Turf Queensland

29/04/2026

We’ve just released this month’s Turf Queensland newsletter — covering some pretty important updates for our industry.

This edition includes: Progress on the Turf Qualification with the Department of Education Our role as delivery partner for the national Biosecurity Manual and what it means for growers A new Fuel Calculator to help improve on farm efficiency Updates on Turf360 and how we’re continuing to build out best practice tools for the industry Save the Date – 23rd September at Tinamba Turf for our Annual Industry Training Day

There’s also a key update on where things are heading with industry training and how you can have your say.

If you’re in turf production, this is worth a read.

👉 Read it here: https://mailchi.mp/aeeeff3123fd/turf-queensland-newsletter-march-9829653

We’ll keep building the tools, training, and systems the industry has been asking for — but your input is what shapes where it goes next, so please ensure you stay engaged and connected.

21/04/2026

Big step forward for the turf industry 🌱

We’re excited to share that Turf Queensland has been selected as the delivery partner for the Levy funded national turf biosecurity manual.

This is a great outcome for growers and an important step in strengthening how we manage biosecurity risks across the industry.

Working alongside Plant Health Australia, we’ll be forming project reference groups to ensure growers have a direct role in shaping the outcome. It’s an exciting opportunity for the industry to come together nationally, from Sting Nematodes in WA through to RIFA in Queensland, to make sure we get this right.

The manual will be delivered in both hard copy and is being integrated into Turf360.

Integrating the manual into Turf360 is about shifting from a static document you read, to a practical benchmarking tool that shows where your farm is exposed, compares your current practices against best practice, and clearly identifies what actions are needed to close the gaps

Importantly, this is another step toward scaling Turf360 as a tool for the broader industry, connecting best practice, training, and real world farm application in a way that’s accessible to growers across all states.

Looking forward to working with growers and industry partners as this rolls out over the coming months.

15/04/2026

What does a stronger, more resilient turf business actually look like?

That’s exactly what Turf360 helps you uncover.

Turf360 isn’t theory — it’s a practical, industry driven program built around the real challenges turf growers face every day.

Through a series of targeted modules, it gives you a clear picture of how your business is performing, where the risks sit, and where the opportunities are.

From soil health and irrigation, to pest management, biosecurity and compliance, through to business performance, WHS and legal requirements.

Turf360 helps you:
✔️ Identify gaps and reduce risk
✔️ Improve efficiency and sustainability
✔️ Grow higher quality turf
✔️ Build a more resilient business

Backed by real investment, not guesswork.
Turf360 is the result of significant industry investment into R&D, turf production standards, and best management practices. It’s been built for turf growers, grounded in what actually works on farm, not theory.

We’re taking the next cohort at the end of June 2026, and it’s completely free.

If you’re serious about running a better, more sustainable turf business and understanding where you’re exposed from a compliance perspective, get in touch today.

Secure your interest via the link below: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfjq0ajMyml2fpXU2hX61pCLoR1Nf-IZKj6YQux9tBUM91tTA/viewform?usp=header

18/03/2026

It is with great sadness that we share the news, as communicated by her family, that Eva has passed away following a short battle with breast cancer.

Eva cared deeply about people and about the future of the turf industry. She gave her time generously, supported growers wholeheartedly, and worked tirelessly to strengthen our community. Her impact has been felt across the country and by so many who had the privilege of working alongside her.

On a personal note, Eva showed extraordinary kindness, encouragement and belief in others. Even in a short time, she made people feel valued and supported, always wanting the very best for those around her, for her state and for the wider turf community. That was simply who she was.

Our thoughts are with Eva’s family, friends and colleagues at this incredibly difficult time. She will be deeply missed and fondly remembered.

As Eva would often remind us, sometimes the best thing you can do is simply “park your arse on natural grass.” We hope everyone can find a quiet moment in the coming days, to do just that.

18/03/2026

New Industry Tool Released to Help Growers Manage Fuel Cost Increases

Turf Queensland has released a new Fuel Levy Calculator to support all turf growers across Australia in responding to ongoing fuel price volatility and increasing input costs.

