Growcom’s Land & Water Manager, Scott Wallace, said that while more funding was needed to achieve the level of pollutant reduction outlined in the report, the money was welcome and would go some way to helping achieve water quality targets for the Great Barrier Reef.

He said that progress was already being made with Growcom an active member of the Reef Alliance project, which began in Queensland earlier this year as a major collaborative effort between agricultural industry and regional NRM groups. “The aim is to deliver improved farm management practices across 2.1 million hectares of agricultural land in the Great Barrier Reef catchments which will improve the quality of water leaving properties and entering the Reef Lagoon.”

“Funded by the Australian Government Reef Trust programme over three years, the programme seeks to advance farm management practices beyond industry Best Management Practice and fast track the implementation of innovative practices. In horticulture the focus will be on continuing water quality improvements,” Wallace said.

“The first two rounds of Reef programmes in Great Barrier Reef catchments over the past eight years have delivered considerable benefits to both the Reef and marine/riparian environments and to farmers’ and graziers’ bottom lines. 

“The horticulture industry’s component delivered by Growcom, will build on the last eight years of credible gains in both environmental outcomes and financial gain to industry through the adoption of best practice management. While most larger growers are well on the way to sustainability through engagement in the previous programmes, smaller and emerging growers are the main target of this round of funding.”

Under the programme, one on one extension and training services, along with comprehensive support networks across all field production systems including administration and compliance, will be delivered via Growcom’s Hort360 Best Practice Management programme.

“Growers who are already engaged with the Reef Trust programmes will be supported to continue their progress to achieve an A rating for sustainability,” Wallace said. 

“We are currently working to have Hort360 accredited under the Freshcare Environmental assurance program for this purpose. The reduction of the movement of nutrient, sediment and pesticide off farm is the goal of the programme but we are observing that changes in management practices on farm are also delivering improved soils, lower inputs, better yields and higher quality produce with a longer shelf life.”

Wallace noted that Growcom was once again taking the lead in programme delivery to the horticulture sector with the recent appointment of Luke Hargreaves, Land and Water Field Officer, in Bowen and Daryl Anastasi at the Bundaberg Fruit & Vegetable Growers to provide extension work with growers.

“In this role, Luke and Daryl will engage with the growers (through one on one support) to both analyse current management practices and strengthen those areas which will contribute to sustainability and profits,” Wallace said. “As an organisation, Growcom recognises that assisting emerging growers to prosper is the future. We have exciting export opportunities opening up in the massive Asian market to our north and we need well credentialed farmers who can produce the best quality and the most highly sustainable fruit and vegetables that we can invest in. Over the next three years Growcom will support growers to make informed practice change decisions that will have a sound return on investment outcomes.”

Growers in Reef catchments who would like to take part in this programme should contact Luke Hargreaves on 0439 898 867 or via e-mail, or Daryl Anastasi on 0428 716 218 or via e-mail. Banana growers should contact the Australian Banana Growers’ Council for more information on 07 3278 4786.