Given the current conditions across Queensland at the moment, I thought it appropriate to open with Dorothea Mackellar’s words from her classic 1908 poem ‘My Country’:
“I love a sunburnt country,
A land of sweeping plains,
Of ragged mountain ranges,
Of drought and flooding rains.
I love her far horizons,
I love her jewel-sea,
Her beauty and her terror –
The wide brown land for me!”
Much of the Tropical North is indeed brown, as shown by the Australian Drought Monitor map of the last 3-months.
This places large areas along coastal Queensland and Cape York within moderate to exceptional drought. These conditions can be confronting, especially if you live within an area that rarely experiences such severe drought.
This also places agricultural businesses and communities firmly within the ‘responding’ phase of the drought cycle. This cycle represents drought as cycle with 3 stages of preparing, responding and recovering from drought. Drought policy is built around this cycle.
The TNQ Drought Hub was established to contribute to resilience through the three phases of the drought cycle. Advice and support for agriculture businesses affected by drought is provided through the Queensland government.
Other useful resources to help plan for drought conditions include:
- 3 Month Rainfall Outlook (Bureau of Meteorology)
- Heatwave (Bureau of Meteorology)
- 3 Month Temperature Outlook (Bureau of Meteorology)
- Bushfire preparation for producers (Queensland Government, Business Queensland)
- Bushfire Recovery and Resilience in Horticulture Industry (Growcom)
With the potential for TC Jasper to cross the Queensland coast, I think it’s appropriate to close out my column with a reminder from John O’Brien’s classic poem ‘Said Hanrahan’ that our weather patterns can quickly swing from drought to flood:
“In God’s good time down came the rain;
And all the afternoon
On iron roof and window-pane
It drummed a homely tune.
And every creek a banker ran,
And dams filled overtop;
“We’ll all be rooned,” said Hanrahan,
“If this rain doesn’t stop.”
Until next time, keep safe and well,
David Phelps
Director
What is ESG?
The term ESG seems to be everywhere at moment. It stands for Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) framework. ESG helps businesses analyse their practices on sustainability and ethical issues. It provides a way to measure business risks and opportunities.
We have been developing resources to help producers and growers understand this framework.
The hub’s Senior Research Officer and sustainability advocate, Ana Leite De Almeida is leading the way in providing education and bringing ESG practices into North Queensland to ensure we are sustainable, resilient and profitable. If you have any questions about ESG, please reach out to Ana and the team.
EOI for Gulf Savannah Producer Group for Beef Businesses
Discover the power of data-driven decision-making!
We are looking for producers in the CAPE YORK and GULF SAVANNAH regions who want to learn how data-driven decision-making can lead to better outcomes, more informed strategies and improved overall performance.
Participants will be provided with comprehensive guidance and training on how to effectively collect relevant data such as livestock analytics and mapping, ensuring that the data they gather is accurate, reliable, and appropriate for their specific business needs.
Other benefits include mentorship with setting up meaningful integration goals, a connectivity desktop audit and expert guidance on optimal digital options and upgrades.
To find out more and register your interest, please complete the Expression of Interest form or contact Keerah Steele on keerah.steele@gulfsavannahnrm.org or 0457 621 370.
Indigenous Australian Datathon
The hub was proud to again be a part of this year’s Indigenous Australian Datathon held at the JCU Cairns campus. The datathon brings together a diverse group of data professionals, innovators, indigenous communities and students to explore digital and data-driven solutions to real-world indigenous community challenges in Australia.
Participants worked in teams to address problems using Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and big data technical solutions. Problems included bushfire management, improving diabetes management and improving boating safety in the Torres Strait. The datathon provides the opportunity industry and communities to connect and foster partnerships.
Help improve national soil knowledge and capability in 20 minutes
We need your help to improve soil health, strengthen soil knowledge and capability, and better understand current gaps in soil knowledge, management, adoption and extension practices.
If you are a farmer, land manager, consultant, advisor, grower group, scientist, extension officer or someone working in soils, please complete this 20-minute survey, which will help inform the design and delivery of targeted soil interventions to address priorities under the National Soil Strategy.
Hub Highlight - DanceRites 2023
Congratulations to the AFL Cape York House Aboriginal & Torres Strait Dance Teams who competed in DanceRites 2023, Australia’s national First Nations dance competition.
The TNQ Drought Hub was so proud to be able to support the teams as they competed in the Top 10 Finals event with the Aboriginal Dance Team receiving runner up.
“Education and training are key ingredients in building community resilience. This is why the hub has proudly supported this program. It allows young Indigenous people to maintain a strong connection to culture while improving educational and training outcomes,” said Professor Allan Dale, Program Lead for the hub’s Sustainable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Enterprise Program.
Image: AFL Cape York House
Agtech Insights
Read our latest post on AgTech Insights where we look into:
- The On Farm Connectivity grants program offers rebates to primary producers to improve their digital connectivity and productivity.
- Queensland’s AgTech Month highlighted significant opportunities and growth in Australian AgTech and innovation.
- The tipping point of autonomous agriculture, highlighting its increasing advancement, affordability, and accessibility.
Know someone who wants to be involved?
What’s Next?
