Maria Lorenzo of Lakeland Produce in Far North Queensland found herself at a crossroads recently with her organic banana and papaya business. Needing to invest in both expanded water storage as well as enhancing her approach to producing her value-add product range, Maria was unsure of which project to tackle first.

Summer 2023/4 has proven to be volatile for Queensland growers. While parts of the state sweltered through heat and bushfires, the far north contended with Cyclone Jasper and flooding, and the Southeast received storms as a rather unwelcome Christmas visitor.

When thinking about the benefits of planning for your agribusiness’s future, it’s natural to think in financial terms. But in speaking with Mick and John Cranny from Valley Syndicate in Bungundarra, good planning also buys you time.

As another summer of heatwaves, bushfires, and storms bears down on Queensland, primary producers are using every available resource to protect their families, crops, and businesses.

Mackays Group operate a portfolio of large-scale tropical fruit farms in Queensland’s Far North. They are committed to minimising the environmental impact of their agricultural operations, investing in infrastructure and technology.

In the last 18 months Queensland primary producers have been affected by floods, impending drought, and most recently bushfires, with each event throwing a different set of challenges at our farmers.

Following a few good years of rain in the Lockyer Valley, Greg Lester and his brother Wayne from Morton Vale Farms knew from experience that a dry spell could be just around the corner. With the assistance on offer through Growcom’s Farm Business Resilience Program (FBRP) now was the right time to strengthen their farms’ drought resilience to secure their future in farming.

Ahead of storm season, growers in Mareeba and surrounds are invited to Forewarned is Forearmed, a workshop at the Mareeba International Club on Tuesday 3 October exploring the use of climate forecasting tools to support on-farm decision-making.

Queensland horticultural growers will be able to create, innovate and accelerate their ideas thanks to a new collaboration announced today between Queensland Fruit & Vegetable Growers (QFVG) and the FNQ Food Incubator.

North Queensland horticultural growers are set to be better supported to achieve their business and financial goals following the announcement of a new partnership between Queensland Fruit & Vegetable Growers (QFVG) and the Rural Financial Counselling Service North Queensland (RFCSNQ) today.

Tony and Irina Polsoni from Polsoni Pines, have been growing pineapples on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast for three generations.

Rita and Jim Carey have recently completed a Farm Business Resilience Plan with the assistance of Growcom’s Resilience Manager Karen George. Rita and Jim grow lychees on 15 ha of land near Mutchilba, North Queensland.

It was at the 2022 Hort Connections Conference in Brisbane that South Burnett avocado, garlic and rhubarb growers Michael and Beth Crane learnt about Growcom’s Farm Business Resilience Program for horticulture.

If there is one certainty in life, it’s that change is inevitable. Having a plan is the best way to remain resilient when unchosen change finds us.

Drought is a fact of life in Australia and to boost the longevity and strength of Queensland horticulture, Growcom is working with government bodies, industry service providers and natural resource management groups to enhance farm business outcomes, through the Farm Business Resilience Program (FBRP).