Climate-smart workshop in Cooktown strengthens soil knowledge and on-farm decision making

March 24, 2026

Key takeaways

The workshop created space for producers to share experiences, discuss issues like soil health and feral pig management and contribute ideas, strengthening local networks and collective problem solving.
Understanding what’s happening in your soil through sampling and testing is the first step to improving production, managing inputs and making more confident on-farm decisions.
The TNQ Drought Hub supported the workshop through expert input from Regional Soil Coordinator Dhiraj Gajera, delivering hands-on soil sampling training and helping producers build the knowledge and confidence needed to make more informed decisions.

Producers and land managers from across the Annan, Endeavour and Normanby catchments came together in Cooktown earlier this month for a workshop focused on soil health, climate-smart agriculture and local priorities.

Facilitated by Cape York Weeds and Feral Animals Inc in partnership with Cape York NRM, the event brought together over 25 participants, alongside regional organisations including the TNQ Drought Hub and Cook Shire Council.

The workshop forms part of a broader Community of Practice approach, designed to strengthen collaboration across the region and ensure producers have a direct voice in shaping future activities, training and support.

A key focus of the day was soil health as the foundation for productive and sustainable farming systems. TNQ Drought Hub Regional Soil Coordinator Dhiraj Gajera led a practical session on soil sampling, demonstrating how producers can collect and interpret soil data to better understand their land and support more informed decision making.

“Soil knowledge is where everything starts. If we don’t understand what’s happening in our soils, it’s very difficult to make the right decisions for our production systems.”

Dhiraj led discussions on climate-smart farming practices, highlighting practical approaches such as cover cropping, reduced tillage, precision irrigation and integrated pest management.

“These are practical, achievable changes that can improve soil organic matter, support better water retention and help farms respond more effectively to changing seasonal conditions,” he said.

The session reinforced the importance of building critical soil knowledge and skills, in turn allowing producers to establish their own baseline data for more informed decision making on how soil condition influences productivity, input efficiency and long-term land management.

Cape York NRM representatives Geoff Wilson and Lauren O’Bryan also presented on climate-smart and sustainable agriculture opportunities across Cape York, including current projects and pathways for producers to get involved.

These discussions connected broader regional initiatives with local priorities, helping producers better understand what support is available and how it can be applied within their own operations.

In addition to soil and climate topics, the workshop included a dedicated discussion on coordinated feral pig management.

Importantly, the day created space for open conversation and peer learning, with producers contributing ideas on what support and activities are most needed moving forward.

By bringing together local knowledge, practical expertise and regional programs, the workshop highlighted the value of collaboration in addressing shared challenges.

It also reinforced the importance of community-led approaches, ensuring that future training, funding and support are grounded in local conditions and priorities.