Better Burnett » Better Beef

Grains producers now better managers

louise — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 23:02:16 +0000

This week, BCCA continued to grow its project base to include the grains industry, after running a full workshop together with QPI&F extension officers taking grain growers through the recently developed Grains BMP.

The Grains BMP was put together by QPI&F together with AgForce and Fitzroy Basin Association and BCCA saw an opportunity to present this to the willing participants from Kingaroy and surrounds. The group were some of the first to try the online version of the Grains BMP (available here). Local BGA AgriServices agronomists, Ian Crossthwaite and Damien Sippel joined in and will be able to assist landholders further.

Participants in the Kingaroy workshop qualified for a small grant under the ‘Better Catchments’ program that will be put towards something that will improve soil management on their property. Two participants have already got their projects in, one will be putting the funding toward modifying their planting equipment to become zero till operators and another to upgrade their GPS system for more accurate controlled traffic.

We’re very pleased to see such eager uptake of this sort of project.

Stay tuned for more information about up and coming workshops and funding opportunities!!

BCCA extension officer, Leeanne Witcher and grower Stewart Hansen from the south Burnett get to work on the online version of the Grains BMP.

July Newsletter

letetia — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 01:38:55 +0000

July Newsletter available for download: 20090713_Newsletter_final (Read-Only)

SuperGraze – Combating Weeds Information Day Monto

letetia — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 02:56:20 +0000

Burnett Catchment Care Association (BCCA) and Queensland Primary Industries & Fisheries (QPI&F)

invite you to attend a “Combating Weeds Day”. Are you interested in how to manage weeds that are popping up in your area?

If so than this FREE information day is for you!! Mark this date in your diary!

WHEN: Thursday 9 July 2009

Where: Monto Showgrounds Hall

Time: 9am – 4pm Morning Tea, Sausage Sizzle Lunch & Afternoon Tea will be provided.

RSVP: Wednesday 8 July 2009 BCCA Office 41653551

Keynote Presenters include:

Kym Johnson & Daniel Stock – Lantana WoNS project (Queensland Primary Industries & Fisheries) will introduce the Lantana Best Practice Decision Support Tool and will also outline other work that is being done by the Lantana WoNS group.

Jodie Sippel – Land Protection Officer (Queensland Primary Industries & Fisheries) will discuss declared weeds found in the local area and legal obligations in regards to declared weeds and other weeds to keep watch for. Topics will include identification, impacts and control measures.

Terry Haupt & the Small’s Creek Landcare Group will discuss the success of the Blue Heliotrope biocontrol beetle.

Lousie Newman (BCCA) – will discuss the competitive pastures for Parthenium Control & Compost Teas for Creeping Lantana control project.

Nicholas Koch – DowAgro Sciences will discuss woody weed control options and chemical options.

There will be several weed displays on show with plenty of take home materials. All presenters will be available in the afternoon for individual discussions to answer questions & to help provide take home material on weeds/topics of interest.

AgForce – Computer Mapping Workshop

letetia — Tue, 05 May 2009 03:39:12 +0000

For more information please download Computer Mapping Workshop Flyer and if interested in attending please also download and complete the Computer Mapping Registration Form.

Agforce – GPS Workshop

letetia — Fri, 01 May 2009 03:49:05 +0000

For more information please download Agforce GPS Workshop Flyer and if interested in attending please also download and completed the GPS Registration Form

Reef Rescue – DPI&F Grazing Land Management Workshops

letetia — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 02:36:55 +0000

Reef Rescue is an initiative of the Australian Government’s Caring for Our Country program aimed at improving water quality in the Great Barrier Reef Lagoon through assisting farmers and graziers to improve their management practice. Within the grazing industry in the Burnett Mary region, the Burnett Mary Reef Partnership is providing support to our coastal graziers to improve and enhance their current grazing management.

As part of this Reef Rescue program, Burnett Mary Regional Group and BCCA are pleased to provide coastal graziers with the opportunity to participate in the EdgeNetwork Grazing Land Management Workshop series presented by the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries.

