Better Burnett

Over 80 local landholders attended the Farming in the Future Forum held by South East Burnett Landcare Group last Wednesday at the Pulse in Murgon.  The purpose of the forum was to share new issues, opportunities and threats that are likely to face landholders in the next 5 to 10 years. 

The forum had a wide range of speakers, discussing topical rural issues such as dealing with climate change on a local level, carbon trading and environmental banking, opportunities for small producers and opportunities and threats of methane. 

Dave McCrae of the EPA Climate Change Centre of Excellence began the day by simplifying the complex issue of climate change and the threats and benefits of this at a global level, with Damien O’Sullivan of the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries localising these changes in our climate for future farming in the South Burnett. 

Dr. Athol Klieve of the DPI Natural Resource Science Centre discussed the issues with methane emissions from cattle and the options being developed to reduce these emissions.

Better Bush Coordinator, Lousie Newman and Better Beef Coordinator, Katie Sibson held a Burnett Catchment Care Association stall where landholders were given the opportunity to discuss their issues, become members and taken home freebies.  A number of other local organisations such as Burnett Mary Regional Group, DPI&F, AgForce and Private Forestry Southern Queensland also had stalls.

Overall it was considered to be another highly successful and informative event held by the South East Burnett Landcare Group and sponsored by the Burnett Mary Regional Group.

Pictured: David Brown, CEO of Burnett Mary Regional Group, Allan McGrigor, South East Burnett Landcare,  Drew Wagner, AgForce Qld and Damien O’Sullivan, DPI&F, Dr Athol Klieve and Michelle Gane, Institute of Sustainable Resources.