The year in review - spotlight on June

AgForce general president, Grant Maudsley, said agriculture was one of the pillars of the state's economy and the lifeblood of many regional communities, but the state government had outlined no clear vision to help the industry grow and prosper into the future.

"While there are billions of dollars set aside for road and rail projects in south-east Queensland, there appears to be no major new funding for regional and rural transport initiatives that would make it safer, easier and cheaper to get farm goods to market," he said. "It's particularly disappointing there is no funding for an AgForce-backed rail freight infrastructure project in central and southern Queensland that would be a game changer for grain growers."

Mr Maudsley said the state Budget did not include the boost in biosecurity funding that AgForce was hoping for. Nor was the inter-generational farm transfer duty exemption extended to family trusts and companies.

"Wild dog exclusion fencing has helped revitalize the sheep and wool industry in Queensland, and while the extra $1 million in funding is welcome, it falls short of what is needed to meet demand," he said.

The Queensland Farmers Federation (QFF) president, Stuart Armitage, Cecil Plains, also took a swipe at the Queensland Labour government’s budget, describing it as a ‘non-event’.

Mr Armitage could not have been any more blunt with his assessment. 

“We have been talking energy and electricity costs with the government, and until we see a decrease of prices on-farm, it would be hard to thank the government,” Mr Armitage said.  

“And as for the biosecurity funding - it really is nothing more than reactionary - we need additional funding to keep diseases out of the country. We had asked the government for more funding and this has not been delivered.”

Mr Armitage said agriculture had again been ignored by the Palaszczuk government.

It was the end of January 2015 and graziers in the Stamford region were cautiously welcoming their first big summer fall of rain in years.

Blair Ogg was caretaking the next door neighbour’s property, Stamford Downs, where 400 head of cattle were spread over 19,400ha, when between 50mm and 100mm fell, and tiny green shoots were poking up amongst the black stalks in the paddocks.

He was cautious about what the rain would do, saying “we’re definitely going to need another four inch hit to do any good”, and he was wise to be that way.

The follow-up didn’t eventuate and two years later, he and his parents, David and Helen Ogg were still battling a drought that was in its fifth year.

Normally they would run 10,000 head. That was reduced to 4000 at home being fed lick blocks, hay and prickle trees, and another 2000 on agistment.

That was an improvement on 2015, when they were down to 1000 sheep.

“We had seven-and-a-half inches for three years in a row, from 2013 to 2015,” David said. “Last winter was relief but it wasn’t drought-breaking.”

When the drought was at its worst, they had sheep in about 11 different paddocks along a 40 km stretch of highway close to home.

“Neighbours got us out of trouble and gave us agistment,” said David. “It was good because we could walk them all, and we were able to join and keep ahead.”

In the meantime, they’ll be waiting for that big rain event.

“This hit and miss isn’t good at all,” Helen said.

“When rain’s about, you get your hopes up and then… It plays with your emotions.

“It’s nearly better when it doesn’t rain and you just get on with it.”

It was a similar story for Norm and Rose Philp at Angeldool, west of Longreach, who had been ticking off the days of a relentless feeding regime for nearly four years.

By mid-2013 they had applied for an IDP and were spending money that should have been going into superannuation, and their enterprise has taken a massive hit.

Norm said he had never known a drought like the current one, where long-established trees were dying in the paddock.

Our coverage of Queensland’s ongoing drought can be found here.

THE show community was in mourning when Brisbane teenagers Marina, Jack and Destiny Pink were killed in a horror crash at Boggabilla. The siblings were helping with the family’s Pink Event Catering. A Showmens Guild of Australasia spokesman said it was the saddest day in their history.

Beef producers from Queensland dominated the first phase of the RNA Paddock to Palate Competition and the inaugural Paddock to Palate Wagyu Challenge. Atkinson Pastoral Company from Hughenden and Gyranda Pastoral Company from Theodore won Class 37 and Class 38 respectively while Stanbroke Beef from Gatton claimed the inaugural Class 39 Wagyu Challenge.

Hot on the heels of unveiling ambitious live export plans to China, Gina Rinehart’s expanding Hancock cattle business purchased a Queensland feedlot.

The 8000-head capacity Maydan feedlot at Warwick accommodates both short-term and long-term custom feeding. Bought from Geoff and Rebecca Willett, Maydan currently specialises in providing feeding strategies for premium beef producers.  

Mrs Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting agricultural arm already sends its 2GR fullblood Wagyu cattle from properties in central NSW to be finished at Maydan.

‘Go Queenslander’ is a well known catchcry across our great state, but this year it took on new meaning with the creation of a cattle breed called Queenslander.

QCL spoke with Jim Edwards, Barlyne Pastoral, Gayndah about the Queenslander Cattle Breed Society being officially registered with the ABRI Internet Solution online database facility, which currently has an estimated 500 head of cows in the stud book.

Indian billionaire, Gautam Adani, announced his company had made the final investment decision to "green light" the controversial Carmichael project, Australia's biggest ever coal mine.

It plans to mine 2.3 billion tonnes of coal over a projected 60 year lifespan.

The Stop Adani Alliance, made up of 20 environment groups, immediately called the Adani announcement a "con" because the company has been unable to secure the finance it needed. 

There was no detail in Adani's statement about finance.