TNQ Drought Hub

🍊Great to see citrus growers across FNQ coming together to share ideas and tackle challenges. 🍋

At a recent workshop with Citrus Australia in Dimbulah, growers and industry representatives discussed market access, biosecurity and how to build more resilient orchards.

Our Regional Soil Coordinator, Dhiraj Gajera, joined the session to highlight how improving soil health, especially soil biology and organic matter, can help citrus trees cope with drought, heat and changing conditions.

It is all about practical knowledge that growers can take straight back to the farm.

Read more: https://www.tnqdroughthub.com.au/citrus-growers-hear-practical-soil-health-strategies-at-fnq-workshop/

We had a great time at the NQ Field Days in Townsville last weekend hanging out with JCU: James Cook University, Australia.

Field Day's are a great chance to meet with the community and raise awareness about the different projects and activities we are up to around the region and direct them towards the support that's out there for our farmers and producers.

A highlight was the seeing the amount of drones on display! Everything from spraying drones to mapping errosion.

Working across Cape York means understanding more than just the landscape.

Recently, staff from Cape York Natural Resource Management took part in a workshop focused on land tenure, cultural authority and the importance of engaging respectfully with Traditional Owner groups.

Led by hub SATSIE Program Lead Dr Jim Turnour and Keron Murray from the Wuthathi Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC, the session explored the different land tenure systems across Cape York and how they influence land and water management today.

It was a valuable opportunity to build knowledge, strengthen understanding and support better collaboration across the region.

🔗 https://www.tnqdroughthub.com.au/supporting-nrm-staff-to-build-understanding-of-land-tenure/

🍓🐮 From dragon fruit and strawberries to cattle and aquaculture, local students got a firsthand look at the many faces of agriculture during the recent Cooktown AgForce School to Industry Partnership Program - SIPP Ag Inspirations tour.

Over three days, 27 Cooktown State School P-12 students visited farms and agricultural businesses across Cooktown and Lakeland, meeting producers, learning about new technologies and exploring future career opportunities in the industry.

Experiences like these help connect young people with the people, places and innovations driving agriculture in Far North Queensland.

The TNQ Drought Hub was proud to support the tour and help inspire the next generation of agricultural leaders.

Read the full story here: https://www.tnqdroughthub.com.au/stepping-beyond-the-classroom-and-into-fnq-farming-systems/

🤝 This National Reconciliation Week, we recognise the importance of building respectful relationships, listening to diverse perspectives, and working together for a stronger future.

In regional and rural communities, collaboration and shared knowledge help us tackle challenges and create opportunities for future generations.

Learn more: https://www.reconciliation.org.au/reconciliation/

What can cattle weight data tell you about what's happening in the paddock?

At the recent NQ Dry Tropics NRM Optiweigh Field Day near Bowen, producers shared their real-world experiences using in-paddock weighing technology to support grazing decisions, pasture utilisation and herd management.

The day sparked plenty of practical conversations about what the numbers mean, how they fit into different production systems, and whether the investment stacks up for individual businesses.

We were pleased to be a part of the conversation and see producers, researchers and industry working together, sharing ideas and learning from each other's experiences.

Read the full story here: https://www.tnqdroughthub.com.au/weighing-up-decision-making-at-optiweigh-field-day/

Make your workshop work for you 🗣️

Join Australasia-Pacific Extension Network (APEN)'s "Workshops with Wow" Conversation, faciliated by extension expert Jeanette Long.

📅 26 May 2026
🕐 11am ACST | 11:30am AEST | 1:30pm NZST
📍 Online, members only (vist https://www.apen.org.au/ to sign up now)

APEN Conversations are back for 2026. 🎉

Our first session is on 26 May, facilitated by Jeanette Long, past APEN President and a facilitator who's thought hard about this craft. We're calling it Workshops with Wow, a nod to her new book of the same name.

Jeanette has built a career around helping people in agriculture facilitate better. Through Ag Consulting Co she works with farm families, organisations, and rural women on the skills that make groups actually work. She'll share what she's learned about running workshops people remember for the right reasons.

If you facilitate, train, run field days, or bring people together as part of your extension practice, come along. Bring your questions, your hard-won lessons, and your curiosity.

📅 26 May, 11am ACST (11:30am AEST, 1:30pm NZST)

📍 Online, members only

Register through the members area at https://www.apen.org.au/members-only/apen-conversations-1

Not a member? It's worth a look. Membership opens up Conversations, mentoring, the REIS Journal, and more.http://apen.org.au)

What's the best workshop you've ever attended? Tell us in the comments.

🌦️ How do you use long-term climate information when making decisions on-farm?

CSIRO is running a short 5-minute survey to understand what’s really happening on the ground.

If you’re farming, we’d really value your input, regardless of your commodity or enterprise size.

Your responses will help shape how climate information is developed and delivered to Australian farmers.

👉 Take the survey here:
https://csiro.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cZPS7RAp5DD3fpk

CSIRO

Queensland businesses are being invited to have their say on energy ⚡

The Your Business, Your Energy survey is open now, helping shape future energy planning across the state. It takes just 10 minutes and covers key issues like costs, outages and readiness for new tech.

Have your say before 5pm, Friday 15 May 2026.

🔗 https://survey.energyq.com.au/jfe/form/SV_6PuTbDshgZlm6Nw?Region=TN

Regional Development Australia Tropical North has partnered with Ergon Energy Network and Energex to understand the energy needs and key challenges for Queensland business owners and operators.

Better AgTech support for FNQ producers is here. 💻

The hub has been working with Gulf Savannah NRM to build skills in using AgValuate, which helps staff have more practical, one-on-one conversations about AgTech.

Now producers can register for a free assessment with Gulf Savannah NRM to look at their business, explore opportunities and see where technology could make a difference.

It’s all about taking the guesswork out of AgTech and backing better decisions on-farm.

More info: https://www.tnqdroughthub.com.au/fnq-producers-invited-to-register-for-agtech-assessment/