Forum’s productive future
Helping farmers plot their way
A FORUM designed to give Far Northern farmers the tools needed to thrive into the future will launch at Mareeba early next year.
Organised in partnership between Northern Gulf Resource Management Group (NGRMG) and the Mareeba District Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (MDFVGA), the inaugural Efficient Farming Forum will bring together some of the best and brightest minds in agriculture, technology, trends and tourism in April.
Moves are also underway to secure Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce among a line up of speakers including prominent futurist, trend forecaster and best-selling author Michael McQueen, Queensland Farmers’ Federation Energy Savers program manager Michael Chamberlin and Tourism Tropical North Queensland CEO Pip Close.
NGRMG executive co-ordinator Allan Holmes said the forum was funded by the Federal Government’s National Landcare Program with his organisation working with farmers in the Mareeba-Dimbulah irrigation area over the last four years to promote efficient practices. Mr Joyce, the agriculture minister, is overseeing the program.
“With that funding we were able to work one-on-one with individual farmers in areas like irrigation efficiency and soil mapping,” Mr Holmes said.
“The best way to learn is to have improved practices on a small number of farms, demonstrate why they work and then you get wider adoption among the farming community, that’s what part of this forum is about.”
Mr Holmes said the forum would showcase work done with NGRMG and local farmers. Guest speakers will help to drive home the message of efficiency and innovation across a number of areas.
MDFVGA president Joe Moro is hopeful the event will attract up to 300 Far Northern farmers. He said, depending on its success, the forum could become a major biennial event in the region, much like the popular Rotary FNQ Field Days.
“As our industry continues to adapt and evolve it’s important growers stay ahead of the curve,” Mr Moro said.
“We’ve worked hard with Northern Gulf Resource Management Group to bring together some of the most prominent voices in areas relevant to agriculture and we think this forum is the perfect place to capture the essence of what we’re trying to do.
“Before making any big decisions that affects their livelihoods, farmers need the facts.
“But they also need to be inspired to think outside the box and embrace things like tourism, new technologies and water and energy efficiency.”
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