Check out our Events calendar to see what’s happing in the agricultural industry around Tropical North Queensland and throughout the country. Some upcoming events to keep an eye out on are;
- Climate Tools Webinar, 8 December, Online
- Wunjunga Community Planting Day, 9 December, Wunjunga Beach Township
- Understanding the Australian Feedbase Monitor (AFM) for land management, 12 December, Online
- Using and Interpreting Soil Tests, 12 December, Online
- Soil Carbon Farming Opportunities for Producers, 20 December, Epsom
- Governance Essentials, 5 February – 19 April 2024, Online
- “Influential Women” Community Leadership Forum, 19 – 21 March 2024, Ayr
What's Happened...
Here’s what the TNQ Hub team have been up to recently.
TNQ Drought Hub Internal Team Forum, 1 – 2 November
TNQ Drought Hub team met for our third team forum across two days in Mackay. With the team being spread across Queensland, it’s not often the chance arises for everyone be together. Events like these are important for building a strong team culture that fosters relationships and collaboration. The two days were spent discussing…
2nd National Sovereign Food & Botanicals Symposium, 8 – 10 November
Program Lead for Agricultural Innovation & Commercialisation, Tony Matchett attended the second National Sovereign Food & Botanicals Symposium in Darwin hosted by the First Nations Bushfood & Botanical Alliance Australia. The symposium highlighted the importance of First Nation engagement….
2023 Australasia-Pacific Extension Network Conference, 14-16 November
Several of the hub team had the opportunity to attend, with Building Human Capacity Program Lead Dr Jane Oorschot and Digital Ag Innovation Consultant Kara Worth presenting their work at the Australasia-Pacific Extension Network (APEN) International Conference which is aimed towards those involved in rural extension and education. The hub also sponsored three extension officers from our node partners to attend with the purpose of…
Indigenous Food and Business Expo, 15 November
TNQ Drought Hub was proud to be a partner organisation for the Indigenous Food and Business Expo in Cairns. The expo provides an opportunity for Indigenous Owned Businesses to showcase their products including artists, Native foods, and programs and services, to meet corporate, government and local buyers, to build business capabilities, and to hear about…
Managing Rangelands for Drought Resilience Workshop, 24 November
How does drone images and AI improve rangeland management? The TNQ Drought Hub is working with five other Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hubs on a collaborative project that showcases technologies and techniques that use mapping to improve rangeland management across Australia. Rangelands occupy more than 75% of the Australian continent and are dominated by grazing, indigenous enterprises and…
Apply Now! Grants, Programs amd EOI's
- Environmentally Beneficial Agricultural Income Stream Survey. The Queensland Farmers Federation (QFF) would like to invite you to take part in a project survey funded by the Queensland Government Drought and Climate Adaptation Program (DCAP). The project aims to develop practical and affordable adaptation solutions for Queensland farmers by exploring alternate agricultural income streams to increase farm profitability and benefit the environment. The project is being managed jointly by the QFF and the University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ). Complete the survey
- Are you a grower in the Dimbulah fruit and vegetable farming community? James Cook University Graduate Diploma of Research Methods student Kara-Glenn Worth is investigating how social capital influences technology uptake on farm. If you are part of a farming family in the Dimbulah-Mutchilba region, then you are invited to participate in Kara’s survey about your networks and the influence of trust and connections as they relate to decision-making and technology. Your answers can help shape the understanding of community networks, agriculture technology adoption and trust in decision making. The survey will take between 15 to 20 minutes. Complete the Survey.
- Seeking interested producers to road test a weed identification app. Australia’s first AI weed identification and management app, WeedScan is powered by a CSIRO AI identification model trained on more than 120,000 weed images and tested across Australia by scientists, farmers, community groups, agronomists, rangers, weeds and natural resource management officers. It’s an identification, recording and alert system for over 450 priority and other weeds, backed by the latest management information to support cooperative weeds action Australia-wide. Find out more.
- Strategic Agrichemical Review Process (SARP) Survey. Almond, avocado, banana, berry, lychee, macadamia, melon, olive, onion, papaya, passionfruit, pineapple and summerfruit industries are being encouraged to participate in the SARP survey to help provide an updated view of current priorities and gaps regarding pest, disease and weed control. Find out more.
The TNQ Hub can provide Letters of Support (LoS) to assist with your application. Please email details of your application and how it applies to future drought resilience to tnqhub@jcu.edu.au and we will supply a LoS if applicable.
Are you looking for funding to enable your idea to become a reality? Visit the following Regional Development Australia initiative to find grants available in the TNQ Drought Hub region.
- RDA Townsville and North West Queensland Grant Finder
- RDA Tropical North Grants
- RDA Greater Whitsundays
TNQ Hub has worked with our NRM Node and industry partners to develop regional priorities. These are a useful resource in writing grant applications.
Resources
Farmer to Lifeline Farmer. The life of a farmer can be rewarding; however, it is not without its share of challenges. From isolation to difficult weather conditions, there are many experiences that can take a toll on mental health and wellbeing. For some, it can all start to feel a little overwhelming. Lifeline’s ‘Farmer to Lifeline Farmer’ support line is here to help by providing tailored support from someone who knows how tough it can get – a fellow farmer. If you’re doing it a bit tough, don’t go it alone. Call Farmer to Lifeline Farmer on 1800 936 229 (business hours).
TNQ Drought Hub Nodes
