Current Projects

The robotic mower “MOWBOT” has been promoted for the turf production industry as a result of identification of a robotic unit developed by Swarm Farm in Emerald and used for spraying purposes. Discussions at the board level has seen ongoing dialogue with both QUT and USQ on technology input and robotics. The idea is to have a small number of these mowing the farm and cutting down on cost and labour as a means of cost control. Swarm Farm out of Emerald in Central Queensland is willing to work with Turf Queensland on their ‘SMART’ technology base that has been tested on their own spray equipment and supported by the Queensland government Department of Science, Innovation and Technology.

If further information is required please contact Turf Queensland directly on Email: info@qtpa.com.au

The Queensland Department of Justice (WH&S) has agreed to a small project covering the cost of visiting our members across the state and promoting Workplace Health and Wellness procedures on the farm. This is an eight months project finishing in August 2015. This is an opportunity for Queensland turf producers to identify issues on-farm that can improve productivity and the health and well-being of the employees and employers through various programmes at low cost while lifting productivity.

If further information is required please contact Turf Queensland directly on Email: info@qtpa.com.au

This project is a result of voluntary contribution project with Horticulture Innovation Australia and Turf Australia as a result of turf levies. It supports industry development at the state level where 80% of turf producers regulations and improvements are based. An Annual Operating Plan is developed annually and reviewed by a steering committee to ensure appropriate targets and milestones are achieved. This project will continue through to December 2015 at this stage with extension and clarification to be provided by HIA due to recent changes.

If further information is required please contact Turf Queensland directly on Email: info@qtpa.com.au

Through the Department of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries in Queensland and following on from the Pumiceston Passage ‘FarmFlow’ project Healthy Waterways now has provided funding to Turf Queensland for the development of two pilot farms to be assessed in the Albert and Logan river catchments. Investigation into Fertigation value and Variable Rate Irrigation integration processes in turf production are being assessed. Decreased nutrient and sediment run-off, less waste and higher productivity are the targeted outcomes. The project is targeted at improving the turf industry’s profitability.

If further information is required please contact Turf Queensland directly on Email: info@qtpa.com.au

The Rural Water Use Efficiency-Irrigation Futures (RWUE-IF) project is a 3 1/2 year program commencing in January 2014 and to be completed in June 2017. The project has two parts Southeast Queensland and North Queensland that will operate after one another. This project covers innovation and technology related to water and energy efficiency, use of Fertigation, farm soil and crop mapping, rain logging and scheduling irrigation, irrigation and pumping efficiency assessments with the data collection on three pilot farms in SEQ and three in NQ. The program will provide information to the turf production industry through performance indicators of efficiency gains that can be obtained utilising this new technology. The result will be increased yield and decreased waste through improved productivity and lower cost.

Following on from the SEQ-IF and RWUE-4 projects Turf Queensland was successful in securing funding from the Queensland government for the Rural Water Use Efficiency Irrigation Futures (RWUE-IF) project for Southeast Queensland (SEQ) and (FNQ).  The first 18 months will be focused on SEQ turf producer pilot farms followed on by FNQ.  The projects main aims is to achieve efficiency improvements through innovation.

The project targets for turf producers in Queensland overall is water efficiency gains, energy efficiency gains, fertiliser efficiency gains and economic yield improvement. Turf Queensland is also attempting to identify productivity improvement and waste reduction through the project.

The background is to bring new technology and innovation such as on farm mapping, scheduling irrigation diary and fertigation to the Queensland turf industry assisting them in picking up efficiencies, product quality and improving yield. This in turn would assist in the sustainability of business in the medium to long term.

The main targets are:

• Water efficiency gains
• Energy efficiency gains
• Fertiliser efficiency gain
• Economic yield improvement

“Performance Indicators” will be developed in conjunction with individual expert contractors.

The first part of this project which covered South East Queensland has been completed and three  full Case Studies and U-Tube video (see home page) have been developed for education and awareness processes across the state.  These Case Studies can be viewed by clicking on the links below.  The second half of this project has commenced December 2015 and covers North Queensland.  Case Studies will also be developed on completion of North Queensland by 2017.

[prettyfilelink src=”http://www.qtpa.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Farm-1-Case-Study-FINAL-ex-NRM-041115.pdf” type=”pdf”]Farm 1 Case Study FINAL ex NRM 041115[/prettyfilelink]

[prettyfilelink src=”http://www.qtpa.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Farm-2-Case-Study-TQ-V3-071115.pdf” type=”pdf”]Farm 2 Case Study TQ V3 071115[/prettyfilelink]

[prettyfilelink src=”http://www.qtpa.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/FARM-3-Case-Study-Final-ex-NRM-081115.pdf” type=”pdf”]FARM 3 Case Study Final ex NRM 081115[/prettyfilelink]

Turf Queensland is continually producing industry related Fact Sheets and Case Studies on issues relating to the use, maintenance and value of natural turfgrass for the benefit of its members and the community.  Members are able to download these fact sheets by logging onto the “Members Login” area.