The calculator provides growers with a simple, transparent method to quantify the impact of diesel price movements across key parts of their business, including on farm operations, freight and installation.

By entering their base turf price, weekly diesel price, fuel usage and production information, growers can quickly calculate the fuel related cost impact per square metre of turf and apply a defendable fuel levy where required.

The tool also allows growers to:
• Track weekly diesel price movements
• Capture on farm fuel consumption and production volumes
• Account for freight costs (own transport or subcontracted freight)
• Include installation fuel assumptions such as crew travel and equipment use
• Adjust fertiliser input costs where these have also increased

This initiative reflects Turf Queensland’s continued focus on delivering practical, business ready solutions that help growers remain profitable and confident in their pricing decisions during periods of cost escalation.

Complete the following form for free access today: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfQ9U9bKgZ36xlruYCTfpyG2f7Yu4FKvTNuZ6Gje7byPFKW0w/viewform?usp=publish-editor

10/03/2026

Attracting and retaining good staff continues to be one of the biggest challenges facing turf growers, particularly those operating in regional areas.

Following on from last month’s webinar with Sarah Winwood, Director at UPP HR, who shared practical insights on how businesses can better attract talent, strengthen their employee value proposition and stay ahead of changing HR legislation, this month’s session takes the conversation a step further.

Join Jodie Thompson, Director of M Group, as she walks us through the employee lifecycle and the true cost of getting it wrong. This session will focus on the people side of running a business and some of the common pitfalls employers run into when recruiting, managing and retaining staff.

For businesses already feeling the pressure of labour shortages, understanding these challenges can make a real difference to building and maintaining a strong team.

📅 Register for the webinar here:
https://www.trybooking.com/DITGY

These sessions are delivered through our Business Resilience Partners, designed to provide practical support to turf growers navigating the challenges of running a business.

10/02/2026

We’re on today at 12pm!

If attracting and retaining good people is something you’re thinking about (and let’s be honest… who isn’t?), jump into our 1 hour webinar delivered by UPP HR.

We’ll be covering practical strategies to help you build and keep a strong team, especially in a tight labour market.

It’s just one hour, small group, and focused on what actually works.

Register here: https://www.trybooking.com/DINXI

Attracting and keeping good staff continues to be one of the biggest challenges facing turf businesses, particularly in a physically demanding industry.

In this practical webinar, UPP HR will walk Turf Queensland members through what’s really happening in today’s labour market and what business owners can do to stand out as an employer of choice, without overcomplicating HR.

What we’ll cover:
• The top 5 hiring challenges businesses are facing right now (and why the old approaches aren’t working)
• Practical attraction strategies to help you find the right people for your business
• What employees actually want from their workplace and employer, backed by current stats and trends
• The most common reasons employees quit, and how to reduce turnover before it happens
• How to effectively manage and engage different generations in the workplace

We’ll also include a brief legislative update at the end of the session, highlighting key changes employers should be aware of.

This session is designed to be practical, relevant and action-focused, with clear takeaways you can apply immediately in your turf business.

Register here: https://www.trybooking.com/DINXI

07/01/2026

Attracting and keeping good staff continues to be one of the biggest challenges facing turf businesses, particularly in a physically demanding industry.

In this practical webinar, UPP HR will walk Turf Queensland members through what’s really happening in today’s labour market and what business owners can do to stand out as an employer of choice, without overcomplicating HR.

What we’ll cover:
• The top 5 hiring challenges businesses are facing right now (and why the old approaches aren’t working)
• Practical attraction strategies to help you find the right people for your business
• What employees actually want from their workplace and employer, backed by current stats and trends
• The most common reasons employees quit, and how to reduce turnover before it happens
• How to effectively manage and engage different generations in the workplace

We’ll also include a brief legislative update at the end of the session, highlighting key changes employers should be aware of.

This session is designed to be practical, relevant and action-focused, with clear takeaways you can apply immediately in your turf business.

