Cedar Pocket .................................96

COLUMNISTS .......................pages 15-17

KINGAROY’S BIG PEANUT ............page 18

THE MOIRS’ JOURNEY ..........pages 20-21

CHAMP HOME FOR SPELL ......pages 22-23

CAMPDRAFT BOOM ....................page 24

Beardmore .....................................99.7%

Bjelke Petersen ..............................34.4%

Borumba .......................................90.5%

Boondoomba .................................34.4%

Cedar Pocket .................................96.2%

Chinchilla Weir .............................105.3%

Coolmiunda .................................100.4%

Cunnamulla (Alan Tannock) ..............100%

Leslie ........................................... 63.6%

Paradise ......................................103.5%

Somerset ......................................60.8%

Wivenhoe..........................................40%

DAM LEVELS

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Publisher: Damian Morgan

Warning on weeds

Darling Downs landholders are urged to remain vigilant for outbreaks of invasive weeds, particularly Parthenium, following recent rain.

Toowoomba Regional Council Parks and Recreation Services portfolio leader Cr Tim McMahon said landholders located in Nobby, as well as the urban fringes of Toowoomba and Highfields should check for the invasive weed.

Outbreaks could also occur along the Warrego Highway.

Cr McMahon said new germinations were present and officers were working with local landholders to manage the latest outbreaks.

“While the weed is still at the rosette stage, it is expected to flower by the end of the month, which will require quick treatment to prevent further spread,” he said.

“At early stages, Parthenium is easily controlled with herbicides.

“Due to the weed’s ability to reproduce quickly (it can produce viable seeds within four weeks of germination), untreated plants can escalate to large-scale outbreaks that are much more difficult and costly to control.

“Delaying control measures could require restricted movement of stock, fodder and machinery in infected areas.”

While there had been sporadic outbreaks of Parthenium in recent years, the invasive weed was believed to have been recently reintroduced via the movement of drought fodder from outside the region.

Parthenium is a category 3 restricted invasive plant under the Biosecurity Act 2014.

“Everyone has a general biosecurity obligation to take all reasonable and practical steps to minimise the risks associated with this invasive plant,” Cr McMahon said.

“Parthenium is classified as a weed of national significance and is a highly invasive pest that has overrun large tracts of land in Central Queensland.

“It is toxic to cattle and sheep and can cause stock to have allergic skin reactions when they’re located in areas infected by the weed.

“And, it can be harmful to people who have contact with it for prolonged periods.”

Parthenium weed can sometimes be confused with some ragweeds (Ambrosia species), Bishops Weed (Ammi majus), Hemlock (Conium maculatum) and some fleabanes (Conyza species).

“Early intervention is the key to maintaining a parthenium-free environment,” Cr McMahon said. * Landholders can contact TRC’s Biosecurity Compliance team on 131 872.

A boost to regional news

Minister for Agriculture, David Littleproud and Queensland Farmer Today general manager, Daniel Pelcl celebrate the launch of a new publication for rural and agriculture. Picture: NEESHA SINNYA

Feds stumping up cash to support forestry hub

The South and Central Queensland Regional Forestry Hub last week secured $900,000 in federal Government funding. The hub, which aims to facilitate projects that boost productivity and growth in the timber industry, oversees 23 council areas, including Gympie, Toowoomba and Western Downs.

It is one of 11 in Australia and two in Queensland.

When the hub launched in 2019, the Federal Government provided $1 million of seed funding and, in April this year, a manager and part-time technical adviser were appointed to the team.

Maranoa MP David Littleproud said the Federal Government’s investment was a “show of faith” in forestry industries and the benefits it gave to towns such as Kingaroy and Nanango.

“South-East and Central Queensland is a key forestry area with strong potential for growth and innovation,” he said.

“The hub is assessing production forestry resources, processing capacity and infrastructure needs and limitations and finding ways to support innovation and growth in our region.

“This new funding will secure the future of our forestry hub and its important work with industry, State and Local governments, key stakeholders and the community.

“There is an opportunity for the region to explore options for product value-adding as it has existing softwood and hardwood processing capabilities.”

Timber industry peak body, Timber Queensland, worked with the federal Government to establish the two Queensland hubs.

The South and Central Queensland hub has a 13-person steering committee, including representatives from Parkside Group, Hyne Timber, HQPlantations and AgForce.

It forms part of the federal Government’s National Forest Industries Plan.

The editor’s desk

The Cods celebrate in the first season.

Stories connect the bush

More than 20 years ago I played in the first ever Condamine Cods rugby team to take to the field.

That inaugural game wasn’t a highprofile affair - we played the Wheatmen in the C Grade comp on the number two oval at Dalby at 10 o’clock in the morning.

We lost badly, but we took a (cold) shower and talked like winners long into the night when we got back to ‘Bluey’s’ legendary Condamine Hotel, and although it wasn’t obvious to an impartial observer, we knew we’d started something pretty special.

Two decades later it might be lost on the beautiful young people of today who’ve attended the rather magnificent Cods Rugby Ladies Days of recent years, or a salubrious end of season dinner in a marque on the lawns of the Fish Tank, that back then the Cods were not quite as sophisticated.

We trained (okay, played a bit of touch) on a Thursday night in the light thrown from the headlights of three Land Cruisers parked along the field before driving those utes to the pub for ‘planning’ sessions.

We designed bumper stickers that begged overtaking cars to ‘Please Don’t Ruck My Cods’ and organised working bees to mow the oval, erect goal posts and build hot showers.

We loved it then, and these are magical memories now.

The Cods are just one of the countless sporting or community groups in the bush that bring joy, mateship and adventure to the lives of those lucky enough to be a part of them - and it’s often these seemingly unremarkable stories of ordinary bush people simply doing something they love that make the most impact.

At Queensland Farmer Today, our job is to find and tell these stories of the bush that help connect and develop community.

We consider it a privilege, and like the Cods on that cold Dalby morning 22 years ago, we’re hoping we’ve started something special. - Damian Morgan