Innovative Grazing Forum Attracts State-wide Visitors

A three-day Innovative Grazing Forum will once again attract attendees and exhibitors from across the state.

The Grazing Forum is a one-of-a-kind event in the Mackay Region, with innovative ideas and methodologies to enhance grazing practice at the core of its program.  

Celebrating its 10th year, the forum boasts notable industry speakers, stallholders, two practical on-site field days and plenty of networking time.

“As the only large-scale grazing event in our region, Reef Catchment’s Grazing Forum has brought landholders and industry specialists together for more than a decade,” said Reef Catchments Regional Agriculture Landcare Facilitator Gillian Barbat.

“Attendees catch up on the latest industry innovations, engage and network with fellow graziers and hear speakers from across the country”.

The forum will welcome Director of Nature’s Equity Dick Richardson to the region as the 2023 keynote speaker.

Also presenting at the forum will be 2022 Farmer of the Year Mike Taylor, Senior Beef Extension Officer Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) Jim Fletcher, DAF’s Lara Landsberg, Project Officer at Reef Catchments Carlos Bueno and Recipient of the 2022 Queensland Farmers Federation - Reef Conservation Champion Award Jason Bradford.

“The forum features an inspiring line-up of stallholders across the three days and offers plenty of time to connect with industry specialists, network with other graziers and to discover ways to invigorate grazing enterprises,” Ms Barbat said.

“With two field days sandwiched around the conference day, there’s plenty of opportunities to discover methods and practical ideas on integrating innovation into grazing management.”

This years’ event will include a pre-event field morning, to demonstrate the forage crop trials benefiting production quality and quantity – a segue to the more formal presentations the following day.

The second field day, post-conference, will focus on an enterprise where attendees can explore on-farm hydrology and regenerative grazing practices.

“Bringing together landholders, industry experts and agencies will be the highlight for me,” Ms Barbat said.

“We’ll be connecting folk, growing their network of support and information while offering examples to motivate them on their own individual journey.”

The three-day event will run from April 18-20, each day involving the following:

• April 18 – Field Day – GRT, legume & pasture improvement trial – Habana

• April 19 – Conference – Mackay Entertainment & Convention Centre

• April 20 – Field Day - Hydrology focused enterprise, off-grid, biodiversity – Bowen region

Held by Reef Catchments, the Innovative Grazing Forum is supported with funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program and Glencore.

WHAT: 10th Annual Innovative Grazing Forum

WHEN: April 18-20, 2023

TICKETS: Eventbrite

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Reef Catchments Regional Agriculture Landcare Facilitator Gillian Barbat

Keynote speaker Dick Richardson, Director of Nature’s Equity. Photos supplied

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