Cotton Grains Cattle program: North Queensland farming systems

Project locations: Georgetown, Walkamin, Julia Creek, Emerald, Kilcummin, Gatton, Rockhampton

Project partners: The University of Queensland ; Central Queensland University ; QLD Dept. Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) ; Northern Gulf Resource Management Group Ltd (NRM) ; Radicle Seeds Australia Pty Ltd ; Agrimix Pty Ltd

Project summary and impacts

This project aims to co-design scalable diversification options and drought resilience practices for cotton, grain, and cattle enterprises in northern Queensland. It will also quantify the economic, social, and environmental values and risks associated with these options.

Participatory, whole-farm systems research will examine:

• Current farm resources and business performance.
• Co-designed, time sensitive responses to drought and market volatility.
• Information and tools required for adoption of new practices.
• The impact of extreme climate events on productivity and sustainability.
• The level of climate information accuracy and timeliness required to deliver economic value.
• How climate variability influences the risk of not adopting available solutions.
• Whole-farm economic models assessing the value of on-farm produced grains and/or forage crops when  integrated into cropping systems for cattle feed.
• Alignment of existing environmental stewardship frameworks with North Queensland mixed farming systems, agribusiness, and regional community development goals.
• Appropriate stewardship guidelines and self-assessment options to balance costs, legislation, social license and value chain demands and opportunities.