Grower Focused Extension To Deliver Water Quality and Profitability Outcomes Rob MILLA Burdekin Produc3vity Services, Australia Partnership Approach Rob Milla Evan Shannon Tom McShane Ryan Turner Colleen James Current Situa3on Burdekin Sugarcane Industry •  80 000 ha of irrigated agriculture • 
Irriga3on separates Burdekin from other coastal regions •  Burdekin Falls Dam •  Underground aquifer •  Dry Tropics 915mm/yr •  Dis3nct wet/dry seasons •  550 farmers Regional Ac3vi3es •  Australian Government’s Reef Programme (delivered by NQ Dry Tropics) •  Incen3ves •  Monitoring and modelling •  Extension •  Queensland Government’s GBR Catchment Loads Monitoring Program •  BBIFMAC Subcatchment Real Time Water Quality Monitoring •  BPS and Farmacist one on one extension, grower trials and demonstra3ons GBR Catchment Loads Monitoring Program 25 monitoring sites for sediment and nutrients •   14 catchments •   11 sub-­‐catchments 15 monitoring sites for pes3cides for •   14 catchments •   1 sub-­‐catchment BBIFMAC Real Time Water Quality Monitoring BBIFMAC Real Time Water Quality Monitoring Reef Programme -­‐ Extension •  Use credible organisa3ons and science to deliver farm specific advice to improve water quality while maintaining or improving produc3vity •  Use extension to improve disconnect between the grower and perceived risk to the GBR •  Shed Mee3ngs •  Field walks/farm demonstra3ons •  Training exercises •  One on one extension Extension Delivery •  Farmacist: 30+ years experience in the region •  BPS: 13 years experience, build on rela3onships with all 550 growers in the region •  Collate data from relevant projects and research into prac3cal and meaningful informa3on •  Suggest prac3ces to improve water quality while maintaining or improving profitability •  Raise awareness of the impact an individual's ac3ons can have on the GBR •  BBIFMAC nitrate spike example Shed Mee3ngs 15 grower groups, based on geographic loca3on and soil type Mee3ngs twice annually, generally pre plan3ng and post harvest Averaging 35% adendance, has been over 40% 3-­‐4 topics, presented by credible and locally known extension officers •  Significant interest from outside groups to adend, limited to improve grower involvement •  Used as a plaform to priori3se future field trials and ac3vi3es for industry • 
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Field Walks and Farm Demonstra3ons • 
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Ensure these are held at appropriate 3me and are relevant SMS alerts Use grower experiences Don’t be afraid to discuss failures or challenges Making the effort with only a handful of growers can have a large impact Training Exercises •  Young growers group – understanding soils and soil health, succession planning •  Agribusiness/advisors -­‐ latest water quality data •  GPS setup for data collec3on •  Trips to other regions/industries One on One Extension •  Cri3cal for adop3on/prac3ce change and ongoing support •  Key adributes: • 
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Credible Able to communicate Able to listen Reasonable to high level of technical knowledge Problem solve Posi3ve aktude Empathe3c Con3nuous employment •  Eg: One on one ‘social’ visit •  Grower plants green manure legume fallow as a result •  Harvest this ‘green manure’ crop for $$$ •  Reduced nitrogen applica3on in plant cane, beder strike and less land prepara3on cost •  Field walk at site •  Other growers keen to adopt similar system Results •  Always over 30% adendance •  Posi3ve feedback due to relevance of data •  Growers appreciate the ability to call a local to discuss prac3ces and see field demo’s •  Growers wan3ng to hire equipment seen at field walk (single pass fert/insec3cide applicator) •  Rates of use of residual herbicides of concern has decreased (agribusiness sales) •  Enhanced Efficiency Fer3lisers, raised awareness of use and poten3al perverse outcomes •  Significant aktudinal shio by growers in rela3on to water quality Results •  Prac3ce change is difficult to accurately measure over short term, however ques3ons/
statements include: •  Will it be safe to reduce nitrogen by ‘x’ kg/Ha and not affect yield? Sib G •  How many irriga?ons a@er applica?on am I at risk of losing product? Sam C •  What is the best size and design for a recycle pit? Michael M •  “What herbicide can I use that won’t affect the reef and s?ll work on weeds?” Greg R •  “The use of these new efficient fer?lisers is a real win-­‐win situa?on, we all should be using it” – Dino P Conclusions and Future Direc3on •  Credible and experienced extension officers are cri3cal for delivery of sensi3ve informa3on •  Need a succession plan/mentoring system •  Partnership approach between Government, community groups and industry can work – an ‘us’ and ‘them’ approach is less likely to produce favourable results •  All facets of extension (group to training – one on one) •  Locally relevant data, research and demonstra3ons •  Ensure there is a prac3cal and meaningful link to the grower •  Ongoing ac3vi3es are dependent on con3nued funding