Natural State Newsletter

Nearly 170 producers, landholders, students and industry representatives came together in September for Reef Catchments’ 13th annual Grazing Forum and Field Day, reaffirming its place as one of the region's most valued grazing industry events.

The two-day event combined expert presentations, practical demonstrations and on-farm learning opportunities, covering topics including Natural Sequence Farming, agricultural drone technology, natural capital, soil formation and pasture management.

For Sustainable Agriculture Facilitator Kellie Harmsworth, the event's ongoing success comes down to its ability to bring people together.

"After 13 years, the Grazing Forum and Field Day continues to attract strong participation and remain relevant to our local producers.”

“By hosting the event in different locations, we're able to make it more accessible to a wider range of producers and ensure more landholders have the opportunity to attend closer to home,” Kellie said.

This approach helps strengthen connections across the region and encourages participation from people who may not otherwise be able to attend.

"What I'm most proud of is seeing producers actively engage with presenters, ask thoughtful questions, share their own experiences and leave with practical ideas they can implement on-farm.”

“Agriculture is constantly evolving, and producers are keen to access the latest information, research, emerging technologies and practical demonstrations to remain productive, profitable and resilient,” said Kellie.

A highlight of this year's event was the launch of Reef Catchments' new Glovebox Guide: Grasses and Legumes (Mackay Whitsunday Isaac Region), giving producers a practical resource designed specifically for local conditions.

The sold-out Field Day also generated strong discussion around soil health, natural capital opportunities and fire preparedness, while students from Calen District State College gained valuable firsthand exposure to the grazing industry.

Kellie said the value of the event extends well beyond the presentations.

"Often it's the conversations over a cup of coffee, in the paddock or between sessions that spark new ideas and build confidence," she said.

"Those connections often continue long after the event and can be just as valuable as the information shared on the day,” said Kellie.

Planning is already underway for the 2027 Grazing Forum and Field Day, with producers encouraged to share ideas for future topics, speakers and demonstrations with Kellie via saf@reefcatchments.com.

“We are also always interested in hearing from landholders who may be willing to host or support future Field Days and showcase their property, particularly those who have participated in Reef Catchments projects and are keen to share their experiences and lessons learned with others.”

“Some of the most valuable learning opportunities come from seeing local practices and innovations in action,” Kellie said.

Special thanks to our funding partners, the Australian Government and Glencore Coal, as well as the presenters, stallholders, host landholders, industry organisations, students, and producers who enthusiastically participated and contributed to discussions across both days.

A sincere thank you to Adam Heap (Glencore Coal), Stuart Andrews (Tarwyn Park Training), Luke Jurgens and Nathan Swindell (NQ Aerovation), Amy-Lee Provost (Burnett Mary Regional Group), Penny and Owen Morgan (Glyn Rea Farming), Holly Reid and Teagan Schermer (Reef Catchments), Scott Devaney (Department of Natural Resources, Mines, Manufacturing and Regional and Rural Development), Chanelle Barrett (TNQ Drought Hub), and Jim Fletcher (Nightcamp Agriculture) for generously sharing their knowledge, experience and practical insights with attendees.

We would also like to acknowledge our unexpected but highly valued contributors, Chris Noakes and Patty Rollason (Rural Fire Service), along with Dr Emily Principe (Greater Whitsunday Vet Services).

Ladies from across the Whitsundays came together at Woodlands Station near Bowen on Saturday 26 September for the Women in Agriculture (WiA) Building Strong Foundations Workshop: Finding the Pause/Pores.

The workshop was a valuable opportunity for the ladies living and working in agriculture to step away from their daily responsibilities, connect with others and build practical tools for managing stress and maintaining wellbeing.

With a backdrop of the picturesque Woodlands Station gardens, eight participants joined Reef Catchments’ Chanelle Barrett, Kellie Harmsworth and Sarah Kaluci as well as Rural Aid’s Nicole Galvin to learn more about mental health with a visual presentation using different soil types.

“Opening my home garden is my way of giving back to other women in agriculture,” said Woodlands Station’s Sharon Yensch.

“To pause and breathe in nature allows us to strip back who we are and what we do in our lives. It’s authentic, healthy and empowering.”

“We used the concept of soil health as a powerful metaphor. This workshop explored the concept that healthy soils need space and pores to function effectively, and people do too,” said Project Officer Chanelle Barrett

“We reflected on the many roles these women juggle each day through the Many Hats We Wear activity, identifying what takes up their time and what they would like to make more space for.

