A timely, new guide to establishing perennial pasture offers producers strategies to improve feed supply in response to positive sheep and cattle market signals.
NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) development officer, Helen Burns, said the comprehensive guide gives producers proven steps to successfully grow vigorous, productive pasture, which will deliver a return on investment now and into the future.
“Producers who successfully establish perennial pasture will achieve a strong return from species which can cope with environmental stress, weed and grazing pressure and have the potential to persist for more than 10 years,” Ms Burns said.
“The trick is understanding the nature of perennial species, with an emphasis on forward planning and management up to two years before sowing and during the first year of pasture growth.”
DPI’s how-to guide has tips on paddock assessment, species selection, nutrition, weed and pest management, cover cropping and grazing management.
Ms Burns said many perennial pasture species have slow-growing, weak seedlings.
“Weed management, adequate soil moisture and accurate seed placement will give these small-seeded plants the best opportunity to establish,” she said.
“It’s the basis of the 3As strategy developed by DPI’s Prime Pastures program – absolute weed control, adequate soil moisture at sowing and accurate seed placement.”
Ms Burns said the structured approach will help producers identify constraints limiting establishment, which must be addressed on a paddock by paddock basis, well in advance of sowing.
“We encourage producers to compare the costs and benefits of re-sowing paddocks with the renovation of existing pasture,” she said.
“Fertiliser and grazing management strategies can successfully invigorate established pasture at a fraction of the cost of sowing new pasture.”
- Temperate perennial pasture establishment guide: Steps to ensure success has revisited the Prime Pastures’ checklist, with clear guidelines for the planning process, sowing and management.
- The new guide, which builds on years of proven research, ProGraze® and Landscan® with results from recent research, is available online www.dpi.nsw.gov.au