As time goes by the Pasture Improvement Initiative will work with its collaborating stakeholders to develop a range of easy-to-read factsheets that cover a range of pasture-related topics.
Please feel free to download and distribute anything that takes your fancy.
Know before you sow
New pastures are critical for increasing farm productivity. Not only can new they support higher stocking rates (and kilograms of product per hectare), but they provide insurance when times get tough, through improved persistence and dry matter production compared with older pasture varieties.
Before establishing a new pasture it is critical to have a solid understanding of the environment in which your pasture will grow, the requirements of the enterprise it will support and its fit within the whole farming system.
Download factsheet here (PDF 1.1MB)
A new pasture will only be as good as the seed it was sown with. Make sure your pasture gets the best start with high-quality certified seed from a reputable seed supplier.
Download factsheet here (PDF 1MB)
Plant Breeder’s Rights (PBR) are used to protect new varieties of plants that are distinct, uniform and stable. A PBR is legally enforceable and gives the owner, exclusive rights to commercially use, sell, direct the production, sale and distribution of, and receive royalties from the sale of plants. If you breach the PBR, the PBR grantee can initiate legal action seeking damages or an account of profits.
Download factsheet here (PDF 680KB)
The relationship between endophytes and pasture is complex. Choosing the right novel endophyte (paired with the right pasture grass) for a farm system can provide a more productive, palatable pasture, which is safer for grazing livestock.
Download factsheet here (PDF 1.7MB)
Pasture health and productivity
Inoculating pasture legumes with rhizobia (root nodule bacteria) is standard practice for many growers, but a national survey carried out during 2013 highlighted several opportunities for growers to maximise the potential benefits by following practical guidelines to optimise the delivery of rhizobia.
This fact sheet highlights the key principles of effective inoculation and provides rules of thumb regarding when to inoculate and when ‘not’ to inoculate your legume pastures.
Download factsheet here (PDF 1.5MB )
Assessing legume nodulation
Checking legume nodulation provides a useful guide to decision making about future inoculation, and indicates whether there is any need to improve inoculation practices.
For inoculated legumes, it is worth checking to see if inoculation has worked well or not. If an inoculated pasture has nodulated poorly, investigate the reason for lack of success.
For uninoculated legumes, it is worth checking if the level of nodulation meets minimum expectations, to help decide whether or not to inoculate in the future.
Download factsheet here (PDF 1.4MB)