NSW pastures include a wide range of species, structure conditions and management histories. They can be broken into native grasslands, modified native pastures including part of woodlands, highly productive native pastures and highly productive improved pastures.
The productivity of pastures can vary depending things such as season, species, climate, soil conditions and grazing management and system.
Knowing the features of your pasture, particularly those that can be modified and those that can't such as soil acidity, topography and soil depth is important for long term productivity and sustainability. Selecting and/or maintaining species that match your soil type, enterprise needs and providing groundcover are the fundamentals for all successful grazing enterprises. Good pasture management monitors changes that occur and manipulates the controllable factors to maintain a desirable, productive and sustainable pasture.
Recently plant breeding advances have seen the development of elite pasture species and more is now known about the role of native pastures in whole farm systems. Pastures need to be able to satisfy animal requirements and to be profitable over the longer term to cover establishment costs.
How Local Land Services can help
Local Land Services works in partnership with farmers and farming groups to provide support, advice and best practise examples to increase productivity and profitability.
Local Land Services pasture officers are on hand to assist and support on best practise pasture management.
Local Land Services work closely with organisations such as the Department of Primary Industries to provide up to date technical advice and support.
Training and courses
Local Land Services pasture officers are pivotal in the delivery of education programs such as the PROfarm range of short courses, including Introduction to Pastures, Lucerne management online, Top fodder silage and Prograze.
They coordinate local producer groups on timely and locally relevant topics such as:
- maintaining good groundcover
- litter and soil characteristics
- diversity of species
- ability to handle pests and diseases
- changes in environmental conditions (such as drought, fire or flood)
- good water efficiency.
Advice and assistance
Call 1300 795 299 to get in touch with a Local Land Services Officer.
Industry collaborators and resources
Australian Society of Agronomy
The Australian Society of Agronomy is the professional body for agronomists in Australia and New Zealand.
A pasture selection tool for selecting suitable pastures species for your local conditions.
NSW Department of Primary Industries
The Department of Primary Industries works to develop and sustain diverse, profitable food and fibre industries, and ensures best practice management of our natural resources.
The Grassland Society of NSW Inc
Delivering science-based information on pastures and grazing through newsletters, conferences and events.