Economic Solutions to Long Term Productive Grazing Systems

Investigating economic solutions to long term productive grazing systems

Report as included in 2010 MFMG Trial results book

The SEPLA group has identified that as the climate continues to be extremely variable and the margins in farming narrow, the profitability of each enterprise needs to be continuously monitored and improved. Producers are always given advice and recommendations about the best way to establish and manage their pastures - the key to their grazing enterprise - but much of this advice is conflicting. With the high cost of pasture establishment, above that of annual running costs, we can ill-afford to make mistakes with pasture redevelopment in order to establish persistent and productive stands. To that end this new project aims to determine the best economic solutions to pasture establishment, persistence and management techniques to ensure long term productive grazing systems.

With the support of funding from a MLA Producer Demonstration Support grant the project has already started at one site, with initial pasture establishment data collected. The remaining 3 sites will be established in the autumn of 2011, with the project then continuing for a further 3 years.

There is an excellent opportunity for anyone wishing to be involved in the project to have a site on their property, looking at issues specific to their own situation that will be of interest to the whole group. The existing SEPLA group are particularly keen to have the last site on an existing MFMG member’s property addressing an issue relevant to him or her. For example, so far we have one site that is comparing their current standard pasture mix with three alternative mixes of perennials on heavy black clay and another that will be focussing on a range of sowing rates of typical pasture varieties.

Project supported by: