GrazingFutures: learnings from a contemporary collaborative extension program in rangeland communities of western Queensland, Australia
Joe Rolfe A G , Lindsey Perry B , Peter Long C , Caitlyn Frazer D , Terry Beutel
E , Jane Tincknell F and David Phelps F
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Mareeba, Qld 4880, Australia.
B Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Cloncurry, Qld 4730, Australia.
C Peter Long Consulting, Yeppoon, Qld 4703, Australia.
D Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Charleville, Qld 4824, Australia.
E Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Rockhampton, Qld 4470, Australia.
F Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Longreach, Qld 4700, Australia.
G Corresponding author. Email: joe.rolfe@daf.qld.gov.au
The Rangeland Journal 43(3) 173-183 https://doi.org/10.1071/RJ20078
Submitted: 31 July 2020 Accepted: 28 September 2021 Published: 26 October 2021
Journal Compilation © Australian Rangeland Society 2021 Open Access CC BY-NC-ND
Abstract
Producer reliance on drought subsidies instead of proactive planning and timely destocking in low rainfall years has prompted Queensland government investment in promoting business and drought resilience. GrazingFutures (AU$6 million budget, 2016–2022) is an extension project focussed on enhancing business management skills of extensive livestock producers in western Queensland, Australia. The region’s rangelands are in productivity decline, span 1 million km2 and are managed by graziers operating more than 2400 livestock businesses (beef, sheep and goats). The Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries delivers GrazingFutures as a component of the Drought and Climate Adaptation Program, in partnership with regional natural resource management groups and other public and private organisations. Project delivery emphasised upskilling multi-agency staff and livestock producers to promote practice change within three whole of business themes: (1) grazing land management; (2) animal production; and (3) people-business. Three independent surveys (2018, 2019, 2020) indicated positive practice change was occurring in grazing businesses as a consequence of the project. Graziers instigated management changes even under major environmental challenges including extended drought (2013–2020), an extreme flood event in 2019 and the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. This paper details the rationale, progress against the objectives, challenges and future direction of the GrazingFutures extension project.
Keywords: drought management, risk, partnerships, training, rainfall variability, seasonal variability, stocking rates, wet season spelling, land condition, climate forecasting, grazier decision making, rural communities.
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