Newsletter #30: October

October 31, 2024

From the Director

In previous newsletters, I’ve touched on resilience and how the hub is helping to connect landholders, grower groups, communities, government, universities, and industry organisations to build strong and adaptive socio-economic networks.

At its heart, the hub is about delivering real benefits to our region.

Together with our member and partner organizations, we are working to:

Achieve Direct, on-ground impact through delivering practical, co-designed activities funded by the Future Drought Fund, which target the place-based needs of our region
Contribute to an Enabling environment by acting as a link for land managers, partners, agricultural businesses, communities and key institution to access additional resources to strengthen and sustain drought resilience efforts across the region
Influence thinking and actions across all levels of government and industry by providing information, tools and insights that will help increase investment into the region.

For example, we are committed to seeing the growth of successful grant applications in the region such as the Future Drought Fund’s Long-term Trials and Resilient Landscapes Grants (closing soon).

It’s been encouraging how many groups and individuals have reached out to see how we can support them with advice on past successful projects, connect them with potential collaborators, and provide letters of support for projects that align with our priorities.

If you think we can support your application, please get in touch— there are more details at the bottom of this email.

We are here to empower our region to be as successful as possible in the face of a changing climate.

Resilience depends on collaboration today to build a stronger tomorrow for us all.

Until next time, keep safe and well.

David Phelps
Director

Hub Highlight - Rock Stars Boost Soils

Key takeaways

James Cook University is 1 of 12 successful recipients of the Partnerships and Innovation Grant opportunity
$4.8 million will fund seven Enhanced Rock Weathering trials over four years
The TNQ Drought Hub helped deliver the project and will provide continued support

James Cook University researchers will be part of a team working to combat Australia’s chronic soil infertility problem with a technique involving sowing paddocks with crushed rock.

Associate Professor Paul Nelson is a soil scientist at JCU. He said Australia’s soils are generally highly weathered and infertile, which constrains crop production and carbon storage.

“Our best soils, which are quite scarce, are developed on basalt, so our project will take crushed basalt – a by-product of gravel manufacture – and apply it to soil. This is a way of making poor soils more like those good soils,” said Dr Nelson.

“By applying the extra basalt we’re giving nature a boost. The process neutralises soil acidity, it also releases nutrients such as calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and potassium.”

He said the project will improve soils but also aims to lock up carbon, as carbon dioxide dissolved in soil water can react with the basalt.

Drought Resilience in Action

Building drought resilience through ESG: An On Farm Focus

The TNQ Drought Hub is leading the way in helping farmers incorporate Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices into their operations.

Recognising the role of ESG in building long-term drought resilience, the hub has created practical tools, including the Rapid ESG Assessment, which helps farmers evaluate how well they are integrating these practices into their operations.

From environmental stewardship to managing social impacts and governance structures, ESG can enhance the sustainability and productivity of farm businesses.

Honours Scholarships drives research into resilience

This year, the TNQ Drought Hub once again offered scholarships to JCU students pursuing innovative Honours projects that support the hub’s mission to drive long-term resilience in North Queensland’s agricultural landscape. The 2024 projects are:

Rural Access to Mental Health Services; Where are we lacking? Renee Blackmore
Faecal seeding: the effect of rumen digestion on hard or scarified legume seeds. Abby Glasser
Mental health professionals weathering climate and environmental challenge. Alice Journo
The effect of drought on public mental health and depression rates in rural Queensland. Blake Lovely
How is carbon dioxide removal via enhanced weathering affected by soil acidity? Sarah Sletten

Students are currently in the middle of submitting their project updates.

Internal forum provides invaluable in-person future planning and opportunity to learn from innovative locals

In mid October, the wider TNQ Drought Hub team gathered in Rockhampton for our fourth internal staff forum – a rare but invaluable opportunity to meet face-to-face.

For three days, we worked together to map out the future of the hub and regional activities. We also learnt from innovative local landholders and researchers, gaining insights that will help guide our efforts towards a more resilient and sustainable region.

Jayme Burkett, Drought Resilience Coordinator and Sustainable Agriculture Facilitator from Cape York NRM, captured the essence of the gathering: “The forum was an incredible opportunity to collaborate, strengthen networks, and build genuine friendships with some fantastic people while planning for a resilient future.”

Sustainable Business and Soil Health take centre stage at Farm Resilience Workshop

This month, Regional Soils Coordinator, Dhiraj Gajera and Knowledge Broker, Karen George were invited to attend the Queensland Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Farm Business Resilience Planning Sustainable Soil Workshop.

The workshop opened with an inspiring session led by Lara Wilde from AgriFood Catalyst, setting the tone for a day of learning and collaboration focused on building sustainable and resilient land and business.

