share from their perspective the benefits and challenges of the technology and practice they have implemented . Grant recipients would be encouraged to invite neighbours and others for these activities .
� Support the development of the ‘ Burdekin Farming Systems for Healthy Soils Grower Discussion Group ’. That is , to pilot the farmers teaching farmers methodology while working consistently with a discrete group of 10 - 15 farmers committed to sharing ideas , learning from each other ’ s experience , understanding farming systems , applying knowledge and focussing on improving soil health and on-farm improvement . The group could meet on a monthly basis to discuss topics of their own choosing and be supported by a number of organisations including Burdekin Productivity Services and Sugar Research Australia as well as any other identified relevant organisations and experts
Annual evaluations of the Reef Programme as a whole were also completed by NQ Dry Tropics ( NQ Dry Tropics , 2014a , 2014b , 2015 ). Key findings from these assessments found that :
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The Water Quality Grant scheme played an important role in enabling landholders ( all commodities ) to make practice changes , with 40 per cent of overall survey respondents indicating that they were unlikely to make the changes without the grant . This was significantly higher for sugarcane growers , 79 per cent of which indicated they were unlikely to make changes without the grant .
The main reason given for otherwise not making changes was cost , indicating that the grant was addressing the main barrier to change .
Sixty-seven percent of all respondents said it would take them over two years to make changes without the grant , and again this was higher for sugarcane growers ( 81 per cent ).
The survey results indicate that the Water Quality Grants program is having a positive impact on landholders ’ knowledge , confidence and intentions to make practice changes .
Respondents ’ suggestions for improvements mainly related to increasing the funding available , including increasing or removing the cap or allowing multiple projects .
Due to increasing costs of operation and industry instability , many growers were putting off applying until they felt there was some certainty with regard to their future- particularly electricity and irrigation costs and sugar selling arrangements .
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