Land Soils and Agriculture

The BDTNRM region contains a vast amount of natural and human resources. Major industries across BDTNRM's 133,432km2 include rangeland cattle grazing, dryland cropping (wheat, sorghum, etc) irrigated cropping (sugar & horticulture) and  mining.

Cattle grazing in the rangelands accounts for approximately 94 per cent of the region. The Land, Soils and Agriculture programme works to achieve sustainable, productive and profitable agricultural land management, improve land condition throughout the region and enhance the quality of water delivered to creeks, rivers and the Great Barrier Reef lagoon.

The programme is delivering across three broad activity themes:

  • Assessment, benchmarking and monitoring of land and soil health
  • Implementing property planning and sustainable land practices
  • Assessment and management of dryland salinity


Land Soils and Agriculture Projects

Assessment of Dryland Salinity
http://www.bdtnrm.org.au/initi­atives/dryland_salinity.html
Dryland salinity is one of several potential threats to sustainable land management in the region this project aims to prevent an increase incurrent salinity levels


Belyando Suttor Capacity Building and On-Ground Works:
http://www.bdtnrm.org.au/initi­atives/lsa.html
On-ground environmental improvements through voluntary incentive programs and extension in the Belyando Suttor River Catchments Voluntary incentive programmes, on-ground environmental improvements and raising awareness of NRM in the Belyando Suttor River Catchments (LSA1901)


Burdekin Region Land Resource Assessment
http://www.bdtnrm.org.au/initi­atives/0025.html
Collating existing information into a common soil mapping Layer and then identifying and investigating gaps in the information


Clarke River and East Burdekin Catchments
http://www.bdtnrm.org.au/proje­cts/nap0021.html
The Clarke River (720,000ha) and East Burdekin (510,000ha approx) catchments have been identified as generating high sediment loads, contributing to the degradation of water quality in the Burdekin Basin. These issues have been identified from the Burdekin Rangelands Subregional Strategy and observation by CSIRO, ACTFR and DPI&F extension staff since 1989.


Communicating and raising awareness for the soil land survey
http://www.bdtnrm.org.au/initi­atives/0005.html
Communicating and raising awareness for the soil land survey and agricultural suitability evaluation in the Giru area (Completed Project)


Dairying better'n better for Tomorrow
http://www.bdtnrm.org.au/initi­atives/dbnb.html
Eungella Five dairy farmers in the Eungella range increasing their profitability, competitiveness and sustainability by adopting on-farm resource management practices.


Desert Steps Ahead
http://www.bdtnrm.org.au/initi­atives/du_oral_history.html
Information Toolkit for Landholders


Grazing Lands Best Management Practices
http://www.bdtnrm.org.au/initi­atives/0011.html
Identification and assessment of appropriate incentives for achieving water quality improvement in the grazing lands of the Burdekin Catchment


Identifying Appropriate Water Quality Incentives for Adoption of BMP's
http://www.bdtnrm.org.au/initi­atives/0019.html
Appropriate Incentives for Burdekin landholders to enhance the adoption of improved land and water management practices to support the achievement of improved water quality


Land Condition Monitoring
http://www.bdtnrm.org.au/proje­cts/nap0024.html
A land resource condition study of the Burdekin region to establish a long term monitoring program. The findings are communicated to land managers and the general public


Land Managers Advisory Group
http://www.bdtnrm.org.au/proje­cts/landmanagers.html
A number of projects within the Land, Soils and Agriculture program have some component of community input and reflection. To facilitate this process, BDTNRM has established a Land Managers Advisory Group.


Land Managers Advisory Groups
http://www.bdtnrm.org.au/proje­cts/landmanagers.html


Landscape Linkages in the Desert Uplands
http://www.bdtnrm.org.au/bio/b­io/pgm/bio/landlink.html
Financial incentives to support landowners from the Desert Uplands region in protecting remnant vegetation and areas of biodiversity significance on their land.


NLP 05 - SPIRAL
http://www.bdtnrm.org.au/initi­atives/spiral.html
Strategic Partnerships Incentives for Revitalising Active Landcare (SPIRAL) in the Burdekin Rangelands


Profitable Beef Business
http://www.bdtnrm.org.au/proje­cts/nap0023.html
Working closely with landholders to develop case studies of effective business. This project aims to improve the overall profitability and sustainability of Burdekin beef businesses


Soils and Land Survey and Agricultural Suitability Evaluation in the Giru Area
http://www.bdtnrm.org.au/initi­atives/0004.html
(Completed Project) A comprehensive database and GIS map of the soils in the GIru area, publications of the results and presentations to raise awareness about the completed project.


Sugar Lands Best Management Practices
http://www.burdekindrytropics.­org.au/cci/sugarlands/


Sustainable Landscapes in the Bowen Bogie Broken
http://www.burdekindrytropics.­org.au/projects/sl.html
The Sustainable Landscapes Project is a cross-regional partnership between BDTNRM and Mackay Whitsunday Natural Resource Management Group. We are re-focusing natural resource management attention on the Eungella community where we hope to ‘fix’ the ‘Broken’ River, primarily by focusing on grazing practices, native vegetation and riparian zones


Sustainable Landscapes Program for Horticulture Growers
http://bdtnrm.org.au/initiativ­es/eai_mafia.html
This project aims to establish a greater understanding regarding the potential costs and benefits of Overhead Low Pressure (OHLP) irrigation systems and other environmentally efficient managmenet practicessuch as green cane trash blanketing (GCTB), fallow legumes and best practice nutrient management and irrigation scheduling in the Lower Burdekin/Haughton area.


Land Soils Ag Contacts

Linda Hygate

Programme Coordinator

linda.hygate@bdtnrm.org.au


Amanda Laurie

Programme Support Officer

amanda.laurie@bdtnrm.org.au

 

 Tel: (07) 4724 3544

 PO Box 1466

Townsville, Qld 4810 Australia