Rob & Sandie Read operate a beef cattle trading enterprise near Mundubbera in the inland Burnett region of Queensland. With more than 30 years of experience managing landscapes for pasture & cattle production, Rob is passionate about growing lush, nutritious pasture & is always seeking new knowledge to improve the productivity & resilience of their land.

Keen to deepen his understanding of grazing systems, Rob attended an introductory Grazing Naturally fundamentals workshop at Beeron in the Central Burnett hosted by the Burnett Catchment Care Association (BCCA) & funded through the Queensland Government’s Natural Resources Recovery Program. The workshop was led by internationally recognised grazing educator Dick Richardson of Natures Equity & introduced landholders to grazing practices that improve soil health, water retention, biodiversity & livestock production.

Describing it as the “best ever” workshop he’d attended, Rob felt the Grazing Naturally approach strongly aligned with his own practical experiences. The core message—that livestock are vital tools to drive healthy soil-plant-animal processes—resonated deeply with him. Rob was particularly drawn to the method’s emphasis on using real-time pasture observations (like plant stage and height) to guide grazing timing & intensity, rather than relying on rigid schedules.

Rob has long used observation as a core decision-making tool. His shovel, he says, is his most valuable asset. By digging into pasture soils, Rob assesses structure, compaction, colour, smell and root depth—factors that influence water retention & plant health. Across his property, he regularly assesses both what’s working & what isn’t, using strategies such as controlled grazing, seeding, fire, paddock subdivision & new watering points as tools for improvement.

Rob also brings a business mindset to land management. He carefully weighs the cost & benefit of every decision, factoring in short & long term production outcomes & ensuring that all actions offer a return on investment.

Rob’s next move is to return to a Grazing Naturally workshop, this time with his partner Sandie, to build on their understanding & prepare for full implementation on their property. He’s eager to adopt the system, evaluate its success under their specific conditions & tailor it to meet their business goals & long-term vision.

This case is just one example of the impact BCCA’s Sustainable Landscapes project is having across the Inland Burnett. By providing practical learning opportunities & supporting landholders like Rob & Sandie, the project is helping producers build resilience, improve land condition & adopt better practices to strengthen their agricultural enterprises in a changing climate.