Depa rtment of Natural Resources and Mines
Tropical savannah grazing: future viability
depends on better land, herd and
business management today
Project summary
Proponent: Northern Gulf Resource Management Group Ltd
Value: $1,607,222
Project duration: 1 October 2013 – 30 June 2016
Project description
This project will improve on-property grazing management practices to enhance the productivity
and health of natural resources over 3.3 million hectares across the entire Northern and Southern
Gulf regions. This will be achieved through individual landholder extension, tailored property
support, and property and resource condition mapping. Improved land condition will increase
ground cover, improve riparian condition and decrease erosion problems through better managing
stock numbers, conducting rotational grazing and wet season spelling.
The project will partner with Southern Gulf Catchments, the Queensland Department of Agriculture
and Fisheries, Far North and North West FutureBeef Team, and agribusiness consultants. The
project will work closely with individual landholders, the Northern Gulf Graziers Group and the
Southern Gulf Catchments Pastoral Industry Advisory Group.
The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries’ FutureBeef Team will deliver SavannaPlan - a suite
of extension methods designed to improve grazing land management and business profitability
through programmed learning (three day training packages), information access (field
days/forums), consultant/mentor (one-on-one), on-property demonstrations, producer based
groups, and on-line learning. Field days and training packages will improve producer awareness,
knowledge and confidence while demonstrations and one-on-one delivery will focus on practice
change. On-going follow up, support and mentoring will ensure that SavannaPlan achieves
sustainable and profitable business outcomes in extensive grazing areas.
Beef Sense will provide one-on-one (on-property) support including targeted mentoring and followup, focusing on debt management and improving overall business performance. It will include the
economic and financial analysis required to make significant changes to the production system.
This will be achieved by contracting the services of agribusiness consultants with agricultural
economics, financial counselling, banking, and beef industry backgrounds.
The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries’ FutureBeef Team will conduct land condition
monitoring towards the end of the project monitoring using the methodology already established as
part of the regional environmental accounts. Monitoring will be undertaken on pasture composition,
tree density, weed infestation, soil surface condition and land type carrying capacities. This data
Queensland
Government
will then be interpreted to formulate a regional overview of landscape health and gauge condition
change since the original assessments in 2004.
Major project activities will include:
 the provision of extension and support to 21 graziers to prepare best grazing management
practice property plans incorporating programmed learning (three day package), field days/forums and on-line support
 the provision of on-property support to 54 graziers to improve overall business performance
including economic and financial analysis
 individual property mapping at a 1:10000-1:25000 scale (e.g. infrastructure, land condition,
vegetation, soil types, native pasture diversity, water distribution, flood inundation and fire scar
history) on 50 properties
 the completion and distribution of six property case studies to 500 graziers demonstrating
improved sustainable resource use and agricultural productivity through improved grazing land
management practices, property planning and business performance
 the completion of four grazing forums to improve skills and knowledge in grazing land management
 land condition monitoring using the methodology established as part of the Regional
Environmental Accounts Program.
Project outcomes
Long-term outcomes (5-10 years)
 Productive and sustainable landscapes.
 Extensive productive grazing industry.
 Market sustainability.
Intermediate outcomes (3-5 years)
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Improved land condition across 3,305,000 hectares.
200 graziers with improved land management practices.
200 graziers with improved property management planning.
Communication of project results with 5,000 people (the broader community and other
interested parties.
 Four grazing forums attracting 40 graziers to improve sustainable resource use and agricultural
productivity.
Further information
For further information on the ‘Tropical savannah grazing: future viability depends on better land,
herd and business management today’ project, please contact Northern Gulf Resource
Management Group Ltd.
Tropical savannah grazing: future viability depends on better land, herd and
business management today
© State of Queensland, Department of Natural Resources and Mines, 2014.