Blog Articles

World Soil Day competition | $15k prize pool

By SQNNSWHub posted 14-11-2025
High school agriculture classes, Landcare groups and First Nations agencies across southern Queensland and Northern NSW can now compete for a share in a soil-health prize pool worth $15,000. It is the first time the groups have been included in the World Soil Day competition run by the SQNNSW Innovation Hub . The wider footprint of eligible entrants still includes primary producers/land managers. The month-long event, now in its third year, opens on 5 November, closing on 4 December 2025, the day before World Soil Day on 5 December. The three prizes, each valued at $5,000, comprise a site visit from the Hub’s Regional Soil Coordinator (and Registered Soil ...

Join Grazing Decisions to be better equipped for future drought

By Ag360.com.au posted 06-12-2024
New round of successful pasture assessment program available for the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales Farmers across the Northern Tablelands are now better prepared for future dry spells, thanks to the completion of the Drought Resilient Pasture Landscapes (DRPL) project that has been led by the University of New England (UNE) since the end of 2022. Over the course of the Future Drought Fund project, UNE, Southern New England Landcare (SNEL) and GLENRAC Inc have worked with farmers through an on-farm coaching program that has better equipped them to navigate climate variability and drought conditions. One of the biggest keys to ...

The NSW government has released a new Drought, Fire and Recovery Guide

By Drought Partnerships Team posted 29-11-2024
The NSW Government has released a Drought, Fire and Recovery Guide . The recovery guide is split into relevant chapters to help producers navigate the complexities of recovering from extreme weather events and includes a section on financial management and personal recovery . The financial management section links to tools and support for farm business finances , referencing Australian Government support. The Drought, Fire and Flood Recovery Guide is a sister guide to the Managing Drought, Fire and Flood Guide with the former focusing on recovery and the latter on preparedness and response. Feel free to share this information with any interested ...

UNE puts graziers on the front foot with proven pasture availability and animal performance predictions

By Ag360.com.au posted 16-10-2024
Would you like a better idea of how much pasture you will have on farm over the next six months, its quality, and how that will impact livestock performance? Ag360.com.au , developed at the University of New England (UNE), has been providing important insights to livestock producers since 2020, utilising a customised local climate forecast, individual property management records and scientifically validated soil moisture, pasture growth and animal performance models. Ag360 is offered free via the UNE-hosted Armidale Node of the SQNNSW Innovation Hub. Armidale Node Manager Lu Hogan said by combining the scientifically validated sources and models ...

Got a new idea to increase drought-resilience? Apply for the Drought Venture Studio!

By Drought Partnerships Team posted 27-06-2024
Are you an innovator with research, IP or have a revolutionary new idea to increase drought-resilience in Australian agriculture? Then apply now to be part of the Drought Venture Studio. Successful innovators will receive hands-on commercialisation support and the opportunity to be one of 8 startups matched with an experienced Co-Founder for commercialisation and launch of a drought resilience product or service. Providing an opportunity to test ideas, partner with experts and meet future customers and investors, this initiative is delivered by Beanstalk Agtech and supported by the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund ...

Register for the Future Drought Fund's Science to Practice Forum 6-8 June

By Drought Partnerships Team posted 24-05-2023
The program for the #FutureDroughtFund 2023 Science to Practice Forum is out now! Join Pip Courtney online 6-8 June to hear from the farmers, communities, researchers and decision makers using innovation to respond to a changing climate. Read the program and register now at S2P-Forum.eventbrite.com #FarmingAgriculture #ScientificInformation #EducationalResources #FirstNationsKnowledge #LandManagement #TrainingPersonalDevelopment #Wellbeing #AustralianGovernment #Climate

WATCH NOW: Landcare Farming Webinar- Ruminati: Streamlining Emissions Estimates for Agricultural Operations

By Rosie R posted 28-04-2023
The agricultural innovators at Ruminati have developed a streamlined digital platform supporting Australian cattle, sheep and grain producers to generate accurate, detailed and personalised emissions estimates for their farm enterprise. The next iteration of the platform will provide the ability to model the impact of methane and CO 2 -e abatement options as well as set and measure against individual emissions reduction targets, and will support producers to create a tailor-made, future-facing emissions reductions plans. In this exclusive webinar, Landcare Farming gives you the opportunity to learn about the pilot platform and how to use it to generate your ...