Dhiraj highlighted the critical role of soil health in long-term agricultural success, demonstrating to attendees how even small adjustments in soil management can create significant improvements in soil condition.

REGISTER NOW: Embracing Agriculture Digital Innovation Workshop, October - November

TAFE Queensland is running Digital Innovation Workshops to help farmers explore the potential of digital and precision technologies in agriculture. These workshops include guided access to AgValuate, a tool developed within the TNQ Drought Hub. Upcoming workshops;

Caboolture: 6-7 Nov
Kalbar: 12-13 Nov
Toowoomba: 14-15 Nov
Bowen: 26-27 Nov

For more information, visit TAFE Queensland.

REGISTER NOW: Ag Succession, Proserpine, 6 November & Sarina, 7 November

Join Reef Catchments and the TNQ Drought Hub for a FREE Ag Succession Forum.

Topics include;

What is Succession Planning
Business structures
Barriers to successful succession
Management verses Ownership succession
Business versus Assets Following a process
Case Study

Scott will be available for 30 minute private appointments from 1:30pm – 5:00pm each day.

For more information, contact Rachel Taylor, Reef Catchments: 0419 778 402 or rachel.taylor@reefcatchments.com

REGISTER NOW: Carbon EDGE, Wambiana Station, 25-26 November

Taking carbon from a concept to an action plan

Explore ‘carbon reduction in the beef industry’ at the MLA Carbon EDGE workshop, Wambiana Station, 25-26 November.

You will get an understanding of:

key terminology and concepts relating to greenhouse gases (GHG) within the red meat industry
in-depth information on the practices to reduce and sequester GHG within a livestock grazing business
weighing up opportunities and risks associated with generating carbon credits and how they can be used to benefit livestock businesses
understanding carbon neutrality and how it aligns to your business goals
developing a carbon action plan that incorporates practical, achievablestrategies to meet your objectives.

Carbon EDGE is a new training program for the red meat industry. Understand the opportunities
for emissions reduction and carbon storage in your livestock grazing business.

Agtech Insights

Read the latest edition of Agtech insights where we look into:

Digital Innovation Workshops help farmers explore the potential of digital and precision technologies
Beanstalk Drought Venture Studio seeking producers and agribusinesses to shape new drought and climate resilience technologies
3G networks shut down
NotebookLM explores and synthesises information
plus more

Get Involved

Apply: NOW OPEN Resilient Landscapes Program. $40 million will be available through an open competitive grant process for projects between $2 million and $6 million from 2024-25 until 2029-30. Find out more.
Apply: The 2025 Bob Hawke Landcare Award. Nominations are now open for individuals, groups or organisations who have demonstrated leadership and a commitment to natural resource management and sustainable land management practices. Find out more.
Apply: Applications are open for the Agricultural Extension Work Placement Program which connects early career extension professionals with host agribusinesses or natural resource management organisations to assist landholders in the Great Barrier Reef catchment.The 15-month work placements will start in early 2025. Find out more.
Apply: The Rural Landholder Recovery Grant Scheme offers grants of up to $10,000 for clean-up and reinstatement activities to help rural landholders pay for the costs of clean-up and reinstatement of their primary production enterprise that has suffered damage as a result of 2023-2024 disaster events. Find out more.

Apply: NOW OPEN Long-term Trials of Drought Resilient Farming Practices Program Round 2. $40.3 million will be available through an open competitive grant process for projects between $3 million and $8 million from 2024-25 until 2029-30. Find out more.
Survey: The Future Drought Fund is interested in hearing from users of the My Climate View tool and the Climate Services for Agriculture program. You are invited to complete a short confidential survey about your perspectives and experiences in using the tool or being involved with the CSA Program. Complete the survey.
Apply: 2025 Earthshot Prize. AgriFutures Australia has been selected as an Official Nominator for the 2025 Earthshot Prize. Winners of the Earthshot Prize receive £1 million each to scale their solutions; it is a platform dedicated to finding and growing solutions that will repair the planet this decade. Find our more.
Apply: TEKFARM is an initiative designed to help primary producers evaluate and enhance the drought resilience of their farms through technology. Both producers and agtech providers are encouraged to get touch with TNQ TEKFARM Advisor Keerah Steele: keerah.steele@gulfsavannahnrm.org or 0457 621 370

Where applicable, we can provide Letters of Support to assist with your applications. Email tnqhub@jcu.edu.au with details of your application and how it applies to future drought resilience.

To find more grants available in the TNQ region, visit the following organisations.

TNQ Drought Hub has worked with our NRM Node and industry partners to develop regional priorities. These are a useful resource when writing grant applications.

Upcoming Events

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;