Ruth Aveyard is a coordinator for Upper Lachlan Landcare who reminds farmers about basic ways to improve pasture productivity with these ten – top tips from the Department of Primary Industries Sustainable Grazing Program.
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Ms Aveyard said, “They are all tips you would no doubt be well aware of, but sometimes it is helpful to review these simple, well known practices.
“Get back to basics to improve the productivity and sustainability of your farm landscape.”
Upper Lachlan Landcare supports a community-based approach to managing and protecting our natural resources – creating more productive and sustainable farms, conserving our environment and building more cohesive and resilient communities.
- Tip 1: Match paddock use to land capability. If land is used beyond its capacity it will degrade.
- Tip 2: Maintain more than 80% ground cover. At least! Whatever you do, maintain ground cover!
- Tip 3: Increase perennial plants in permanent pastures. Rotational grazing will help promote and maintain deep rooted perennial species for increase pasture resilience.
- Tip 4: Implement a rotational grazing system. Pastures require a recovery period to allow plant and root regrowth before the next grazing event.
- Tip 5: Feed your pastures, not your creeks. Avoid applying fertiliser too close to streams and drainage lines. Match fertiliser application to soil requirements.
- Tip 6: Maintain ground cover in drainage lines and drainage depressions. Sediments are trapped and water filtered through grass cover.
- Tip 7: Develop a drought management plan. Include trigger points that indicate when it is time to destock.
- Tip 8: Keep juveniles and sick animals away from streams. Quarantine sick animals in hospital yards. Contain the spread of pathogens.
- Tip 9: Establish riparian buffer zones and provide water for stock off-stream. Stock health is improved when supplied with clean water. Vegetated riparian zones help maintain water quality and prevent erosion.
- Tip 10: Locate new infrastructure away from streams, drainage lines and drainage depression. Prevent effluent from yards and stock camps being washed into drainage lines.
For more information contact; Ruth Aveyard 0447 242 474 coordinator@upperlachlanlandcare.org.au
