MyFORAGE: A Tool for Sustainable Grazing in Queensland

Key Takeaways:

1. MyFORAGE, an extension of the FORAGE system, offers an innovative online tool for sustainable land management in Queensland.
2. The platform assists graziers in improving land sustainability and productivity, focusing on protecting the reef.
3. It allows users to customize various aspects of their property for better pasture growth and land management.
4. Over 230,000 reports have been generated by FORAGE, providing valuable data for landholders.
5. The Queensland Government funds the tool’s development through the Drought and Climate Adaptation (DCAP) and REEF Water Quality programs.

Interactive Land Management Innovation

The Queensland Government is taking a significant step forward in supporting graziers by launching MyFORAGE, an interactive online tool designed to enhance land sustainability and productivity. This tool is an extension of the FORAGE system, which has empowered landholders, consultants, and stakeholders to make informed decisions for sustainable land management and environmental protection.

Features of MyFORAGE

MyFORAGE offers a user-friendly interface that allows users to modify and adjust input information. This functionality is crucial for accurate pasture growth, ground cover, and long-term carrying capacity estimations at property and paddock scales. Users can draw paddock boundaries, customize their property management plans, and focus on various aspects, such as land types, water points, pasture types, and land conditions.

The Success of FORAGE

FORAGE has been a cornerstone in land management for 12 years, providing over 230,000 free, easy-to-understand PDF property scale reports. These reports offer insights into ground cover, pasture growth, and other relevant topics, making it a valuable resource for various stakeholders in the agricultural sector.

Government Funding and Accessibility

The Queensland Government has funded the development of MyFORAGE through the Drought and Climate Adaptation (DCAP) and REEF Water Quality programs. This initiative underscores the government’s commitment to sustainable agriculture and environmental protection. For more information, users can visit the Long Paddock website.

Customizable Reports for Enhanced Land Management

MyFORAGE offers a range of reports that users can request for their property, including Long-Term Carrying Capacity, Indicative Land Type, Ground Cover, and more. These reports are tailored to provide specific data and insights, aiding in efficient land management.

Customization Options

Users can customize their FORAGE reports to suit their property and paddock configurations. These include adding lots on a plan, importing spatial/GIS files, and drawing paddocks based on features or printed maps. This flexibility allows landholders to create detailed farm paddock maps or focus on individual polygons.

Photo by Josh Withers on Unsplash