Department of Agriculture and Fisheries Enhanced Extension Coordination: Young guns fired up for farming future

Sugar Research Australia Meringa: Clean seed plot.

A new peer-to-peer group of young farmers in the Innisfail district came together to learn and increase their knowledge of farming practices and the impacts of agriculture on water quality. Peer-to-peer groups provide an opportunity for those involved to learn from each other through sharing experiences, advice, feedback and questions. The group of young farmers, aged 18 to 35, attended workshops, a networking event and an inter-district bus tour.

The workshop topics included local water quality data; weeds, pests and disease; record keeping; soil health and nutrients. The bus tour topics included sugarcane breeding, composting, blueberry farming and agri-tourism. Through the group, the young farmers became closer as mates and developed their shared interest in different farming practices.

Department of Agriculture and Fisheries Regional Extension Coordinator Steve Roeger said feedback from the young farmers had been positive.

“The peer-to-peer socialising aspect of the group was also important with participants saying they were keen to meet other young growers in the area and share the learning experience with them.”

“Most farmers said attending these meetings with other like-minded people from across a broad range of industries would generate some great ideas they could apply to their own situations.”

This initiative was funded by the Queensland Government’s Queensland Reef Water Quality Program and delivered through the Enhanced Extension Coordination in the Great Barrier Reef project and Canegrowers Innisfail.