access between freshwater and estuarine habitats to maintain sustainable populations (Mallen-Cooper, 2000)

Native fish species also require the right in-stream conditions to maintain populations including habitat complexity and deep pools for sustaining populations during the dry season.

With funding through the Australian Governments Reef Programme Reef Catchments has been working with Landholders to improve aquatic health and connectivity to implement activities along the regions rivers and waterways. Works being undertaken include revegetation along riparian zones, which will provide shade to cool the river, bank stabilisation and the removal of fish barriers and construction of fish ladders. Undertaking these activates is essential to sustain fish populations and ensure that fish are able to deal with any future pressures.

Fish movements within the river system

Native fish, such as Barramundi, swim up the creeks as small juveniles and then use that safe habitat to find plentiful food away from predators. They may stay there more than a year before they grow big enough to swim back downstream and, as bigger fish, prosper in the major estuaries opening into the sea and spawn. If those juveniles are blocked from migrating upstream, they must instead take their chances among the bigger predators downstream and are much less likely to grow to adulthood.

Taking this into consideration Reef Catchments has been constructing fish ladders on some of the rivers barriers to allow greater migration up and down stream. One fish ladder constructed was at Forbes Rd crossing.

Forbes Road Concrete Causeway Fish Barrier

A concrete causeway on Forbes Rd across the O’Connell River in Bloomsbury was preventing the migration of fish species and impacting local fish populations. The causeway barrier consisted of a series of pipe culverts which ‘dropped’ into the river below. The velocity of water flowing through these culverts was too fast for fish to swim through and the drop on the downstream side of the pipes into the river was too high – as native fish, unlike their northern hemisphere cousins; Atlantic Salmon, can’t jump.

So in November 2013, Reef Catchments funded Catchment Solutions to construct a partial width rock ramp fishway so that the fish can ascend through the fishway, negotiating the causeway barrier into important upstream habitats. Fish are then attracted to the fishway as flows pass through it. The fishway consists of a series of pools interspersed by rock ridges. The rock ridges consist of large 1.5 m boulders, with small gaps in-between. The drops between the pools are 75 mm. Fish use their ‘burst speed’ to negotiate each rock ridge in the fishway, before resting in the pool.

One metre long barramundi sampled (electro-fishing) while undertaking fish community monitoring in the lower freshwater reaches of the O'Connell River.
One metre long barramundi sampled (electro-fishing) while undertaking fish community monitoring in the lower freshwater reaches of the O’Connell River.

Aquatic habitat improvement on the O’Connell River

Reef Catchments has been working with local landholders to implement a range of activities along the O’Connell River to improve aquatic health and reduce the loss of productive agricultural land. Works being undertaken include revegetation, reprofiling and rock toe reventment to reduce eroding banks and imbedding large woody debris within stream to increase habitat complexity.

The activities being undertaken along the O’Connell River will provide significant benefit to native fish species opening up the rivers and providing habitat and good water quality to ensure healthy and sustainable populations for the years ahead.

The future of farming is now

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Central and North Queensland’s most forward-thinking land managers celebrated agricultural innovation, sharing knowledge on a cross-regional bus tour April 12-15 beginning on the Atherton Tablelands.

Visiting properties across the Wet Tropics, Burdekin Dry Tropics and arriving in Mackay-Whitsunday regions April 14th, the ‘Innovation in Agriculture’ bus tour examined how farmers are trialling methods in mixed farming like horticulture, cane and aquaculture to boost productivity whilst improving water quality and protecting the Great Barrier Reef.

Local cane grower John Attard left school to farm in 1976 at Eton, he’s adopted many changes like homemade bio-fertiliser, brewing Nitrogen fixing bacteria and VAM. “As we learn more, farm management systems will reduce these costs further, I’m on tour to learn what’s working and what’s not.”

Simon Mattsson speaks to a captive audience on the last day of the Innovation Bus Tour.
Simon Mattsson speaks to a captive audience on the last day of the Innovation Bus Tour.

