PROJECT NO. 167
Project Title
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Sustainable Farming Systems for Central
Queensland |
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Project Leader
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John Doughton (Howard Cox) |
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Organisation |
Department of Primary Industries and Forestry |
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APSRU
Representative |
Charmaine Aldridge |
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Funding
Body |
GRDC |
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Administration
Contact |
TBA Ph: Fax: |
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Commencement
Date |
1/3/2002 |
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Completion
Date |
28/2/2007 |
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Research
Proposal Summary |
Agriculture, involving substantial grain cropping,
commenced in the late 1940’s and 1950’s on the Open Downs soils of the
Central Highlands with the activities of the Queensland British Food
Corporation (QBFC). Development of
the Brigalow soils in Central Queensland (CQ) was influenced by the Brigalow
Scheme from 1962 (Spackman and Garside 1995). Although CQ is the most recently developed cropping
region of Queensland, it displays the most dramatic decline in nitrogen
fertility as demonstrated by the proportion of grain of Prime Hard wheat
varieties (>13 % protein) downgraded to lower classifications through low
protein. Grain farming has relied on
reserves of inherent fertility which are being exhausted through ongoing
cropping. Associated with in situ chemical and physical degradation
of soils has been extensive soil erosion causing further degradation of the
land resource base. There is now a
strong awareness that many grain farming practices in CQ are not sustainable. Additionally, economic imperatives over time have led to
diversification of cropping industries in CQ to the extent that complexity
has become a significant management issue in farming operations. Possibly also as a consequence of increased complexity,
concerns have arisen that the paradigm of information transfer from research
through extension to farmers is no longer adequate. Phase I of this project, which commenced in February 1997,
convincingly demonstrates the value of participatory action learning with
farmer groups as a useful complementary strategy for technological
advancement in farming systems. Phase I is also providing significant insights into the
long and short-term risks associated with various farming systems and their
components through simulation modelling and whole farm economic
analysis. These insights will, in the
near future, have a major impact in changing the way producers think about
and select their farming systems in CQ.
Farming systems will become more appropriate for the soil and
environmental conditions on which they are sited, will be less risky, suffer
fewer losses and provide improved returns on capital invested. Greater public awareness of political and environmental
issues related to agriculture is compelling agricultural producers to become
more aware of the environmental and social acceptability of their farming
practices as well as the impact of their production systems on other resource
users within their catchment. This PRP foreshadows Phase II of the project DAQ 382, and
will build upon the success of Phase I.
It will be directed at addressing the above issues. |
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Aims |
§ To integrate new and existing technology in
developing sustainable farming systems options for Central Queensland. §
To make maximum use
of teams of farmers, scientists and agribusiness in developing new and
existing technology on farms to ensure commercial acceptance and adoption by
farmers of new sustainable farming practices. |
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Potential
Outcomes |
§ More appropriate selection of farming systems that
are proven for the CQ environment through long-term scenario analysis to
maximise profitability, sustainability and resilience and to minimise risk. § Better farm decision making arising from improved
understanding of risk management issues. § Savings on crop inputs through more timely and
targeted use of resources (eg nitrogen fertiliser). § Fewer crop losses from weathering, diseases,
pests, weeds and drought through better, more integrated and more timely crop
management practices. § A projected increase in ley farming by 160,000 –
320,000 ha (20 – 40 % of all farmland in CQ) by 2007. § Improved soil fertility resulting from the ley
systems above. § Improved grain yield and quality from crops grown
using ley legume systems. § Significant economic improvements to grain/grazing
enterprises through more rapid turn-off of superior quality cattle grazing
legume-based ley pastures. § Better identification and management of saline and
sodic soils allowing more profitable farming. § Other outcomes as negotiated with GRDC and
stakeholders. |
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Milestones |
TBA |
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Budget |
TBA |
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Staff % /
year &
Contributions |
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Prior
Provision of IP & Rights of Ownership |
TBA |
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Ownership,
equity in and use of IP to be developed |
B |
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Rights
of Publication |
TBA |
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Strategic
Plan Goal No. |
1 |
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Relevance
to Strategic Plan |
TBA |