This successful workshop series provides graziers with strategies to improve the profitability and sustainability of their enterprise. This 4-day workshop is to be held at Miriam Vale CWA Hall on 28-29^th April and 12-13^th May 2009. This workshop series usually costs $1780 per enterprise, however with funding through Reef Rescue, we are able to offer this workshop for only $350 per enterprise. However, numbers are limited, so be quick to register.

For further information, please download the GLM Flyer and if you are interested in attending please also download and complete the Registration Form and fax to (07) 4165 3552 by COB 21 April 2009. Please don’t hesitate to call Letetia on (07) 41653 551 if you require more information.

AgForests Field Day – Selling & Thinning Native Timber On Freehold Land

letetia — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 02:02:59 +0000

Date: Thursday 23 April 2009

Where: Bill & Frances Tincknell’s Property “Coongoola” – Miriam Vale

More information Flyer available for download: agforests-qld-forest-practice-field-day-workshop-flyer_miriam-vale_april09

Monto & Gayndah SuperGraze Workshops

letetia — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 06:10:59 +0000

BCCA and DPI&F

invite you to attend a

Beef Economics Workshop

Are you interested in determining the economics of your grazing enterprise?

Would you like to know the profitability of your whole farm system?

And if you were to change, would you be better off?

The workshop will cover:

What are the economics of breeding cattle versus trading?
Am I better to off selling weaners to the feedlot or Jap Ox?
What if I buy more land?
What are the economics of supplementing feeding?

As a group, we will describe an “average” property to do the figures collectively.

We will use a simple excel spreadsheet (which you can take home) that helps methodically assess the profitability of an enterprise & management changes.

This workshop helps determine “what are the economics of…” a range of components of your grazing enterprise.

If you would like a copy of the spreadsheets, please bring a memory stick, CD or email address.

When: 9am Thursday 26th February 2009 at Monto Shire Hall Function Room and 9am Wednesday 4th March 2009 at Brian Pastures Research Station

RSVP to Letetia by 24/2/09 on (07) 41653 551

Cost: $20/enterprise (lunch and smoko provided)

Places are limited so please register asap!

GLM Refresher Days for Burnett Graziers

Katie — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 10:35:03 +0000

Just before Christmas, three Grazing Land Management groups in Monto, Gayndah and Kingaroy were treated to a refresher course in Grazing Land Management by the DPI&F and Burnett Catchment Care Association. The refresher days were part of the SuperGraze program aimed at assisting Southern Queensland graziers to sustainably improve the productivity of their land. The refresher days covered:

Components of Grazing Lands
ABCD land condition and impact on productivity and the environment
Carrying capacities and management tools (ie. fire, tree grass balance, weeds, sown pastures etc.).
SuperGraze and how it can help

The members of these particular GLM groups were also eligible to apply for SuperGraze funding to assist in the implementation of on-ground activities identified in the GLM workshop series. The groups responded well to the funding, with many taking advantage of the assistance to implement works that will improve the sustainability of their enterprises.

The groups were also offered the opportunity to take part in 2x one-day workshops or field days on particular topics of interest such as weed management, beef economics or erosion rehabilitation or control.

Overall, the refresher days were considered a huge success with many participants grateful for the refresher on GLM principles as it had been up to 5 years since some had done the original DPI&F workshop series.

For more information on SuperGraze go to: www.supergraze.com

Bill Schulke, DPI&F Extension Officer

DPI&F Extension Officer, Sonia Sallur and South Burnett grazier, Michael Carroll

Interested in Regenerative Agriculture?

louise — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 23:58:47 +0000

‘Regenerative Agriculture’, a Healthy Soils workshop, will demonstrate some of the cutting edge strategies on how to create healthy soils, grow more grass and increase profits. If you’ve ever been interested in learning more about the application of bio-char, compost teas, carbon management and/or microbes to a grazing enterprize then this is a chance for your questions to be answered.

Presented by Grazing BestPrac, the workshop will be run over two days Wed 3rd and Thurs 4th December 2008 at ‘Stowe Park’ at Calliope. Soil nutrition specialist, Ray O’Grady will be sharing his practical knowhow and experience to help land managers and interested people learn more about the benefits of healthy soils!

For more information or to register please call Mick at Grazing BestPrac on 0438 395 255 or email mick@grazingbestprac.com.au. The workshop covers some very thought provoking topics and you’ll come away with many ideas for your soils!