Reef Catchments Regional Landcare Facilitator Jacob Betros who spent the week on the road, knows agricultural entities need to build resilience to climatic events in order to achieve financial, social, and environmental outcomes in the face of adversity.

“Innovation wise it was great to see Pacific Reef Fisheries in action. They use water from the Great Barrier Reef to grow black tiger prawns. The trial they showcased was the bioremediation potential of high rate algae ponds.”

Tour highlights also included Ray Zamora’s sugar cane farm at Euramo, south of Tully. Ray’s innovative practices were recently presented during Project Catalyst, from making bio-fertiliser, to cover cropping, he is also now trialling an aerator to reduce compaction.

Organic practices have also been shared at Inkerman. The Spotswoods, certified organic producers of low-input vegetables, fruit, and herbs, are pioneering integrating cattle into their horticulture and cane production.

With the variety of innovative practices being shared, Sustainable Agriculture Project Officer Daniel O’Keefe said “It is important that farmers have the opportunity to learn from other Farmers. They’re often visual learners and very good at solving problems when something is right in front of them.”

The bus tour itself has provided the opportunity for three Natural Resource Management groups to collaborate benefitting all farming entities.

“This is a huge step forward for individual landowners to work together in achieving whole of landscape outcomes. For ideas and skills to be shared widely and so seamlessly is a benefit to all primary producers.” Jacob said.

The most exciting outcome for farmers networking this way is the ongoing learning. Reef Catchments will continue supporting innovation through the Australian Government’s National Landcare Programme and QNRM.

Two local examples are Simon Mattsson’s cane farm in Marian, west of Mackay along with Joe Muscats, the focus of day three (Thursday). Simon is well known for his trial of multi-species cover crops to enhance soil health and improve nutrient and pesticide use. Joe has been developing fibre production from sunn hemp and elephant grass alongside sugar.

If you’d like to know more about Soil Health please visit NFP group Central Queensland Soil Health Systems

Connecting biodiversity and tourism for the future

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Since 2013 Reef Catchments staff have been working closely with Mackay Regional Council to rehabilitate Lagoons Creek at the Mackay Region Botanic Gardens.

Stage two will see the site at Glenella Connection and Lansdowne roads developed to create a naturalised waterway with two adjacent wetlands, connecting stage one to the existing Botanic Gardens lagoon.

Why is this important?

The Lagoons Catchment exists within a low-lying alluvial flood plain with an average elevation of less than 10m, draining into the Pioneer River and, ultimately, the Coral Sea.

Connecting this important aquatic habitat and improving it’s health means the number of fauna residing there will thrive, including fish (e.g. barramundi), water birds (e.g. swamp hens), platypuses, snakes, turtles and frogs. The Lagoons waterway is often used as a recreation area, and is a known bird watching location, as well as hosting recreational fishers. It’s also a place of both Indigenous and European cultural and spiritual values.

The site to be reconnected to the Pioneer River for local wildlife.
The site to be reconnected to the Pioneer River for local wildlife.

Over the history of the site, development of surrounding land combined with weather events has led to sediment build-up, increased nutrients and changes in vegetation cover. Water quality is key to the survival of not only aquatic fauna but the flora on which they feed.

Coasts and Biodiversity Co-ordinator Stefanie Wabnick explains, “This stage of the project will address issues through the establishment of a vegetation corridor, rock placement, filtration of water entering the waterway, and instream vegetation to treat pollutants. Installing wetland and submerged plants provides the retention time required by ‘biofilms’ to grow and treat pollutants.”

Stefanie Wabnik explains the significance of the Lagoons Creek Rehabilitation project to local media
Stefanie Wabnik explains the significance of the Lagoons Creek Rehabilitation project to local media

Fishways will also be installed to assist diadromous (migratory) species, connecting the fresh water systems to the Pioneer River and ultimately the sea. Reef Catchments Manager Katrina Dent, is keenly aware of the importance of waterway connectivity, “This is the missing link between the Mackay Region Botanic Gardens and Pioneer River, with so many recreational fishers and boats we have a responsibility to ensure fish stocks into the future.”

