10 Things to Know from QFF

1. Skills Insight is inviting employers, training providers and industry to help strengthen workforce development for regional, rural and remote Australia. A national series of roundtables and networking events will run from February to May 2026, focused on co-designing responses to skills shortages through the VET Workforce Project and Ag Trade Apprenticeships. Read more and register here.
   
2. Irrigators in several Queensland Murray–Darling Basin water management areas now have until 1 December 2026 to install telemetry devices on non-urban surface water meters. The extension gives irrigators more time to prepare, with subsidies available to help cover installation and initial data costs. Read more here.
   
3. Growers in the Lockyer Valley and surrounds are invited to a free working lunch to help set their teams up safely for 2026. Hosted by Queensland Fruit & Vegetable Growers, the session will feature practical advice from Workplace Health and Safety Queensland’s Agriculture Unit on meeting WHS obligations and reducing on-farm risk. Register here.
   
4. North Queensland producers continue to face significant impacts from flooding and severe weather. Rural Aid is urging affected producers to register for support, including emergency fodder and water, financial assistance and mental health services. Read more or register for support here. The Queensland and Federal Governments have also committed an additional $26.6 million to flood recovery across north, north-west and central Queensland, supporting producers, small businesses and communities through clean-up and recovery efforts. Read more here.
   
5. Record demand for the 2026 Australian Future Cotton Leaders Program has seen Cotton Australia expand the intake to 17 participants, the largest cohort to date. The strong response highlights the depth of emerging leadership across the cotton industry, with the CRDC-supported program continuing to build future industry capability. Read more here.
   
6. The National Farmers’ Federation has welcomed the establishment of the Trade Diversification Network, with agriculture represented through NFF membership. With more than 70% of farm production exported, the network will support market diversification, strengthen trade pathways and build resilience amid rising global protectionism. Read more here.
   
7. EastAUSmilk joins the Australian Dairy Industry Council, in warning an unbalanced Australia–EU Free Trade Agreement could significantly harm Australia’s dairy sector. Read more here.
   
8. Sugar Research Australia is progressing trial work to identify effective and affordable alternatives to paraquat for knockdown grass control in sugarcane, ahead of a regulatory decision expected by mid-2026. Read more here.
9. Exhibitor applications for Beef 2027 are closing soon, with opportunities available across indoor pavilions, the Machinery & Equipment Precinct, Tech & Innovation Hub, Lifestyle & Retail Precinct, and a limited number of subsidised charity sites. Applications close 4 February 2026. Read more and apply here.
10. Queensland feedlot operators are increasingly investing in shade to protect cattle from heat stress, with Dalby-based producer Bryce Camm installing more than seven kilometres across his operation. New Australian Lot Feeders’ Association data shows around 75% of feedlot cattle now have access to shade, up from 56% in 2020, highlighting the industry’s growing focus on animal welfare and productivity. Read more here.