� Extension services were delivered through a number of methods including workshops , group activities , one-on-one engagement , on-site risk assessments such as farm risk assessments and property management planning , and field days and farm walks .
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- The delivery of training through a workshop format enabled growers access to experts and grower experience to guide development of tailored property plans that deliver improvements in productivity and water quality outcomes .
- Hands on training field days proved to be extremely popular with growers , and the benefits of this training approach have been realised through the uptake of new practices .
- Farm walks were a successful way to engage farmers who made the most of the opportunity to ‘ look over the fence ’. This practical demonstration of water quality improvement projects enabled further information and practice change opportunities to be identified .
- One-on-one extension was also provided to assist farmers with the implementation of whole-offarm system changes . Technical extension was very well received and the need for a larger technical extension component to ensure practice changes has been identified for future delivery . All grant recipients in the sugar industry were required to undertake BSES ’ 6 Easy Steps ( 6ES ), a best practice nutrient management course . Uptake was comprehensive : all 276 enterprises funded completed this training .
Training delivered as a result of extension activities or direct feedback was identified as the most beneficial to producers .
Program Evaluation All landholder projects were reviewed on completion . This included an on-site review of works undertaken , collection of GIS data and completion of a survey where grant recipients were asked about the impact of Reef Rescue participation on their attitude to environmental matters . A total of 67 sugarcane growers , were surveyed .
It was found that : �
Reef Rescue funding was a driver for innovation and practice change . Delivery of targeted extension services , in combination with the availability of Reef Rescue funding , fostered learning and innovation in the region ’ s sugarcane industry . Many farmers recognised as industry leaders in improving soil health and water quality allowed their properties and equipment to be used for demonstrations or field walks .
� Further extension is required to implement prescription mapping and high precision farming techniques . The demand was higher than what the extension capacity could cope with in a field that is still in research . While some capacity for extension was available through the program , it was highlighted that there was a much greater need for extension services to provide technical advice and support to farmers for implementation of new farming practices .
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Availability of longer-term funding for sugar cane growers may be useful for future training and extension . A survey of participants found that growers ’ transaction costs were most heavily incurred in the process of decision-making about applying for Reef Rescue funding and , importantly , in learning how to implement the new practice on their property . It was also found that farmers with fewer years growing sugarcane had lower transaction costs . This was not because longer term farmers were engaging in larger and more complex changes ( in fact , they tended to make smaller changes ) but could have been due to farmers with greater growing years being more reluctant to changing practices . It was concluded that adoption of practices could be increased by assisting longer term farmers with tailored extension and training about practice changes and how these apply to their properties .
Most growers found the Six Easy Steps ( 6ES ) training course useful in understanding how to calculate application rates themselves , rather than consulting a specialist , and conversations generated through the course were found to be valuable . However , a majority of growers thought the course was interesting but did not change their practices as a result of the training . Two conclusions relevant to this finding : 1 ) encourage agronomists to attend the course ; and 2 ) provide one-on-one support to growers to make and use their own calculations to build their confidence .
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