The Australian Banana Growers’ Council has rolled out the first of a series of sediment management workshops aimed at helping north Queensland banana growers improve their on-farm sediment practices.

The first was held at the South Johnstone Research Station on March 16 and attracted an enthusiastic group of growers.

The ABGC is one of a number of organisations working as part of the Reef Alliance Partnership to improve water quality to the Great Barrier Reef.

Sediment management workshops are part of a suite of programs being extended to banana growers by the ABGC throughout 2018.

The workshops are interactive half-day sessions which aim to strengthen growers’ knowledge and skills in how to best manage their on-farm soil resources, to ensure greater productivity, profitability and sustainability.

Local soil conservation expert Darryl Evans has played an integral role in the development and delivery of the workshops, offering his wealth of knowledge at each session.

Mr Evans has been working with the banana industry and imparting his vast knowledge with growers for over 30 years.

“At the end of the workshop we hope that growers leave feeling more confident about what and how they can improve sediment control on their farms,” said Sarah Simpson, ABGC’s team leader for Reef.

Growers who attend the workshop and need some extra assistance on-farm after the workshop will have the opportunity to gain free one-on-one advice from Mr Evans.

There is also the opportunity for growers who attend to apply for incentive grant funding to implement aspects of their sediment management plan if there are any improvements to be made.

Funding has been made available under the Reef Alliance ’Growing a Great Barrier Reef’ project funded through the Australian Government’s Reef Trust.

This workshop is the first of its kind being offered to banana growers in north Queensland, so if you’re located in the north and are interested in attending a workshop please get in touch with Sarah on (07) 4015 2797 or sarah@abgc.org.au.