BCCA were successful in receiving two projects through BMRG’s under the Enhanced Extension Coordination Program. The first being the Achieving Better Results Together project and the second being the Risk-Based Decision Making in the Cropping and Grazing Industries in the Burnett project.

Achieving Better Results Together was a Peer-to-Peer learning program for cropping and cane land managers from the Monto and southern cane growing districts of the Burnett Mary region. The project aimed to encourage professional development and capacity building across cropping and cane industries through a residential leadership program, a collaborative bus trip and follow up webinars and targeted workshops.

The first residential workshop included self-development, group development and exploring the concept of leadership within an individual business, an agricultural group and the wider community. The second residential workshop was delayed due to unrelenting drought conditions that caused difficulties with combining the schedules of Monto and Isis growers. Held in February 2020, the workshop brought the groups together again to focus on efficient farming practices such as best practice chemical use, efficient use of water in irrigation systems and precision farming. While still encouraging group cohesion and collaboration, the second workshop was designed to improve farmers’ practices with regards to sediment run-off and nutrient and pesticide application.

The Risk Based Decision Making project identified the decision support tools available to producers in the cropping and grazing industries of the Burnett and analysed their use/adoption in the region. This project increased awareness and understanding of decision-making processes among Burnett producers by introducing practical tools such as decision matrices. Through well-attended workshops by Nicon Rural Services, training resources, and a follow-up instructional video, participants gained skills to apply decision-making frameworks to their own businesses and land management practices. Feedback showed strong relevance, high facilitator ratings, and strong interest in continuing with the methodology, laying the groundwork for greater uptake of decision support tools in the region.