Register here: https://www.trybooking.com/DINXI

21/11/2025

National Ag Day 2025

Turf growers may not always be in the spotlight, but their work touches every part of our communities:
Cooling our cities with natural turf Providing safe surfaces for kids to play and athletes to compete Leading the way in biosecurity and sustainable farming practices

Today we celebrate the farmers who grow more than turf, they grow green spaces, protect our environment, and create jobs across Queensland.

20/11/2025

Sarah Mason from Coastal Turf explains the serious impact Red Imported Fire Ants are having on turf producers, supply chains, and the industry as a whole.

Key takeaways for turf growers:
• Understand the risks RIFA poses to production and delivery.
• Stay up to date with biosecurity requirements and best practice programs.
• Work collectively to protect our industry and maintain supply integrity.

Queensland growers can access Turf360 at absolutely no cost, which includes Australia’s first RIFA Best Practice Management Program, along with all the forms, guides, and templates needed to ensure compliance.

Importantly, Turf360 not only helps you manage RIFA compliance, it also provides guidance on water and nutrient management, WHS, sustainability, and more, giving you a complete toolkit to grow the healthiest, highest-quality turf possible.

19/11/2025

Great to see Turf NSW continuing to engage in the RIFA space and building on the learnings coming out of Queensland. We’ve been working closely with DPI Queensland, NSW and the National Program Team to make sure the current treatment requirements are practical, achievable and still meet compliance standards for growers.

As part of that, we recently submitted a proposal to amend the special directive under APVMA Permit 14317 on behalf of Queensland turf growers. The submission focuses on improving workability for farmers while maintaining the treatment efficacy the program relies on. Key elements include:
Moving to a 21-day spray cycle with two bifenthrin applications at the same rate, reducing unnecessary repeat sprays but keeping growers fully compliant. Providing flexibility for weather and customer scheduling, while still meeting the required 48-hour withholding period.

These changes were put forward to help address some of the challenges growers have been consistently raising with us, including: Weather disruptions during the 7-day pre-harvest window forcing re-applications Operational issues when customer plans shift at short notice The financial and labour pressure caused by repeated treatments The extra burden on smaller farms and those managing multiple turf varieties who often end up spraying the same ground several times.

We’ll keep sharing updates as the process progresses, and we’re always keen to collaborate so growers across all states are aligned and supported.

18/11/2025

Partner Spotlight: Celebrating a New Chapter with Jodie Thompson & M Group

We’re excited to shine a light on one of our valued Business Resilience Partners, Jodie Thompson, who many of you have already met through the Farm Business Resilience Program.

Jodie is the Director of the newly rebranded M Group Sunshine Coast — previously known as Mulcahy & Co — and we’re proud to celebrate this milestone alongside her.

After 27 years as Mulcahy & Co, the business has launched its next evolution: M Group. With 22 business owners, 180 professionals, and an expanded suite of financial services, the new brand reflects their growth, innovation, and commitment to meeting the changing needs of clients across Australia.

From Accounting, Taxation, Mortgage & Finance Broking, Superannuation & SMSFs, through to Legal, Business Advisory, Succession Planning, and even Marketing & Web services — the M Group team truly covers it all.

And at the centre of it on the Sunshine Coast is Jodie.

With almost 30 years’ experience across Australia and abroad (including Price Waterhouse Coopers, Citibank, and Enterprise Energy Ireland), Jodie brings a depth of knowledge that has earned her titles such as Sunshine Coast Professional Business Woman of the Year, alongside multiple business awards for her firm.

Through our program, Jodie is available to help turf growers strengthen their business foundations and plan with confidence, including:

✅ Business advice & planning
✅ Taxation & succession planning
✅ Superannuation & SMSFs
✅ Business acquisitions & growth strategies
✅ Cloud accounting & app integrations

Turf growers can book a free 30-minute consultation with Jodie — a great first step in building long-term resilience.

📧 jodie.thompson@mulcahy.com.au

📞 07 5413 9300

💡 And stay tuned — Jodie will be delivering a workshop early next year. You won’t want to miss it.

The Farm Business Resilience Program is jointly funded through the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund and the Queensland Government’s Drought and Climate Adaptation Program.