Despite recent rainfall, it’s still tough going for farmers. With hay sheds emptying and stock hungry for fresh pasture, growth rates need to be near maximum potential as temperatures increase closer to spring. One factor in achieving this is good nutrient management. Nutrient or fertilizer management in pastures is...
Livestock producers make a lot of decisions that affect the profitability of their business. Stocking rates, feed purchases and fertiliser decisions are just a few. But when they decide to change these variables, how can they judge the effect on their bottom line? Measuring profitability or business performance was...
Recent interviews with livestock producers have highlighted the importance placed on deferred grazing in autumn. The aim of autumn deferral is to concentrate stock into one or more ‘sacrificial’ paddocks and providing them with supplementary feed so pasture in the remaining paddocks can properly establish before being grazed. In...
A year-long extension program supported by South West Catchments Council has helped 12 livestock entities implement changes to increase pasture production, improve fodder conservation and make cost-effective supplementary feed purchases. The Grazing Matcher Program, facilitated by agricultural advisors Jeisane Accioly-McIllree, Dan Parnell and Martin Staines, helped producers fine-tune or...
Collie cattle breeder David Rees is always looking for ways to improve his system. “You improve most when things are hard because you’ve got to look at your inputs,” David told fellow farmers at a recent grazing group meeting. “I look for one percent improvements in each part of...
Profitability for most livestock enterprises is strongly linked to pasture growth and utilisation. Yet one of the key tools for maximizing growth is under-utilised in Western Australia. While pasture growth is heavily influenced by nutrient availability, farm consultant Martin Staines says grazing management is just as important, and one...
New Technology Reduces Feral Cats in WA’s South West Forests 11 May, 2022
Across millions of hectares of Australia’s fores...
The biochar revolution: from grassroots to industry adoption 29 April, 2022
An initiative by a South West Landcare group more ...
SWCC to Lead Region on Drought and Climate Resilience 26 April, 2022
South West Catchments Council (SWCC) is delighted ...
Nicki Ledger
Peter Clifton
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