Arabic version: شمال غرب كوينزلاند يستهدف صناعة محاصيل بقيمة 100 مليون دولار

According to ABC News, the Queensland government and the cotton and grains industries are jointly investing $5.3 million in research to expand broadacre cropping in North West Queensland. The Unlocking Farming Systems for North Queensland project aims to grow grain and pulse production to $100 million annually and support production of 100,000 bales of cotton by 2035.

The project will first focus on the Flinders catchment around Hughenden, Richmond and Julia Creek, before extending into the Gilbert catchment further north. Primary Industries Minister Tony Perrett said further investment could follow if cropping was shown to be viable over the long term.

At Etta Plains Station, north of Julia Creek, Gulf Cotton head Lucas Findley planted almost 5,000 hectares of cotton after flooding earlier this year. About 850 millimetres of rain fell in a single week in January, but levee banks protected paddocks and machinery returned within seven days of the last rain. Mr Findley said diversifying cattle businesses into cropping could help mitigate flooding in the region.

Richmond Shire Council has also tested commercial broadacre cropping at Maxwelton. Its 2025 chickpea crop returned about $300,000 after costs, which the council said was 10 times the return from running cattle on the same area. Mayor John Wharton said this year’s grain sorghum crop had buyers and was expected to bring in about $500,000.

Producers say local processing and reliable water will be important to further growth. Mr Findley identified a cotton gin as a key enabler, while noting the large scale of such an investment: a Katherine gin that opened in 2023 cost $70 million and can process up to 200,000 bales a year. The state government is reviewing the Gulf Water Plan and undertaking the Gulf Regional Water Assessment, with draft findings open for consultation.