Graziers Learn how to Improve the Resilience of their Business

Posted on May 6th, 2025

More than 40 central Queensland graziers attended FBA’s Resilient Grazing Field Days, including Marcus Olsen who wanted a better understanding of soil health, biodiversity, and fixing dieback problems.

Marcus owns Thordon Park, a 2,100-acre property between Taroom and Wandoan, and recently attended FBA’s Springsure Resilient Grazing Adapting for a Sustainable Future event.

The two hands-on field days, held at Springsure and Wowan, offered graziers managing central Queensland land the opportunity to get into the paddock and learn how to make important production decisions that will improve the drought resilience of their grazing businesses.

Event speakers on the day included industry experts Pasture Agronomist Ross Newman, Agronomist and Regional Soils Coordinator, Dhiraj Gajera, FBA Land Management Officer Sheree Johnston and FBA Climate Mate Grace Wickson.

Out in the paddock, participants learnt about soil health, with exercises including taking a soil sample with a soil corer, a filtration test, using a penetrometer to determine compaction and soil moisture, determining fungi to bacteria ratio, and a pH test.

Marcus said he learnt a lot from participating in exercises out in the paddock.

“We were wanting a better understanding of how to improve our soil health so we can pack more kilos on a beast. We are not getting the kilos of our country that we once did,” he said.

“The biggest thing we are going to do straight away is some soil testing to see what our country is lacking and how we can fix it.”

Grazier Jason Leitch said he attended the Springsure event to gain a better understanding of soil health and grazing management to help with productivity and making more money out of his grazing business.

Jason owns Manalee, a 5,000-acre property 50kms west of Springsure. He also owns the 10,000-acre Hill View Park and runs 1,300 head of cattle between the two properties.

The event provided Jason the opportunity to share with the group an overview of what he is doing on his property.

Speaking to the room of just over 20 keen listeners, Jason, who is a horse trainer by trade, said he and his wife operated Brahman stud at the property and had recently gone into Wagyu.

He shared that his wife was a cattle geneticist and that, outside of horses, his personal interest is soil health and watching his core ecosystem function and its restoration.

“I want to learn more about where I think we can improve our property and be better land stewards,” he said.

Speaking to FBA after the event, Jason said a key learning he took away was monitoring, especially through soil tests and different methods of grazing.

“Soil tests and record keeping of our stock is something I need to get better at so we can compare apples with apples and see what is working to improve our landscape,” he said.

“We can’t manage what we don’t monitor.”

Sheree said there was an amazing turnout to the events, with 21 people in attendance at Springsure and 20 at Wowan, with great feedback from attendees.

“I heard we had some of the best presenter’s people have heard from in a while, and that they’ve all taken something home,” she said.

“I hope people walk away with information that is practical that can be implemented on their property.”

Jason said he was very grateful for FBA presenting the events.

“FBA has been instrumental in getting us information so we can be better stewards of the land,” he said.

FBA was proud to deliver the Resilient Grazing Adapting for a Sustainable Future events thanks to funding from Tropical North Qld Drought Hub, led by James Cook University.

Ready to make a lasting improvement to your property, click here to learn more about upcoming FBA events.