In the picturesque Scenic Rim, against a backdrop of the Great Dividing Range, the Rieck family have for decades cared for the rich soil that bears their vegetable crops, but it’s a labour of love that takes constant commitment.

Momentum continues to grow in Southeast Queensland with growers across a range of commodities benefiting from two funding initiatives supporting positive on-farm practice improvements.

Have you ever looked around your property and thought, “I’d really like to fix this up,” or “I’d really like to install that.” You know, the priority wish list of things you would get to if you had the time, money, resources, or expertise?

Agriculture is in Tanya Luck’s blood. Having grown up on a sheep and cattle farm on the Western Downs, she studied horticulture and agronomy, and has worked in the industry all her life.

In the first half of 2024, Growcom’s South East Queensland (SEQ) Water Quality Program has focused on working with growers to access land management information on their property and undertake remediation works to address the movement of nutrient, chemicals, and soil from their farms.

A grower’s to-do list is never complete. Beyond the running of day-to-day operations there are longer term considerations around investing in improved on-farm practices and new products and equipment to minimise environmental impacts and get the most out of every crop.

Growing pineapples has taken Mark Harris all over South East Queensland, but on his current property on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, he’s sprucing things up ahead of handing over the reins to his nephew, Bert.

Adrian and Mandy Schultz of Luvaberry are no strangers to the ‘s’ word. They’ve had sustainability at the forefront of their operations since establishing their Wamuran farm 20 years ago.

Growcom’s SEQ Water Quality project supported by the Department of Environment and Science (DES) continues to deliver positive outcomes from the first round of ‘seed funding’ invested into South East Queensland pineapple farms.

Growcom’s SEQ Water Quality project is working with growers and the Department of Environment and Science (DES) to allocate the first round of ‘seed funding’ to pineapple farms located in South East Queensland.

Nitrogen gas. It makes up 79 percent of the atmosphere and on the Sunshine Coast, pineapple growers are relying on a natural nitrogen cycling process to transform nitrate in ground water into nitrogen gas.

With a proactive goal to boost sustainability, Growcom’s Hort360 South-East Queensland water quality program is set to be refunded through the Queensland Government’s Department of Environment and Science (DESE), with a $1.1 million investment over the next three years.