Department of Primary Industries (Queensland)

In Queensland, we’re prepared to take risks and try new things. We turn ideas into real-world solutions to help producers achieve more with less. 🚜 Our diverse landscape, world-class research and collaboration with industry is driving AgTech forward. We’re proud to show the best of Queensland’s AgTech innovation system at evokeAG 2025. ✨ AgriFutures evokeAG Day 2 – let’s do this! 🙌 #evokeAG2025 #TeamQueensland #QldAgTech #AgTechinAction

We have a winner! 🏆 The 2025 Queensland AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award recipient is Nicole McNaughton 👏👏👏 Nicole has won a $15,000 Westpac grant and will represent Queensland at the Gala Dinner and National Announcement in Canberra in September, where she will compete for a further $20,000. Sunshine Coast local, regional food innovator and collaborator, Nicole, is a powerhouse for Queensland with the Food Agribusiness Network (FAN) – a dynamic ecosystem leading the food industry. FAN has over 420 members across the Sunshine Coast, Gympie, Noosa, Moreton Bay, and beyond. They work to drive innovation, sustainability, and resilience in the agrifood industry while showcasing the region’s exceptional produce. Nicole is a passionate advocate for regional food innovation and collaboration, and with over 20 years of experience has delivered impactful strategies for non-profits, government agencies, and businesses in FMCG, tourism, and banking. Congratulations Nicole! 🎉 This year’s other finalists, Angie Nisbet and Libby Cook-Black, have each won a $2,000 prize from state sponsor, the Queensland Country Women's Association (QCWA), and join Nicole in the national alumni network. The 2025 AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award is an AgriFutures Australia program, delivered in collaboration with the Queensland Government supported by Westpac and Queensland Country Women's Association (QCWA). For more information visit 👉 https://brnw.ch/21wRrNw #RWA2025 #ruralwomen #ruralwomensawards

Our herbicide and drone workshop is underway in Mackay! Our Proserpine workshop was postponed to tomorrow – Friday 21 March – due to flooding earlier this week. Join us tomorrow morning to take your precision farming to the next level. DPI staff will dive into all things precision farming, including: ✅ Ground spray boom assessment using a patternator ✅ Updates on spray application developments ✅ Paraquat update and possible alternatives ✅ Drone spraying setup and legalities ✅ Drone crop mapping and spraying techniques ✅ Reducing drift from drone spraying 📆 Friday 21 March | 9am to 12pm 📍Proserpine Community Centre Contact us on 📞 13 25 23 to RSVP. #GreatBarrierReef #OurReefOurWonder #QueenslandAgriculture Sugar Research Australia Limited | Hort Innovation

Making waves in marine research! 🌊 Meet Etelis, the latest addition to our marine fleet helping our fisheries research teams delve deeper 🛥️ Named after the stunning Flame Snapper found off the coasts of Queensland, the vessel has been hailed a gamechanger by our researchers. Etelis is equipped to the gills with all the right gear to make the most out of offshore trips. The 8-metre-long vessel is safer and faster out on the water and being a trailer boat can easily be transported to remote parts of Queensland. This incredible fit-for-purpose boat is boosting our research capabilities, making it possible for us to stay at the forefront of marine research. What a catch, indeed! 🎣 Find out more about Etelis in our latest edition of AgriScope 👉 https://brnw.ch/21wRq51

Master Fisherman workshops are currently being held across Queensland for professional fishers to keep their skills current to ensure responsible and sustainable fishing practices. 🌊🐠 The initial 12-month Master Fisherman Program conducted by OceanWatch Australia Ltd. will cover fisheries throughout Queensland, including trawl, line and crab fisheries. It kicked off this month in Townsville with the inshore net fishery! “The program focuses on the conservation of threatened, endangered or protected species (TEPs), especially in inshore and tidal zones. It emphasises the importance of accurate reporting and minimising the impact of fishing activities on vulnerable marine environments.” “It also trains fishers in best-practice handling techniques to ensure the safe release of TEP species and reduce any possible harm during interactions.”

CANEGROWERS Australia will host free business essentials workshops around Queensland in March and April. 🤝🧑🏻🌾 These workshops will help you spend time working on your business and not just in your business. You will be encouraged to plot your course to a more secure and profitable future. 📈 The workshops will provide tools for growers to pursue their goals and improve their chances of success through strategic thinking. Workshops will be held in: ✅ Tue 18 Mar – Herbert River ✅ Wed 19 Mar – Burdekin ✅ Thu 20 Mar – Proserpine ✅ Fri 21 Mar – Mackay ✅ Wed 26 Mar – Tully ✅ Thu 27 Mar – Innisfail ✅ Fri 28 Mar – Cairns Region ✅ Wed 02 Apr – Childers ✅ Thurs 03 Apr – Bundaberg For more information or to register head to 👉 https://brnw.ch/21wRokP. Once you've input your details, someone will reach out to confirm specific times and locations.

Farming is tough, and life on the land can be stressful. But you don't have to face it alone. 🫂 Whether it's a tough season, financial pressures, or just the everyday challenges of rural life, talking to someone can make all the difference. TIACS offers free, professional counselling via text and call, giving tradies, truckies, farmers, and blue-collar workers a safe space to chat and clear their heads. If you or someone you know could use a listening ear, find out more 👉 https://brnw.ch/21wRmXx

Are you an undergraduate or recent graduate looking to kickstart your career with people who value your contribution? Applications for our Primary Industries Graduate program open soon! Want to learn more? Meet our friendly graduate team at the Big Meet in Brisbane and have all your questions answered 🙋♀️ 📅 Monday, 24 March 2025 🕑 11am to 3:30pm 📍 Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre Register for the Big Meet here 👉 https://brnw.ch/21wRmS4 and then find out what it’s like being a Primary Industries graduate here 👉 https://brnw.ch/21wRmS5 #thebigmeet #DPIcareers #onediverseDPI #passionandpurpose #followyourpath

Recently our Queensland Biosecurity Ambassador, Andrew Williams, led a thought-provoking workshop on the complexities of invasive species management at the Intrepid Landcare Brisbane Wilderness Retreat. 🤩 His workshop explored how ethical, social, and environmental factors shape conservation decisions. Through real-world scenarios, Andrew challenged the group with ethical dilemmas – debating capture methods, costs, unintended consequences, and how animal welfare compares across different situations. 

The Page family has been fishing for bream in Moreton Bay for more than a century! 😲🐟 John Page, like his dad before him, has continually refined his fishing techniques to ensure his nets catch only what goes to market, releasing everything else with minimal stress back into open waters. “We only want to catch what we sell and anything we don’t want to sell needs to be released alive.” “When we fish for bream in Moreton Bay we make sure that net wings are light and small mesh so the fish are herded towards the tunnel and non-target species can be released alive. We also make sure that there is enough water in the tunnel section during the dropping tide so the fish and other species can be treated humanely while we sort the target species and release the turtles and rays.” Read more about how John and his dedicated team provide fresh, sustainable seafood to consumers 👉 https://brnw.ch/21wRmQm Queensland Seafood Industry Association, Queensland Seafood Marketers Association Inc, Moreton Bay Seafood Industry Association