Jessica Bidgood

Central Queensland grazier Jess Bidgood receives a Nuffield scholarship to investigate how integrated approaches can help improve the production, profitability and ecological health of grazing systems in Australia.

A passionate advocate for landscape regeneration, community resilience and practical change in the beef industry, Jess has a background in education and agricultural consulting. She holds a Bachelor of Human Movement and a Bachelor of Secondary Education, and has taught grazing and business management within Resource Consulting Services.

Jess and her husband John own and manage a beef cattle company in central Queensland, running more than 1500 head on 3000 hectares of owned and leased grazing land. 

Jess aims to explore how producers are incorporating diverse approaches into their grazing systems. This includes investigating how best to establish perennial grasses, legumes, and grains; how hydrology techniques such as swale systems and riparian area development can be integrated; and how whole farm planning models can be implemented for maximum impact.

Her research will involve visiting organisations like The Land Institute in Kansas, and Mediterranean agricultural regions, to conduct interviews, collect field data and consider relevant studies.

Jess hopes to present insights that help accelerate practice change within the grazing industry into the future, identifying solutions that can be readily applied by Australian farmers. 

Her study aligns with strategic priorities of Cattle Australia and Meat and Livestock Australia, particularly around environmental stewardship, climate resilience, and sustainable land management.