Positive relationships, regional coordination and local on-ground support have driven management practice changes for improved water quality in the Lower Herbert

The Lower Herbert Water Quality Program (LHWQP) draws on established and trusted delivery providers in the Herbert district to support sugarcane farmers to better manage their farm nutrient inputs to best suit their crop needs and reduce nitrogen losses as runoff.

The Herbert is one of the highest priority river catchments for the reduction of dissolved inorganic nitrogen losses in the Reef 2050 plan. Responding to this challenge, the LHWQP, and its Delivery Providers, are working with sugarcane farmers to increase understanding of farm management practices that improve the productivity, profitability, and sustainability of their farms.

The $16.2 million program is funded by the partnership between the Australian Government’s Reef Trust and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation with coordination support provided by CANEGROWERS Herbert River.

Clean seed planting in the Lower Herbert River District.

Since the program commenced in 2020, over three hundred growers in the Lower Herbert district have adjusted their farming practices, increased their knowledge of modern technologies and equipment, and gained assistance from industry experts and leaders to improve their nutrient management plans and budgets through greater innovation, integration, and collaboration across the range of Herbert projects.

The Program is on track to prevent 140 tonnes of dissolved inorganic nitrogen from entering the Great Barrier Reef lagoon from the Herbert River catchment each year. While important, it is not just about meeting program targets though; it is being passionate about the sugar industry and the fact that all delivery providers and growers are working together for a stronger future.

Program Coordinator for the Lower Herbert Water Quality Program Carola Bradshaw said having a regional coordinator working on-ground also helps to deliver community and stakeholder engagement at a program level.

“It is important to have a local bridge between delivery providers, growers, and policy organisations. Building trust and relationships in the region is the key to success.”

“Programs like the LHWQP can only succeed through local on-ground support from experienced and knowledgeable extension officers working alongside growers they trust and want to collaborate with to adopt new practice changes,” said Mrs Bradshaw.

LiquaForce developed a Local Area Nutrient Datahub (LANDHub) to deliver a shift in the level of actionable insight and accessibility of key agronomic information for growers of all levels of digital maturity. The project produces optimal Six Easy Steps nutrient management plans tailored to the region and specific farms, paddock, and soil lab data inputs. It also provides secure, private, digital storage for all farm, soil and production data.

Extension agronomist from Herbert AgriServices and LANDHub Leanne Carr said that growers go the extra mile to make a difference and having an extension officer helping them every step of the way ensures they are meeting and exceeding program targets.

“The role of an extension officer is to build relationships with farmers, to share science, knowledge and ideas and work through the challenges, aiming to drive on-farm profitability and sustainability through enhanced understanding and improved decision-making,” said Ms Carr.

Leanne Carr working in the cane paddock in the Lower Herbert.

Kristen and Regan Kernke and grower Charles showcasing AGRO Group spinner truck. 

Cameron Liddle, owner of LiquaForce and LANDHub also emphasised that a greater level of on-ground extension is required due to rapidly changing technological and increased legislative environment in agriculture.

Fourth generation Herbert grower Robert Lyon said by industry working together to identify what’s coming off-farm and potentiality going to the reef shows that we are concerned and proactive in managing change.

“We have to prevent chemicals moving into waterways so we as an industry can show the rest of the world that we are not destroying everything.

“Growers are experts in their own right due to being generational growers, and sharing this knowledge with others is an important factor in creating change, added Mr Lyon.

AgroGroup Directors Kristen and Regan Kernke developed two mill mud spinner trucks designed to reduce mill mud application rates and enable accurate, consistent mill mud placement on cane. The spinner trucks make it economical for growers who are further away from the mills to use mill mud while also making a significant impact on water quality outcomes in the Herbert.

Mrs Kernke said through existing relationships and regular communication with growers it allows them the confidence to calculate their modified fertiliser application rates. 

“It is important for growers to be able to have a conversation with someone they already know. The trust is already there, and it gives growers the confidence to consider change,” said Mrs Kernke involved in the LHWQP with Agro Group.

Chris Bosworth, a fourth-generation cane farmer in the Herbert District and Chairman of CANEGROWERS Herbert River said delivery providers and growers are working together to understand how to use the correct amount of fertilizer at the right time.

“There’s a lot of data being collected for the benefit of growers, we’re not burying our heads in the sand, we are being proactive in trying to reduce our footprint so that we continue to use our social license to operate,” said Mr Bosworth.

Herbert Cane Productivity Services Limited’s (HCPSL) Project CaNE Provided growers support to develop a whole-of-farm nutrient CaNE PlanTM based on Sugar Research Australia’s SIX EASY STEPS best management practice for nutrient management, an easy-to-use paper-based nutrient management and record keeping tool that is reef regulation compliant and can be used towards BMP accreditation. 

HCPSL extension agronomist and project coordinator for Project CaNE Adam Royle said that trust is key to working with growers and it takes time to build relationships.

“We work closely with several partners associated with Project CaNE including the Department of Agriculture & Fisheries and TropWater to convey their messages to growers. Building those relationships and trust is the only way you can get that information to flow both ways, so it is critical,” said Mr Royle.

Adam Royle connecting with local growers during the Regional Partners Forum.

Extension Agronomist Bethany Donker out in the cane fields in the Lower Hebert.

In partnership with HCPSL, Project Catalyst helps to improve the environmental health of the regional waterways by working together to help sustain water quality and water flow for the health and management of our rivers and creeks. Project Catalyst’s Practice Change and Grower Support Program supports growers to adopt farming practice changes using a full-scale nutrient management plan.

Extension Agronomist Bethany Donker said she interacts with growers involved in Project Catalyst on a regular basis in both a pre-emptive and responsive capacity.

“On-farm, over the phone or via email I’m always interacting with growers and working ahead of time to determine strategies ahead of the season as much as possible but we’re also adjusting things as the season goes on like grower practices,” said Ms Donker.

Herbert growers have taken the opportunity to be involved in the LHWQP and its projects resulting in improved water quality and productivity. On a program level, the biggest win has been bringing together all local organisations and delivery providers to work towards a common goal to ultimately improve the profitability, productivity, and sustainability of the sugar industry.

The $16.2 million program is funded by the partnership between the Australian Government’s Reef Trust and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation with coordination support provided by CANEGROWERS Herbert River.