Last Thursday, landholders and managers from the North Burnett and beyond attended a ‘Combating Weeds’ workshop at the Monto Showgrounds, as part of SuperGraze, a project funded through the Burnett Mary Regional Group BMRG by the Australian Government’s ‘Caring for Our Country’ program.  Organisers from Burnett Catchment Care Association BCCA and Qld Primary Industries and Fisheries QPIF were pleased with the good turnout.

‘Well worth it’, one Monal Creek landholder told the organisers.  ‘There are some exciting things happening in the field’, said another attendee.

Presenters spoke on projects currently underway in the Burnett including management of Lantana, Blue Heliotrope, Creeping Lantana and Parthenium, together with talks from local government and Biosecurity Queensland land protection officers, and from chemical company Dow Agrosciences each about their products and services.

For more information regarding these projects or to hear about the QPIF’s soon-to-be-released web-based Lantana management Decision Support Tool, phone the BCCA office on 4165 3551.

invite you to attend a “Combating Weeds Day”. Are you interested in how to manage weeds that are popping up in your area?

If so than this FREE information day is for you!! Mark this date in your diary!

WHEN:  Thursday 9 July 2009

Where:  Monto Showgrounds Hall

Time: 9am – 4pm Morning Tea, Sausage Sizzle Lunch & Afternoon Tea will be provided.

RSVP: Wednesday 8 July 2009 BCCA Office 41653551

Keynote Presenters include:

Kym Johnson & Daniel Stock – Lantana WoNS project (Queensland Primary Industries & Fisheries) will introduce the Lantana Best Practice Decision Support Tool and will also outline other work that is being done by the Lantana WoNS group.

Jodie Sippel – Land Protection Officer (Queensland Primary Industries & Fisheries) will discuss declared weeds found in the local area and legal obligations in regards to declared weeds and other weeds to keep watch for.  Topics will include identification, impacts and control measures.

Terry Haupt & the Small’s Creek Landcare Group will discuss the success of the Blue Heliotrope biocontrol beetle.

Lousie Newman (BCCA) – will discuss the competitive pastures for Parthenium Control & Compost Teas for Creeping Lantana control project.

Nicholas Koch – DowAgro Sciences will discuss woody weed control options and chemical options.

There will be several weed displays on show with plenty of take home materials.  All presenters will be available in the afternoon for individual discussions to answer questions & to help provide take home material on weeds/topics of interest.

If you’ve read the book or even if you haven’t and want to learn more about the man behind the land practices that have been improving productivity, then tune into ABC’s Austraian Story over the next two weeks as they present a two part series starting 8pm Monday 6th and 13th July.  For more information about the program check out  http://www.abc.net.au/austory/

This is a two day program which will assist participants to get real direction by developing:

• A clear vision for the future.
• Individual purpose statements
• Goals and actions for future dreams.
• Techniques to improve goal attainment
• Mechanisms for working in teams
• Understanding of communication (modeling)

We will cover:

• Methods of communication
• Neuro-Linguistic-Programming (NLP)
• Roles and responsibilities.
• The role of WOTB (working on the business) meetings.
• Motivation
• Visualisation methods
• A model for change
• The importance of beliefs and values
• Life balance
• Scenario thinking
• And more

The process:

• Small groups and individual exercises.
• As a business unit and or team process.

The program is Farm Ready Approved. Therefore the cost will be subsidized to approved primary producers and managers. You will need to complete a pre-approval application, cib-farm-ready-application_form_proston

We will come to you to run a local course, If you can form a group of 10 or more participants. Please also enquire about group discounts and larger business group discounts.

Please check the GBP website (www.grazingbestprac.com.au or www.dreamachievers.net.au ) for more information or give Mick or Noela a call on 0749 383919

Launched this month, Spatial 102 is designed to assist producers who have already attended an introductory computer mapping course or have dabble with mapping software at home.  However beginners are also welcome.

The free workshop offers revision of basic computer mapping skills in either FarmKeeper or Phoenix computer mapping programs, followed by instruction in more advanced mapping functions such as capturing a paddock’s grazing pressure circles or designing a fire management plan.

This workshop will improve producers’ knowledge of their property and result in better farm management decisions.

Participants will receive:

• Latest property digital data containing (based on your lot on plan):
• Landsat and/or SPOT5 satellite imagery
• Moratorium Map
• Regional Ecosystem map
• Watercourses
• Wetlands (if applicable)
• Computer mapping workbook for either FarmKeeper or Phoenix programs
• Demonstration licence of computer mapping software (30 days)

Dates:

Mundubbera Tuesday 16 June

Eidsvold Wednesday 17 June

Gayndah Thursday 18 June

Venues to be advised at a later date and to register for this free workshop by contacting Bree Robertson at AgForce on (07) 32386039 or email bree.robertson@agforward.org.au

This workshop commences at 9am and finishes around 4pm.  The workshop is restricted to 10 participants and registration is required at the latest by Thursday June 11 so that staff can prepare individual property data.

This workshop is supported by AgForce Queensland through funding from the Australian Government’s Caring for our Country.

If you are interested in the profitability and sustainability of different grazing systems?  Than this FREE workshop is for you!!

REMINDER      REMINDER      REMINDER

The workshop will cover:

• Results so far from DPI&F /CSIRO grazing system trails
• Different types of grazing systems: Cell Grazing, Rotational Grazing, Wet Season Spelling & Continuous Grazing
• Using farm maps with individuals to determine suitable grazing systems (Please bring along your property map for this activity)

Presenters on the day will be Trevor Hall from QDPI&F and John McIvor from CSIRO

When: Tuesday 9 June 2009

Where: CWA Hall – Pineapple Street Gayndah

Time: 11am to 4:30pm – Lunch & Afternoon Tea Provided

RSVP: Letetia on 41653551

Where: Miriam Vale Community Hall

When: 10th 11th June & 24th 25th June 2009

Start: 8:30am

Cost: $350 Per Entity

Or how the soil health is affected by what you do on top of the ground?

Or what your grass really is worth in $’s?

Or what role the fungi & bacteria really play in your success?

Come along to the “Technology of Growing Grass” workshop on Monday 22 June & Tuesday 23 June 2009 at the Mundubbera Community Development Center – Function Room Stuart-Russell Street (8:30am – 5:30pm) both days.

This is the workshop of the future, where you really get passionate about managing your pastures.  We will be dealing with a combination of science, economics & practical hands on grazing management.  Technology of Growing Grass is being delivered by Grazing BestPrac – Rockhampton and is fully supported by FARM READY (FRTC 0115).

The workshop will cover:

• Understanding microbes and their managment
• How grass grows
• The role of Carbon in soil
• Pasture utilization (Budgeting)
• Sustainable property development
• Putting a value on grass
• Developing growth strategies
• Compost teas and grazing management

For further information, please download the TOGG flier. mundubbera-emerald-togg-06091 If you are interested in attending, please download and complete the registration form registration-form1 or contact Grazing BestPrac – Mick Alexander on 0438 395255 or Noela on 07 49382919

You can also download and complete the FARM READY application form which is partially completed with our course details. togg-farm-ready-application_form_200904041

Organised by Qld DPI, the workshop, “Healthy Soils: Healthy Futures” will address biological, chemical and physical fertility issues in soils.  Topics covered include:

• Nutrient cycling
• Organic matter
• Compost tea
• Current research in Central Queensland
• Practical application of theory
• And much more!

Registration is $150 before 18 May, so download the Healthy Soils Workshop information and registration form and send it off  ASAP.

Not to be missed!