Farmers Find New Ways To Boost Farm Results And Reef Health Through $22.2 million Program

A proactive collaboration between local sugarcane growers and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation is starting to reap benefits, making a big difference in how we farm our land and protect the Reef.

Funded by the partnership between the Australian Government’s Reef Trust and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation, a large-scale $200 million water quality program is enabling projects to improve the quality of water entering the Reef, with $22.2 million being invested to support projects in the Whitsunday and Mackay region.

Mid-way through its four-year project period, the Mackay Whitsunday Water Quality Program has engaged with multiple growers, investing in initiatives across 40 per cent of sugarcane land in the Pioneer and Plane Basins.

With farmers spending a significant amount of money on inputs to grow their crop, many have been eager to hear how precision ‘smart farming’ can reduce costs while leveraging increased profitability.

Program Manager for the Mackay Whitsunday Water Quality Program, Chris Dench, said that the interests of the farmers are at the forefront of the project.

“Improving on-farm productivity and profitability is key, while increased water quality is an outcome of this improvement,” he said.

“Everyone wants a healthy Reef – a lot of growers spend time out on the Reef, it’s close to everyone’s hearts – but you have to maintain a profitable business as well.”

Through a series of funding streams that provide agronomic advice and equipment that assists with adopting environmentally sustainable practices, many farmers have jumped at the opportunity to trial initiatives.

Adopting practices such as planting soy or mung beans can allow growers to reduce the amount of synthetic Nitrogen being applied, which can result in big cost savings. Equally, identifying and addressing soil constraints such as pH can reduce the cost to the grower and the amount of fertiliser required.

Other growers involved in the program have focused their attention on better application of pesticides. Through the fabrication of a high clearance spray tractor and GPS rate controller, one grower has reduced pesticide usage by 15 per cent.  

These are just two examples of what is currently underway within the nine different project areas of the Mackay Whitsunday Water Quality Program.

“It’s been incredible to see the willingness of growers to get involved, give things a go and trial innovations,” said Chris.

“Farmers take their stewardship of the land seriously and we enjoy working with them for the benefit of everyone.”

The Mackay Whitsunday Water Quality Program is funded by the partnership between the Australian Government’s Reef Trust and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation and is locally managed by Central Resource Services and coordinated by Reef Catchments.

If you are a grower in the Pioneer, Plane Creek, Proserpine or O’Connell catchments and would like to find out about opportunities to be involved, please visit www.reefcatchments.com.au

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This high rise boom sprayer was fabricated and enabled one grower to reduce pesticide usage by 15 per cent. Photo supplied by Reef Catchments.