- The findings from the independent review into Australia’s carbon credit framework have been released. See the key findings and recommendations HERE. QFF shares the National Farmers Federation’s concerns regarding missing farmer representation on the proposed Carbon Abatement Integrity Committee. Agriculture is a major stakeholder in the carbon market and must have a seat at the table. See NFF’s statement HERE.
- QFF has provided a submission to the House Standing Committee on Agriculture’s inquiry into food security in Australia. The inquiry commended on 26 October on a referral from Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Senator the Hon Murray Watt. QFF suggests that a broader view of climate change beyond disasters and food production has yet to be fully integrated into food security policy and supply chain governance and practice nationally. It is paramount that QFF and other peak agricultural organisations contribute in a consultative capacity to the compilation of a comprehensive food security policy. Read QFF’s submission HERE.
- Four case studies from QFF’s Microgrid project from the Pioneer Valley, Pokolbin, St George and Wee Waa are now available in our growing online resource library at www.qff.org.au/resources. New articles will be unfolding this month. If you’re not familiar with Microgrids, check out this clear and practical guide HERE, and read more about QFF’s Microgrid project HERE.
- Decentralised and dispatchable energy resources (DER) are poised to make a considerable impact on regional electricity networks. QFF’s Microgrid Market Research Project aims to identify the emerging appetite for local DERs across the state’s Renewable Energy Zones (REZ), and insights that improve the planning, utilisation and affordability of integrating DERs on regional grids. We’re keen to speak to regional farms, businesses and council staff within Queensland’s 3 REZs about how they prepare for the energy transition. For more information and to participate, please see HERE. An information webinar is available HERE.
- In the next episode of QFF’s Farm Business Hour on 22 February we will delve into various issues faced by family businesses including governance and legal issues. Australian agriculture has long been based on a foundation of family farming units, with farms owned and operated by families whose members supply most of the labour involved in operating the farm. According to ABARES, there are over 85,000 farm businesses in Australia, 99 percent of which are family owned and operated. For more information about the webinar and to register, see HERE.
- QFF welcomes the chance to talk confidentially to anyone who is happy to share their experience in working with renewable energy developers on their sites. QFF is preparing a landholder toolkit and guide to upskill and assist landholders as they respond to and negotiate with energy industry representatives about accessing land for renewable energy projects. EOIs are being sought from host landholders and renewable energy proponents to participate in the toolkit project. If you are interested, find more information and register your interest HERE.
- Milking through power outages. The power can go out at any time due to localised issues such as a fallen tree or following an extreme weather event. Dairy Australia has a great one-page factsheet to help farmers minimise the number of missed milking and to continue to be able to cool the milk, by keeping the farm working during a prolonged power disruption. Take a look HERE.
- Why aren’t more cows eating seaweed? A native Australian seaweed rich in bromoform called Asparagopsis could become the ‘wheat crop’ of Australia’s oceans, and is the key to a world first, carbon neutral meat grown and processed here in Australia. AgriFutures Australia’s Emerging Industries Program is funding a trial at UWA for new cultivation techniques to help catapult this industry forward. Read their article HERE.
- The OECD Trade and Agriculture Directorate is providing a webinar on 18 January called ‘Agricultural Policies in the Asia-Pacific Region: Ensuring Food Security, Livelihoods and Climate Change Mitigation’. With climate change increasingly threatening food security, and the growing importance of sustainability, the webinar is an opportunity to understand what countries in the region are doing and what more can and needs to be done. Watch the webinar HERE.
- Scam alert! QFF has been made aware of a phone phishing scammer calling themselves ‘Energy Savers’. This has nothing to do with QFF’s Energy Savers program. Please be aware of this scam and if you receive a call like this be sure to report it to our team by calling 07 3837 4720 or emailing qfarmers@qff.org.au.