1. QFF and its members have welcomed the Queensland Government’s ongoing commitment to prioritising water security for the state, with $510M announced for water infrastructure and planning, which will allow growth and jobs in regional communities.
2. A statewide emergency order for NSW has been issued to control the movement of bees and stop the spread of varroa mite. Varroa mites can destroy beehives, and as we all know, bees are essential for pollinating a lot of the food that we eat.
3. QFF member Cotton Australia celebrates its 50th anniversary this year and to commemorate, they’ve collated highlights from their history into an interactive timeline. Australia’s cotton industry has an incredible story of sustainability, innovation and excellence with water productivity gains of 48 per cent since 1992, and 90 per cent of enterprises still being family farms.
4. Landholders in areas of intensively farmed land on the Condamine River floodplain have raised concerns with the GasFields Commission about what legislative protections are available should CSG-induced subsidence have a financial impact on their business. GFC are reviewing the regulatory framework with a view to identifying potential enhancements relating to subsidence.
5. QFF is proud to be a sponsor of the AFI’s “Cultivating ESG Capacity” roundtable on 18 October in Canberra. Considered discussion will be had about the capability and capacity of Australian agriculture to meet sustainability goals in environmental management, social responsibility and business capital.
6. Australia’s cotton industry is the backbone of many rural communities. QFF Vice President and cotton grower Aaron Kiely spoke to Cotton Australia’s ‘From the Field’ podcast about his community and experiences.
7. QFF would like to extend a hearty congratulations to Rachel Chambers on her new appointment as Growcom’s Chief Executive Officer. QFF looks forward to working with Rachel and her great team in continuing to support and advocate for Queensland’s vibrant horticulture industry.
8. The cost of production in the vegetable industry has risen between approximately 25 per cent and 40 per cent over the past two years. There is a disconnection between increasing production costs, and the prices consumers are paying for fresh produce.
9. Nikala Pissaris’ placement with Farmacist through QFF’s Agricultural Extension Work Placement Program has given her the opportunity to explore agricultural extension, build her capacity as a young agronomist, and learn fundamental lessons along the way. Read about Nikala’s experience on the QFF blog.
10. The 2022 harvest is underway for most of Queensland’s sugarcane growers who are hopeful late summer and autumn rain will push the crop above the pre-season estimate to help them meet rising farm input costs. Growers like Canegrowers’ Chair Owen Menkens are cautiously optimistic.
