Collaborative Grazing for Change
Improving productivity, land condition and producer collaboration across the Dawson Catchment.
The Collaborative Grazing for Change Project supported graziers across the Dawson Catchment to improve paddock productivity, strengthen land condition, and identify practical opportunities to enhance both business performance and environmental outcomes.
Delivered by DCCA as part of the Queensland Government's Grazing Practice Change Program, the project brought together producers, advisers, landholders and industry experts to combine local knowledge with technical expertise and data-driven decision-making.
Participants received tailored property assessments, return-on-investment analysis, grazing management advice, and access to specialised technical support. The project focused on identifying opportunities to improve pasture utilisation, increase productivity, reduce soil loss, and build long-term business resilience.
What the Project Delivered
Through the project, participating producers gained access to:
- Property-specific productivity and land condition assessments
- Paddock performance analysis and benchmarking
- One-on-one grazing and pasture management advice
- Return-on-investment (ROI) analysis for management decisions
- Mapping and decision-support tools, including ground cover, erosion risk, rainfall and topographic analysis
- Information on available grants and funding opportunities
- Environmental market assessments, including carbon, biodiversity and water quality opportunities
- Producer networking, peer-to-peer learning and neighbourhood group support
- Technical workshops and field-based learning opportunities
Supporting Practical Change
A key focus of the project was helping producers turn information into action. By combining expert advice with local knowledge, landholders were supported to identify practical and achievable improvements that could enhance productivity while protecting valuable soil and landscape resources.
The project also encouraged collaboration between neighbouring properties and producer groups, recognising that shared learning and local solutions often deliver the greatest long-term benefits.
Lasting Outcomes
The Collaborative Grazing for Change Project strengthened producer networks across the region, increased awareness of available support programs, and improved access to technical information and decision-making tools.
Most importantly, the project helped landholders make informed, property-specific decisions that contribute to productive, resilient, and sustainable grazing enterprises throughout the Dawson Catchment.
The ‘Dawson Collaborative Grazing for Change’ project, delivered by Dawson Catchment Coordinating Association, was part of the $6 million Grazing Practice Change Program funded through the Queensland Government’s Queensland Reef Water Quality Program.
