Dryland Legume Pasture Systems – Boosting profit and reducing risk in medium and low rainfall areas
Summary
Over the past three decades there has been a shift from integrated crop-livestock production to intensive cropping in dry areas which has significantly reduced the resilience of farms. Intensive cropping is prone to herbicide resistant weeds, large nitrogen fertiliser requirements, and major financial shocks due to frost, drought or low grain prices. A pilot project with MLA and AWI in WA and southern NSW has demonstrated how novel pasture legumes such as serradella, biserulla and bladder clover can improve livestock production while reducing nitrogen requirements, weeds and diseases for following crops.
This new project will develop recently discovered pasture legumes together with innovative management techniques that benefit animal and crop production and farm logistics, and promote their adoption on mixed farms over one million hectares in the low and medium rainfall areas of WA, SA, Victoria and southern NSW. The project is also aiming to halve financial risk.
There are five integrated programs of work:
- Well adapted to major soils in dry regions; fix abundant nitrogen; produce quality stockfeed to fill gaps.
- Harvestable with conventional machinery to minimise seed costs.
- Of suitable seed dormancy to enable summer sowing or natural regeneration after crops.
- Tolerate cropping herbicides, legume diseases and pests.
Project steering committee:
John Bennett (farmer), Andy Duncan (farmer), David Vandenberghe (farmer), Ed Hunt (farmer), Stephen Loss (GRDC), Julia Easton (GRDC), Melissa McAulay (AWI), Doug McNicholl (MLA), John Howieson (Murdoch University), Ron Yates (DPIRD), Ross Ballard (SARDI)
Project partners:
This project is supported by funding from the Australian Government Department of Agriculture and Water Resources as part of its Rural R&D for Profit program, the Grains Research and Development Corporation, Meat and Livestock Australia and Australian Wool Innovation. The research partners include the South Australian Research and Development Institute, Murdoch University, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, the WA Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, and Charles Sturt University, as well as grower groups:
- Mallee Sustainable Farming System – SA/VIC/NSW
- Birchip Cropping Group – VIC
- Agricultural Innovation & Research Eyre Peninsula, Upper North Farming Systems – SA
- Farmlink and Central West Farming Systems – NSW
- Corrigin Farm Improvement Group, ASheep and Mingenew Irwin Group – WA
Project information:
Share this project:
You Might Also Like
Building drought resilience by scaling out farming practices that will enhance the productive capacity of sandy soil landscapes
Summary This project will enhance the drought resilience of farmers who manage 3 million hectares of sandy soils in the low-medium rainfall landscape of southeast Australia. This will be achieved through…
Learn MoreManaging crown rot on upper EP – a joint learning experience
Project activities will build on knowledge gained from prior research on Upper EP using trials and complementary grower-sown demonstrations with the objectives being to: 1. Reduce yield losses due to…
Learn MoreBuilding Drought Resilience in Agriculture-Dependent Communities through Mapping Young Farmer Information and Support Networks
This project will map young farmer and AIR EP’s information and support networks, and through two interactive co-design workshops, deliver a young farmer network-strengthening action plan. This project aims to:…
Learn MoreKnowledge-Sharing for Good Soil Stewardship
The project aims to address challenges and opportunities associated with knowledge-sharing efforts directed at improving the uptake of new innovations and best-practice soil management. In order to support knowledge-sharing efforts…
Learn MoreTactics to minimise frost damage on the Eyre Peninsula
Summary Project outcome: By July 2024 70% of all growers in the frost prone areas of Eyre Peninsula with have increased knowledge, confidence to adopt and ability to implement practices…
Learn MoreSustainable Agriculture program – a three year agriculture extension program
Delivery of the Eyre Peninsula Landscape Board’s Sustainable Agriculture program, funded by the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program Regional Land Partnerships (RLP) initiative, which includes a project work order to…
Learn MoreMore profitable crops on highly calcareous soils by improving early vigour and overcoming soil constraints
Outcomes will be modified agronomic practices and improved soil conditions which increase WUE of crops and farm profitability as well as improved knowledge of the impact of high carbonate on…
Learn MoreLower EP Ag Expo 2 March 2021
The AIR EP Lower EP Ag Expo was held at the Marble Range Sports Club in Wangary on 2 March 2021, with 59 farmers and advisors attending. The speakers and…
Learn MoreAIR EP Member Days 2021: Post-emergent herbicides
Two AIR EP Member Day ‘Optimising Post-emergent herbicides’ workshops were held on Eyre Peninsula: Ungarra Football Club 21 June 2021. 27 people attended in total. Wudinna Community Club 22 June…
Learn More