Power through problems

A practical new program has launched to support producers and growers located in the Southern Downs and Goondiwindi regions to understand and manage their on-farm energy consumption and at the same time, lower their carbon emissions.

Delivered by Queensland Farmers’ Federation (QFF), the Energy Southern Queensland (EnergySQ) program is free for participating farms with the aim of identifying tangible ways they can achieve increased energy productivity and efficiencies while supporting environmental outcomes on farms.

The two-year program will enable QFF to work with between 100 and 150 farms during the project lifespan.

Producers/growers are invited to participate individually or in a ‘cluster’. Their participation in the project is anticipated to take between two and three months, with ongoing follow-up and support. Farms participating in a cluster will have the opportunity to attend a series of short workshops to help navigate the process.

QFF CEO Jo Sheppard said rising input costs and disrupted supply chains continue to challenge farmers across the State and energy is a key line item for most farming enterprises.

“This program will support farmers across the Southern Downs and Goondiwindi Regional Council local government areas to identify ways in which they can become more efficient in their on-farm use of energy to save costs, improve productivity, and reduce emissions,” Ms Sheppard said.

“Queensland farmers continue to innovate and work to achieve efficiencies on-farm so that they can remain competitive in an increasingly difficult operating environment,” said Ms Sheppard.

“It is important that Queensland farmers are supported to continue to build on farm capability to innovate and adapt if we are to ensure a sustainable food, fibre and foliage system into the future.”

QFF previously delivered the Queensland Government’s Energy Savers Plus Program which supported more than 300 farms to manage their electricity use and achieve savings through independent electricity audits.

Extending on this program, participants of the EnergySQ program will work with QFF’s energy project team to develop their own individual Energy and Carbon Action Plan.

QFF has partnered with ACCIONA Energía Australia to fund the delivery of the project.

ACCIONA Energía is developing the MacIntyre Wind Farm near Warwick.

“We’re proud to be supporting the QFF to help primary producers manage their energy use. The pressures faced by farmers have never been greater and by supporting this program we hope to assist farmers continue to play their vital role across Queensland,” said ACCIONA Energía Managing Director Brett Wickham.

Ms Sheppard said the support being provided by ACCIONA Energía is enabling QFF to take the learnings from previously delivered Energy Savers programs to develop EnergySQ and provide farmers in the region a tailored program to assist in achieving on farm efficiencies, productivity gains and a reduction in emissions.

“We encourage farmers within the Goondiwindi or Southern Downs regional council areas who would like to understand more about this initiative to contact the team at QFF to find out more and register their interest,” Ms Sheppard said.