10 Things to Know from QFF

1. CANEGROWERS are turning 100 in 2026 – and they’re celebrating in style! The CANEGROWERS Centenary Collection is available now! Premium shirts, hats and gifts honouring a century of grit, pride and cane-country spirit. Shop the collection here.
   
2. HailNet, a joint project between the University of Queensland, the Bureau of Meteorology and QFF, has begun collecting ground-level hail and wind data at 10 sites across South East Queensland. The seven-year study will deepen understanding of how radar-identified hail correlates with ground impacts. To find out more, watch a recent Seven News report here, or contact QFF at qfarmers@qff.org.au
   
3. Applications are now open for the 2026 RRR Women’s Future Queensland: Rural Women’s Leadership Program, a 12-week course supporting rural, regional and remote Queensland women to build leadership capability and play an active role in shaping the state’s future energy mix. Applications close 7 January 2026. Read more and apply here.
   
4. New planning rules for large battery energy storage systems (BESS) are set to provide stronger safeguards for agricultural land, with mandatory social impact assessments and clearer guidelines for how projects interact with farming operations. Read more here.
   
5. Cotton Australia’s Chair has shared an end-of-year message reflecting on the challenges facing the cotton sector in 2026; while looking ahead to next year’s Australian Cotton Conference and the opportunities it will bring for growers and industry. Read more here.
   
6. A new Hort Innovation–funded project aims to cut bird-related crop losses by up to 75% through advanced drone deterrence, including AERIUM’s falcon-mimicking RoBird. Over the next three years, trials across key horticultural regions will develop practical, non-lethal, scalable strategies to help growers better protect crops, improve fruit quality, and reduce damage. Read more here.
   
7. Trainees in QFF’s Agricultural Extension Work Placement Program completed their mid-term workshop and a regional tour from Theodore to Ayr, gaining hands-on insights across beef, cotton, sugar, grains, aquaculture and horticulture. Read more here.
8. AgCAREERSTART is now recruiting host farmers for next year’s intake, with placements beginning from January. Producers from all commodities and regions are encouraged to get involved. Hosts receive entry-level labour, wage subsidies and full program. Applications close 19 December. Read more and apply here.
   
9. QFF joins the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) in welcoming the Federal Government’s response to the Regional Investment Corporation Review and the introduction of new concessional loan products. NFF President Hamish McIntyre says the changes provide greater certainty for farmers, with new drought and ecological event loans expected in early 2026. Read more here.
10. The QFF team wishes you a Merry Christmas and a safe and happy New Year. Our office will be closed from Monday, 22 December 2025, reopening on Monday, 5 January 2026. During that time QFF’s 10 Things will also take a break but will be back in your email and online from Monday 12 January 2026.