BJFG Services

BJFG provides a range of services including:

• A project officer to facilitate planning and coordinate on ground works

• Incentives via governments and regional bodies to accelerate on ground works that improve the environment

• Social initiative to generate community participation and improve social cohesion

• Educational workshops

• Provision of topographic mapping to assist landholders and local government develop property management plans

• Equipment Hire of the Yeoman's Plough, Seabrook Seeder, and Quikspray units.

THE BJFG REGION

The Brigalow Jimbour Floodplains Group (BJFG) undertakes a wide range of activities within the Condamine Catchment on the Darling Downs. The BJFG area (580,000 ha) lies within the Dalby Regional Council and extends west of Dalby from the Great Dividing Range, down the landscape to cross the floodplains and into the Condamine River. The major sub catchments are the Canaga, Jinghi, Jandowae, Cooranga and Jimbour Creeks and Ranges Gully, which all flow into the Condamine River and form part of the Murray-Darling Basin. Cropping (cereals, feed grains, pulse and cotton) dominates the floodplains, whilst cattle production is the main industry for the upland country. 

Land degradation, water quality and coordination of water flow are significant natural resource management issues for the floodplains. Catchment boundaries on the floodplains are poorly defined and lack sufficient capacity to carry flood flows from the uplands.

Other problems for the floodplains include agronomic issues associated with crop production, mice invasion due to additional stubble cover and an emerging herbicide resistance within select weed species. Extensive flooding damage to crops, roads and paddocks were once common on the floodplains.

 Weed invasion is common within the uplands catchments where unsustainable farming practices have resulted in a general run down of soil fertility. Poor soil structure and compaction has resulted in low rates of infiltration and higher levels of runoff compounding the issues on the floodplains.

 Rising production costs and lower commodity prices are steadily eroding farm incomes which force landholders to “push their country harder”. Much of the landscape is over cleared for agriculture production and the remnant vegetation suffer stress and dieback. Over clearing has resulted in very limited natural habitat for wildlife and insufficient corridors for movement from one area to the next.

 The group has purchased specific farm machines to reduce overhead expenses for small growers and utilise resources more efficiently. BJFG initiated a cooperative fuel purchasing scheme in which fuel companies are invited to submit tenders to supply BJFG members. This provides landholders with the purchasing power of larger organisations.

 An area wide integrated pest management strategy was developed to tackle heliothis invasion of crops such as sorghum and cotton. This problem is now largely overcome by the release of boll guard cotton and the application of naturally occurring heliothis virus. 

 BJFG has partnered with the Condamine Alliance to assist landholders implement recommended practices that improve natural resource management. Sponsorship is also keenly sought from corporate organisations to “fast track” the adoption of these practices.