Support to significantly grow grain and cotton production in the North West delivered

- The Crisafulli Government will drive growth and expansion of grain, cotton and pulse production in North West Queensland. - In collaboration with cotton and grains industry $5.3m investment will deliver research development and extension to build on opportunity to grow and diversify industry. - The Crisafulli Government is delivering better services through a stronger economy after a decade of decline under Labor, when the former Government failed to deliver support for Queensland’s primary producers. The Crisafulli Government is delivering the research and development needed to significantly grow broadacre cropping in North West Queensland, in partnership with the cotton and grains industry. In collaboration with Cotton Research and Development Corporation (CRDC) and Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), $5.3 million will be invested into a project to deliver scientific agricultural research and development for north Queensland. The initiative – “Unlocking Farming Systems for North Queensland” – has set an ambitious target to enable the production of 100,000 bales of cotton and grow grain and pulse production to $100 million per year, by 2035. It’s just one of the ways the Crisafulli Government is delivering better services through a stronger economy by strategically supporting Queensland’s agriculture to grow, realise its potential and be more prosperous. This project aligns the Crisafulli Government’s Prosper 2050 blueprint and ambitious goal to increase to value of primary production output to $30 billion by 2030. During the former Labor government’s decade of decline, Labor failed to grasp significant opportunities to support food production and farmers, instead leaving potential to wither on the vine and rural communities with overburdened red tape. Initially the project focus will be on the upper and lower Flinders catchment, where broadacre cropping currently contributes around $13.2 million in gross value of production. This work will be followed by a focus on the Gilbert catchment, where similar opportunities exist. Department of Primary Industries staff will be working with growers and agronomists in the region to develop and capitalise on agronomy tactics to optimise productivity in this pioneering production environment. Minister for Primary Industries Tony Perrett said the initiative would accelerate cotton and grain production opportunities supporting our ambitious target to grow the value of primary production to $30 billion by 2030. “There is a significant shift underway in the North West from a traditionally grazing region into cotton, grains and pulses which provides an opportunity for diversification which will support the region to be more resilient,” Minister Perrett said. “By using the DPIs expertise we are supercharging the expansion of cropping, by developing better techniques and optimised production methods suited to this new farming region. “In partnership with CRDC and GRDC our scientists will be working with farmers and graziers in the region to understand how to get the best performance out of local soils and conditions to develop a prosperous and sustainable industry.” Cotton Research and Development Corporation (CRDC) Executive Director Allan Williams said supporting sustainable development in northern Australia was a key priority for CRDC. “Research is critical to helping growers unlock new opportunities and ensuring development is productive, resilient and sustainable,” Mr Williams said. “This partnership is an important collaboration, investing in the people, knowledge and regional capability needed to support the long-term success of cotton and grain industries in North Queensland.” Grain Research Development Corporation (GRDC) Managing Director Nigel Hart said with the right systems in place, Northern Queensland presented a significant opportunity to grow Australia’s grains and cotton industries. “This partnership will focus on real-world solutions – helping growers manage risk, make better decisions, and build productive, resilient farming for the future,” Mr Hart said. “Our role is to ensure research is grounded in grower needs and delivers real on-farm impact in the north.”