Forage shrubs and pastures on Garry Page’s Pingelly Farm, planted with the support of South West Catchments Council
Recent innovations in forage shrubs and cover cropping will be big focus of this year’s Wagin Woolarama Landcare display. Pingelly farmer Garry Page will man the stall on Friday March 9 to talk about how he applied findings from the Future Farm Industries CRC Enrich project to his farm. Based on nine years of research, Garry planted 12 species of forage shrubs into mixed pastures over about 80 ha. That’s a total of almost 60,000 shrubs.
Garry says that there is a big future for a combined shrub and pasture forage system.
“As time goes by I can’t see how I could do without them,” Garry says. “In a tough year like 2017, we rotated all the mobs through there and kept their condition up. We can finish lambs cheaper and sell them out of season.”
A preview of Garry’s story can be seen in the YouTube video “Enriching Pastures and Profits with Forage Shrubs”.
Another focus will be cover cropping, with a couple of key case studies being promoted, including one by Newdegate farmer Nick Kelly.
The stall will also showcase other farm demonstrations, and there will be some special giveaway prizes up for grabs.
The display is a partnership between South West Catchments Council, Blackwood Basin Group and Landcare groups from Katanning, Wagin/Woodanilling, Dumbleyung, West Arthur and Kojonup. So make sure you drop into the Department of Primary Industries and Resource Development’s Ag Shed to have a chat
South West Catchments Council’s Regional Landcare Facilitator Program is funded through the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program.