WATCH NOW: Landcare Farming Webinar- Maximising Ecosystem Opportunities to Fit Your Business: Biodiversity

By Rosie R posted 05-04-2023
In an industry increasingly concerned with aligning best practice land and biodiversity management with profitable production, improving biodiversity literacy and understanding environmental accounting methods is critical for producers. In this exclusive webinar, Landcare Farming brings together five industry experts to help: Grow your understanding of biodiversity on-farm and the emerging biodiversity markets Improve your capacity to participate in emerging environmental markets Develop your knowledge of environmental condition and natural capital accounting systems Enhance your skills in natural capital accounting and environmental ...

Living with drought – how your accountant can help

By Drought Partnerships Team posted 27-03-2023
Check out our video and case study to see how #QLD farmer Joe Lyons and his accountant Leanne work together to help his family business prepare for and manage through #drought. There is no one right way to prepare for drought. But farmers can use their existing networks, such as accountants, agronomists and stock agents, to explore options and make informed decisions to reduce the risk. As Joe says, “when you have the good years like we're experiencing now, it’s probably the time when you should be thinking about what you're going to do to get through the next drought ..”. The video is the latest resource from the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries ...

Living with drought - who can help and how

By Drought Partnerships Team posted 23-03-2023
Watch this one-minute animation to learn about the range of people and organisations who can provide advice and support as conditions dry. It’s one of a series of Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry resources available at bit.ly/3JCjYhl to help farmers prepare for, manage and recover from #drought. Drought is a shared responsibility, and everyone has a role to play. • Banks can assist with things like farm management deposit accounts and lending options. • Agronomists can help boost production, and accountants can advise on ways to diversify income or limit losses. • State and federal governments can also ...

Landcare Farming Webinar- Maximising Ecosystem Opportunities to Fit Your Business: Biodiversity

By Angela posted 15-02-2023
Event Overview In an industry increasingly concerned with aligning best practice land and biodiversity management with profitable production, improving biodiversity literacy and understanding environmental accounting methods is critical for producers. In this exclusive webinar, Landcare Farming will bring together five industry experts to help: Grow your understanding of biodiversity on-farm and the emerging biodiversity markets Improve your capacity to participate in emerging environmental markets Develop your knowledge of environmental condition and natural capital accounting systems Enhance your skills in natural capital accounting ...

How can AI help farmers test for carbon on their land?

By Emily Mason posted 20-01-2023
Researchers are hoping that a project that uses artificial intelligence and satellite imagery could make it cheaper and easier for landowners to realise the potential of carbon on their farms. Mohammed Rahman from Federation University is leading the research that includes the development of a machine that can then learn to give accurate soil carbon estimates. "My aim is to develop the algorithm that will measure the soil carbon by analysing the images," the computer scientist told AAP. By using free images from NASA and the European Space Agency Sentinel satellite, Mr Rahman aims to turn the imagery into two dimensional maps so farmers can prioritise ...

What does the research say on conventional fertilisers?

By Melissa Higgins posted 11-01-2023
What the research says on conventional fertilisers By Bob Freebairn, The Land A colleague of mine, who recently attended a so called regenerative agriculture field day, frustratingly reported that advocates promoted against conventional fertilisers and that the answer to soil fertility issues was "biological" products and rotational grazing with many paddocks and long recovery periods. Popular comment, often seen in various media outlets, including city focused ones, would suggest fertilisers like superphosphate, urea, MAP and the like are not good for soil nor pasture or crop. Good science refutes these claims. Not correcting soil deficiencies issues ...

"Nutrialgae" Mexico Case Study: Biostimulants reduce chemical fertilization of the field by 30%

By Emily Mason posted 09-01-2023
The "Nutrialgae" project, the only Spanish project included in the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), achieves its goal of reducing the use of chemical fertilizers while increasing productivity This project is part of the Ocean Innovation Challenge (OIC) initiative and is managed by the marine biotechnology company Ficosterra. International trials, carried out over a year and a half with natural biostimulants, have even achieved up to 20% higher productivity, depending on soil characteristics, using 30% less conventional fertilization. The use of Ficosterra biostimulants in crop production doubles the investment, which results in a cost reduction ...