"So much of life in ag involves wearing multiple hats and putting the needs of everyone else first. This workshop reminded us that just as healthy soil needs air spaces and room to function, we need pauses in our lives to rest, reflect and thrive. The connections and conversations throughout the day showed how valuable it is to create a space where ladies feel supported, heard and encouraged.”

“We then moved into a hands-on soil demonstration, comparing healthy, organic-rich soils with compacted, depleted soils and drawing parallels between soil health, breathing space and personal wellbeing,” said Chanelle

The day also included sessions on recognising stress signals through the Window of Productivity and Wellbeing and Body Wisdom Mapping, before participants developed their own personal Pause Plans and committed to a small but meaningful change they could make in their everyday lives.

Connection was the strongest theme to emerge from those attending the workshop. This further highlighted the value of the Women in Agriculture network and the efforts of Sustainable Agriculture Facilitator Kellie Harmsworth in fostering a supportive community where regional women connect, learn and grow together.

A big thank you to Woodland Station’s Sharon Yensch for her generosity in hosting this event. Special thanks also to the TNQ Drought Hub for supporting facilitation, the Queensland Government's Queensland Reef Water Quality Program, gift bag donations from Rinoldi and most importantly the ladies who participated and shared their experiences so openly.

Interested in joining the Women in Agriculture network? Follow the Women in Agriculture (Mackay/Whitsunday/Isaac (Facebook page) or simply email saf@reefcatchments.com to stay connected and learn about upcoming events and opportunities.

A handy new resource for graziers across the Mackay Whitsunday Isaac region is now available from Reef Catchments.

The Glovebox Guide: Grasses & Legumes was officially launched at this month’s Grazing Forum and is aimed at helping landholders quickly identify common pasture species in the local Mackay Whitsunday and Isaac regions and make informed grazing management decisions.

Packed with photos and practical information, the glovebox-sized guide is a useful companion in the paddock, helping graziers better understand their pastures and support productive, sustainable grazing practices.

Reef Catchments Sustainable Agriculture Facilitator Kellie Harmsworth said the guide was developed to be an easy-to-use resource for local landholders.

"Whether you're checking a paddock, assessing pasture condition or simply wanting to know what's growing on your land, this guide is here to help," Kellie said.

The guide was developed with support from pasture expert Jim Fletcher and funded by Glencore Coal and the Australian Government.

Download a copy from the Reef Catchments website, or collect a printed copy from our Mackay or Proserpine offices.

A new report released by Reef Catchments reveals how the Greater Whitsunday region can make better use of existing resources and unlock new economic opportunities through a coordinated circular economy approach.

"The Mackay Whitsunday region is rich in ideas and industry expertise. The opportunity now is to foster the conditions and connections to enable these initiatives to grow and deliver long-term benefits for the region," said Reef Catchments Sustainable Agriculture Manager Todd McNeill.

At its core, a circular economy aim is to explore smarter ways to reuse, recover and repurpose resources that might otherwise be lost or treated as waste.

Project lead Bivio Consulting’s Rocio Rutter emphasised that when the system leaks pollutants downstream, it is an indicator that there is a missed economic opportunity upstream in the system.

"Not attending to these material flow hotspots, is like mopping up the floor while someone has left the tap on.”

The Unlocking Circular Value in the Greater Whitsunday Region report was delivered as part of Reef Catchments' place-based Proserpine Integrated Project (PIP). A key component of the project examined opportunities within the region's sugarcane and aquaculture industries, where nutrients, organic materials and other by-products offer opportunities to be captured, reused and repurposed to create greater value across the regional circular supply chain. The project also identified key barriers within the existing systems that limit the adoption and scaling of circular economy initiatives, providing insights into potential pathways for improved resource efficiency, innovation and regional resilience.

“We hope the report becomes a practical guide for action, helping bring stakeholders together into action-driven coalitions, while recognising the important role Natural Resource Management organisations can play as trusted regional connectors, ensuring economic development, industrial resilience, and nature-positive outcomes are designed together from the start,” said Rocio.

A stronger circular economy matters as it creates new jobs, keep more value in the local economy, improve resource efficiency, while supporting better water quality outcomes for the Great Barrier Reef.

The project is funded through the Queensland Government's Reef Water Quality Program.