Preparing for drought rather than responding to it is the focus of a proactive new program for the area, which includes access to an on-ground extension manager who will be helping landholders in the Logan, Bremer, Lockyer and upper Brisbane catchments.

Agronomist and now a Gatton local, Marc Leman, has been appointed as the Senior Project Manager to help deliver the program, which is being rolled out by peak environmental group for South East Queensland, Healthy Land & Water.

Who is the program helping?

The new program will help landholders across the dairy, horticulture, fodder and grazing industries who have been struggling with drought by sharing the latest information on climate impacts and adaptation strategies,Lockyer Valley, Queensland, Australia tools and practices which build drought resilience in farming systems and improve soil health to maintain sustainable and profitable production.

Landholders will be assisted to develop plans that build capacity to implement sustainable practices by incorporating learnings and adaptation strategies to manage drought and climate risks and accelerate adoption of land management practices which improve soil health, water use efficiency and pasture, and landscape condition.

Marc Leman brings a wealth of experience and on-ground knowledge to the Healthy Land & Water team. He has lived in the region for 20 years and will be a familiar name to many farmers, having previously worked with the Lockyer Valley Regional Council as the local Drought Support Officer. Before relocating to South East Queensland, he spent 16 years as an agronomist specialising in pasture and broadacre cropping in central west New South Wales.

Marc says he is looking forward to this role because it aligns with his passion for agriculture and connecting farmers to information.

“This is a great proactive program that will work closely with industry partners to support farmers through the delivery of climate adaptation and property planning workshops, innovative demonstration trials, field days and case studies for the region,” he says.

Marc says the program has only been made possible by targeted new funding for drought under the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund Natural Resources Management Drought Resilience Program – Landscapes Project.

This program is supported by Healthy Land & Water, through funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund.