2025 Grazing Forum brings Cape York producers together
- Cape York NRM
- May 23
- 2 min read
The 2025 Grazing Forum, hosted by Cape York NRM and held in Laura on Tuesday 20 and Wednesday 21 May, brought together graziers, land managers, Traditional Owners, stakeholders and industry experts from across the region. The packed two-day program featured expert presentations, engaging discussions, and a practical demonstration.
Kicking off Tuesday lunchtime with a warm welcome from MC Marilyn Morris — Cape York NRM Director and Deputy Mayor of Cook Shire — and a Welcome to Country from John Ross, the afternoon continued with updates from Cape York NRM, Gulf Savannah NRM, AgForce and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and Partnerships, followed by expert presentations on savanna fire management, disaster resilience, AgTech innovation, and environmental markets — with the carbon and natural capital accounting session sparking particularly lively conversation.
The AgTech session highlighted current and emerging tools available to graziers, with details provided on TekFarm grants available until 30 June 2025. A drone demonstration by Airborne Ag gave a practical glimpse of how technology can be applied in real-time grazing operations.
Tuesday night’s dinner, catered by the Laura Rodeo and Campdraft Association and featuring live music from Cooktown-born Ella Hartwig, was a highlight, offering the chance to unwind and enjoy good company and great entertainment under the stars.
Set against the peaceful backdrop of the Laura Rodeo Grounds, complete with birdsong, shady trees, and the occasional wandering cow, the forum offered a unique and relaxed bush setting. Many attendees camped onsite, enjoying a fresh morning start and a shared breakfast at 7 am before day two began.
Wednesday’s program kicked off at 8.30 am with an insightful presentation on cattle genetics by the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI), followed by a well-received session on phosphorus supplementation from the Department of Primary Industries. After a morning smoko accompanied by coffee, cake and plenty of great conversation, the final session featured an informative presentation on the Paddock to Reef program, followed by an update of the National Feral Pig Action plan.
The forum was praised by stakeholders and government representatives as a valuable networking opportunity, with meaningful conversations, reconnections, and strong engagement across the two days. It was a welcome reminder of the power of face-to-face connection in building knowledge and community.
This event was supported by the TNQ Drought Hub through funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund. Well done to all involved, it was a great success and here’s to the next one!