*Reef Catchments published the WQIP Ebook in 2015.

At one with nature’s systems

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Graziers gain holistic insight in Collinsville

Thirteen members of Mackay’s Innovative Grazing Network recently made the trip to Tabletop Station, Collinsville to review Holistic Management practices put in place by graziers in the Burdekin region.

Attendees heard presentations by Tom and Karen Murphy (Tabletop Station), Barry and Leanne O’Sullivan, and Shane and Amanda Watts, as part of NQ Dry Tropics Resilience in Grazing programme.

Brian Wehlburg, of Inside Outside Management, led participants on a tour of Tabletop Station to showcase how Holistic Management had been implemented on the property effectively.

By rotationally grazing adult females and followers in one large mob, encouraging the herding effect. This effect is stimulated by high numbers grazing for short periods, to create the ideal conditions for improved soil health and pasture production.

Reef Catchments is currently calling for Expressions of Interest for an eight day Holistic Management Training Course, consisting of four, two day modules three to four weeks apart. Learn about making every drop of water count, fast cycling minerals, maximising the photosynthetic process and understanding the links between all living things. Please contact Regional Landcare Facilitator Jacob Betros for further details.

Innovative graziers and interested parties are encouraged to join the newly created Facebook Group: Innovative Grazing Network – Central QLD Coast to share stories, ideas, methods, photos, and network.

Natalie Fiocca and Alice Bambling

Natalie Fiocco & Alice Bambling attend the Resilience in Grazing Open Day, Collinsville. Photo: North Queensland Register

Photo competition winners for 2016

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Competition winners capture the beauty of our Coast

With more than 50 entries in the Capture your Coast photography competition, coast lovers across the Mackay and Whitsunday region
have truly captured the beauty of our beaches and coastline.

Winner Senior Category- Rebina
Senior winner, Rebina Criddle

 

First prize place-getters in both junior and senior categories snapped up a prize package worth over $200, proudly sponsored by local
Coastcare supporters, Garricks Camera House Mackay, Maria’s Donkey, Pro Paddle Mackay, and Aqua Fun Park Mackay.

 

Winner of the senior category, with this photograph of the kangaroo at Cape Hillsborough at sunset, was Rebina Criddle.
Fourteen year old Helene Buttigieg won the junior category for her shot (below) of family enjoying Blacks Beach.

 

Reef Catchments Coastcare Winner Junior Category - Helena Buttigieg
Junior winner, Helen Buttigieg

Reef Catchments Coastal Officer, Jessica Berryman, said the Coastcare Photography Competition attracted some phenomenal entries.

“The competition was an opportunity for residents to showcase the special places and things we are fortunate to have in our backyard. There are so
many beautiful beaches where families, friends and communities enjoy the great outdoors, and the competition was a chance for participants to tell
their stories and memories of our Coast.”

Ms Berryman said the competition also had a deeper message. “Many of the participants submitted short summaries to accompany their images, explaining
how important and rewarding volunteering to protect our Coast can be,” she said.

“For example, our junior winner, Helene Buttigieg, focused on the fact that our beautiful beaches are places of awe and wonder, they bring families together.”

“As Helene so eloquently summarised, our coast is a beautiful place available to be explored by all. We can’t forget however that there are a number
of threats which we can help address to preserve these wonderful places for ourselves and future generations,” Ms Berryman said.

With 2016 just starting, Ms Berryman said she would encourage everyone to contribute to protecting our special coastal environments by volunteering a
few hours over the year at one of many Coastcare events in the region. There are some terrific free events for anyone who wants to be involved. Coastcare events are open to all ages and family friendly, and are a great way to give something back and learn more about the coastal and marine environment.