Holbrook cattle producers supply carbon-neutral beef - read the lessons they have learned

By Emily Mason posted 05-01-2023
The Mathie family farm at Holbrook in southern NSW supplies Coles carbon-neutral beef, and the backstory behind the producers supplying the cattle and meeting stringent criteria to join this market is an impressive one. Decisions made decades ago have enabled a Holbrook beef property to meet stringent carbon-neutral targets. The synergies between a branded beef product and the ethos of the Mathie family, who farm at Holbrook in southern NSW, couldn’t be a better match. Coles carbon-neutral beef can be found in supermarkets across NSW, South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria. And cattle from the Mathie family operation, Wybalena, meet the desired ...

Contractor fined for chemical spray drift - it's time to read Silent Spring again.

By Emily Mason posted 13-12-2022
FRIENDS of the Earth has slammed a court decision in which an HVP contractor was found guilty of chemical spray drift where herbicides were found 150 metres into the Holey Plains State Forest. FOE obtained freedom of information documents which showed that the contractor was found guilty in the Sale Magistrates Court in August for 13 charges in breach of chemicals regulations. Agriculture Victoria pressed charges after investigating several incidents in 2020 on receiving reports by FOE land-use researcher Anthony Amis, who discovered the damage while surveying for koalas. The contractor was given a 12-month good behaviour bond and was ordered to obtain ...

Benchmarking sustainability – what have we learned so far | Holbrook Landcare Network

By Angela posted 09-12-2022
Benchmarking sustainability – what have we learned so far Back in 2020, Holbrook Landcare Network recognized that the model that has traditionally underpinned Landcare and environmental work on farm was changing – shifting from a funded grants and programs approach to a range of market-based approaches mostly based on carbon markets. We are now beginning to see the agricultural industry responding to ESG requirements in supply chains, funding institutions and markets and the rise of a myriad of mechanisms, methodologies and service providers. It would be safe to say there has been an explosion in this space in the last 3 years! The Carbon space is well established ...

Webinar Recording - Maximising Ecosystem opportunities to fit your business - Carbon

By Angela posted 05-12-2022
Webinar - Maximising ecosystem opportunities to fit your agricultural business - Carbon In this webinar, join five notable experts in discussing carbon literacy for producers and land managers, the role of carbon sequestration solutions in reaching decarbonisation targets, the cost-benefit analysis of carbon opportunities offered by the Emissions Reduction Fund scheme and the opportunities that will unfold for Australia’s agricultural industry in the coming years. Featuring an introduction by Professor Richard Eckard from the Primary Industries Climate Challenges Centre and facilitated by Jeanette Long from Ag Consulting, speakers include: 🌱 ...

FAOSTAT: New data tool to measure cropland nutrient budgets worldwide

By Emily Mason posted 17-11-2022
How much fertilizer is the right amount to ensure that crop production can achieve local and global food security needs while limiting harm to the environment? Answering that question remains a huge challenge, but one that can be better explored through new, robust data available in FAOSTAT. This new information tool is a joint effort by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the International Fertilizer Association ( IFA ) , in collaboration with top scientists and experts at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, CEIGRAM-Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, ...

[Recording] Maximising Ecosystem Opportunities to fit your business: Carbon | Landcare Farming Webinar

By Emily Mason posted 08-11-2022
Carbon farming and sequestration: the most talked about technologies in the battle against climate change. But what is it, and how can you use it to work towards agricultural industry emission targets? Landcare Farming, together with the webinar’s five notable speakers, brings you the next episode of the Landcare Webinar Series, ‘Maximising Ecosystem Opportunities to fit your business: Carbon’ at 2pm on Thursday Dec 1 st . After a synopsis of Australia’s current carbon landscape by Richard Eckard, Professor and Director of the Primary Industries Climate Challenges Centre, hear diverse perspectives on key questions informing farm carbon accounting, ...