Canegrowers Mackay Limited
Project title – Mackay Irrigation Project
Funding available for irrigation projects, however please note irrigation projects are ineligible for Major Grant Project funding.
The Mackay irrigation Project will assist growers to optimise water use efficiency, improve irrigation efficiencies, provide management strategies to increase productivity, profitability and to mitigate nutrient losses off farm.
Contact: John Eden
Phone: (07) 49442605
Mobile: 0438730379
Email: John_Eden@canegrowers.com.au
Address: Canegrowers Building, 120 Wood Street, Mackay 4740
Catchment Solutions Pty Ltd
Project title – Project Catalyst
Funding for Pollutant targeted-dissolved inorganic nitrogen BUT INELIGIBLE FOR MAJOR GRANTS FUNDING DIANA NOT FOR PUBLICATION
The goal of Project Catalyst is to reduce the environmental footprint, enhance crop production and increase farm viability within sugarcane production systems in the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) catchment by accelerating the identification, validation and adoption of innovative farming practices. This new program will seek to build on the positive networks and practice change results generated from Project Catalyst which commenced in 2009 and currently works with 128 participating sugarcane growers conducting 132 activities, from Carmila in the South to Mossman in the North of Queensland. These growers currently farm 36,120ha of cane land including 9,121ha in the Mackay Whitsundays catchments.
Contact: Ross Neivandt
Phone: (07) 4968 4216
Email: info@catchmentsolutions.com.au
Address: Suite 4, 85 Gordon Street, Mackay 4740
Farmacist Pty Ltd
Project title – Project Bluewater 2
Funding for target pollutant- pesticides and eligible for RCL Major grants
Project Bluewater 2 works with sugarcane growers in the priority catchments of Plane Creek and Pioneer to improve pesticide management practices, to achieve a reduction in pesticide load entering the Great Barrier Reef. All participating growers receive a tailored pesticide management plan and expert assistance to calibrate and upgrade their pesticide application equipment. Equipment upgrades will be supported by an incentives programme. Bluewater 2 is a cooperative and interactive approach that promotes shared learning between growers, resellers, application contractors, scientists, and extension staff.
Contacts: Rob Sluggett (0459 688 844) or Dave Clancy (0424 271 415)
Contact: Michael Boland
Phone: (07)4959 7075
Email: michaelb@farmacist.com.au
Address: PO, Box 153, Walkerston 4751
Farmacist Pty Ltd
Project title: Point of Difference-Refining farm nutrient management strategies
Funding for target pollutant- pesticides and eligible for RCL Major grants
Point of Difference works with sugarcane growers in the priority catchments of Plane Creek and Pioneer to improve nutrient management practices, to achieve a reduction in nutrient loads, mainly nitrogen and phosphorous entering the Great Barrier Reef. All participating growers receive a tailored nutrient management plan including locations where variable rate programs can be introduced into the farm nutrient plan. Expert assistance will be used to identify variable yield potential across the farm using high definition soil and yield maps. The mapping and processing of soil variability maps will be undertaken on farms as part of Point of Difference. Equipment upgrades will be supported by an incentives program to help growers transition to improved nutrient management. Point of Difference is a cooperative and interactive approach that promotes shared learning between growers, resellers, application contractors, scientists and extension staff.
Contacts: John Markley (0408 185 083), Zoe Eagger (0436 004 437) or Nick Hill (0428 422 997)
Contact: Michael Boland
Phone: (07)4959 7075
Email: michaelb@farmacist.com.au
Address: PO, Box 153, Walkerston 4751
GreenCollar
Project title – Reef Credits
Funding – Ineligible for RCL Major grants
Reef Credits is an innovative, market-based solution to value the work undertaken by farmers to enhance productive enterprise while caring for the environment. The sale of Reef Credits, created by farmer projects will provide payments to farmers for 10-25 years , delivering real, measurable and quantifiable water quality improvements. GreenCollar works in partnership with farmers to develop, deliver and verify Reef Credit projects, tailored to suit individual circumstances. GreenCollar also secures purchasers for the Reef Credits.
Contact: Carole Sweatman
Phone: 00439 743 163
Email: carole.sweatman@greencollargroup.com.au
Address: The ASN Co Building, 3 Hickson Road, The Rocks, Sydney 2000
LiquaForce Pty Ltd
Project title – LAND, a Local Area Nutrient Datahub
Funding – Target pollutant- Dissolved inorganic nitrogen
Ineligible for RCL Major grants (to be decided)
Liquaforce has developed a Local Area Nutrient Datahub (LAND) to deliver a paradigm shift in the level of actionable insight and accessibility of key agronomic information for growers of all levels of digital maturity. LAND not only produces an optimal Six Easy Steps nutrient management plan for each grower tailored to their region and to specific farm, paddock and soil lab data inputs, it also provides secure, private, digital storage of all their farm, soil and production data year on year, enabling easy long-term monitoring of crop and financial performance over time, and a far greater understanding of underlying agronomic issues and solutions suitable for their farms. The quality and accessibility of the connected data in LAND delivers farmers the information capacity for widespread practice change, which will result in substantial water quality outcomes for the Great Barrier Reef.
Contact: Cameron Liddle
Phone: 0427 765 711
Address: PO Box 620, Ingham, QLD 4850
Mackay Area Productivity Services (MAPS)
Project title – Nutrient Management Plans and Agtrix Framing Software Support
Funding – Target pollutant dissolved inorganic nitrogen. Eligible for RCL Major grants.
The MAPS project works one-on-one with growers developing property specific Nutrient Management Plans and implementing Agtrix Farming program to manage the nutrient applications on-farm with a real focus on improving the regional water quality.
Contact: Andy Humphreys
Phone: 0407 334 141
Email: ahumphreys@maps.org.au
Address: 26135 Peak Downs Highway, Te Kowai 4740
Reef Catchments Ltd
Project title – Grower Incentives for the Mackay Whitsunday Water Quality Program
Funding
The Major Grants Project (MGP) strengthens the Mackay Whitsunday Water Quality Program outcomes by providing funding support to incentivise sugar cane growers to participate and partner with delivery service providers to accelerate practice change adoption.
Contact: Conrad Lavey
Phone: 0407 538 724
Email: conrad.lavey@reefcatchments.com
Address: Suite 1, 85 Gordon Street, Mackay 4740
Sugar Research Australia Limited (SRA)
Project title – Cane to Creek
Funding for pollutant targeted-dissolved inorganic nitrogen but ineligible for RCL Major Grants
Sugar Research Australia’s focus in the GBRF program is to engage growers to directly participate in evaluating alternative management strategies related to pesticide and nitrogen management. A large component of the project is to work with growers to develop a better understanding of cause and effect of different management decisions; i.e. how does water quality change if different management decisions are made. For example, management decisions may relate to the choice of herbicide product, timing of application, or band spraying. The effects on run-off water quality will be measured by collection and analysis of block run-off. This brings the cause/effect back to farm level.
Contacts: Phil Ross (0477 318 897), Clare Gersch (0436 924 712), Matt Schembri (0422 800 670)
Address: 26135 Peak Downs Highway, Te Kowai 4740
