Priority Management tactic Weighting Practices/support works supported 1 Timing application of residual herbicides 40% Training and extension for development, implementation and monitoring of farm herbicide (including risk) management strategies Ensuring irrigation management is managed to minimise herbicide runoff risk Use of best available rainfall forecasting tools Use of SafeGuage for pesticides or equivalent risk minimisation tool Smartcane BMP BoM rainfall and seasonal forecasting information SafeGuage for pesticides 2 Targeted application of residual herbicides 40% Area treated with residual herbicides is reduced through use of banded spraying appropriate managed with knockdown products through directed or shielded spraying Training and extension support Hooded/banded application technology, including calibration. 3 Residual herbicide use in ratoons 20% Training and extension to support the use of herbicides and minimisation of the use of residual herbicides in ratoons where appropriate SageGuage for pesticides Smartcane BMP Priority 4- Cane: Sediment Management trial
Priority Management tactic Weighting Practices/support works supported 1 Ground cover management 75% Cover crop during fallow phase, direct-drill planted into sprayed-out previous cane crop. Plant cane planted into fallow cover crop after minimum or zero tillage Zero or minimal tillage in plant and ratoon cane Extension and training to support shift to zero/minimum tillage Smartcane BMP Direct drill planting equipment Zonal tillage equipment 2 Controlled traffic farming 25% Permanent wheel tracks, with all machinery using same wheel spacing GPS guidance for all machinery, with appropriate training/extension support Wheel spacing modification Smartcane BMP GPS guidance ground
2 Active management strategy to ensure retention of adequate pasture and groundcover at the end of the dry season Accredited training (e.g. GLM or equivalent) and targeted, accredited extension to ensure: Before the start of the dry season, forage budgets are calculated for each paddock, preferably using GLM or StockTake, or with Grazing Charts, or other equivalent process. Cattle numbers in paddocks are adjusted promptly to ensure adequate residual pasture and groundcover. Ground cover and land conditions are assessed several times during the year at monitoring sites and/or during bore runs, combined with analysis of ground cover trends via VegMachine or similar. Planned burning, where practiced, is done in a way that reduces risk of poor pasture regrowth and associated slow recovery of groundcover. Grazing BMP 3 Strategies implemented to recover any land in poor or very poor condition Accredited training (e.g. GLM or equivalent) and targeted, accredited extension to ensure: Stocking rates are reassessed in relation to long-term carrying capacity; paddocks are sub-dividing for improved land condition management, and where possible, a planned program of wet season spelling is implemented for all affected land. Specific management actions are instigated, such as fencing, construction of diversion banks upslope if safe to do so, remediation of scalded areas and gullies; allowing the accumulation of litter and other organic matter. Grazing BMP Strategic fencing, contour banking and gully and scald remediation works in line with recommended techniques such as porous check dams, gypsum treatment and revegetation
4 The condition of selectively-grazed land types is effectively managed. Accredited training (e.g. GLM or equivalent) and targeted, accredited extension to ensure: Selectively-grazed land types are fenced where practical and cost-effective. Elsewhere, regular wet season spelling, with or without fire, is used to help preferentially grazed areas recover. Consideration is given to using other means (e.g. supplement feeding sites, water points locations) to even out grazing pressure. Grazing BMP Strategic fencing, water points 5 Timing and intensity of grazing is managed in frontages of rivers and major streams, including associated riparian and wetland areas. Accredited training (e.g. GLM or equivalent) and targeted, accredited extension to facilitate: Installation of fencing and/or off-stream watering points to enable these ecologically sensitive areas to be maintained or improved. Where selectively grazed, grazing pressure is kept low, with consideration given to regular wet season spelling, weed control through fire or other means and feral pig control where required. Grazing BMP Strategic fencing Off-stream watering points Weed and pest management 6 Strategies implemented, where practical and affordable, to remediate gullied areas Professional advice to inform: An appropriate mix of actions, which may include stock exclusion, mechanical reshaping of gully heads and sides, installation of porous check dams, gypsum treatment and reseeding. Grazing BMP 7 Linear features (roads, tracks, fences, firebreaks, and water points located and constructed to minimise their risk of initiating erosion Accredited training (e.g. GLM or equivalent) and targeted, accredited extension to ensure: Roads and tracks are planned and built with due attention to erosion risk. Where there are significant risks, an appropriate mix of mitigation actions are undertaken, such as locating tracks on contour where possible; avoiding disturbance of sodic subsoils, using whoa boys or similar means to allow to cross tracks; installation of table drains where required; installation of outfalls for low usage, cross-slope roads on steep country, etc. Fences follow contour lines where possible, or ridge lines in steep country. Where fence line is not on the contour, and slope is steep, whoa-boys are used as required. Grazing BMP 8 Use of agricultural chemicals Accredited training (e.g. GLM or equivalent) and targeted, accredited extension to ensure: Grazing BMP