Rita and Jim Carey have recently completed a Farm Business Resilience Plan with the assistance of Growcom’s Resilience Manager Karen George. Rita and Jim grow lychees on 15 ha of land near Mutchilba, North Queensland.

Diversification of crop production across northern Australia is crucial in developing an economically sustainable and resilient agricultural sector. Whilst there are numerous tropical tree crops which can be cultivated in the region, plantings are limited due to the susceptibility of orchards to cyclones.

It was at the 2022 Hort Connections Conference in Brisbane that South Burnett avocado, garlic and rhubarb growers Michael and Beth Crane learnt about Growcom’s Farm Business Resilience Program for horticulture.

The Great Barrier Reef (GBR) is one of the richest and most complex natural ecosystems on earth, and the world’s most extensive coral reef ecosystem. It is recognised for its vital ecosystem functions and supporting extensive aquatic wildlife. No other World Heritage property contains such biodiversity.

Attraction and retention of labour across horticulture is a major challenge and to guide today’s youth to take up jobs in the industry, the career-based workshop – the AgTech Elite School Holiday Program – was created.

If there is one certainty in life, it’s that change is inevitable. Having a plan is the best way to remain resilient when unchosen change finds us.

Attracting and retaining staff in the age of the great resignation – it’s a goal Growcom’s Queensland Agriculture Workforce Network (QAWN) staff strive toward by supporting employers and employees across the supply chain to develop new skillsets.

From the creation of the plough to the irrigation system, mankind has always strived toward innovative solutions to meet the ever-increasing pressure to feed the world.

Participation by the horticulture industry at a field day on soil health and farm resilience at The Caves, north of Rockhampton, last month demonstrate the industry’s enduring interest in soil health and a commitment to preventing loss of topsoil.

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.

The rain didn’t stop over 30 farmers, industry supply chain members and researchers from attending a recent field day held in north Queensland to learn more about the Demonstrating Next-Generation Resilient Orchard Production Systems for Tropical Crops project.

Over 160 pineapple growers and industry supply chain members converged on the Sunshine Coast in July to share knowledge and celebrate at the industry’s annual Pineapple Field Days.

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.

Putting boots on farms in the Darling Downs region is in full swing, through the Diverse Queensland Workforce (DQW) program being delivered by Growcom in collaboration with The Mulberry Project.

Growcom was pleased to host the Australian Organics Recycling Association’s (AORA) Compost in Agriculture workshops in Bowen on Friday March 25 and Walkamin on Monday March 28.

Pineapple crop losses caused by root rot may soon be a thing of the past, thanks to new research on environmentally friendly biofungicides at The University of Queensland.

A range of informative videos are now available to assist growers to understand the benefits of high-density plantings and the opportunities available to de-risk the horticultural industry in cyclone prone areas of northern Australia.

Drought is a fact of life in Australia and to boost the longevity and strength of Queensland horticulture, Growcom is working with government bodies, industry service providers and natural resource management groups to enhance farm business outcomes, through the Farm Business Resilience Program (FBRP).