All in Queensland

Sustainable soil management workshops for Queensland broadacre cropping industries

superuser — Tue, 26 May 2009 05:40:44 +0000

IDs and People

Program:

Healthy Soils for Sustainable Farms

Research Type:

Research Project

Researchers:

David Lawrence

Subjects

Subjects:

Soils

Current Activities

Status:

Complete

Background

Aims:

Develop and deliver sustainable soil management workshops to more than 500 grain, sugar and dryland cotton producers and their advisers in Queensland
Develop and deliver extension publications and activities relating to soil health throughout the Queensland grain, dryland cotton and sugar industries
Develop and validate tools and processes to quantify the soil health status of cropping soils
Facilitate the conduct of on-farm research in Queensland and northern NSW to validate and demonstrate locally relevant best soil management practices
Compile a database to benchmark the current soil health status of Queensland cropping soils

Method

Reference manual; training materials; extension publications; tools for on-farm benchmarking, assessment and monitoring of soil health; reference database (benchmarking); training workshops; reports from on-farm research.

Project contributors

Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries
NSW Department of Primary Industries
Nutrient Management Systems

Location

State & NRM Region:

Queensland

Coordinating Deep Drainage Research in the Northern Darling Basin

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 07:01:48 +0000

This project will provide coordination and information exchange as necessary between the various stakeholders to optimise the various deep drainage projects outcomes. This task will be achieved by having 2 groups.

IDs and People

Program:

National Program for Sustainable Irrigation

Legacy (KMS) Project ID:

CRD2

Host Organisation:

Cotton Research & Development Corporation

Researchers:

Nicky Schicy

Subjects

Subjects:

Irrigation

Rivers and Wetlands

Keywords:

Information Management

deep drainage

Project Information

Outcomes:

An understanding of the current knowledge on deep drainage by all participating researchers in Northern Darling Basin deep drainage
An agreed position by researchers and primary stakeholders , (Community groups, Catchment Authorities, commodity groups, investors, regulatory and policy organizations) of future research activities necessary
Primary stakeholders informed of the research progress and the implications for their particular interest
That stakeholders agree to a continued coordinated approach

Current Activities

Status:

Complete

Background

Project Background:

Land and Water Australia was part of a syndicate determining the research requirements into deep drainage in the Northern Darling Basin. As part of the research Clive Lyle Consulting and Aquatech Consulting produced a report, Better Catchment Planning and Water Resources Management (January 2002). There was substantial debate on their recommendations with varying acceptance, particularly from the MDBC. Over time some of these differences have been resolved and further investment into research has been provided by GRDC, CRDC and the Australian Cotton CRC.

The report recommended a peak Management Committee to provide overall research coordination. The membership of this group should include representatives of funders, key industries, R&D providers, Catchment Management Boards and organisations legally responsible for water. The Convenor is recommended to be a basin wide or national organisation.

Aims:

Develop an agreed understanding by peak stakeholders of deep drainage in the Northern Darling Basin
Develop clear and agreed gaps in knowledge and how to overcome them

Location

State & NRM Region:

New South Wales

Queensland

Locations:

Northern Darling Basin

Northern Australia Irrigation Futures

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 05:53:14 +0000

This project will deliver a framework for use by policy makers, regulators, managers, and investors to ensure irrigation is developed in a sustainable manner across northern Australia. Stage I of the project will involve development of the full project team, key client/stakeholder/collaborative network, and detailed work plan and budget. Stage II will involve carrying out the work plan agreed to in Stage I.

IDs and People

Program:

National Program for Sustainable Irrigation

Legacy (KMS) Project ID:

CDS23

Host Organisation:

CSIRO Land and water

Researchers:

Dr Keith Bristow

Subjects

Subjects:

Climate (General)

Landscapes

Native Vegetation

Soils

Water (General)

Irrigation

Keywords:

Policy

Tropical

Decision Support Systems

Ecological Management

Project Information

Outcomes:

A more informed and knowledgeable community and irrigation industry able to capture advantage of key biophysical and socio-economic features when designing and implementing irrigation developments in northern Australia
Whole of system irrigation management practices that meet catchment goals thereby safeguarding the health and services of surface and groundwater systems, wetlands, estuaries and marine environments
Regional adoption of new State policies that support development and management of sustainable irrigation schemes and practices
A sustainable irrigation industry in northern tropical Australia that delivers a wide range of economic and social benefits whilst minimising environmental impacts

Current Activities

Status:

Complete

Background

Project Background:

Irrigation is fundamental to the Australian economy and the reality is that further irrigation developments will occur in northern (tropical) Australia. An opportunity exists to address new developments in a proactive way by designing irrigation systems to fit specifically within the northern Australian environment, thereby minimising the risk of mistakes and problems experienced by irrigation schemes in other parts of the country.

Aims:

To delineate key landscape attributes (including soil & water resources, climate, vegetation, rivers, near shore marine environments, & where appropriate links to people, industries, markets) relevant to ecologically sustainable irrigation across northern Australia.
To use key landscape attributes to develop sustainability indicators and associated management criteria covering a range of scales (field, farm, district, irrigation scheme, catchment) for northern Australia.
To develop an overall framework that, through their involvement, is embraced by policy makers, regulators, investors and managers, to help ensure any irrigation is managed in a consistent, ecologically sustainable manner in northern Australia.
To use a number of linked case studies and stakeholder input to support and inform development and testing of the framework.
Through provision of a robust framework, contribute tools and knowledge to support considered debate, decision making and long term strategic planning for northern Australia & Australia as a whole.

Location

State & NRM Region:

Queensland

Northern Territory

Locations:

Daly River

Ord River

Burdekin River

Northern Australia

Improved Seasonal Forecasts for Wool Producers in Australia’s Pastoral Zone

Mon, 08 Oct 2007 06:34:58 +0000

IDs and People

Program:

Land, Water and Wool

Program Theme:

Climate Variability

Research Type:

Demonstration Project

Research Scale:

State

Legacy (KMS) Project ID:

QNR30

Subjects

Subjects:

Climate (General)

Livestock (Sheep)

Livestock (Pastoral)

Landscape Management

Keywords:

Woolgrowers

Land Management

Stocking Rate

Climate Variability

Pastures

Seasonal Forecasting

Project Information

Summary:

Much of Australia’s rangelands are characterised by extreme climate variability which represents a major challenge for woolgrowers. In order to maintain or increase productivity while minimising negative environmental impacts on the land, producers need access to reliable seasonal climate forecast (SCF) information at critical times for key management decisions.

Current Activities

Status:

Pending

Background

Aims:

The objective of Improved Seasonal Forecasts for Wool Producers in Australia’s Pastoral Zone was to support and provide tools for the regional Managing Climate Variability Sup-program projects. It aimed to make SCF products more relevant to producers and their advisors through pasture growth simulation and prediction using Aussie GRASS, a national spatial pasture growth program.

Location

State & NRM Region:

New South Wales

Queensland

South Australia

Western Australia

Victoria

Geographic Zone:

Broadacre: Wheat-Sheep

Broadacre: Pastoral