Empowering Adaptive Graziers in the Burnett Mary is well and truly up and running. Landholders on the program completed the RCS 7 Day Grazing For Profit School recently in Murgon. Delivered by RCS facilitator, Andrew Zerner, the energy in the room and feedback from graziers after graduating from the intense 7 days was “next level”.

Graziers were asked to describe their week of learning in one word – challenging in itself. Here were some of the responses: ‘positively overwhelmed’, ‘powerful’, ‘inspired’, ‘empowered’, ‘grateful’, ‘optimistic’, ‘supported’, ‘validated’, ‘awesome’, ‘the knowledge!!’, ‘clear direction’.

Next steps for our landholders on the program are to head back to their farms and reassess their grazing land management practices, with the aim of applying the RCS principles to their grazing operation.

Youth Ambassador Program

Introducing the BMRG Youth Ambassadors joining our Empowering Adaptive Graziers in the Burnett Mary Program.

Another powerful education course delivered for Burnett Mary Landholders - Natural Sequence Farming with Stuart Andrews – Tarwyn Park Training

Landholders involved in the program spent 4 days with Stuart Andrews, founder of Tarwyn Park Training, and his team, learning all things landscape hydrology. The 4 day Natural Sequence Farming Course was hosted at a property located in Duingal in the Bundaberg region. Examples of natural sequence farming work could be seen across the property. As part of the training, further on-ground works were implemented by Stuart and the team in the paddock, showing landholders practical examples of using machinery effectively. Tarwyn Park Training’s natural sequence farming courses carry on the legacy of Stuarts’ father Peter Andrews, a leading pioneer in promoting real change in how managing livestock, slowing the flow, transforming, and capturing water, hydrating the landscape and increasing plant diversity can strengthen ecosystems. With Stuart and Megan’s son Hamish also a facilitator , it is so reassuring to see this legacy will continue on in supporting landholders to transform degraded landscapes into functioning ecosystems

United around Soil Health and Resilience

We’re excited to share the incredible energy and insights from the recent Integrity Soils 3-Day Soil Health Masterclass, co-hosted by BMRG and delivered by globally renowned agroecologists Nicole Masters and Meagan Lannan. This immersive workshop was held at the beautiful “Tressavale” property in Upper Glastonbury, Gympie region. The event, part of our Empowering Adaptive Graziers in the Burnett Mary program, brought together landholders, educators, youth ambassadors, and industry experts to explore regenerative agriculture practices. Learnings focussed on building resilient landscapes, reducing synthetic inputs, achieving optimum soil health, effective landscape hydrology and improving grazing land management

A Collaborative Journey Toward Regenerative Farming

The event kicked off each day with a dynamic mindset session, challenging attendees to shift from a scarcity mindset to one of abundance, a critical step for embracing regenerative practices. Nicole’s teachings emphasised preparing farms for extreme weather events like droughts, floods, and wildfires, aligning perfectly with our program’s goals.

Afternoon sessions took participants into Tressavale’s paddocks, with hands-on activities like water infiltration tests. Soils were explored with shovels in hand, examining soil structure, moisture, and microbial life. These practical experiences, paired with BMRG’s “boots on ground” support on the program, such as mapping services and farm management plans, are empowering graziers to apply learnings directly to their properties.

Attendees highlighted “peak moments” that sparked inspiration, including the “5 M’s” framework for soil management, using birds as indicators of boron levels and system health, and the call to “observe, test, observe.” Phrases like “just try something,” “collect, keep, and value your data,” and “surround yourself with smarter people” resonated deeply, fostering a spirit of community-style collaboration that will drive lasting change.

A Diverse Community Driving Change

The masterclass showcased the power of bringing together diverse voices. Our BMRG Youth Ambassadors - Adam and Remy - brought fresh perspectives, reflecting the program’s commitment to engaging younger generations. Educators including Jason from Gympie State High and Margaret from St Patrick’s College Gympie attended to weave regenerative principles into school curricula, inspiring the next generation of land stewards.

Farmer and agroecologist Courtney Young, based in North Eastern Victoria, founder of Woodstock Flour Mill and spokesperson for Soils for Life, shared practical applications for improving pasture diversity, while internationally acclaimed agroecologist, Integrity Soils facilitator and award winning rancher Meagan Lannan from Barney Creek livestock in Montana, highlighted the global relevance of these practices. RCS

Managing Director David McLean and our own BMRG board member and regional RCS Facilitator, Andrew Zerner connected Nicole's teachings to the RCS 7-Day Grazing for Profit School held in Murgon in May, where Burnett Mary graziers described their experience as "positively overwhelmed" and "empowered." Andrew noted, "Nicole's focus on soil health indicators like fungi and bird populations builds on our program's work to create sustainable grazing systems.

Stuart Andrews from Tarwyn Park Training presented on the importance of landscape hydrology. BMRG graziers and youth ambassadors recently completed the 4 day natural sequence farming course at Duingal in the Bundaberg region. The positive feedback was inspiring with critical learnings focussed on the restoration of degraded landscapes and ecosystem function, as well as slowing the flow across the landscape to stabilise groundcover and minimise erosion and topsoil loss.

A very special thanks must go to Tressavale owners Jim and Sarah Viner for hosting and demonstrating regenerative techniques, inspiring attendees to envision similar transformations on their own farms.

Why Soil Health Matters: Local Action, Global Impact

Nicole Masters addressed critical global challenges, noting that 96% of the world’s mammal biomass is humans or livestock we raise, with only 4% being wild mammals, and 70% of bird biomass is human-created for consumption. These statistics underscore the urgent need to regenerate depleting soils to secure our food chain. By fostering fungi, avoiding monocultures, and enhancing biodiversity, regenerative agriculture offers a path forward, a message that resonates with our program’s mission to build resilient landscapes.

Our upcoming Natural Sequence Farming course with Stuart Andrews from Tarwyn Park Training in the Bundaberg region will further this journey, diving into landscape hydrology and ecosystem restoration.

Pictured L to R: Adam, Sarah, Remy, Mac, Andrew Zerner - RCS Facilitator, Mia and Claire.

BMRG is incredibly proud to introduce our 6 youth ambassadors, a dynamic group of young, passionate individuals focused on regenerative grazing, through our Empowering Adaptive Graziers in the Burnett Mary Program.

With a clear passion for sustainable agriculture, each ambassador brings a unique voice and vision, and we look forward to following their journeys as they advocate for a resilient and regenerative future in agriculture.

These young future leaders have now completed the RCS 7-Day Grazing for Profit School and Tarwyn Park Training's 4 Day Natural Sequence Farming Course in the Burnett Mary.  Through opportunities like this, they are gaining valuable knowledge and tools on their regenerative journey.

Over the next 18 months, our youth ambassadors will have more opportunities to enhance their learning and join our landholders across the region at various events and field days.

Congratulations to our ambassadors, we look forward to sharing their stories as they contribute to strengthening the future of sustainable agriculture across our region.

Delivering on extension support!

The BMRG ag team are continuing with property visits, extending right across the region, supporting landholders on their journey towards grazing practice change in adopting sustainable agriculture practices. Luke and Mary Austin from Lower Wonga, Gympie region, are among several landholders involved in the program. A recent property visit included a land condition assessment and discussing plans, such as excluding cattle grazing in areas across the property with a view to improving pasture growth, plant density and diversity. Mary attended the RCS 7-day Grazing for Profit School at Murgon in May this year as part of the program, taking away valuable learnings and insight on how to apply these practices. BMRG look forward to visiting the Austins and other landholders on the program, next year, for an update on how change is evolving on-farm.

Lower Wonga Graziers, Luke and Mary Austin