Dear Members

The year is well underway, and across the rangelands, we have experienced the full force of nature ranging from floods to droughts, cyclones to wildfires, and all the challenges that accompany these events. With increasing global uncertainty around the impact of the fuel crisis and its knock-on effects, the rangelands and their communities are expected to face significant challenges, given our reliance on fuel, transport, and related resources. Once again, our adaptability and resilience in responding to disasters will be put to the test.

The rangelands were a key focus at two major beef industry conferences held recently. At the Northern Beef Research Update Conference in Brisbane, some of the discussions centred around land condition decline, which aligns with a recent publication in The Rangeland Journal (December 2025) highlighting the overall decline in Queensland’s Northern Gulf region. During the plenary session, it was emphasised that “profit follows pastures,” underlining the critical need for sustainable and productive pastures to support the livestock industry.

Meanwhile, at the Northern Territory Cattlemen’s Association Conference in Darwin, one of the key topics was the management of Buffel grass on the rangelands. This remains an ongoing conversation, with additional insights available in the special issue of the Range Management Newsletter from July 2025.

A couple of upcoming society events to note are the Annual General Meeting scheduled for 27 May where we are looking to fill positions on Council. These include the roles of Secretary/Director and a General Member/Administration Officer to assist the Secretary. We are also looking for a Chair for the Publications Committee. We encourage you to consider nominating yourself or someone else for these important roles. Please reach out to a Council member if you are interested.

The Biennial Conference in Darwin will take place from 7 to 11 September and this promises to be an event like only the Top End can deliver. The organisers assure us it will be a conference to remember, so be sure to register early. If you wish to submit a paper, please note that the extended call for abstracts closes on 13 April.

Finally, the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists 2026 is in full swing, with many exciting events in store. We encourage everyone to support these activities and help raise public awareness about the vital role rangelands play in Australia and across the globe.

Enjoy the read,
Pieter

The Thomson River in Longreach flooding its banks – 28 March 2026. Photo: Pieter Conradie