DESPITE a run of seasons of poor cattle prices, progressive livestock operations on the North Coast are thinking long-term pasture improvement and using cropping as a cost-effective way of renovating paddocks and establishing higher performance grasses.
Building up soil fertility, reaping the benefits of nitrogen fixing from summer legumes, and improving soil structure via crops with good root systems, were some of the major advantages according to agronomists and producers.
Of course, cash flow was another benefit, with some producers planning to use summer crops like soybeans, corn and adzuki beans to pave the way for year-round cattle finishing.
BGA Agriservices agronomist at Grafton Stephen Leeson said cropping helped prepare country for the planting of everything from high performance pasture to tropical grasses and even temperate species.
“It’s a longer-term strategy, with producers needing to think two to three years ahead, but it’s a very effective means to improving feed quantity and quality,” he said.
Cropping also allowed graziers to identify strong and weak areas in a paddock, he said.
“Certain weeds provide information about soil fertility or bring to the fore trace element issues,” he said.
“It may be some areas need more lime or other soil amendments and during the cropping phase that can be identified.”
Clarence River Santa Gertrudis cattle operation Yulgilbar Station has ramped up its rotational cropping program, with the aim of both producing fodder to fill feed gaps and setting up the establishment of tropical and subtropical improved grasses and legumes.
Looking to run higher numbers of cattle on less ground with the planned sale of three parcels of land, Yulgilbar’s managers hope to eventually improve all available open and arable areas of the eastern fall country at Baryulgil, in the State’s north.
Home to one of the country’s oldest Santa Gertrudis studs, plus a progressive commercial cattle operation that targets varying markets, the property is owned by three generations of the Myer family and managed by Rob Sinnamon.
It features premium cropping country, amongst the best available alluvial soils on the Clarence River.
In 2014, Yulgilbar will grow 1517 hectares of crop with its Tooloonki division – run as a separate cash cropping and hay production enterprise – accounting for 400ha of that.
An additional 320ha of soybeans and oats has been developed, and once it has been turned over to improve pastures, 20 per cent of Yulgilbar will be improved.
“Pasture improvement has become a significant part of our property improvement program, with an increased focus on being feed self sufficient so as to be less reliant on Tooloonki and outside sources “ Mr Sinnamon said.
Summer cropping includes lucerne for hay, corn for silage and grain, soybeans aimed at the culinary market, adzuki beans and forage sorghum.
In winter, forage oats for grazing and hay, rye and peron festiolium are grown, along with triticale to supplement grain requirements at the station’s feeding facility.
Capable of feeding up to 1500 head at one time, 95pc of the what is required at the facility is produced on Yulgilbar, with only liquid supplement bought in.
As drought mitigation, Yulgilbar has also invested in irrigation with 145ha of soft and hard hose irrigators installed and further plans for centre pivots.