Grazing
Beef grazing is largest agricultural land use by area in the catchments of the Great Barrier Reef and the greatest contributor of sediment to the Reef through erosion and runoff. A package of $1,870,000 was allocated across four projects that addressed the major issues in improving grazing practice: rehabilitating degraded grazing lands through mechanical techniques (RRRD024), understanding the relationship between management practices, improving ground cover and reducing sediment loads (RRRD032), developing better techniques for groundcover monitoring and mapping (RRRD027) and evaluating introduced pastures from a nutrient loading perspective (RRRD009). An associated package of research delivered improved understanding for tebuthiuron management in grazing lands (RRRD038).
Historic data on the water quality benefits of a range of grazing management practices was collated to inform ongoing modelling exercises (RRRD011) such as those under the Paddock to Reef program.
The findings from the above projects were supported by research on understanding the social and economic motivations for practice improvement in the grazing industry (RRRD039). The research built on the experiences of NRM groups and drew upon existing knowledge about water quality outcomes and sustainability aspects of management practices to inform the delivery of Reef Rescue Water Quality Grants and future incentive programs.
RRRD032: Improving grazing management practices to enhance ground cover and reduce sediment loads
RRRD027: Getting ground cover right – thresholds and baselines for a healthier reef
